30 May 2000
BUSINESS AS USUAL - FARREN CALLS ON FURTHER EDUCATION COLLEGES TO BID FOR £5.5 MILLION IN SPECIAL INITIATIVES
The Minister for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, Dr Sean Farren MLA, today confirmed details of a package of £5.5 million funding for special initiatives in Further Education Colleges in the coming academic year.
Making what he described as a "business as usual" announcement, Dr Farren said: "When I first took up office, I said that my Department had a crucial contribution to make in building a peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland. That remains the case and I am determined to push forward as quickly as possible to ensure that we achieve that goal.
"Key to achieving this goal is the role of our further education colleges in widening access, raising skill standards and in creating their own centres of excellence.
"The detail of this significant package of special funding that I am announcing today is evidence of our continuing commitment to developing a culture of Lifelong Learning. It will also allow further education colleges to support the recommendations of Strategy 2010 by developing provision that will meet the needs of local business and industry."
The Minister explained that the £5.5 million package will be split into three initiatives under which colleges can design projects and bid for funds. These are:
Access Initiative (£1 million)
This is a TSN initiative designed to widen access to further education and increase participation by individuals and groups who, for whatever reason, have been previously excluded. Colleges will be invited to bid for a share of the funds available to target identified needs in their locality.
The Skills Fund (£1 million)
This fund will reward colleges immediately for recruiting additional adult students to courses at Levels 2 and 3 in specified skills areas recognised as important to the regional economy. The purpose of the Fund is to encourage the FE sector to skew provision towards the needs of the local economy and, at the same time, increase participation.
Strategic Investment Initiative (£3.5 million)
This major initiative is intended to sharpen the economic focus of the sector in line with Strategy 2010 while, at the same time, driving up standards. Projects will be judged against three themes:
- the development of greater collaboration between colleges on provision;
- the alignment of teaching to the new economic direction; and,
- the identification of, and investment in, centres of excellence.
The Minister added: "It is important that those leaving school have the skills that they and industry need to succeed. But it is also vital to ensure that the existing workforce, whether employed or unemployed, have the opportunities to obtain new skills which will enable them to seize the challenges of the modern workplace.
"The measures I am announcing today will help the further education sector to play its part in meeting the skills needs of the economy and bring real benefits to the colleges, individuals and local communities. I would urge all colleges to get their thinking caps on and take full advantage of the opportunities presented by these new initiatives. "
Colleges have until 31 July 2000 to submit applications for funding to the Department.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- There are 17 FE Colleges in Northern Ireland with combined enrolments of 86,300 students on vocational courses.
- The 2000/2001 funding allocation for the colleges, which includes these initiatives, was announced on 20 April and is £125 million - 18.5% higher than 1999/2000. The main increase is in capital funding which has increased from £8.48 million in 1999/2000 to £16.6 million in 2000/2001.
- For further information, please contact Simon Burrowes or Kevin Mulhern on 028 90257831 or 028 90257790.