18 April 2001
NORTH/SOUTH CO-OPERATION IN EDUCATION HIGH ON AGENDA - FARREN
"The development of North/South co-operation in relation to higher and further education is very high on both my personal and political agenda," the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, Dr Sean Farren said today.
Minister Farren’s comments came as he was making the keynote speech at the USI Annual Congress in Ennis, County Clare. He continued by saying: "In recent months I have met with the Republic’s Minister of Education, Dr Michael Woods and agreed an agenda to be taken forward which includes: improving and building upon university networks; promoting and facilitating lecturer exchanges and mobility; credit accumulation and transfer and sharing of information and communications technology.
"I also firmly believe that by working together we can harness to a greater extent the enormous international goodwill, which exists toward Ireland on the international academic stage. I have had the good fortune to establish fruitful contacts with colleges and Universities in the USA, Europe, China and South Africa. I hope that we can build upon these links in a meaningful way that will deliver practical benefits to students as well as to our third level institutions.
"I know that the student body has also moved ahead and forged very valuable links with particularly American Universities and Colleges through for example the Young Leaders programme which my Department supports, along with the Department of Education here in the South. These links I am sure will continue to be forged.
"Education is about so much more than learning – it is about lifting horizons and extending the vision of everyone involved, young and old, and about increasing their understanding of a world beyond their own. Above all education is an experience that should be shared with others.
"I trust that the value of quality education is apparent to and is accepted by all here – it has been very apparent to me throughout all of my working life. I am in the fortunate position now to assist as many people as possible to access and experience education and training; no matter their background, age, marital status or sex. If one word can be used to signify my approach to my ministerial role in my first year it is access.
"Access to employment opportunities, to training and education is central to the work of the Executive and to my Department. No longer is age a barrier to these opportunities and I am determined that all barriers are removed. We must facilitate the entry, or re-entry into the education market of everybody, and I believe that we must specifically single out for assistance people who have been denied such access in the past.
"In order for the economy and the community to drive forward a meaningful agenda including lifelong learning and continuing improvement we must get secure knowledge foundations in place. It is unacceptable to say the least that so many of our adults have difficulties with basic literacy and numeracy skills. "If we are serious about promoting social inclusion and developing a fairer society, this problem must be addressed. It is a major barrier to social and economic inclusion."
Addressing the recently announced outcomes from the review of student finance in Northern Ireland, the Minister said he was committed to achieving a fair and equitable outcome which would target those most in need.
He said: "Less than two weeks into my time as Minister I announced a major review of our system of student support. I did so because the old system was not good enough. It was not serving students or their families in a fair, equitable or efficient way.
"At the outset I want to record my view that the completion of the review is not the end of a process but is in fact the beginning of a new period of partnership between Government and the student body.
"I welcome the response to the review by NUS / USI and the commitment they have given to working with me to implement the changes smoothly and to continuing to work to improve the situation for today’s students and crucially for students of tomorrow and future years.
"The cost of implementing my proposals will be some £65m over the next three years. I hope and am sure that you will agree that this represents a significant investment in the future of our young people."
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