4 October 2005
LAUNCH OF DRIVE TO SPREAD EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION
An initiative was launched today to promote excellence across all aspects of teaching and learning in Northern Ireland Higher Education.
The Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (Northern Ireland) programme (CETLs (NI)) was unveiled by Employment and Learning Minister, Angela Smith, at Parliament Buildings.
Outlining the benefits of the investment, the Minister said: "The CETLs initiative in Northern Ireland will reward and enhance excellent teaching practice within our Higher Education Institutions. It provides further confirmation of the Government's commitment to the sector and will have a major impact on the learning experiences of students."
The Department for Employment and Learning's aim is to increase and deepen the impact of teaching excellence across the wider teaching and learning community. The CETLs initiative will strengthen the focus on teaching and learning by directing funds to institutions that value and apply high teaching standards.
The Minister added: "By adding a significant investment to such institutions the Department hopes to generate additional benefits for students, teachers and the wider community."
The four Northern Ireland Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Queens University, the University of Ulster, St Mary's University College and Stranmillis University College, attained eligibility for this strand of funding, having demonstrated areas of excellence that reached a high level of quality.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The initiative builds upon the model provided by the Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs), which were established under a programme developed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The CETLs (NI) initiative also complements previous investments in learning and teaching which have been facilitated through the Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund (TQEF).
2. To qualify for CETLs (NI) funding support, each institution was required to submit an outline business case and, following feedback, a detailed business case. Bids received for funding support from the HEIs were subjected to a rigorous assessment, carried out by an Independent Panel of experts which contributed to the parallel English Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs).
3. The two Northern Ireland universities, Queen's and the University of Ulster, can each bid for up to £500,000 per annum in all of the five years of the initiative and the two University Colleges, St Mary's and Stranmillis, can similarly bid for up to £50,000 per annum.
4. In total, the four Northern Ireland HEIs put forward seven submissions for assessment, all of which were thoroughly assessed and approved by the Independent Panel.
5. Queen's University was successful with three bids entitled: Interprofessional Education (IPE): Curriculum and Assessment Development, the Centre for Excellence in the Creative and Performing Arts and the Centre for Excellence in Active and Interactive Learning (CEAIL).
6. The University of Ulster was successful with two bids entitled; Utilising Institutional E-Learning Services to Enhance the Learning Experience and Dynamic Multimedia Teaching and Learning.
7. St Mary's University College submitted a successful bid entitled: a Centre for Excellence in Critical Thinking and Analytical Writing.
8. Stranmillis University College submitted a successful bid entitled: Bridging the Gap: Building a Virtual Classroom.
9. Media enquiries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.
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