MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD MEETING OF THE HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE IN ROOM 135, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS ON THURSDAY 20 JANUARY 2000

Present:
Dr E Birnie (Chairman)
Mr M Carrick (Deputy Chairman)
Mr R Beggs Jnr
Mr J Byrne
Rev R J Coulter
Mr J Dallat
Mr W Hay
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr J Kelly
Ms M McWilliams
Mrs M Nelis

In attendance: Mrs E Sung, Mrs C Darrah, Ms A Colville, Mrs D Williams, Mr N Dunseith

1. Apologies

No apologies were received.

2. Introduction

The Chairman welcomed Mrs Eileen Sung as the new Clerk to the Committee.

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting

The amended minutes of the Committee meeting of 13 January were agreed.

4. Matters arising

(i) The Chairman informed members that a press release was issued following the meeting on 13 January and copies had been circulated.

(ii) The Chairman informed members that a detailed record of the question and answer session with officials on 20 January would be provided in due course.

(iii) The Chairman informed members that he intended to raise with the Minister how the Department intended to handle the comments received on the Department of Education’s consultation document "Learning for Tomorrow’s World". He would also inform the Minister of the Committee’s interest in the Department’s consideration of student finance and the Cubie Report and its wish to be actively involved in any process of review.

(iv) Arrangements for the presentations and visits agreed by the Committee during January and early February are currently being made. The proposed visit by members to East Antrim Institute has been changed from 17 to 24 February. Copies of the NI Economic Council report published on 18 January was sent to all members.

(v) The Chairman informed members that he would write to the Minister seeking details of the proposed allocation of the £1·1 million additional funds agreed by the Executive on 11 January 2000.

Agreed:

(vi) Information on the Minister’s engagements retrospectively are now being received. It was agreed that the Chairman would send a letter requesting the information prospectively.

Agreed:

(vii) The Committee will discuss at their meeting on 27 January proposals for the visit to Magee Campus on 10 February. Members will be provided with a briefing note on Magee College and the East Antrim Institute.

(viii) Agreed:

Members will be provided with a list of the main organisations which have a relevance to Higher and Further Education, Training & Employment, along with details of their particular remit and their key representatives.

5. Dr Sean Farren, Minister for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment: discussion with Committee members on key issues and priorities for his Department.

The Chairman warmly welcomed the Minister for Higher & Further Education Training & Employment, Dr Sean Farren and senior officials, Mr Ian Walters, Chief Executive, Training & Employment Agency, Mr Roy Gamble, Director of Industrial Relations & Equality Branch and Dr Roy Graham, Further Education, on behalf of the Committee. The Minister thanked Committee members for inviting him and said that he looked forward to an new era of co-operation between his Department and the Committee. He went on to detail his Department’s strategic priorities and cross cutting issues as follows:

• vocational education & training — post 16

• domestic higher education provision
  

• student support
  

• university research funding
  

• life-long learning
  

• Strategy 2010
  

• welfare reform

• NI childcare strategy
  

• equality
  

• north/south - east/west relationships.

A question and answer session followed. The Chairman thanked the Minister and officials for a very informative discussion. Following their departure, further Committee business was concluded.

6. The Chairman’s Business

(i) An addition to the draft press release was agreed.

(ii) Agreed:

The Committee commissioned research on:

— ‘A’ level entry points and other vocational entry to NI universities as compared to GB universities.

— the numbers of students, and details of disciplines, of those returning from English and Scottish universities to take up second year entry to NI Higher Education Institutions.

— summary of available evidence on outflow of NI students to UK universities, reasons for outflow, and reasons for and extent of non-return after completion of Higher Education courses.

— comparative figures for first year drop out Northern Ireland and GB universities.

Agreed:

The meeting on 17 February would seek to identify particular areas for enquiry by the Committee.

Agreed:

Representatives from the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education will be invited to give a presentation at a future date in March.

7. Any Other Business

Agreed:

In order to avoid duplication, Committee members will advise the Clerk to the Committee of requests to the Department for information.

Agreed:

The Chairman will ask the Minister for details on the status of a decision on the Springvale Campus in advance of the meeting on 27 January.

8. Date of Next Meeting

The Committee will meet on Thursday 27 January at 2.00 pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings, when the NI Economic Council will give a presentation. This will be an open session from 2.15 pm.