COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS: THURSDAY, 16 MAY 2002
CONFERENCE ROOM, PORTADOWN CAMPUS OF THE UPPER BANN INSTITUTE OF FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Present: Dr Esmond Birnie MLA (Chairman)
Mr Mervyn Carrick MLA (Deputy Chairman)
Dr Ian Adamson MLA
Mr John Dallat MLA
Mr Roger Hutchinson MLA
Prof Monica McWilliams MLA

In Attendance: Dr Andrew Peoples
Mr Colin Jones
Mr Michael Meehan

Apologies (given to the Clerk): Mr Joe Byrne MLA
Mrs Joan Carson MLA
Mrs Mary Nelis MLA

The meeting opened at 2.00pm in closed session.

1. Apologies

Apologies are detailed above.

2. Tour of the Facilities at Portadown Campus

Dr G Byrne, Mr J Cromie and other senior staff accompanied members on a tour of the facilities at the campus. Members were informed that:

• the Upper Bann Institute of Further and Higher Education is the third largest further education college in terms of enrolments and has 2,473 full-time student equivalents;

• the annual budget is just under £10 million per annum;

• there were a range of courses provided in the Training Centre and a range of Jobskills programmes on offer;

• there were shortages of students in areas of demand by local industry, especially the engineering and food processing sectors;

• catering courses were now centralised at the Portadown campus, following recent investments; and

• there were a high percentage of part-time students enrolled at Upper Bann and numerous links with the community.

The Committee visited the Autodesk Training Centre and the Mitutoyo Centre, which are examples of the college's links with industry.

2.55pm. Mr Dallat left the meeting. As the meeting was inquorate, the Chairman decided to continue on an informal basis.

3. Presentations from senior staff of the Upper Bann Institute of Further and Higher Education

Dr G Byrne, Director, Mr W McKee, Deputy Director, Mrs A Cromie, Head of Faculty for General and Social Studies and Mr J Quinn, Manager, Lurgan Campus made presentations to the Committee covering the following issues:

• the Institute's links with industry and with the local community;

• the implications for the Institute of having three campuses;

• the effects of the merger with the Training Centre;

• incorporation; and

• earmarked funding.

3.30pm. Prof McWilliams joined the meeting. The meeting continued on a formal basis.

Following the presentations, the following areas were debated:

• the actions taken by the Institute in an area of low unemployment, to address the under supply of suitable employees to local businesses;

• the importance of an enhanced, impartial careers advice service based on a sound knowledge of the current and future needs of industry;

• the role of the further education sector in supporting lifelong learning;

• the Institute's role relative to the learndirect network;

• the financial disadvantages of multi-site campuses as no provision was made for them in the Department for Employment and Learning's funding mechanism;

• the need for urgent production of the strategic review of the further education sector;

3.50pm. Mr Hutchinson left the meeting. As the meeting was inquorate, the Chairman decided to continue on an informal basis.

• further issues arising from the Institute's merger with the local Training Centre;

• the effects of incorporation, including the need for clarity on the extent of the responsibilities of governing bodies;

• the Institute's use of earmarked funds; and

• the Institute's role in advising potential students on the financial support available.

Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Chairman, Committee for Employment and Learning
23 May 2002

9 May 2002 / Menu / 23 May 2002