COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Wednesday,
3rd September
2008
Room 135, Parliament Buildings
Present:
Ms Sue Ramsey MLA (Chairperson)
Mr Robin Newton MLA (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Paul Butler MLA
Ms Anna Lo MLA
Mr David McClarty MLA
Mrs Claire McGill MLA
In Attendance:
Mr Rab McConaghy (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Peter Hall (Assembly Clerk)
Mr Trevor Allen (Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr Collan Cree (Clerical Supervisor)
Ms Jessica Dougan (Clerical Officer)
Apologies:
Mr Alex Attwood MLA
Mr Nelson McCausland MLA
Mr Basil McCrea MLA
Mr Alastair Ross MLA
Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA
The meeting opened at 10:32am in public session.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
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Minutes of the meeting held on 2 nd July 2008
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
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Briefing from the University of Ulster on the Review of Teacher Education
The Committee received a briefing from representatives of the University of Ulster: Vice Chancellor Professor Richard Barnett, and Professor Anne Moran, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, on the Review of Teacher Education. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
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Departmental briefing on the resignation of FE College Chairpersons
The Committee received a briefing from Departmental officials: Richard Kenny, Acting Director of Further Education Division, and Richard Monds, Head of FE Corporate Governance & Accountability Branch, on the resignation of FE College Chairpersons. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
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Matters Arising
Agreed: Members agreed that final Hansard transcripts of evidence sessions relating to the Committee’s Review of Teacher Education be published on the Committee’s website.
Members noted items of correspondence from a number of Departments and from the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in relation to the Northern Ireland European Social Fund.
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Chairperson’s Business
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Committee schedule a briefing from Departmental Officials on contracting issues with respect to the Steps to Work Programme at the earliest opportunity.
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Departmental Press Notices
Members noted a number of Departmental press notices issued recently.
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Any Other Business
Agreed: Members discussed and agreed a proposed initial research programme for the Committee in relation to assessing the potential for “centres of excellence” within the local training infrastructure.
Agreed: Members noted a press article and correspondence in relation to financial difficulties faced by Belfast Metropolitan College. Members agreed that the Chairperson write to the Department for an update on this issue.
Agreed: Members noted the Department’s consultation document on the “New Regulatory Arrangements for Vocational Qualifications in Northern Ireland” and agreed to consider the Department’s analysis of responses following the closure of the public consultation.
Members noted a paper from the Department on the University of Ulster site at Portrush and agreed that the issue be added to the agenda for the Committee’s meeting on 10 th September.
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Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 10 th September 2008 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11:58am.