MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH MEETING
OF THE HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION,
TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
IN ROOM 152, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
ON THURSDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2000

Present: Dr E Birnie (Chairman)
Mr M Carrick (Deputy Chairman)
Mr R Beggs (Jnr)
Mr J Byrne
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 Darragh
Ms A Colville
Mr N Dunseith

1. Apologies

Rev R Coulter.

2. Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the Committee meeting of 27 January were agreed.

3. Matters Arising:

(i) The Chairman confirmed that the agreed press release had been issued in advance of today's meeting.

(ii) Members were informed that a press release was issued and advertisements placed in local papers on the 3 February, inviting submissions in relation to the implementation of the European Directive on part time work, by 15 February. The Chairman has advised the Minister and written to the Permanent Secretary requesting that officials brief the Committee on 17 February. The Clerk will circulate written briefing in advance of the meeting.

Agreed:

(iii) Members agreed a press release to issue in advance of their visit to Magee Campus on 10 February. A short press release will issue in advance of the Committee's meeting on Tuesday 8 February.

(iv) Members would be provided with a detailed record of the Question and Answer Session with representatives from the Northern Ireland Economic Council on 27 January by Monday 7 February.

Agreed:

(v) The Clerk will pursue further the matter of appropriate accommodation for Committee meetings with the Assembly Commission and report back to Members as appropriate.

4. Presentations by representatives from the National Union of Students/Union of Students of Ireland and the Association of University Teachers.

The Chairman welcomed Shane Whelehan, Convenor, NUS-USI, Peter O'Neil, Manager, Alan Murray, Education Officer, Geraldine Dolan, President, University of Ulster Students' Union, John McAuley, President, QUB Students Union and Alisa Keane, Student Development Advisor. The briefing focused on the issues of student opposition to tuition fees; student financial support access and participation; and a collective vision for a remit of any local review into student funding.

The AUT delegation comprised Dr Renée Prendergast, AUT President at QUB, Dr Paul Hudson, AUT Committee at QUB, , University of Ulster, Dr Terry McKnight, AUT Chairman, of University of UlsterQUB, Ms Penny Holloway, AUT Committee, University of Ulster, Mr Brian Everett, Assistant General Secretary and Mr Jonathan Whitehead, Regional Research Officer.

Their briefing focused on the issues surrounding research funding, student numbers, student support and tuition fees, pay and staffing. The Chairman thanked the representatives from both organisations for their very informative and stimulating presentations.

5. Chairman's Business

(i) The Chairman and Deputy Chairman detailed their discussions with the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment and Mr John Murray during lunch on 28 January.

• It is very likely that the Department will change its name in the near future.

• The Department is currently considering the status of the Training and Employment Agency as a first steps agency.

• The evaluation of the T&EA 's pilot scheme of a "one-stop-shop" initiative.

• The Department has promised to seek the views of the Committee at an entry stage of its Annual Plan for year 2000-2001.

• The Department would encourage similar types of informal meetings between the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, the Minister and Senior Departmental Officials on a regular basis in order to enhance openness and efficiency and effectiveness.

(ii) Members were provided with a revised itinerary for their visit to Magee Campus on 10 February. Further briefing material on Magee Campus would be issued early next week.

(iii) Also a draft itinerary in advance of their visit to the East Antrim Institute on 24 February and information on the iInstitute's involvement in a pilot scheme in relation to the University for Industry (UFI).

(iv) The Chairman confirmed that replies as agreed at the meeting of 27 January had issued to the Deputy Chairman of the Enterprise, Trade and Industry Committee.

(v) The Chairman reminded Members if they wished to make submissions in relation to the new TSN First Annual Report and "Learning For Tomorrow's World" they should be sent to the Clerk by Friday 4 February at the latest, for consideration in summary form, at Tuesday 8 February meeting.

(vi) The Chairman advised that the Clerk had asked the Department for details of New Deal providers. Any nominations for inclusion in the delegation of New Deal providers, who would be asked to brief the Committee sometime in March, should be forwarded to the Clerk.

(vii) The Chairman advised Members to liaise with the Minister and Departmental Officials if they intended to visit the USA over the period of 17 March as the Minister, Dr Farren, was planning an itinerary over the period..

(viii) The Chairman reminded Members to advise the Clerk of the Committee of requests for Committee business from the Department.

(ix) The Chairman advised Members of two invitations he had received in relation to two forthcoming conferences, which he was unable to attend. He invited Members to inform the relevant contacts if they were interested in attending.

(x) The Chairman advised Members of a query he had received in relation to some difficulties which had arisen in respect of a recent appointment to the Board of the North Down and Ards Further Education Colleges.

Agreed:

The Committee agreed not to become involved in individual appointment cases but to consider at some later stage the general issue of the appointments process to Further and Higher Education Colleges governing bodies. This was in line with a recommendation made in a recent NI Audit Office Study of Corporate Governance and Financial Management for all Northern Ireland's Further Education Colleges.

Agreed:

(xi) It was agreed that future Committee meetings would conclude at 4.30 pm if possible.

6. Any Other Business

The Chairman was commended for his handling of all previous Committee meetings and Committee staff thanked for their input. The Chairman responded that he had enjoyed working with the Members of the Committee.

7. Date of Next Meeting

The Committee will meet on Tuesday 8 February at 12 noon to 2.30 pm in Room 152, Parliament Buildings. This will be a closed session.

ESMOND BIRNIE
Committee Chairman
8 February 2000