The Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee considered the detail of this draft document at its meeting on Thursday 15 March 2001. The Committee was please to note that the areas related to its remit are clearly referred to. In particular the Committee welcomes and supports the overall aims and wishes to highlight the following areas that are identified in the strategy document:

Importance of Higher and Further Education to economic development;

Aim of achieving a knowledge-based society, high value-added and high-wage economy;

Increasing employment opportunities;

Access to education and training, including mention of outreach opportunities; and

Expanding and improving education and skills training.

However, the Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee would emphasise the following key issues that must be properly addressed for this strategy to have real, meaningful and beneficial impact.

1. Whilst welcoming the overall aims of this 25 year strategy the Committee are concerned that it is somewhat aspirational in its current form without reference to either prioritisation or financial requirements. The Committee considers that the education and training issues should be addressed in the early part of the scheduled 25 years to gain maximum economic benefit.
2. The Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee wish to stress the vital importance of all departments and the wider public sector working closely together to deliver the expected outcomes of this work. In summary a cohesive, joined-up management and implementation structure is essential.
3. This strategy must be fully linked to other relevant strategies, for example, Strategy 2010, Regional Transport Strategy etc. It is considered that the high level links between these strategies will have a major effect on the success of both individual strategies and the combined outcomes.
4. Transport in general, but particularly public transport in rural areas must be of a quality and availability to ensure everybody has access to education, training and employment. The Committee, whilst accepting this is a huge issue, has identified this as a critical area if the aims of this strategy are to be achieved.
5. The financial implications to achieve the aims of this strategy are considered by the Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment Committee to be very significant and the Committee notes the intention to consider and explore alternative sources of finance.

Dr Esmond Birnie MLA
Chairperson
15 March 2001