RESPONSE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT'S DRAFT PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENT

General Comments

Individual targets and actions would benefit from the inclusion of current performance as a benchmark, as well as the percentage growth aimed for, to facilitate comparison. It is appreciated that this will not be possible in certain areas eg for Individual Learning Accounts which have just been introduced.

The use of the term "over 2000/01" in several individual targets and actions is potentially confusing. It is unclear whether this refers to a benchmark figure, or the period over which performance is to be measured.

It would also add to the clarity of the document if a breakdown of the financial resources allocated to individual actions could be specified, as was the case in the first version which we received.

Individual Targets and Actions should be numbered for ease of reference.

Our specific comments on individual targets and actions are detailed below.

Target 1
To widen access to Higher Education by expanding provision of domestic HE places to XX by March 2004.
Comment
Obviously, the target figure needs to be input. The target would also benefit from a statement as to where these places will be provided eg in the two Universities or through further franchisement of the Further Education Colleges.

Action 1
To provide 850 additional domestic HE places in 2001/02 over 2000/2001.
Comment
The draft Programme for Government states that 4,400 additional undergraduate places will be created at Queens University and the University of Ulster by 2004. Members were concerned as to whether the proposed increase of 850 places for the forthcoming year was sufficient to ensure achievement of the longer-term target?

What is the starting point at which the provision of the 850 additional places will begin to be measured? Eg does this assume that the increase of 1,000 places stipulated in the annual Business Plan has been achieved?

Action 2
In October 2001, to initiate a pilot scheme, involving 100 students, for the development of foundation degrees in economically relevant disciplines.
Comment
Consideration should be given to stating how long the pilot scheme will last and how the Department proposes to measure its effectiveness and take forward emerging findings.

Action 3
From October 2001, to implement the changes to student support arrangements emerging from the Student Support Review.
Comment
In view of the emerging nature of the arrangements, how was the figure of £79.55 million, included in our initial draft, arrived at? Is this likely to be an accurate forecast?

Action 4
To improve facilities for research in science, technology and culture through an additional £5m funding in 2001/02 matched by private sector funding.
Comment
It emerged during discussions with officials that this action referred to the further development of the SPUR initiative. Could the action be more specific on the "facilities" to be improved and the method of improvement, to enable subsequent performance to be measured more easily?

Target 2
To provide, by March 2002, an additional 2500 student FE places on vocational courses over 2000/01.
Comment
There is no specific reference in the draft Programme for Government to this target. Has the target in the Annual Business Plan of 2,500 additional places for 2000/01 been achieved and will this then be used as a starting point for performance measurement. The target could be made more specific if amended to include where the additional places will be created and whether these will represent an addition to existing courses or the creation of new ones.

Target 3
To increase, by March 2002, the number of FE students achieving NVQ full or unit passes by 1400 at levels 2 to 4 over 2000/01.
Comment
The draft Programme for Government aims for a 5% increase in this area. Does this equate to the 1400 students stipulated in the target? A benchmark figure would be particularly useful here to make the target more meaningful eg the number of FE students currently achieving these levels of passes set against the numbers enrolling on these courses.
Action 5
To increase enrolments on courses in skill areas by 1200 over 2000/01.
Comment
This could lead to confusion. We suggest that "in 2001/02" is added after "enrolments."

Action 6
To develop a strategy on Adult Literacy and Numeracy based on advice from the Basic Skills Unit.
Comment
This Action is not timebound. When will development of the strategy be completed and, more importantly, when will implementation commence? The draft Programme for Government states that "a new training programme will be piloted by March 2002 for adults with basic literacy and numeracy problems." Is this not an integral part of the strategy and, if so, why has this not been referred to in the Public Service Agreement?

Members were concerned in the delay over implementation and at the very low target suggested at the meeting.

Action 7
To provide by March 2002, 250 "entry into management" places for graduates with 90% of participants entering employment.
Comment
There is no specific reference to this action in Section 5.3.1 of the draft Programme for Government. How long will the "entry into management" programme last ie will 90% of the graduates entering the programme be in employment by March 2002? If not, this part of the Action should be made time specific to ensure greater clarity

Action 8
To provide by March 2002, 350 senior and middle managers with access to innovative development opportunities.
Comment
Again, there is no specific reference to this action in Section 5.3.1 of the draft Programme for Government. This action needs to be more rigidly defined eg what is meant by "innovative development opportunities?" How will the 350 senior and middle managers be targeted - by those most in need of innovative development opportunities or those most likely to use them? Is uptake more important than provision?

Action 9
To increase the number of Northern Ireland organisations achieving Investors in People status to 550 by March 2002.
Comment
A key target in your 2000/01 Business Plan was to increase this figure to 475. Has this been achieved and does the Action therefore refer to an additional 75 organisations achieving IiP status? The definition of an "organisation" will be important in measuring performance against this target. Is one Civil Service department treated as an organisation, or are individual management units treated as one organisation for IiP purposes? This should be specified in the action.

Action 10
To activate 17500 individual learning accounts by March 2002.
Comment
A key target in the current Business Plan is to establish 3000 individual learning accounts. We assume that this Action envisages a further 14500 by March 2002.

Target 5
By March 2002, to help 15000 unemployed people from welfare to work.
Comment
A clearer definition of the "help" to be provided would clarify this target. If other government departments or agencies will be involved in the achievement, this should also be specified. Will performance against target be measured from the start of the new financial year?

Action 11
To establish in 20001/02 a cross-departmental taskforce to examine and address issues of employability and long-term unemployment.
Comment
It should be specified when these issues will be examined and reported on.

Action 12
To pilot with the Social Security Agency, and other government agencies, the ONE initiative to provide joined -up welfare and employment services.
Comment
When will the pilot of this individual initiative be completed, given that the draft Programme for Government states that "the ONE initiative will be completed by March 2004." Whilst we realise that this is a further expansion of the initiative to cover other benefit claimants, the action should stipulate that the ONE initiative is ongoing and is not a new concept.

Action 13
To increase training and employment support for people with disabilities by providing an additional 400 offers under the access to Work Scheme; an additional 50 places under the Employment Support Programme and an additional 60 work trials under the Job Introduction Scheme by March 2002.
Comment
Again this Action would benefit from the current numbers on each of the Schemes at April 2001 when, we assume, measurement will commence. Also, will the achievement of the 510 extra places specified in the action be sufficient to achieve the target of 35% additional provision of access to work for the disabled?

Target 7
To ensure that those who began Jobskills training in 1999/2000 achieve at least a 68% qualification success at NVQ level 2 or above by March 2002.
Comment
The current Business Plan contains exactly the same target for those entering Jobskills training in 1998/99. What is current performance against this target? If this is being achieved, should you not be setting a more challenging target for the forthcoming year?

Action 14
To guarantee a training place for all 16 to 18 year olds not in full-time education or employment.

Comment
There is no specific reference to this target in Section 4.3 of the draft Programme. The action is not timebound as there is no reference to when these guarantees will be in place.