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Friday 9 February 2001 HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT Student Funding Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail (a) the funding per student per annum given to further education colleges for higher education students and (b) to state the funding per student per annum given to higher education institutions for higher education students. (AQW 1468/00) The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): There is no single basis for funding students on higher education courses. Further education colleges and universities each have their own particular funding methodology geared to their individual needs: (a) Funding of Higher Education Students in Further Education Colleges As a result of the current transitional funding arrangements in further education and the nature of the new funding formula it is not possible to be precise about the funding given per student per annum on a higher education course at an further education college. However, in the current academic year, assuming that the student was fully funded under the new funding formula arrangements, a full-time higher education student in a further education college would have attracted funding broadly in the range £2,100 to £3,200, excluding tuition fees, depending on the subject area being studied and the characteristics of the student. (b) Funding of Higher Education Students in Universities The level of resource for each full-time equivalent (FTE) student at a university depends on the subject being studied. There are four broad groups of subjects - price groups __ for funding defined by the nature and cost of delivery. The funding per FTE student, excluding tuition fees falls within the range £1,681 and £11,240 per annum depending on the price group. The most expensive price group covers clinical medicine and dentistry. Provision of Foundation Degrees Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to outline his plans to enable further education colleges to expand their delivery of higher education through the provision of foundation degrees. (AQW 1469/00) Dr Farren: Pilot schemes in areas of high skill demand are being taken forward by Queen’s University and the University of Ulster in conjunction with a number of FE colleges and employers’ interests. I understand that some half dozen colleges will be involved in the first phase. The teaching will be delivered mainly in the FE colleges, predominantly in part-time mode with a strong workplace element. The universities will bring forward their proposals by end February 2001 for approval by the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council. The pilots will run from September 2001. No decisions will be taken about the introduction of the new degree on a longer term basis until the pilot schemes have been fully evaluated. Student Enrolment Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the number of students at further education colleges as measured by (a) gross; (b) net; (c) full-time; (d) part-time; and (e) full-time equivalents for each of the last 15 years for which figures are available. (AQW 1503/00) Dr Farren: I attach a series of tables detailing the numbers within the requested categories. Enrolments at Northern Ireland Further Education colleges by college expressed by mode of attendance and Full Time Equivalents (FTEs): 1992/93
Source: Further Education Statistical Record / Annual Monitoring Survey 1. Full and part time figures are based on a snapshot of enrolments @ 1st November in the given academic year. 2. Prior to September 1994 there were 24 colleges. The 17 colleges have been created by amalagamating the appropriate colleges. Enrolments at Northern Ireland Further Education colleges by college expressed by mode of attendance and Full Time Equivalents (FTEs): 1993/94
Source: Further Education Statistical Record / Annual Monitoring Survey 1. Full and part time figures are based on a snapshot of enrolments @ 1st November in the given academic year. 2. Gross less cost recovery students. 3. Net less withdrawn students. 4. Prior to September 1994 there were 24 colleges. The 17 colleges have been created by amalagamating the appropriate colleges. Enrolments at Northern Ireland Further Education colleges by college expressed by mode of attendance and Full Time Equivalents (FTEs): 1994/95
Source: Further Education Statistical Record / Annual Monitoring Survey 1. Full and part time figures are based on a snapshot of enrolments @ 1st November in the given academic year. 2. Gross less cost recovery students. 3. Net less withdrawn students. Enrolments at Northern Ireland Further Education colleges by college expressed by mode of attendance and Full Time Equivalents (FTEs): 1995/96
Source: Further Education Statistical Record / Annual Monitoring Survey 1. Full and part time figures are based on a snapshot of enrolments @ 1st November in the given academic year. 2. Gross less cost recovery students. 3. Net less withdrawn students. Enrolments at Northern Ireland Further Education colleges by college expressed by mode of attendance and Full Time Equivalents (FTEs): 1996/97
Source: Further Education Statistical Record / Annual Monitoring Survey 1. Full and part time figures are based on a snapshot of enrolments @ 1st November in the given academic year. 2. Gross less cost recovery students. 3. Net less withdrawn students. Enrolments at Northern Ireland Further Education colleges by college expressed by mode of attendance and Full Time Equivalents (FTEs): 1997/98
Source: Further Education Statistical Record / Annual Monitoring Survey 1. Full and part time figures are based on a snapshot of enrolments @ 1st November in the given academic year. 2. Gross less cost recovery students. 3. Net less withdrawn students. Enrolments at Northern Ireland Further Education colleges by college expressed by mode of attendance and Full Time Equivalents (FTEs): 1998/99
Source: Further Education Statistical Record / Annual Monitoring Survey 1. Full and part time figures are based on a snapshot of enrolments @ 1st November in the given academic year. 2. Gross less cost recovery students. 3. Net less withdrawn students. Enrolments at Northern Ireland Further Education colleges by college expressed by mode of attendance: 1999/2000
Source: Further Education Statistical Record 1. Full Time Equivalent data is not presently available for this academic year. 2. Full and part time figures are based on a snapshot of enrolments @ 1st November in the given academic year. New Deal Dr O’Hagan asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail (a) the total number of private sector companies within each electoral ward that have signed up to New Deal and (b) the total number of full-time jobs created within these companies for New Deal trainees. (AQW 1516/00) Dr Farren: Information on companies signing New Deal agreements is not available within electoral wards. These statistics are collated by jobcentre area and the table below gives a breakdown of 5,759 agreements signed by private sector companies to date. NEW DEAL EMPLOYER AGREEMENTS – PRIVATE SECTOR
Due to difficulties with the recently introduced client management system, which tracks the progress of participants through the programme, it is not currently possible to confirm the number of New Deal participants who have been assisted into employment. It is anticipated that this information will be available by the end of February 2001. Adult Education and Training Services Mr Maskey asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail expenditure on adult education and training services, excluding capital spending and European monies, for the years 1990 to present in the parliamentary constituency of West Belfast. (AQW 1539/00) Dr Farren: This information is not available in the format requested. Funding for adult education and training services is allocated on the basis of enrolments at individual FE colleges and numbers of trainees undergoing training with training organisations. Information on the parliamentary constituency of residence of students or trainees is not available and could only be obtained at an excessive cost. New Deal Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to give his assessment of the cost effectiveness of the New Deal for young people in Northern Ireland and to make a statement. (AQW 1574/00) Dr Farren: I am convinced that the New Deal for young people has been effective in Northern Ireland. Since it was introduced in April 1998 the number of young people unemployed for 6 months or more has fallen from 6,448 to 2,336 at December 2000, a decrease of over 63%. While this decrease is not solely attributable to New Deal, and reflects the overall improvement in the local economy there is no doubt that New Deal has played a significant part. The fact that the decrease in the numbers of non-New Deal-eligible JSA claimants during the same period was only 6% supports this view. Comprehensive statistical data from the Department’s client management system are not currently available pending resolution of a number of data and IT issues. When data are available it will be possible to provide more detailed information on the cost of outcomes from New Deal. Higher Education Courses Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to outline the steps he is taking to increase the number of places available in higher education courses at further education colleges and to make a statement. (AQW 1579/00) Dr Farren: The only restriction placed upon further education colleges in relation to increases in higher education courses relates to publicly-funded full-time places due to resource implications. An additional 600 full-time places were distributed across the sector in academic years 1999-2000 and 2000-01 using significant resources secured under the recent comprehensive spending review. In addition a further cohort of up to 100 HND places in the vocational areas of software engineering and electronics has also been introduced in the current year. Any further increase will be dependent upon additional resources becoming available and being distributed in the light of existing priorities. It should be noted that colleges are free to increase the level of part-time provision on approved courses without restriction. I have also announced plans for the piloting of foundation degrees in Northern Ireland and would envisage that the further education sector will have an important role to play in future developments. Indeed, a total of six pilots will be initiated in September this year involving a total of 100 full-time equivalent students, with a further 100 new enrolments from September 2002. |
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