AQW 19723/17-22
Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim
Tabled Date: 01/06/2021
Answered On Date: 30/06/2021
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) for her assessment of the availability of study pathways between Northern Ireland universities and further education colleges; and (ii) what action her Department is taking to promote further integration between higher and further education.
Answer:
A number of study pathways between Northern Ireland universities and further education colleges are currently in place and working well. The Further Education (FE) sector is focussed on ensuring that clearly structured and articulated progression pathways exist for full time and part time courses at Levels 2-3 through to Higher Education (HE). The FE sector plays a significant role in the delivery of Level 4 and 5 qualifications. Pathways for learners undertaking these courses include progression to degree programmes in further study both at college and university and a variety of successful employment routes. Collaboration Partnerships are in place between the six Further Education Colleges and both Ulster and Queen’s universities. Three colleges have also recently developed validation partnerships with the Open University and this is an expanding area. Various pathways exist, these include: Foundation Degrees (FD) are currently the Department’s preferred qualification at level 4 and 5. Colleges and universities collaborate extensively in the delivery of FDs where colleges deliver the course and universities validate the course content to ensure appropriate quality and standard is achieved to attain an award. Each FD must have at least one progression route into a level 6 qualification at university. Access to HE courses are targeted at students who have been out of education for at least two years and who wish to enter HE but do not have either sufficient or any formal qualifications. These are mainly delivered at the colleges and may be used for entry to any HE provider. All Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs) in Northern Ireland are underpinned with a qualification at L4 or higher. The majority of HLAs utilise a Foundation Degree (L5) and allow for the potential of progression to further courses at L6 & L7 where available. As part of the process for new HLAs to be approved for delivery Training Providers must outline the potential progression pathways that will be available to apprentices upon completion of an HLA. Work is planned to identify ways in which pathways can be enhanced further. Steps are also being taken to improve integration between the Northern Ireland universities and Further Education Colleges. Relevant actions being taken forward by my Department in this respect include: Skills Strategy consultation I launched a draft Skills Strategy consultation document on 27th May; this public consultation is open for 12 weeks. The consultation document was developed in conjunction with the Skills Strategy Advisory Group. The Further Education Colleges and Higher Education Institutions play an active role on this body, along with representatives from across industry, to ensure the right approaches to future skills needs are identified and implemented in a joined up, collaborative manner to benefit individuals, employers and the local economy. The draft Strategy has 3 main objectives, with 3 associated policy enablers; one of these is ‘Building Strong Relationships’. This means working across government to build more cohesive skills policy solutions and to build strong relationships with external stakeholders to co-design skills solutions which support better jobs and better wages for all our people. The key action underpinning this will be the development of a new Northern Ireland Skills Council, to oversee the Strategy’s implementation. Whilst the terms of reference and specific make-up of the Council is yet to be agreed, the concept draws on international best practice to establish a forum to drive a more collaborative approach to policy, with ministerial leadership and representation from senior figures in key government departments, business, education (including higher and further education) and trades unions. Skills Interventions Programme and Flexible Skills Fund As part of the Departmental response to Covid-19, a Skills Intervention Programme was launched, providing training opportunities from entry level to masters, for 5,900 individuals impacted by the pandemic. All training was provided through the colleges and universities, in a range of sectors including digital, engineering and leadership, with graduate placement opportunities. Programme design included collaboration across the further and higher education sectors to maximise choice and eliminate duplication. The Department, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Office, is taking forward a new Flexible Skills Fund to support individuals to upskill and reskill. This will be delivered through local universities and colleges, and engagement has begun on its format. An onus will be placed on providers working together to create pathways and streamline learning across the further and higher education sectors, that provides training opportunities that have been approved through engagement with employers. Review of Level 4 and 5 provision and HE in FE A comprehensive review of Level 4 and 5 provision and HE in FE commenced in November 2020 involving a wide range of stakeholders including colleges and universities. It is expected to report in spring 2022A number of work strands are underway and further work strands planned that will specifically focus on qualifications delivered collaboratively and on pathways and progression routes between the FE colleges and local universities. Tertiary Education Senior Leaders Forum A Tertiary Education Group has recently been established by my Department. The Group has agreed to meet at least three times per annum and, going forward, will formalise its establishment as the Tertiary Education Senior Leaders Forum, chaired by the DfE Permanent Secretary. The core purpose of the Forum is to foster greater collaboration between all those involved in education post-compulsory school-age and to help move towards a unified tertiary education sector in Northern Ireland.
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