AQW 28388/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 20/01/2022
Answered On Date: 07/02/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy how his Department measures (i) the effectiveness; and (ii) the value for money achieved by the Tuition Fee Grant paid to universities in Northern Ireland.

Answer:

The Department for the Economy requires Northern Ireland’s Universities to provide annual accountability returns to ensure that they are safeguarding the public funds they receive. The accountability returns provided include assurance over the arrangements to promote economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

The university also produce an Annual Value for Money report which is collected as part of the annual accountability returns. The report identifies the value for money activities undertaken by the University during the year under review and aligns these with the relevant strategic priority and key performance indicators from the corporate plan, demonstrating that value for money is embedded in the strategic plans and corporate objectives of the institution.