AQW 1844/22-27


Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast


Tabled Date: 20/06/2022
Answered On Date: 30/06/2022
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to outline the reasons for withdrawing subjects at Stranmillis University College and focusing life-long learning courses on subjects likely to lead to employability, to the exclusion of those promoting well-being.


Answer:
My Department has no role in the direct funding, nor setting, of the annual progamme of life long learning courses within Stranmillis University College. However, in response to your question I asked my officials to seek a response from the College. Their position is set out below:
Lifelong learning courses at Stranmillis University College consist of a broad range of short, non-examined, full-cost-recovery programmes. These programmes are not funded by DfE and, in order to be offered, the College must determine if they are financially viable through student fee income.
Every year, the entire portfolio of programmes is reviewed, by the College, in preparation for the forthcoming academic year and relevant prospectus. Lifelong learning programmes will be introduced and removed as part of this annual process based on course viability as well as availability of teaching staff.
In preparation for the coming year, existing Lifelong Learning Tutors have been contacted and proposals for courses in the 2022-2023 academic year are being sought. In addition, a new model of delivery is being piloted which seeks to increase the number of health and wellbeing courses being offered on the College campus next year, by allowing tutors/instructors to hire out rooms in the College. The College hopes that this model will offer greater flexibility for tutors, whilst also allowing the College to continue promoting the use of its facilities and campus to the benefit of the wider community.
In responding to the 10x Vision, the College is currently reviewing its provision to identify if it is possible to further align to the 10x Vision. Any new provision emerging from this review will aim to complement existing provision, which continues to be viable and relevant.
The Lifelong Learning prospectus for this coming year has not yet been published and the final provision has not yet been agreed by College management.