AQW 53028/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 25/09/2026
Answered On Date: 06/10/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any consideration she is giving to working with higher and further education institutions to develop specific qualifications in careers teaching.

Answer:

As autonomous institutions, courses offered and delivered by the universities are a matter for them. Similarly, decisions on the courses delivered by Further Education colleges are operational matters for individual colleges and their Governing Bodies.

However my Department’s Careers Advisers are professionally qualified and hold a relevant Level 6 or above Careers Guidance qualification. The Department also supports workforce development within the Careers Service through its Trainee Careers Adviser Programme, which includes a Level 6 qualification in Careers Guidance and Development.

The Level 6 Diploma in Careers Guidance and Development is available from a number of awarding institutions nationally. The Open University is currently the only local institution that delivers this qualification. This qualification is distinct from qualifications for careers teaching.