The Minister said: “I have, with my senior management, been considering how we can best utilise the budget available to us in 2008/09. One of the proposals brought forward was to cease to offer Communications Courses at Loughry. I met with the current students on these courses, and took careful account of their commitment and enthusiasm for the continuation of the courses. My senior officials also met with the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ulster Farmers’ Union, and NIPSA. I have decided to accept the strong case made for the courses to continue.
“This still leaves us with the problem of balancing our books. Many Postgraduate students at other education establishments have to pay course fees. I have decided that existing students in the Communication course will continue to have their Validation Fees paid, but the Department will not pay Validation Fees for new students. However, I will keep this under review for future years.
“The challenge for the Department is to live within budgetary constraints this year and continue to offer a wide range of vocational agri-food programmes to meet industry needs.”
The Minister has therefore agreed that no new Postgraduate MSc Studentship Awards will be offered for the academic year 2008/09, following which the position will be reviewed and that given budgetary constraints, this is the best option available.
She concluded: “I am strongly in favour of vocational education and training for those involved in farming, agri-food and other rural enterprise and this decision underlines this commitment.”
Notes to Editors:
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