Sharing experiences to achieve high standards

In the coming weeks Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey is to meet his Scottish counterpart, Fiona Hyslop MSP, to discuss matters of mutual interest.

In the Scottish Executive, Fiona Hyslop is the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, a portfolio she had previously shadowed.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Sir Reg said: "Northern Ireland's further and higher education system has a deservedly strong reputation throughout the world and consistently produces the highest standard of qualifications and skills. In order to maintain that position we must take every opportunity to work closely with our counterparts outside Northern Ireland to learn from and benchmark what we are doing in relation to their experiences.

"It is in our interest to ensure that we make the right connections between the education system and the world of work to allow the skills needs of the economy to be addressed both now and in the future."

On the agenda for the meeting will be student support, skills strategies, the brain drain, progression levels and careers guidance.

The Ministers will meet in Edinburgh on the 30 July 2007.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The visit is designed to allow an exchange of views and best practice between Northern Ireland and Scotland.
2. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.
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