New further education sector takes shape

Northern Ireland’s 16 Further Education (FE) colleges are to merge into six larger area based groupings from 1 August 2007.

Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, today highlighted the importance of the mergers and confirmed that the number of college campuses delivering courses locally would not change as a result of these mergers.

Commenting on the mergers the Minister said: “The introduction of six 'super' colleges is excellent news for Northern Ireland’s education sector and will have a significant impact for learners, the community and local businesses. Working with their economic and educational partners, the new colleges will be at the forefront of ensuring that Northern Ireland has the necessary skills to compete in a modern, knowledge based, global economy.”

The new college groupings are:

Belfast Metropolitan College incorporating: Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education and Castlereagh College of Further and Higher Education.

North West Regional College incorporating: North West Institute of Further and Higher Education and Limavady College of Further and Higher Education.

Northern Regional College incorporating: Causeway Institute of Further and Higher Education, North East Institute of Further and Higher Education and East Antrim Institute of Further and Higher Education.

Southern Regional College incorporating: Armagh College of Further and Higher Education, Newry and Kilkeel Institute of Further and Higher Education and Upper Bann Institute of Further and Higher Education.

South West College incorporating: East Tyrone College of Further and Higher Education, Fermanagh College and Omagh College.

South Eastern Regional College: East Down Institute of Further and Higher Education, Lisburn College of Further and Higher Education and North Down and Ards Institute of Further and Higher Education.

Chief Executive of the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges (ANIC), John D’Arcy said: “The merging of Northern Ireland’s 16 FE colleges into six larger, area-based colleges is the most significant development in FE’s 100 year history. It is also the first major aspect of the government’s FE Means Business strategy to be implemented. From a student and a customer point of view, it will be very much business as usual as the colleges’ dedicated and expert staff will ensure as smooth a transition as possible to the new look FE sector. ANIC looks forward to working with the six new colleges to ensure they play a full role in the economic and social regeneration of Northern Ireland.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The restructuring of the sector follows a major review and public consultation instigated in 2001 by the Assembly Committee for Employment’s inquiry into Education and Training for Industry. The findings of the review were published for consultation in March 2004 in the document, “Further Education Means Business”. Response to the consultation supported a reconsideration of college size and structure.
2. The Association of Northern Ireland Colleges (ANIC) represents the interests of the colleges and has been working with the Department for Employment and Learning to facilitate the implementation of the Further Education Means Business review including the college mergers.
3. New Chairs and Governors have been appointed to the new colleges with effect from 1 August 2007.
4. Media enquiries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.
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