Empey promotes US-NI Further Education partnerships

Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey, has said that Northern Ireland will benefit from partnerships between local Further Education colleges and community colleges in the United States.

While in the USA last week, Sir Reg met with James E McKinney, vice president of economic development and international programs at the American Association of Community Colleges, to discuss the promotion of partnerships. The Minister visited the Northern Virginia Community College campus in Loudoun County to see at first hand its cutting edge work on global imaging systems.

Sir Reg said: "We have made very significant investment in recent years in our Further Education colleges. Promoting collaboration between US community colleges and our FE colleges will further enhance the vital role played by FE in our regional economy.

"It has been clear from my discussions while visiting the excellent Northern Virginia Community College, and the American Association of Community Colleges, that there is immense enthusiasm for a partnership with Northern Ireland's Further Education colleges. My Department will be working over the next months to ensure that such partnerships are developed.

"Partnerships between community colleges in the US and our FE colleges have the real potential to contribute to the global competitiveness of Northern Ireland plc".

Notes to editors:

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