Recommendations: 89, 90, 91, 92, 93

11.3 When consulting in Northern Ireland on the full range of the Dearing Committee’s recommendations, the Minister with responsibility for education in Northern Ireland sought views in particular on the recommendations directed specifically to Northern Ireland. In addition, the Department for Education in Northern Ireland (DENI), in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council (NIHEC), held a consultative conference to complement the written consultation. This provided a further opportunity for the sector and others to let the Minister know their views at first hand.

Recommendation 89: We recommend that higher education institutions in Northern Ireland, in close collaboration with all the relevant external players, steadily enhance their regional role, taking full advantage of the special potential for the development of strong regional networks.

11.4 The Government fully supports this recommendation. The development of this role is recognised by the Northern Ireland universities and is embedded in their corporate plans. A joint DENI/Universities Marketing Research Study is nearing completion. This identifies the scope for development of collaborative activity with companies in particular sectors of the economy. Its findings will be taken forward in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Growth Challenge and other representative bodies. More generally, steps will be taken to optimise the potential for the development of strong regional networks.

Recommendation 90: We recommend to the Government that options be examined for substantially increasing the number of higher education places in Northern Ireland in a cost-effective way which involves no compromise in quality and standards.

11.5 The Government will consider the case for increasing the number of higher education places in Northern Ireland in the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review. Northern Ireland already has a relatively high level of participation in third level education, but a large proportion of young people have to seek places outside the country. Therefore there may be a less pressing need for a further increase in participation to fulfil the Government’s commitment to expand access generally; if so there may be scope for applying resources anticipated to become available for this over the longer term to provide additional domestic places in Northern Ireland. The Government is clear that any such provision must be cost effective, building on existing quality and standards.

Recommendation 91: We recommend to the Government and institutions that consideration be given to adopting the Dearing 16-19 year olds option as one of the bases for entrance to universities in Northern Ireland.

11.6 The Committee’s recommendation on National Certificates and the National Advanced Diploma has been overtaken by the Government’s proposals for an overarching certificate which will include advanced level achievements across all pathways, encourage breadth of attainment, including Key Skills, and require attainment in depth. The proposal is that this certificate should be attainable by most learners at advanced level, but at the same time encourage high levels of achievement. The Government’s proposals have been the subject of full public consultation in Northern Ireland, England and Wales, in the wider context of the future of post-16 qualifications, in its document "Qualifying for Success". One of the questions this document asked was whether there is support from HE and employers for the certificate and, if so, how they would actively support and encourage people to gain it. The consultation period ended on 18 December 1997. Decisions will be announced in the spring.

Recommendation 92: We recommend to the Government that the scale and nature of funding for research in Northern Ireland universities should be assessed afresh in the context of the Province’s strategy for economic development and of the recommendations in Chapter 11.

11.7 The scale and nature of funding for research in Northern Ireland universities as it impacts upon Northern Ireland’s strategy for economic development is being reviewed by an inter-Departmental Group, whose work will inform the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Recommendation 93: We recommend to the Government that there be constituted in Northern Ireland a Tertiary Education Forum, a Higher Education Funding Council and a Further Education Funding Council.

11.8 The Government is exploring further the merits of establishing a funding council or councils in Northern Ireland, and the concept of a Tertiary Education Forum. It is currently considering the possible models which could best fulfil the concept, taking account of the scale of provision in Northern Ireland and experience of the systems in operation elsewhere in the UK, and in due course will consult the sector on a preferred way forward.

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