Jim Russell
Department for the Economy
Deputy Director, Further Education
Policy Developments in Northern Ireland
Programme for Government
Securing our Success: the apprenticeships strategy
Generating our Success: the youth training strategy
Further Education Means Success: the FE strategy
The imperative for change
Delivery focus
Outcomes focus
vs
Unitary Accountability
vs.
Collegiality
Driving activity
vs.
Achieving outcomes
Acting alone
vs.
Collaboration between sectors
Competition for budgets
vs.
Pooling resources
Simple answers
vs.
Acknowledging complexity
14 Outcomes – e.g.
42 Indicators – e.g.
We prosper through a strong, competitive,
regionally balanced economy; We have a
more equal society.
Improve the skills profile of the population;
Reduce poverty; Increase respect for each
other.
42 Associated measures –
Improve the skills profile of the population –
Reduce poverty
-
Increase respect for each other
-
the proportions qualified at
Level 1,2,3 etc
% of population living in absolute
/relative poverty
A “Respect” index?
To establish a new world class system of professional
and technical training to meet the needs of:

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employers;
the changing nature of the wider economy; and,
prepare individuals for educational progression and
long-term participation in the labour market.
Provide a world class apprenticeship system that will:

support and meet the ambitions of our young people;

provide Northern Ireland with a skills base capable of
propelling growth and innovation in our economy.
The core components of an apprenticeship going forward will:

be for a new employee or job role;

be available from Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels) to Level 8
(Equivalent to Doctorate);

take at least two years to complete;

enable mobility within a sector and the wider economy
through a breadth of learning; and,

enable progression to higher or technical training or academic
pathway at higher levels.

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Support employers and young people’s current skills
needs;
Provide a strong foundation for young peoples’
progression in education and training and their longterm participation in the workplace; and,
Provide a breadth of learning to allow young people to
adapt to changes in our economy.

Accessible to those new to the labour market, already
in employment and not yet in employment;

Provide a new broad based baccalaureate style
professional and technical award equating to a
minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C, including
English and mathematics.
Vision –
Colleges will be recognised locally, regionally and internationally for high quality
and economically relevant education and training provision.
They will be focussed on achieving excellence in delivering the skills needed for
the economy of today and tomorrow.
They will be ambitious for their learners, for their region, and for the contribution
they make to improving the competitiveness of the Northern Ireland economy.
21 Policy Commitments across nine themes –
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Economic Development
Social Inclusion
Curriculum Delivery
Excellence
College partnerships
Governance
Funding Model and College Sustainability
International Dimension
Promoting the Further Education Sector

Original timescales now recognised as too ambitious.

Apprenticeships and Youth Training Programmes merged.

Examining how to co-ordinate Apps/YT and FE Means
Success.
Likely to re-contract for apprenticeships and Youth Training on
existing models for 2 years.
Curriculum is key.
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