Minister launches new South Eastern Regional College
5 June 2007
South Eastern Regional College was today officially launched by the Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey.
The College, which is one of the six new Further Education Colleges, is being formed by the merger of East Down Institute of Further and Higher Education, Lisburn Institute of Further and Higher Education, and North Down and Ards Institute of Further and Higher Education. The new College entity will come into effect from 1 August 2007.
One of the aims of the re-structuring of the Further Education sector is to ensure that the colleges in Northern Ireland are more equal in size. There will be no change to the number of college campuses, allowing continued ease of access for learners. The new college structure will continue to be responsible for meeting the needs of learners and businesses in their local areas, as well as contributing to a more co-ordinated and strategic approach to the provision of skills across Northern Ireland.
Speaking at the launch event the Minister said: This is an exciting time for the Further Education sector in Northern Ireland and we are now seeing the vision of the ‘Further Education Means Business’ strategy becoming a reality. This new regional college can be an example of the society which we hope to build and be an inclusive place of learning for the entire community.
In his address to invited guests, Sir Reg said: I am committed to ensuring that young people and adults have modern and effective learning environments. If we want our young people to aspire to be the best, we must provide the facilities to enable them to reach that level.
It is anticipated that the College will have over 36,000 learners across all campuses and it will employ more than 1,150 experienced academic and corporate services staff.
Sir Reg continued: The Further Education sector plays a key role in the social and economic development of the people of Northern Ireland, a role which has been brought into sharper focus through my Department’s ‘Success Through Skills’ strategy. This strategy has identified a series of major challenges for the future, all of which aim to provide a suitably skilled workforce to help local industry compete in an increasingly global market-place.
The Minister was welcomed to the Institute by Brian Acheson, Chair Designate of South Eastern Regional College and Brian Henry, Director Designate and was taken on a tour of the Bangor campus.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The 16 local Further Education colleges will merge to six from 1 August 2007.
2. 2. South Eastern Regional College will be formed by the merger of the East Down Institute of Further and Higher Education, Lisburn Institute of Further and Higher Education and North Down and Ards Institute of Further and Higher Education.
3. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.