Smith highlights importance of partnership approach on fact finding visit to US
Proactive engagement with other countries can help Northern Ireland maximise its potential in the global marketplace.
This was the key message from Employment and Learning Minister AngelaSmith as she began a three day visit to the State of North Carolina this week. She was invited by Secretary of State Elaine F Marshall when colleagues from North Carolina visited Northern Ireland in November 2005.
During her fact finding visit the Minister will see at first hand how the State delivers education and employment programmes in an economic environment similar to Northern Ireland’s.
Speaking at a reception hosted by the Northern Ireland Bureau, the Minister told representatives from North Carolina’s business and education community that the links being forged between the two economies would help expose their populations to global issues: “Through the many joint educational programmes between Northern Ireland and the USA, we are improving our competitiveness and enhancing our skills bases. It is through this work and sharing knowledge as we are doing this week, that we can truly tackle the challenges of globalisation.”
The Minister also used the reception to launch the Department for Employment and Learning’s Strategic Approach to International Activity. The approach will maximise the contribution of tertiary education to overseas trade and inward investment, by encouraging international collaboration.
The Minister said: “We recognise the significance of the increased internationalisation of higher education, training and research. This new approach will help us ensure that we gain maximum benefit from an increasingly competitive international student and labour market. By developing international partnerships, we can increase our influence and reputation as a global player and attract more inward investment, visiting skilled workers and high calibre foreign students to our higher education institutions.”
The Strategic Approach also affirms the Department’s recognition of the need to develop the skills and competences of individuals so that they can compete in a global economy:
“Through exposing individuals to global issues, and nurturing in them an appreciation of cultural diversity, we can tackle the challenges of globalisation as well as raise the productivity and competitiveness of the Northern Ireland economy.”
Commenting on the challenges being faced by the administration in North Carolina as its traditional industries of textile and furniture manufacturing and tobacco declined Angela Smith said:
“The problems faced in North Carolina reflect those we face in Northern Ireland and we need “new age” solutions to replace and rejuvenate both economic sustainability and update our skills base if we are to survive. Many lessons have been learned here and we will take those experiences into account as we move forward in Northern Ireland.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The Minister was invited by North Carolina Secretary of State, Elaine F Marshall, when colleagues from North Carolina visited Northern Ireland in November 2005.
2. Co-operation between Northern Ireland and North Carolina has developed over the last couple of years as a result of the similarity in the public policy issues each region faces.
3. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.