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Efficiency review will provide stability for Belfast Metropolitan College

6 January 2010

The final report of the comprehensive efficiency review on the operation of Belfast Metropolitan College was published today.  

The review was commissioned by the Department for Employment and Learning, in association with the College Governing Body, as a result of the disappointing financial performance of the college in recent years.  It involved a rigorous examination of all aspects of the College’s operations in order to identify the main reasons for the decline in financial performance.

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, commented on the final report and said: “This report will help provide the stability that Belfast Metropolitan College needs to allow it to continue to deliver high quality skills training to young people in the Greater Belfast area and beyond.  

“Whilst the financial performance of the College has been disappointing in recent years, the College is in a financially healthy position and this review will provide a useful framework for its further development.  It is gratifying to note that the College is increasing its number of enrolments and continues to deliver a vital service in securing the skills base of the workforce.”

Sir Reg added: “My Department continues to work closely with the College Governing Body and management team to provide support and guidance.  It is also important to stress that neither the review which has been completed, nor the process that the College will be putting in place to address its recommendations, will adversely affect the strategic development of the College – either in relation to the quality of teaching provided, or the construction of a new state of the art campus in the Titanic Quarter.”

The main purpose of the review was to provide recommendations for improvements to the operation of the college to ensure that the necessary structures and processes were in place to continue delivering high quality teaching, particularly in those skill areas needed by local businesses to assist in economic recovery.   

Notes to editors:

  1. The review is available on the DEL website at http://www.delni.gov.uk/bmcefficiencyreview external link.
  2. The Efficiency Review was commissioned under Article 18 of the Further Education (NI) Order 1997.
  3. The report was formally considered by the College Governing Body at a special meeting on 4 June 2009; the Governing Body has drawn up a strategy for the review’s implementation, including the production of a whole college improvement plan.
  4. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Employment and Learning Communications Branch on 028 9025 7872. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.