Skip the NI Direct Bar

Scottish Minister on fact finding visit to Northern Ireland

Scotland’s Deputy Minister for Lifelong Learning Allan Wilson MSP, arrived in Northern Ireland today for a two-day fact finding visit.

During his stay he will visit Further and Higher Education colleges, the University of Ulster and attend meetings with officials from the Department for Employment and Learning.

Welcoming the visitor to her Department’s headquarters, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Employment and Learning, Aideen McGinley said:

“Northern Ireland’s further and higher education systems have a deservedly strong reputation and consistently produce the highest standard of qualification levels.

“In order to maintain that position we need to take every opportunity to work closely with our counterparts outside Northern Ireland to learn from and benchmark what we are doing in relation to their experiences.

“We also need to make the right connections between the education system and the world of work to ensure that the skills needs of the economy are addressed both now and in the future.”

Following his inaugural meetings with senior officials at the Department, Allan Wilson said:

“It is clear to me that Northern Ireland has adopted a root and branch strategic approach in the areas of addressing skill shortages, making important links between learning and the economy, and widening access to education and training.

“The issues we have discussed have a direct read across to policies being implemented by the Scottish Executive, and we have much to learn from each other in the years ahead.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. Mr Allan Wilson MSP, is the Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning in Scotland.
  2. He has a Trade Union background and was Head of Higher Education (Scotland) Unison from 1994 – 1999.
  3. The visit is designed to allow an exchange of views and best practice between Northern Ireland and Scotland.
  4. Media enquiries to the Department for Employment and Learning on 028 9025 7872.