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Further and Higher Education play pivotal role in economy - Empey

26 November 2009

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, today congratulated the Higher and Further Education sectors in Northern Ireland on the role they play in supporting our economy.

The Minister was speaking during a visit to both the University of Ulster and the Northern Regional College in Coleraine.  Sir Reg said: “Our young people are the cornerstone of our future.  We must invest in them and ensure that we are providing them with the right education and training so that our economy will prosper in the future.  We should be proud of the achievements our universities and further education colleges have made, and continue to make, during these difficult economic times.

“It is imperative that our education and business sectors work hand in hand to achieve this goal and we in Government must continue to provide vital support.”

At the University of Ulster in Coleraine, Sir Reg was greeted by the University of Ulster's Vice Chancellor Professor Richard Barnett and the Provost of the Coleraine campus, Professor Robert Hutchinson and toured the facilities of the recently refurbished Saad Building.  This houses the Diabetic Research Group and the University of Ulster’s newly introduced Pharmacy degree.  The Minister visited the Learning Resources Centre and presented Scholarship Certificates to six recipients of the University’s Golf Scholarships programme.

The Minister moved on to the Northern Regional College where he was met by Trevor Neilands, Principal and College Director and visited the College’s Sports Science and Carpentry and Joinery facilities.

The Minister rounded off his visit to the town by calling into the Jobs and Benefits Office, Coleraine to thank staff for their continued hard work.

Notes to editors:

  1. The University of Ulster’s introduction of a pharmacy degree course at its Coleraine campus was aided by a donation from the Saad Group of Saudi Arabia. The gift funded the creation of a state-of-the-art centre for pharmacy at the campus, including specialised pharmacy laboratories.
  2. The University of Ulster’s Golf Scholarships programme is sponsored by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, supported by the Golf Union of Ireland, Ulster Branch.
  3. In the 2007/2008 academic year, Northern Regional College had 21,089 professional/technical enrolments, of which 4,694 were full time and 16,395 part time.  Students participating in non professional/technical courses totalled 6,324.  1,120 members of staff are employed by NRC. Between the Coleraine and Ballymoney Campuses, a combined total of 257 full-time and part-time teaching and support staff - 161 teaching and 96 support staff – are employed.
  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 715 440 and your call will be returned.