Research Papers 2011

• EU Research, Innovation and Training Funding

  Reference: 163/11 - Date: 18/11/2011

  This paper provides details on the research, development, innovation, training and learning funding received by Northern Ireland from the European Union.

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• Adult Literacy Strategies in Northern Ireland, the UK and ROI

  Reference: 162/11 - Date: 18/11/2011

  This paper was commissioned by the Committee for Employment and Learning in order to examine the levels of adult literacy in Northern Ireland (NI). The paper also provides details on the literacy and numeracy strategies of NI, Wales, Scotland, England and the Republic of Ireland (ROI). For the purposes of this paper ‘literacy’ refers to both literacy and numeracy.

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• The Confucius Institute

  Reference: 108/11 - Date: 10/11/2011

  The following paper provides a brief introduction to the Confucius Institute.

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• European Commission Legislative Proposals 2011

  Reference: 105/11 - Date: 06/10/2011

  This table provides details of the European Commission Legislative Proposals 2011. This includes the estimated date of adoption, current stage of progress, perceived relevance to Northern Ireland, and the indicative date of when the Committee can become involved. This table also highlights where any subsidiarity issues have been identified.

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• The Gender Pay Gap

  Reference: 95/11 - Date: 15/09/2011

  This paper will briefly discuss the gender pay gap. The paper begins by discussing the existing pay differences between men and women in the United Kingdom (UK) regions with a focus on graduate pay. It then discusses the main reasons behind this pay disparity including job segregation and education.

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• Review of Regional Colleges’ Annual Reports and Financial Statements – Year end 31 July 2010

  Reference: 74/11 - Date: 30/06/2011

  The following Briefing Note provides an overview of the current financial situation for the Northern Ireland Regional Colleges for the financial year ended 31 July 2010 and highlights any potential points of interest for the Committee. Please note, the Annual Report for Belfast Metropolitan College (BMC) for 2009-10 are not yet available – This paper therefore examines the most recently published Annual Report and Accounts for the year 2008-09 (laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly on 24 March 2011).

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• Northern Ireland University Budgets

  Reference: 72/11 - Date: 30/06/2011

  The following paper was requested by the Committee for Employment and Learning in order to provide details on the budgets for Northern Ireland’s Universities - Queen’s University Belfast (QUB); University of Ulster (UU); St. Mary’s University College; and Stranmillis University College.

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• European Commission Work Programme 2011: Employment and Learning Quarter 2

  Reference: 73/11 - Date: 30/06/2011

  The following Briefing Paper has been written for the Committee for Employment and Learning to inform their scrutiny of the Northern Ireland Executive’s implementation of strategic initiatives and legislation being produced by the European Commission which falls under the Committee’s remit.The Briefing Paper discusses the European Commission Work Programme for 2011 (published October 2010) and the proposals, initiatives and communications due to be adopted between 2011 and 2014. It provides an update to the 1st quarter paper NIAR 192/2011 .

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• Current and Proposed Higher Education Student Finance Arrangements in the UK Regions

  Reference: 54/11 - Date: 17/05/2011

  This paper examines the existing Higher Education finance arrangements for the four UK Regions and the current proposed changes to these systems.

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• The Economics of Higher Education

  Reference: 53/11 - Date: 21/04/2011

  This paper provides a brief discussion on the economics of Higher Education (HE). The paper quickly explores the causes of growth, the social rates of return from HE and the individual benefits resulting from a third level education. The paper also considers perceived disadvantages of Higher Education such as overreliance on it for economic growth and the potential impact of over qualification in the labour market.

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• European Commission Work Programme 2011: Employment and Learning

  Reference: 48/11 - Date: 18/03/2011

  The following Briefing Paper has been written for the Committee for Employment and Learning to inform their scrutiny of the Northern Ireland Executive’s implementation of strategic initiatives and legislation being produced by the European Commission which fall under the Committee’s remit. The Briefing Paper discusses the European Commission Work Programme for 2011 (published October 2010) and the proposals, initiatives and communications due to be adopted between 2011 and 2014.

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• European Commission Work Programme 2010: Employment and Learning (Updated March 2011)

  Reference: 47/11 - Date: 18/03/2011

  The following Briefing Paper has been written for the Committee for Employment and Learning to inform their scrutiny of strategic initiatives and legislation being produced by the European Commission which falls under the Committee’s remit. This draft of the paper is an update of a previous version submitted on the 11 of October 2010 and includes details on the progress of initiatives and legislation.

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