Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2008/2009
Date: 10 September 2008
Venue: Room 135
The meeting opened at 10:34am in public session.
Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 3rd September 2008
Agreed: The minutes were agreed.
2. Briefing from Stranmillis University College on the Review of Teacher Education
10:37am Mr Butler joined the meeting
The Committee received a briefing from representatives of the Stranmillis University College: Mr Steve Costello, Chairman of the Governing Body, Mrs Doreen Bell, Vice- Chair of the Governing Body, Dr Anne Heaslett, Principal, and Ms Mae Watson, Vice-Principal, on the Review of Teacher Education. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
12:02pm The Chairperson adjourned the meeting
12:08pm The meeting resumed in public session
3. Departmental update briefing on the Steps to Work Programme
The Committee received an update briefing from Departmental officials: Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary, Sheila McNeill, Head of Programme Management and Development Branch, and Tommy McVeigh, Head of Quality and Performance Branch, on the Department’s Steps to Work Programme. The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Agreed: Members agreed that the Central Procurement Directorate of the Department of Finance and Personnel should be asked to brief the Committee on procurement issues.
4. Matters Arising
12:44pm Mr Butler and Mrs McGill left the meeting
Members noted arrangements for the Committee’s meeting on 24 th September at St. Mary’s University College.
Agreed: The Committee noted a research paper from Assembly Research Services on “Best Practice for Teacher Institutions” and agreed that the paper be included in the Committee’s report on it Review of Teacher Education.
Members noted a “Migrant workers strategy for Northern Ireland” from the Migrant Workers Thematic Sub-group of the Racial Equality Forum, laid in the Assembly Business Office on 15 th August.
The Committee noted a Departmental update paper on the University of Ulster’s Portrush Site.
Members noted the Departmental Quarterly Research Review Paper and agreed that the item should be raised at the next meeting for consideration.
Members also noted a Departmental position paper on the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Match Funding. The Committee will receive a further briefing on this issue at its meeting on 17 th September.
5. Chairperson’s Business
Members noted a number of items of correspondence and agreed responses.
12:49pm Mr Attwood left the meeting
6. Departmental Press Notices
Members noted a number of Departmental press notices issued recently.
7. Any Other Business
Agreed: Members noted the minutes of a special meeting of the Senate of Queen’s University on 19 th May and agreed that the minutes should be included in the Committee’s report on it Review of Teacher Education.
The Chairperson thanked Messrs McCausland, McCrea, Ross and Spratt for their work on the Committee and wished them every success.
12:50pm Mrs McGill returned to the meeting
8. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, 17 th September 2008 at 10.30am in Room 135, Parliament Buildings.
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12:51am.
