Minutes of Proceedings

The meeting opened in public session at 10.21 am.

1. Presentation from Belfast Metropolitan College on the E3 Campus

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 5.

Representatives joined the meeting at 10.21 am.

The Committee was briefed by Mr Justin Edwards, Assistant CEO and Director of Curriculum, Mr Damian Duffy, Director of Development and Learner Services and Mr Paul O’Connor, Head of Learner Services on the Belfast Metropolitan College, E3 Campus.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

Representatives left the meeting at 10.51 am.

2. Briefing from Belfast Metropolitan College on the Committee Inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in Northern Ireland

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 6.

Representatives joined the meeting at 10.51 am.

10.53 am Mr Allister joined the meeting.

10.53 am Mr Hilditch joined the meeting.

The Committee was briefed by Mr Justin Edwards, Assistant CEO and Director of Curriculum and Mr Paul O’Connor, Head of Learner Services on the Committee Inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in Northern Ireland.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

The representatives agreed to provide the Committee with further information on a range of issues.

The representatives agreed to review the Hansard of the Committee’s Inquiry Evidence sessions and provide the Committee with further information on the issues raised.

Representatives left the meeting at 11.14 am.

3. Apologies

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 1.

Apologies are detailed above.

4. Chairperson’s Business

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 2.

• The Chairperson advised Members that the launch of the Children’s University in Northern Ireland which the Committee agreed to host at its meeting on 3 October will take place on 18 February 2013 in the Long Gallery.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to provide a buffet lunch for those attending the event.

• The Chairperson advised Members of a response from the University of Ulster to the Committee’s plan to visit the Magee Campus as part of its Inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in Northern Ireland advising that the Jordanstown Campus would be more appropriate as it houses the University’s main careers facilities.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule a visit to the Jordanstown Campus as part of its Inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in Northern Ireland.

5. Minutes of the meeting held on  21 November 2012

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 3.

Agreed: The minutes of the meeting were agreed.

6. Matters arising

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 4.

• The Committee noted a list of matters arising from the previous meeting.

• The Committee noted an Assembly Research and Information Service paper on Moy Park Agency Workers Employment Practices.

• The Committee noted a response from UCAS requesting further information regarding the Republic of Ireland’s Central Admissions Office admissions criteria.

• The Committee considered a proposed itinerary for its planned visit to the CERN Institute, Geneva, Switzerland.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to the itinerary.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to Queen’s University, Belfast, University of Ulster, the Open University, Colleges NI and businesses from the Assembly Business Trust inviting them to provide representatives to attend the visit at their own expense.

7. Subordinate Legislation

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 9.

The Committee considered an SL1 proposal for The Education (Student Support) (No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013.

Agreed: The Committee agreed that it was content for the Department to make the Rule.

8. Correspondence

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 10.

The Committee considered the following items of correspondence:

• Correspondence from the Committee for Justice providing additional information from an individual regarding their complaint relating to Lisburn Technical College.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence. 

• Response from South Eastern Regional College regarding an individual’s complaint relating to Lisburn Technical College.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to forward this correspondence to the individual and advise them to contact the South Eastern Education and Library Board which was responsible for the college at the time the issue took place. 

11.23 am Mr Ramsey left the meeting.

• Correspondence from the Southern Regional College providing additional information on computer schemes operated by the college.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Departmental response regarding the provision of  timely and accurate information to the Department for Finance and Personnel.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Correspondence from Queen’s University Belfast providing further information on their research work.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Departmental response to the Committee’s request for information on Delivering Success through Excellence, the current position on STEM PhD numbers and training for front line staff.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

11.25 am Mr Ramsey rejoined the meeting.

• Departmental response regarding the joint report into the admissions criteria of the Central Admissions Office (CAO) in the Republic of Ireland by the Council for Curriculum Examinations (CCEA) and Irish Universities Association (IUA)
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting information on when the report will be available to the Committee. 

• Response from the Director General of the Northern Ireland Assembly regarding the provision of Hansard for Committee meetings.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this correspondence.

• Departmental response regarding Delivering a Prosperity Process: Opportunities in North/South Public Service Provision.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence. 

• University of Ulster press release on its Master-plan for Jordanstown Campus
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the press release. 

• Departmental statistical bulletin on Essential Skills Enrolments and Outcomes up to 2011 -2012
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting information on those who do not successfully proceed through the Essential Skills programme.

• Correspondence from the Committee for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister providing a paper from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the Review of the Balance of Competences.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

• Ministerial response to the Committee request for additional information on the new Economic Measures to be introduced by the Department.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed consider the response during the Department’s briefing on the January Monitoring Round at next week’s meeting.

• Departmental response regarding the Quarterly Research Review Reports.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

• Invitation to the Northern Ireland Assembly Legislative Strengthening Trust and Washington Ireland programme.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this invitation.

• Invitation from Disability Action to Disability Aid Abroad launch of the Disability and Development DVD based learning resource.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this invitation.

• Invitation to the Law Centre (NI) Annual General Meeting and seminar titled ‘The future of adult care and support’.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this invitation.

• Invitation from Queen’s University Belfast Chief Executive Club annual gala dinner.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note this invitation.

• Department for Education response to the Committee request regarding the Entitlement Framework.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response and to forward to Southern Regional College for information.

• Departmental update on Apprenticeships - Position at 03 December 2012.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the update.

• Ministerial response to Committee request for additional information on the New Employment Programme.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

• Departmental response to the Committee request for additional information on the European Globalisation Fund.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to write to the Department requesting to be kept informed of the discussions with the Department for Work and Pensions.

• Ministerial response to Committee request for further information from the briefing on the Review of Employment Law in Northern Ireland.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

• Departmental response to the Department for Finance and Personnel paper on the Special EU Programmes Body.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

• Departmental response to the Committee request for information on Information Technology in Education.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

• Ministerial response to Committee correspondence on the treatment of Agency Workers at FG Wilson.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

• Department correspondence regarding Results of a consultation on ceasing publication of the statistical release ‘16 and 17 year old participation in full-time education and vocational training’.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.

• Invitation from the Northern Ireland Children’s University to a briefing seminar in the Long Gallery, on Tuesday 19^th February 2013, at 12.30 pm.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.

9. Draft Forward Work Programme

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 11.

• The Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme up to 27 March 2013.
  Agreed: The Committee agreed to schedule it first meeting after Christmas Recess on 16 January 2013.

10. Any Other Business

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 12.

None.

11. Briefing from Colleges NI on the Committee Inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in Northern Ireland

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 7.

Representatives joined the meeting at 11.30 am.

The Committee was briefed by Mr Gerard Campbell, Chief Executive, Colleges NI, Mr David Smith, Director of Learning and Customer Support, South Eastern Regional College, Mr Les Myers, Careers Education Guidance and Counselling Manager, North West Regional College and Mr Justin Edwards, Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Curriculum, Belfast Metropolitan College, on the Committee Inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in Northern Ireland.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

12.00 pm Mr Ramsey left the meeting.

The representatives agreed to provide the Committee with further information on a range of issues.

The representatives agreed to review the Hansard of the Committee’s Inquiry Evidence sessions and provide the Committee with further information on the issues raised.

Representatives left the meeting at 12.18 pm.

12. Briefing from The Royal Belfast Academical Institution on the Committee Inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in Northern Ireland

The Committee agreed to move to agenda item 8.

Representatives joined the meeting at 12.18 pm.

The Committee was briefed by Mr Darren O’Neill, Head of Careers, on the Committee Inquiry into Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) in Northern Ireland.

The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.

12.31 pm Mr Hilditch left the meeting.

The representatives agreed to provide the Committee with further information on a range of issues.

The representatives agreed to review the Hansard of the Committee’s Inquiry Evidence sessions and provide the Committee with further information on the issues raised.

The representatives left the meeting at 12.48 pm.

13. Date, time and place of next meeting

Agreed: The Committee agreed that the next meeting should be held on Wednesday, 12 December 2012, at 10.00 am in Room 29 Parliament Buildings

The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 12.48 pm.

Mr Basil McCrea
Chairperson, Committee for Employment & Learning
12 December 2012