Minutes of Proceedings
Session: 2012/2013
Date: 26 June 2013
Venue: Room 30, Parliament Buildings
The meeting opened in public session at 10.20 am.
1. Apologies
Apologies are detailed above.
2. Chairperson's Business
The Chairperson informed Members that the new tablet devices for electronic meeting packs are being disseminated to Members over the coming week and that there will be short sessions available for Members in the use of Windows 8.
3. Minutes of the meeting held on 19 June 2013
Agreed: The minutes of the meeting were agreed.
4. Matters arising
• The Committee noted a list of matters arising from the previous meeting.
5. Correspondence
The Committee considered the following items of correspondence:
• Departmental response to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment request to outline if Northern Ireland can be sub-divided as a region to avail of funding from the budget for youth unemployment.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.
• Assembly Research and Information Service briefing paper and addendum on a selection of companies in Northern Ireland that deliver training and development programmes and apprenticeships to their employees.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to invite those organisations detailed in the briefing paper that operate Apprenticeships to the Committee's Apprenticeship Showcase Event on 24 September in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings.
10.23 am Mr Ross joined the meeting.
• Departmental response to the Committee Inquiry regarding the financial assistance that is being provided to disabled persons in relation to work experience opportunities.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the response.
• Departmental briefing paper disclosing the Department's 2012 - 2013 Provisional Outturn for Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) expenditure.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the briefing paper.
• Assembly Research and Information Service briefing paper on a European Union Proposal that has been identified as EU Legislation of note to the Committee.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the paper.
• Departmental update on the plans for the transfer of responsibility for the administration of the Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunals to the Department of Justice.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence.
• Correspondence from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on a European Union Proposal in relation to measures facilitating the exercise of rights conferred on workers in the context of freedom of movement for workers.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the correspondence and request that Assembly Research and Information Service keep a watching brief on the development of policy.
• Invitation from The Open University's Nations Group Dinner on 27 June 2013 in the Members Dining Room, Parliament Buildings
Agreed: The Committee agreed to note the invitation.
6. Forward Work Programme
The Committee considered the draft Forward Work Programme up to 4 September 2013.
7. Briefing from the European Union High Level Group on the Modernisation of Higher Education - Via Video Link
Representatives joined the meeting at 10.25 am.
The Committee was briefed by Ms Margie Waters, Deputy Head of Unit - Higher Education Policy Unit, Modernisation of Higher Education and Mr Frank Petrikowski, Policy Officer in Higher Education: Bologna Process; Quality of Teaching and Learning Unit on the European Union High Level Group on the Modernisation of Higher Education.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
Representatives left the meeting at 10.43 am.
8. Joint Departmental briefing on the proposed reform of the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI)
The officials joined the meeting at 10.43 am.
The Committee was briefed by Mr Chris Andrews, Head of Further Education Policy and Strategic Development, Department for Employment and Learning, Mr Nick Gibson, Further Education Policy and Strategic Development Branch, Department for Employment and Learning, Mrs Miriam Miskelly, Head of Teacher Education Team, Department of Education and Mr Sam Dempster, Teacher Education Team, Department of Education on the proposed reform of the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI).
10.45 am Mr Hilditch joined the meeting.
The briefing was followed by a question and answer session.
The officials left the meeting at 11.06 am.
9. Any other Business
The Committee discussed information on the Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of Innovation Project based on Supporting the Transfer of Education & Mobility Strategies.
Agreed: The Committee agreed to host an event for the Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of Innovation Project in September in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
Agreed: The Committee agreed that the next meeting should be held on Wednesday 3 July 2013 at 10:30 am in Room 29, Parliament Buildings
The Chairperson adjourned the meeting at 11.08 am.
