Economy Minister Diane Dodds pictured with SERC Principal and Chief Executive Ken Webb and Heather McKee, Head of Strategic Planning, Quality and Support at SERC
Speaking on behalf of the Further Education Colleges in Northern Ireland, Ken Webb, Chairperson of the College Principals’ Group said:
“We welcome the really positive findings from the independent report which was commissioned by Department for the Economy. These findings are unsurprising and highlight the vital role which our FE Colleges play in effectively meeting the current and emerging educational and training needs of the economy, of young people entering the labour market and of those already in the workforce.
“All our FE colleges are now open for enrolments and we would encourage new learners to consider a learning experience in one of our 30 local campuses throughout Northern Ireland. Our teams are on hand to provide the necessary advice and guidance.
“Over the past number of months, we have been working intensively to develop new delivery models which will ensure learners can return to campus in a phased, safe, agile and flexible way. These delivery models will be reflective of the different courses on offer, the diverse cohort, and individual needs of learners across Northern Ireland.
“We recognise that some may be apprehensive about returning to college but as Principals’ our absolute priority is the health and wellbeing of all our learners and staff, and we are committed to following all guidance in this regard.”