1. Department for the Economy Deputy Director, Further Education
Jim Russell
Department for the Economy
Deputy Director, Further Education

2. Policy Developments in Northern Ireland
Programme for Government
Securing our Success: the apprenticeships strategy
Generating our Success: the youth training strategy
Further Education Means Success: the FE strategy

3. The imperative for change
Delivery focus vs
Outcomes focus
Unitary Accountability
vs.
Collegiality
Driving activity
Achieving outcomes
Acting alone
Collaboration between sectors
Competition for budgets
Pooling resources
Simple answers
Acknowledging complexity

4. New Programme for Government
14 Outcomes – e.g We prosper through a strong, competitive,
regionally balanced economy; We have a
more equal society.
42 Indicators – e.g Improve the skills profile of the population;
Reduce poverty; Increase respect for each
other.
42 Associated measures –
Improve the skills profile of the population – the proportions qualified at
Level 1,2,3 etc
Reduce poverty % of population living in absolute
/relative poverty
Increase respect for each other A “Respect” index?

5. Why do it? To establish a new world class system of professional
and technical training to meet the needs of:
employers;
the changing nature of the wider economy; and,
prepare individuals for educational progression and
long-term participation in the labour market.

6. Aims of the Apprenticeship Strategy
Provide a world class apprenticeship system that will:
support and meet the ambitions of our young people;
provide Northern Ireland with a skills base capable of propelling growth and innovation in our economy.

7. Core Components of an apprenticeship
The core components of an apprenticeship going forward will:
be for a new employee or job role;
be available from Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels) to Level 8 (Equivalent to Doctorate);
take at least two years to complete;
enable mobility within a sector and the wider economy through a breadth of learning; and,
enable progression to higher or technical training or academic pathway at higher levels.

8. Aims of the Youth Training Strategy
Support employers and young people’s current skills needs;
Provide a strong foundation for young peoples’ progression in education and training and their long- term participation in the workplace; and,
Provide a breadth of learning to allow young people to adapt to changes in our economy.

9. Core components of a traineeship
Accessible to those new to the labour market, already in employment and not yet in employment; 
Provide a new broad based baccalaureate style professional and technical award equating to a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C, including English and mathematics.

10. Further Education Means Success - the Further Education Strategy for Northern Ireland
Vision –
Colleges will be recognised locally, regionally and internationally for high quality and economically relevant education and training provision.
They will be focussed on achieving excellence in delivering the skills needed for the economy of today and tomorrow.
They will be ambitious for their learners, for their region, and for the contribution they make to improving the competitiveness of the Northern Ireland economy.

11. Further Education Means Success
21 Policy Commitments across nine themes –
Economic Development
Social Inclusion
Curriculum Delivery
Excellence
College partnerships
Governance
Funding Model and College Sustainability
International Dimension
Promoting the Further Education Sector

12. Issues & Timescales
Original timescales now recognised as too ambitious.
Apprenticeships and Youth Training Programmes merged.
Examining how to co-ordinate Apps/YT and FE Means Success.
Likely to re-contract for apprenticeships and Youth Training on existing models for 2 years.
Curriculum is key.