Business and professional people urged to become governors

By serving as Governors of colleges of further education here, business and professional people can make a real difference in helping improve people skills and supporting local industry, Carmel Hanna, Minister for Employment and Learning, has said.

Ms Hanna was speaking during her first visit to a College of Further and Higher Education, at Castlereagh in East Belfast, the first of a programme of planned visits to colleges around Northern Ireland.

Welcomed by the Principal, Mrs Muriel Shankey, and Deputy Principal, James Lee, the Minister visited various departments including the College’s Technology Centre, where she had an opportunity to speak informally with a number of students. Later, she attended a meeting with the senior management team and members of the College’s governing body at which a number of issues were discussed.

Speaking after the visit, Ms Hanna said: "I have been very encouraged by what I have seen today. Castlereagh College has over 800 full-time students and almost 3,500 part-time students engaged in a wide range of vocational and non-vocational courses. Significantly, it is the only college in Northern Ireland to offer the City and Guilds printing courses."

Castlereagh is one of 16 colleges located throughout Northern Ireland providing an extensive range of educational and training opportunities.

The Minister added: "Education and training have a central role in the Programme for Government, in both social and economic terms. It also opens the door of opportunity and is now available to people of all ages. However, if we are to look forward to a prosperous economic future, it is vital that our young people are adequately equipped with the confidence, abilities and values needed to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity. Supporting the economy, widening access and raising standards are the key priorities of the sector."

Commenting on the forthcoming appointments of governors of further education colleges, Ms Hanna said: "The further education sector has been very positive in the way it has responded to the challenges of lifelong learning and, in particular, its vital role in contributing to economic development.

"My Department is currently seeking applications for new governors. As over half of the appointments to each college’s governing body are made up of business and professional people, I would strongly encourage those with management experience or have a skill in the specialist areas of finance, personnel or law to consider making an application for appointment.

"Their contribution adds considerable value to a college in setting its strategic agenda and ensuring efficient and effective management.” (MB)