NI Further Education Colleges Merge

The 16 further education colleges across Northern Ireland have merged to create six new ‘super colleges’.

The merger of the colleges to six area based colleges is the first major aspect of the Government’s FE Means Business strategy to be implemented and will see widespread changes to what further education colleges do and how they do it.

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, said that the creation of the ‘super colleges’ was excellent news for the education sector and would have a significant impact for learners, the community and local business.

The Chief Executive of the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges (ANIC), John D’Arcy, said that the merger was a significant step and although the names will be changing the same top quality will remain.

Belfast Metropolitan College will consist of Belfast Institute and Castlereagh College. North West Regional College will be made up of North West Institute and Limavady College.

Northern Regional College will include Causeway Institute, North East Institute and East Antrim Institute of Further and Higher Education.

Southern Regional College will incorporate Armagh College, Newry and Kilkeel Institute and Upper Bann Institute of Further and Higher Education.

South West College consists of East Tyrone College of Further and Higher Education, Fermanagh College and Omagh College.

The new South Eastern Regional College will include East Down Institute of Further and Higher Education, Lisburn College of Further and Higher Education and North Down and Ards Institute of Further and Higher Education.

Mr D’Arcy said that the ANIC looks forward to working with the six new colleges to ensure they play a full role in the economic and social regeneration of Northern Ireland.

Mr D’Arcy also said that for the benefit of students and customers, expert staff will ensure as smooth a transition as possible to the new look further education sector.

(SB/SP)