New era for Further Education colleges

01 August 2007

On the 1st August 2007, Northern Ireland’s 16 further education (FE) colleges merged into six new area based “super” colleges.

According to the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges (ANIC) this is good news for Northern Ireland’s largest education sector, as well as for learners, communities and businesses throughout Northern Ireland. The change is the most significant development in FE’s 100 year history and the sector is about to enter its most exciting period. ANIC says the names may be changing, but the same top quality service will remain.

FE is now seen as critical in supporting business and industry in Northern Ireland in order to achieve greater economic growth. FE also has a very definite role in supporting social cohesion throughout communities in Northern Ireland. It is hoped that these mergers will ensure better co-ordination of resources to meet these roles.

Most of the new supper colleges will be similar in size and this will secure the long term viability of the colleges in the six regions. It will also secure provision in local communities and continued ease of access for students across Northern Ireland.

The face of education is changing across all of Northern Ireland and this restructuring of the FE sector will support these changes.