§ Mr. Rhodes Jamesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration is being given to the needs of the Londonderry area for advanced further education; and how such needs will be met.
§ Mr. ScottThe Government statement on the future structure of higher education in Northern Ireland, which302W was published in March 1982, envisaged fuller use being made of Magee University college, as an integral part of the new institution which will be formed by the merger of the Ulster polytechnic and the New University of Ulster. While the detailed disposition of courses around the four major campuses of the new institution has not yet been determined, the steering group which is planning the new institution is well aware of the need to ensure that the requirements of the Londonderry area are catered for. In addition advanced further education courses are also provided in Londonderry by the North West college of technology.
I am anxious that there should be close and effective co-operation between the new institution and the North West college of technology in meeting the needs of the Londonderry area. Discussions have already taken place on this between the steering group, which is planning the new institution, and the Western education and library area board, which is responsible or the North West college of technology. I wish to promote the maximum co-operation between the institutions concerned, and I have therefore decided that a small group should be set up to assess the overall needs of the Londonderry area and to consider the respective roles and relationships of the North West college and of the new institution in meeting these needs.
Accordingly I have asked Mr. Tom Cowan, a former senior chief inspector of the Department of Education for Northern Ireland, to chair a small group with the following terms of reference:
To consider the present and prospective demand for both part-time and full-time courses of advanced further education in Londonderry and to make recommendations as to how these needs should be met, with particular reference to the present and future contributions of the North West College of Technology and the new university institution.The group will be asked to report within six months, and its report will be presented jointly to the Department of Education for Northern Ireland, the Western area board, and the steering group. Members of the group will be nominated by the Western board, the Ulster polytechnic and the New University of Ulster, and will include the vice-chacellor designate of the new institution and a member of the DENI Inspectorate.