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07/12/2011
Students Boosted By Extra Uni Places
Hundreds of extra places are being made available at NI universities and colleges.
An extra 700 undergraduate places will be opened up in Northern Ireland by 2015, the Stormont Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry has announced.
He has revealed that all the places will be in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects and there will be 233 new places in 2012-13 and 467 in 2013-14.
The University of Ulster will have 322 additional places, Queen's University 308 and other further education providers 70.
Dr Farry said this is the largest increase in undergraduate student places since 2000: "This increase, which will start next year, is great news for all those young people who want to access higher education in Northern Ireland.
"All the additional places will be in economically relevant Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects which will ensure that we are delivering the right skills to support the rebalancing and growth of our local economy."
As part of the Stormont Executive's decision on higher education funding and tuition fees, Dr Farry's Department will receive £1m in 2012-13, £2m in 2013-14 and £3m by 2015 to increase student places.
The announcement today represents the additional places created, along with extra places generated by removing Great Britain students from the 'Maximum Student Number' calculation.
Minister Farry also indicated that he will continue to assess future student flows and demand for places and would press the Executive for further funding should the need for more undergraduate places be justified.
"I am confident that at least 700 additional places will be delivered by 2015 and we will work with our higher education providers to, where possible, exceed this figure.
"This investment will help to address the anticipated rising demand for local places from Northern Ireland students as a consequence of the freezing of tuition fees in line with inflation.
"These additional places will be made available to the University of Ulster, Queen's University and also to local further education colleges that deliver higher education courses.
"Higher education delivered through further education is an important aspect of our overall provision and the allocation of places will ensure that extra capacity is also made available to our further education colleges."
The universities and the further education colleges will determine the deployment of the additional places across subject areas and campuses.
(BMcC/GK)
An extra 700 undergraduate places will be opened up in Northern Ireland by 2015, the Stormont Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry has announced.
He has revealed that all the places will be in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects and there will be 233 new places in 2012-13 and 467 in 2013-14.
The University of Ulster will have 322 additional places, Queen's University 308 and other further education providers 70.
Dr Farry said this is the largest increase in undergraduate student places since 2000: "This increase, which will start next year, is great news for all those young people who want to access higher education in Northern Ireland.
"All the additional places will be in economically relevant Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects which will ensure that we are delivering the right skills to support the rebalancing and growth of our local economy."
As part of the Stormont Executive's decision on higher education funding and tuition fees, Dr Farry's Department will receive £1m in 2012-13, £2m in 2013-14 and £3m by 2015 to increase student places.
The announcement today represents the additional places created, along with extra places generated by removing Great Britain students from the 'Maximum Student Number' calculation.
Minister Farry also indicated that he will continue to assess future student flows and demand for places and would press the Executive for further funding should the need for more undergraduate places be justified.
"I am confident that at least 700 additional places will be delivered by 2015 and we will work with our higher education providers to, where possible, exceed this figure.
"This investment will help to address the anticipated rising demand for local places from Northern Ireland students as a consequence of the freezing of tuition fees in line with inflation.
"These additional places will be made available to the University of Ulster, Queen's University and also to local further education colleges that deliver higher education courses.
"Higher education delivered through further education is an important aspect of our overall provision and the allocation of places will ensure that extra capacity is also made available to our further education colleges."
The universities and the further education colleges will determine the deployment of the additional places across subject areas and campuses.
(BMcC/GK)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
