05/10/2005

Launch of drive to spread excellence in higher education

An initiative was launched today to promote excellence across all aspects of teaching and learning in Northern Ireland Higher Education.

The regional Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning programme (CETLs NI) was unveiled by Employment and Learning Minister, Angela Smith, at Parliament Buildings on Wednesday.

Outlining the benefits of the investment, the Minister said: "The CETLs initiative in Northern Ireland will reward and enhance excellent teaching practice within our Higher Education Institutions.

"It provides further confirmation of the Government's commitment to the sector and will have a major impact on the learning experiences of students."

The Department for Employment and Learning's aim is to increase and deepen the impact of teaching excellence across the wider teaching and learning community. It is hoped that the CETLs initiative will strengthen the focus on teaching and learning by directing funds to institutions that value and apply high teaching standards.

The four Northern Ireland Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Queens University, the University of Ulster, St Mary's University College and Stranmillis University College, attained eligibility for this strand of funding, having demonstrated areas of excellence that reached a high level of quality.

The two universities can each bid for up to £500,000 per annum in all of the five years of the initiative while St Mary's and Stranmillis can similarly bid for up to £50,000 per annum.

(MB/SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

26 August 2002
Open Learning Centre badged for MOUS success
Advanced Learning Systems has announced that the company has received the Microsoft seal of approval by becoming a recognised testing centre for Microsoft Office courseware and examinations. Joanne Bayliss, Manager of Advanced Learning Systems, said she was delighted on becoming a MOUS approved testing centre.
22 April 2005
University of Ulster secures £1.5m funding
The University of Ulster has secured funding of more than £1.5 million over a five year period to support teaching and learning activities in Information and Computer Sciences throughout the UK’s higher education sector.
22 September 2022
New Mainstreaming Shared Education Strategy Released
A new Mainstreaming Shared Education Strategy, setting out the vision and plans for embedding Shared Education throughout the Northern Ireland education system, has been announced by Education Minister Michelle McIlveen Launching the strategy during a visit to a shared education partnership between St Patrick’s and Ballynahinch Primary Schools, Min
16 June 2009
Carryduff School Building Underway
The building work for a Co Antrim schools project has just commenced. Northern Ireland Education Minister Caitríona Ruane and Bishop McKeown joined forces to greet work getting underway at Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock and St Joseph's Primary School in Carryduff.
21 November 2024
UK Education Ministers Meet In Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland hosted the fifth UK Education Ministers' Council (EMC) meeting at Laurelhill Community College in Lisburn.