The primary aim of the Department’s policy for higher education is to promote and sustain the development of an internationally competitive Higher Education sector, accessible to all who are able to benefit and which meets the needs of the Northern Ireland economy and wider society.
In support of the provision of higher education in Northern Ireland, the Department provides significant funding each year to Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, the Open University, St Mary’s University College and Stranmillis University College. Higher education is also funded and delivered through the six regional Further Education colleges.
to ensure effective governance of all the universities’ affairs.
The universities operate under the provisions of their establishing Charters.
St Mary’s University College has its origins in a training college established in 1900 by the Dominican Sisters on the present Falls Road site for the education of women students and their preparation for teaching in primary schools. The college has developed and evolved to also include training for male students (for some years on a separate site) and preparation for teaching in secondary schools.
Stranmillis University College was founded as a non-denominational institution in 1922 to provide state-funded teacher training alongside that already available at the then existing St Mary’s College.
Both institutions have since become academically recognised as university colleges of the Queen’s University of Belfast. The University has overarching responsibility for academic quality and standards and validates the courses offered by both institutions.
As from 1 April 2012, Stranmillis has been classified as a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) of the Department.
The universities are governed in accordance with their Charter and Statutes.
The Department for has no role in the appointment of members to the university governing bodies.
St Mary’s University College is governed in accordance with its Scheme of Management.
The Governing Body consists of 4 ex-officio Governors (including the Principal); 8 nominated Governors and 6 representative Governors (18 in total).
The Department appoints 4 of the representative Governors through open competitions run in accordance with the code of practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPANI). Members are normally appointed for an initial period of 5 years but can be re-appointed for a second term. The Department has no role in the appointment of the other members of the Governing Body.
Stranmillis University College is governed in accordance with the Colleges of Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 and its Instrument of Government and Articles of Government.
The College’s Governing Body consists of: 2 ex-officio Governors (the Principal and the President of the Students’ Union), 2 staff representatives and 10 representatives of business, industry or any profession.
The 10 representatives (including the Chair) are selected through open competitions run by the Department in accordance with the code of practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (CPANI). Members are normally appointed for an initial period of 4 years but can be re-appointed for a second term.
While the Department formally appoints all members of the Stranmillis Governing Body, it has no role in the selection of the ex-officio or staff representative members.