Ministers Welcome Increased Enrolments At Northern Universities

Students are continuing to recognise the importance and value of higher education in today's challenging economic conditions, Sir Reg Empey, Employment and Learning Minister said this week.

The Minister was speaking following the publication of a report by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Each year HESA publishes a range of statistics relating to the number of student enrolments and qualifications obtained at universities and colleges across the United Kingdom.

This year's report shows that, between 2006/7 and 2007/8, the number of students starting a full-time course at a Northern Higher Education Institution increased by 3%.

The number of students enrolled on postgraduate courses shows a marked increase of 7% at Higher Education Institutions in the North over the same period.

Commenting on the findings, the Minister said: "[This] report is particularly welcome given recent reports around graduate employment prospects and the challenging economic climate.

"It is positive to note that students are continuing to recognise the long term social and economic benefits of a university education, particularly at postgraduate level.

"These latest figures are very timely given my department's current review of tuition fees and student finance arrangements for undergraduate students.

"Participation levels of young people in higher education in Northern Ireland have almost doubled since the beginning of the 1990s and my department will continue to support our local institutions to ensure these levels are maintained."

"The higher education sector here continues to play an important and vibrant role in our economy and, now more than ever, it is vital that we continue to deliver a well educated workforce with a high level of skills," he concluded.