1st April 1998

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Government foot-dragging over implementing the provisions of the Dearing report is intensifying Ulster's brain drain, a top University education expert has warned.

Professor Roger Ellis, the University of Ulster's Strategic Adviser on Educational Policy, was speaking on the eve of a high-powered international conference on Partnerships for a Learning Society at the University of Ulster.

Published last year, the Dearing Report into Higher Education called for a minimum of five thousand extra university places to be provided in Northern Ireland.

"Although Government welcomed the Dearing Report," said the professor, "Nothing has happened yet to implement its recommendations. Thousands of Northern Ireland's brightest and best young people are still being forced to leave the Province every year to study at universities in Great Britain. These young people are vital to Northern Ireland's economic future: their emigration is a tragic loss."

And Professor Ellis also voiced fears that Northern Ireland could become the 'poor relation' in the Government's new University for Industry initiative, aimed at bringing learning into the workplace to help economic competitiveness.

"The University for Industry last week advertised for a Chief Executive for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. "There is no doubt that whoever gets the post will be based in London," said Professor Ellis.

"I'm very concerned that Northern Ireland's needs will be marginalised. The University for Industry is a vital part of today's new initiatives in education and training, and Northern Ireland must be right at the centre of these exciting developments."

The Professor, who is the University's Strategic Advisor on educational policy, called for the University of Industry to locate its national call centre in Northern Ireland. This call centre is to be a UK-wide information nerve centre providing up to date local details on courses and study modules to callers from all over the UK.

"We already have a great deal of expertise in the call centre field here in Northern Ireland," said Professor Ellis. "Locating this national call centre here would be a strong and highly significant confidence-building by the University of Industry, demonstrating its commitment to Northern Ireland and its people."

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
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