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Higher Education Policy Branch has been working with our colleagues in England to agree on future developments with in the Higher Education quality assurance system.
Consultation on the future of the quality assurance method
A key part of this work involves the development of a new institutional audit method to apply from 2011-12. This is being taken forward by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL NI), Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE), Universities UK (UUK) and Guild HE, but the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), Association of Colleges and NUS are also closely involved. These organisations published a consultation on the future of the quality assurance method , which ran from December 2009 to March 2010.
briefing from HEFCE, DEL (NI), UUK and GuildHE. More...

The aim of the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) is to develop and sustain a Higher Education research sector that holds a strong position within the UK and beyond and makes a major contribution to economic and social well-being.
Research funding
The Department provides research funding for the Northern Ireland universities through a range of mechanisms. The majority of year on year or recurrent research funding is distributed by reference to quality as assessed by performance in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). (New arrangements are currently being developed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), in partnership with the other UK Higher Education (HE) funding bodies, for the next assessment of research performance, the Research Excellence Framework (REF)). This is known as Quality-related Research (QR) funding and is used to cover the essential costs necessary to carry out research.

• recurrent research funding
• Research Assessment Exercise (RAE)
• Research Excellence Framework (REF)
• Quality-related Research (QR)

The Department provides capital funding for research through the Higher Education Research Capital fund, previously known as the Research Capital investment Fund (RCIF)and prior to that the Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF). It also operated the Support Programme for University Research (SPUR), an initiative unique to Northern Ireland which directed funding towards interdisciplinary research activity capable of competing at the highest international levels.

• capital funding for research
• Support Programme for University Research (SPUR)

The universities also apply for funding to cover the direct costs of specific research projects from the Research Councils, along with other funders such as industry, charities, government departments and the European Union. More...

Quality Assurance and Teaching and Learning are important strands of work in Higher Education Policy Branch (HEPB). The Department is committed to ensuring that all HE students benefit from a high quality learning experience fully meeting their needs and the needs of the economy and society.
In a competitive world, attracting and retaining the best students is vital.  All higher education institutions need to strive for excellence in teaching to fulfill the expectations of their students and other stakeholders.
Quality and standards in Higher Education
The Department is responsible for ensuring that the quality and standard of higher education delivered in Northern Ireland meets agreed UK standards.  To do this effectively the Department contracts the Quality Assurance Agency (www.qaa.ac.uk) to safeguard public confidence and to encourage continuous improvement in managing the quality of higher education. The QAA works with the HE sector including government bodies, HE sector representative bodies and higher education institutions to define academic standards and quality in accordance with the UK Quality Code. They carry out and publish reviews against these standards. More...

A Foundation degree is an intermediate, work-related higher education qualification which combines academic and work-related learning. It is broadly equivalent to a HND/HNC qualification and can be studied in a wide range of subject areas. The Foundation degree focuses on employability. A person will learn the technical skills and academic knowledge which will transfer easily into the workplace. In Northern Ireland, Foundation degrees are developed and delivered in a partnership, involving one of the Northern Ireland universities or the Open University, a Further Education college and employers.

• Employers: Find out more about Foundation degrees (nibusnessinfo website) 
• Students: Find out more about Foundation degrees (nidirect website) . More...

Northern Ireland’s Further Education Colleges have been delivering Higher Education (HE in FE) courses in Northern Ireland since the 1980s and the six Further Education Colleges now deliver the vast majority of intermediate level Higher Education provision.
HE in FE provision
The provision of HE in FE also plays a key role in supporting other Departmental strategies including ‘Graduating To Success’, ‘Success through Skills – Transforming Futures the Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland’ and ‘Further Education Means Business’.
HE in FE provision covers a wide range of subject areas and primarily takes the form of Foundation Degrees, Higher National Diplomas and Higher National Certificates. More...

In 2006, government introduced new Higher Education tuition fee arrangements. This included a provision that any institution that decided to raise its full-time undergraduate tuition fees above the standard level was required to have an Access Agreement in place which would outline its provision of student support, including bursaries and outreach activities.
The philosophy behind Access Agreements was that the introduction of higher fees should not have a detrimental effect on widening participation and that institutions are explicitly committed to increasing participation of under-represented groups.
Access Agreements

• St Mary's University College Belfast Access Agreement (PDF 669KB) 
• University of Ulster 
• Queen's University Belfast Access Agreementt 
• Stranmillis University College Access Agreement  
• South Eastern Regional College 
• South West College 
• Belfast Metropolitan College . More...

Widening participation in higher education is a key priority for the Department for Employment and Learning. Widening participation in higher education facilitates and increases the participation of those groups, which are currently under represented in HE in particular students from disadvantaged backgrounds and students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
The aim of the policy is to ensure that all those who have the ability to benefit from higher education have the opportunity to do so. Higher education and the opportunities that it brings should be available to all, regardless of their background.
The Department is addressing the issue of widening participation in higher education through a number of broad policy directions and a number of specific actions. These include:

• an increase in domestic HE (and FE) provision
• the expansion of Foundation Degrees
• a widening participation premium for students from disadvantaged backgrounds;
• a widening access premium for students with disabilities;
• special initiative funding to develop partnerships between the universities and schools with traditionally low levels of participation in HE
• capital funding to assist the universities improve access for disabled students. More...

Higher Education Policy in the Department consists of two branches: Higher Education Policy Branch and Higher Education Widening Participation branch.

Higher Education Policy Branch
The aim of Higher Education Policy branch is to develop, communicate and evaluate higher education policy for Northern Ireland, in consultation with the sector, and other regions of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.
The main business areas of Higher Education Policy Branch are:

• Quality Assurance and Teaching and Learning - Higher Education Policy manages a range of teaching and learning initiatives and activities and, to this end, assesses, approves and appropriately manages funding allocations to support the core activities of Northern Ireland Higher Education Institutions.
• International Activity - this is an area of growing importance for the Department in the context of an increasingly international labour market and increased competition for international students worldwide.
• Teacher Education The Department for Employment and Learning has responsibility for the administration and funding of teacher education in Northern Ireland.Courses in teacher education are provided at all higher education institutions in Northern Ireland.
• Sign Language Policy – The Department is currently developing a range of Sign Language courses for interpreters and tutors, in conjunction with Belfast Metropolitan College, Queen’s University and the University of Ulster.This provision will increase the number of trained interpreters and tutors to serve the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community.
• A Higher Education Strategy for Northern Ireland – the higher education policy branch is responsible for developing, in cooperation with Sir Graeme Davies and his Steering Group, a higher education Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2020 which will encompass future policy on all aspects of higher education. More...

The role of the Department for Employment and Learning is to formulate policy and administer funding to support education, research and related activities in the Northern Ireland higher education sector. 
Higher education in Northern Ireland is delivered through three universities and two university colleges

• The Queen’s University of Belfast 
• University of Ulster 
• The Open University in Ireland 
• St. Mary’s University College 
• Stranmillis University College 

Higher education courses are also delivered in the six Institutes of Further and Higher Education.

• Northern Ireland Further Education Colleges

Unlike other parts of the UK, Northern Ireland has no higher education funding council; the Department fulfills the roles of both a government department and a funding council. 

How the Department`s Higher Education Division is split
The Department’s higher education division is split into eight branches.
1. Student Finance
Thisbranch is responsible for student support including student loans and grants, Postgraduate Awards, and Education Maintainance Allowance.

• Postgraduate Awards
• Education Maintainance Allowance 

2. Higher Education Finance
This branch is responsible for financial support of the sector and the promotion of good financial practice.
3. Higher Education Policy
This branch formulates and implements policies relating to learning and teaching, higher education quality assurance, international higher education, and sign language. It is also responsible for the administration of initial teacher education and administering the All-Ireland Scholarships on behalf of the McManus Trust.

• Higher Education Policy

4. Higher Education Widening Participation branch
Widening participation in higher education facilitates and increases the participation of those groups which are currently under represented in HE in particular students from disadvantaged backgrounds and students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

• Higher Education Widening Participation branch

5. Higher Education Research Policy
This branch administers funding and formulate policy for research and knowledge transfer activities.

• Higher Education Research Policy

6. Higher Education Future Policy
This branch is responsible for four projects identified in the Higher Education Strategy for Northern Ireland "Graduating to Success" Projects 1,12, 13 & 15. Also responsible for Departmental policy in relation to the Service Leaver's Scheme in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence.
7. Higher Education Improving Quality
This branch is responsible for three projects identified in the Higher Education Strategy for Northern Ireland "Graduating to Success" Projects 4, 5, & 6. Review of Initial Teacher Education, Quality Assurance Polices and Implementation.
8. Higher Education Strategy Programme Management Office
This branch has oversight responsibility for the implementation of the projects resulting from the Northern Ireland Higher Education Strategy "Graduating to Success" and the Northern Ireland Regional strategy for widening participation in Higher Education "Access to Success". More...

These days nearly all students have some sort of a part-time job. It might be anything from working a few evenings in a supermarket or behind a bar to dog walking or babysitting. In your first term you’ll be getting used to lots of new things so don’t take on too much too soon.
Wait until you’ve got a feel for your course and how much study time you need before committing yourself to a job.
There’s no point earning extra cash if it means you’re too worn out to get your work done or spend time with your mates! Go to your college or university careers service to find out more about part-time work. Many Universities and student unions now have one-stop ‘job shops’ which advertise jobs specifically for students. These are a good starting point in your job search.
The small ads in local newspapers are also a good place to look for part-time work. Jobs & Benefits offices and JobCentres will also be able to tell you about local vacancies and many now have touchscreen terminals with access to thousands of vacancies to make your job search as quick and easy as possible. You can obtain information through JobCentreOnline 
Once you’ve got a job, make sure you talk to your employer in good time if you want to work in the Christmas or summer holidays. If you want a holiday job back home, try contacting employers before the end of term so that you’re not competing with all the other thousands of returning students. More...