Ballymoney college campus facing closure

The college is planning to close seven of its 11 campuses - including Ballymoney - reduce opening hours, axe full time A-level course provision and reduce staff numbers.

According to NRC Director Trevor Neilands the changes will enable the college to 'play a greater role in the Northern Ireland economy than ever before'.

The college has already submitted a five-year business improvement plan to the Department for Employment and Learning after reports commissioned in 2007 and 2009 raised concerns about its financial sustainability.

Meetings have already taken place to inform staff and trade unions of the proposals. Discussions with external stakeholders are due to begin and the consultation period runs until late July.

NRC Director Trevor Neilands continued: "By 2016 we propose to have purpose-built accommodation and upgraded services to support our learners, with the stability we require to grow the excellent relations we currently enjoy with the education, business and community sectors."

The business improvement plan which maps out the college's proposed developments until 2016, will also address the estates infrastructure within the college which have been in decline over the years.

Mr Neilands continued: "We have witnessed the decline of campuses right across the sector over the past few years and we now face the opportunity to focus on building a secure future for NRC.

"In order to communicate our proposals we are embarking on a consultation exercise to give all our students, parents, business partners, suppliers and schools the opportunity to have their say in how we shape the future NRC."

According to the Consultation Document on the college website, the first phase of the plan proposes the closure of the Antrim and Larne campuses by June 2011 with the 'relocation of students and provisions'.

And the third phase (2014 to 2016), which 'assumes the overall estate solution is implemented' includes 'the current buildings in Coleraine and Ballymoney are replaced by one new building in the Coleraine area'.

The longer term plan to reduce the college estate to just four campuses will inevitably impact on staff but figures for overall job losses are not yet known.

The college hopes to get the go ahead for new builds in Ballymena and Coleraine as part of its longer term five-year plan. Magherafelt campus and the newly refurbished and extended Newtownabbey campus will remain.

The plan is largely dependent on approval being given for new campus buildings to replace dated, unsuitable accommodation.

FEEDBACK

A travelling exhibition displaying facts about the NRC proposals will tour the college’s home sites allowing local people the opportunity to provide their thoughts and feedback.

The exhibition will be staffed by NRC senior personnel who will be on hand to answer any questions.

Dates and locations of the exhibitions will be advertised in the local press and on the college website www.nrc.ac.uk and are expected to take place by the end of June 2010. A copy of the Consultation Document is available to download from the college website.

* NRC was created in 2007 by the merger of East Antrim Institute of Further and Higher Education, Causeway Institute and North East Institute.

It currently has almost 15,000 students (3,872 on full-time courses), over 1,000 staff members and an annual budget of more than 30 million.

Do you have an opinion? Why not write or email in to the Times: Claire Smith, 6 Church Street, Ballymoney BT53 6DL or email [email protected]