Governors sought for colleges

North West Regional College principal Leo Murphy, left, and chairman of NWRC Gerard Finnegan.

The Department for Employment and Learning is seeking to make appointments to the Governing Bodies of the six Further Education colleges.

There are presently 25 governor positions available at the following colleges: Belfast Metropolitan College has six vacancies; Northern Regional, five vacancies; North West Regional College, three vacancies; South Eastern, two; Southern, six and South West College, three.

Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry described membership of the Governing Body of a Further Education college as a challenging but rewarding role.

“By playing a part in the leadership of our colleges, you will be supporting and contributing to the development of a dynamic and vibrant Further Education sector. It is crucial that our colleges build on their many successes of recent years and continue to be at the heart of skills development and economic growth,” he said.

The Governing Body of a Further Education college is responsible for securing the efficient and effective management of the college, including its financial performance and the quality of its teaching, learning and assessment.

The Minister continued: “I hope there is a high level of interest in the competitions across the community. We are rightly proud of the rich diversity of our student population. It is important that this diversity is also reflected in our Governing Bodies to ensure our colleges understand and respond to the needs and aspirations of the communities they serve.”

All applications for appointment are treated strictly on merit. The final decision on appointments will rest with the Minister for Employment and Learning.

The closing date for applications is 12pm on Monday, March 2.

Further information, including criteria for appointment, can be obtained from: FE Corporate Governance & Accountability, Room 203, Adelaide House, 39-49 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8FD. Alternatively telephone 02890 257461 or e-mail [email protected].

Details can also be found on the DEL website http://www.delni.gov.uk/fe-governing-bodies-competition-2015.