To ask the Minister for the Economy what action he is taking to ensure there is a transformation of further and higher education curriculum to deliver the necessary green transformation needed to meet future environmental needs.

The Department for the Economy provides funding and sets out the strategic direction for Further Education (FE) colleges and Northern Ireland’s Higher Education sector. Whilst FE colleges are Non-Departmental Public Bodies for which the Department approves business plans in-light of Departmental and Executive wide objectives, the Universities are autonomous institutions and are therefore entirely responsible for the curriculum they offer.

FE colleges are already delivering curriculum to meet future environmental needs. Some examples of transformational work recently undertaken in the FE sector include, but are not limited to - a new online Sustainability Induction Module for students at all levels to inform them of the College strategy at South West College, the ten ‘One Planet Living Principles’ and prevalent environmental issues with proposed interventions; the delivery of courses to the Motor Vehicle and Transport Industries on Hybrid and Electric driven vehicles from Level 1 to Level 4 at South Eastern Regional College; and ongoing work between Belfast Metropolitan College and NIHE to explore new skills requirements including the opportunity to develop new apprenticeships for the future retrofitting programmes.

Additionally, the Curriculum Hubs established in the FE Sector in a range of occupational areas, focusing on priority skills and growth sectors of employment, seek to ensure that the curriculum delivered is consistent, current, and responsive to the needs and future demands of industry, improving economic development and performance in each area. The Education and Training Inspectorate are currently evaluating the Curriculum Hub concept and any way forward will be fully aligned to the Skills Strategy and the 10X Economy Vision, which clearly articulates the importance of the green transformation needed to meet future environmental needs.