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Contextualising further education governance in Northern Ireland: history, policy and practice

Husband, Gary and Ireland, Aileen (2022) Contextualising further education governance in Northern Ireland: history, policy and practice. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 27 (3). pp. 351-372. ISSN 1359-6748

Item Type: Article

Abstract

This paper examines how governance in the further education (FE) sector in Northern Ireland (NI) has been shaped by policy frameworks implemented at local, regional, national and UK levels. Despite the unique ways in which FE policy has developed alongside the other devolved nations, very little research has considered the NI context and its complexity. In this paper we first examine the history of FE provision in NI, and the development of FE in NI in relation to the rest of the United Kingdom (UK). Following this, we examine the impact of recent FE policy on governance structures and governing practices across the six regionalised colleges operating in NI today by presenting some insights gained from ethnographic observations of governing boards in action and interviews with key policy actors. Our analysis of the empirical data reveals key challenges facing FE governing bodies in NI in relation to financial and budgetary concerns, the multiple relationships between colleges and the various government departments, and the uncertainty presented by the suspension and subsequent reinstatement of Stormont and the EU Exit (Brexit). We conclude by offering reflection on these analyses in relation to FE governance in NI going forward.

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More Information

Depositing User: Gary Husband

Identifiers

Item ID: 15149
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2022.2076052
ISSN: 1359-6748
URI: http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/15149
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2022.2076052

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Catalogue record

Date Deposited: 17 Oct 2022 12:17
Last Modified: 14 Jun 2024 13:15

Contributors

Author: Gary Husband
Author: Aileen Ireland

University Divisions

Faculty of Education and Society

Subjects

Education > Further Education

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