ANIC – furthering education in Northern Ireland

The Association of Northern Ireland Colleges (ANIC) was established in 1998 to represent the newly independent 16 Colleges of Further and Higher Education and to be the voice of Further Education in Northern Ireland.

ANIC provides a range of support mechanisms to its member Colleges and also acts as the central point for Further & Higher Education and Lifelong Learning issues in Northern Ireland. Its Board of Directors is made up of the College Directors and Chairs of Governors and the Board is responsible for ANIC’s strategic direction, as well as fulfilling the objectives of the organisation.

The aims of ANIC are:

• to lobby decision makers in Northern Ireland and beyond to the benefit of the sector
• to improve the resourcing of the sector
• to support College decision makers in their roles
• to provide information about Further and Higher Education
• to build a consensus on Further Education Policy for the new millennium
• to help Governors govern effectively
• to be the Colleges’ Employer Association
• to provide facilitating networks
• to work in partnership with others to deliver Life Long Learning and a world class workforce

ANIC Committees

ANIC works through Committees and Working Groups, covering all specialist areas. The membership of these is drawn from College staff and the current ANIC Committees are:

• College Employers Forum (including Directors’ Negotiating Committee, Lecturers Negotiating Committee and Non Teaching Staff Negotiating Committee)
• Communications and Events Committee
• Business Development Network
• Curriculum, Staff Development and Information Learning Technology (ILT) Committee
• Governors’ Committee
• Principals’ Professional Forum
• Corporate Services Committee
• Employee Relations Committee
• ANIC Audit Committee
• ANIC Finance, Staff and General Purposes Committee

Further and Higher Education in Northern Ireland – some facts and figures

The further and higher education sector in Northern Ireland:
• attracts one in three 16-17 year old school leavers and has over 200,000 learners a year
• is Northern Ireland’s most integrated educational sector
• employs over 7,400 people both full time and part time
• is Northern Ireland’s main skills provider