Debate contribution: Further Education: Arts Sector
Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on .
- MLA
- Dr Caoimhe Archibald
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 5 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Further Education: Arts Sector
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5774345
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member. We have performed really well in the creative industries, particularly the screen industries, and our colleges and universities have been key to our being able to do so. However, it is important that we continue to support the sectors and make sure that the skills provision meets the needs of the businesses and wider sectors. That is where the work of the Fit for the Future programme is really important, as is making sure that our universities and colleges are properly funded. My own perspective is that we need to make sure that we have appropriate programmes and provision in relation to our arts sector in the same way as we do for our STEM sector. A lot of focus is, rightly, on our STEM sector, but the type of critical thinking and analysis skills that people gain from arts courses are really important and are very often the types of skills that are in demand from business, so it is important that we make sure that we have a very rounded programme of skills provision.
180 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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