Debate contribution: Cross-border Education

Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on 2 March 2026.

MLA

Dr Caoimhe Archibald

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

2 March 2026

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Cross-border Education

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5433406

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

I welcome the opportunity to respond to the motion. It has been very interesting to listen to Members' contributions this evening. I believe passionately in the right of every student or young person, regardless of their background, to access high-quality education and unlock their full potential, be that on this island or elsewhere. To achieve that, we need to remove all barriers to student mobility, whether that involves travelling from the South to the North or vice versa. In recent years, we have seen a steady increase in the number of students from the South enrolling in courses at universities in the North. Our higher education institutions in this region deliver high-quality teaching, research excellence and an exceptional experience for students. However, we are not seeing the same increase in students from the North enrolling in the South. In fact, as was pointed out, the reality is quite the opposite, indicating that further work is required to ensure that there is equality of opportunity in both jurisdictions. The motion recognises the work undertaken to date to remove barriers to student mobility across the island, and one of the most significant steps taken was the review of A-level grade equivalency by Universities Ireland. Following the review, A-level students no longer need to present four top A-level grades to reach the maximum tariff: three A levels and one AS level are now sufficient. As others have mentioned, I have real concerns about the Department of Education's proposal to discontinue AS levels, which was in the recent consultation on the future of GCSEs, AS levels and A levels. If implemented, it could reverse some of the progress on reducing barriers to student mobility. However, I agree with Mr Honeyford that the value of A levels should be recognised: three A levels at the top grade should get you the top points. Another exemplar of all-Ireland collaboration and student mobility is the expansion of the Magee campus of Ulster University. The campus location provides a natural cross-border catchment area, and its expansion further enhances Magee's role as a truly regional campus, creating meaningful opportunities for students from both the North and South, while promoting regional balance and sustainable growth in the north-west. The recently announced partnership between Queen's University and Dundalk Institute of Technology is another positive step in North/South collaboration. The partnership will strengthen academic links across the island, expand the opportunities for student and researcher mobility, foster innovation and further support the delivery of regional balance. Of course, financial considerations continue to play a pivotal role in shaping students' decisions about where they study. Recognising that, my Department introduced a tuition-fee loan for postgraduate students from the North who choose to study in the South, effective from the 2024-25 academic year. The policy is specifically designed to alleviate the financial barriers that might otherwise deter students from pursuing educational opportunities across the island. I have also taken steps to augment eligibility for doctoral funding by amending the terms and conditions of my Department's postgraduate researcher scheme. As a result, PhD students from the South are now entitled to not only fee support but the full stipend across all funded PhD studentships.

More broadly, my Department has increased maintenance loans for full-time undergraduate students by 20% for the current academic year. A further 2·7% inflationary uplift to the maximum maintenance loans and grants is planned for 2026-27. Those uplifts are available to students from here, regardless of where on the island they choose to study.

It is important to recognise that all-island student mobility extends well beyond the sphere of higher education. Opportunities for cross-border movement and collaboration exist at multiple levels, including further education, apprenticeships, vocational training and school partnerships. By supporting mobility across those diverse educational pathways, we can ensure that learners of all backgrounds and aspirations can benefit from the rich resources, experiences and opportunities available throughout the island. I am eager to further develop and promote apprenticeship opportunities that operate across the entire island. Cross-border apprenticeships are already in operation. A notable example is the two-year accounting technologist higher-level apprenticeship, which was designed by Accounting Technicians Ireland in partnership with further and higher education institutions and employers across the island. It has been delivered by Southern Regional College since 2024, and, last October, I was delighted to co-launch with Minister Lawless the delivery of the programme in the South. Our further education colleges are active in building and maintaining collaborative all-Ireland relationships across a range of matters, creating opportunities for cross-border student mobility. The north-west tertiary education cluster partnership, involving North West Regional College, Ulster University, Atlantic Technological University and Donegal Education and Training Board, provides pathways and progression routes for students on a cross-border basis and works alongside industry to ensure high-value jobs for the region. In the south-west, all-island relationships have led to programmes to reach rural communities and deliver key skills, such as the Smart Rural Innovation Driven Empowerment (STRIDE) initiative. STRIDE empowers local citizens by using digital technologies to tackle societal and economic challenges. It is delivered in partnership with South West College, Alacrity Foundation, Atlantic Technological University, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Leitrim County Enterprise Fund and Ulster University. I recognise that effective support for cross-border student mobility hinges on ensuring that prospective students have access to clear, comprehensive information that empowers them to make well-informed choices about their preferred place of study. A number of Members mentioned that during the debate. To that end, my officials collaborated closely with student representatives to enhance the guidance available on nidirect, making it easier for individuals exploring higher education opportunities across these islands to find relevant and practical advice. Concurrently, my Department's Careers Service has updated and improved its guide to career entry routes. That resource, now readily available online and distributed to all schools, offers up-to-date guidance on the various pathways into university, ensuring that students are well equipped to navigate their options in the North and the South. It is useful to have received Members' feedback on that; I will take it up with officials, because further work may be needed to ensure that schools are engaged with it. The Careers Service also provides impartial and personalised advice and guidance on an all-age basis. Provided by professionally qualified careers advisers, it includes guidance on higher education options, entry requirements, how to approach and improve an application and study options in all parts of the island. I note that the motion calls on the Minister of Education:

"to do more to ensure that A-level students are fully aware of the university course options that exist island-wide".

I agree that the Department of Education has a key role to play in ensuring that young people understand the full range of pathways available to them and that their needs are met when navigating their application to higher education institutions across the island. In November, I met the Education Minister to discuss cross-cutting issues, including North/South student mobility. There was a shared recognition of the importance of supporting clear pathways for our young people and a collective commitment from us to work with counterparts in the South to identify and remove barriers.

Sure

I thank the Member for that intervention. I take all opportunities to raise these issues with my counterpart, Minister Lawless. We have a shared commitment to removing those barriers, particularly when it comes to people understanding the application process. The piece of work that I mentioned that was done with the student representatives was designed by students themselves to provide that type of information. That is available on nidirect. We may need to do a bit more work to ensure that people, particularly young people and their parents, know where to go to look for resources. I remain open to the further work that needs to be done and to raising that with my counterparts in the South. As we look ahead, I remain firmly committed to working with all stakeholders to remove any obstacles that hinder student mobility across the island by ensuring that learners in each jurisdiction enjoy equal opportunities to access skills and education wherever they choose. We are not only promoting individual growth but fostering regional balance and strengthening all-island collaboration. Together, we can build a more inclusive and dynamic education landscape for future generations. Go raibh maith agat.

1,395 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:00 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification