Ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified graduates is a key priority for me and my Department. This year 460 targeted additional places were created in healthcare programmes. This represents meaningful additionality within existing infrastructure, and targets expansion towards priority skills areas. It builds on additional places created, including in Nursing and Medicine, in recent years, and the funding of places for students from this jurisdiction in Queens University Belfast and Ulster University.
The increasingly strong alignment between student demand and what is on offer is reflected in this year's CAO data. A record 57,980 applicants received an offer in Round 1 of the CAO this year. 52,950 applicants received Level 8 offers, 1,140 more than last year.
There was also a significant increase in the proportion of students receiving a first preference offer - 59% of Round 1 Level 8 offers were for first preference courses, and 85% were for a first, second or third preference course.
But importantly, I have been very clear that the CAO is not the only option for learners.
This month sees the commencement of new programmes which will see students begin their third level experience in further education and complete the remainder in higher education institutions. There’s been great interest so far in this new pathway with more than 700 applications received. The programmes this year are just the first phase, and tomorrow a call will open for proposals for new tertiary programmes for September 2024.
My Department continues to prioritise strengthening our skills ecosystem to ensure it has the agility and flexibility to adapt to changing priorities in the skills and workforce development landscape.
