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A blog from the Northern Ireland Assembly Research and Information Service

Skills & Training

Cover pages of the 2012 Economic Strategy and 2017 draft Industrial Strategy

From an economic to an industrial strategy

Following on from a recent blog post on ‘a revised strategy for Northern Ireland’s Economy’, this post looks at the Department for the Economy’s draft Industrial Strategy and highlights some of the key similarities and differences between the new strategy and its predecessor.

Cover pages of the 2012 Economic Strategy and 2017 draft Industrial Strategy
Cover pages of the 2012 Economic Strategy and 2017 draft Industrial Strategy

Read More »From an economic to an industrial strategy

Copy of the Northern Ireland Executive’s Economic Strategy and the Programme for Government Consultation Document

A revised strategy for Northern Ireland’s Economy

By Eóin Murphy, Michael Scholes, and Aidan Stennett

The Northern Ireland Executive is currently revising its Economic Strategy.  What are the key factors it should take into consideration when carrying out this revision?

Copy of the Northern Ireland Executive’s Economic Strategy and the Programme for Government Consultation Document
Copy of the Northern Ireland Executive’s Economic Strategy and the Programme for Government Consultation Document

Read More »A revised strategy for Northern Ireland’s Economy

Illustration of STEM education word typography: strengthening the STEM ‘artery’ will require a range of approaches

Science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)

How well is the compulsory education system supporting demand for STEM skills in Northern Ireland?

Skills development is critical in driving economic growth, and evidence highlights the importance of STEM subjects in contributing to innovation and productivity within economies. However, demand for people with high quality STEM qualifications outstrips supply in Northern Ireland, and employers face challenges in recruiting appropriately skilled STEM workers at every level. This undersupply is particularly acute in the areas of maths, computer science, engineering and technology, in line with growth forecasts for the ICT, Professional Services and Advanced Manufacturing sectors. Women are particularly underrepresented among the STEM workforce.

An illustration of STEM education word typography: strengthening the STEM ‘artery’ will require a range of approaches
STEM education word typography: strengthening the STEM ‘artery’ will require a range of approaches

Read More »Science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)