From a UfI press release:
Ufi Ltd, the flagship initiative set up by Government to take forward the concept of the University for Industry and make lifelong learning a reality, is to open a network of up to 30 on-line learning centres in Northern Ireland during 2000.
By transforming how and where people learn, Ufi aims to help businesses become more competitive and individuals to improve their employment prospects.
The Ufi's first five centres in Northern Ireland, which will operate under the name learndirect, will be open for business from mid February. They will be at:
* Newtownabbey - at the Cybervalley internet café and learning centre based at the Valley Leisure Centre
* Magherafelt - at the Learning Shop, Rainey Street
* Limavady - at the Limavady College education, information and guidance shop
* Enniskillen - initially at the Fermanagh Enterprise Agency, then relocating to the Intec learning centre as part of the Enniskillen Higher Bridges Programme
* Derry - at the Central Library on Foyle Street
These centres will be part of a Ufi development programme which is testing the nation-wide delivery of learning materials on-line through the Internet prior to Ufi becoming fully operational in autumn 2000.
People using the five learndirect centres will be able to choose from an initial range of on-line courses in information technology and small business skills. These courses will offer in total almost 100 easily digestible 'bite-sized chunks' of learning which people will be able to study at times and at a pace which suits them best.
The courses on offer will attract funding from the £1.5 million announced in November 199 in support of learndirect by John McFall, the former Minister for Education and Training.
By autumn 2000 there will be a wide portfolio of learndirect materials on offer, ranging from basic skills packages to programmes for specific business sectors. Around 60 per cent of learndirect materials available in the autumn will be delivered on-line and learners will at that point be able to use these packages at home, at work, or at learndirect centres.
Dr Sean Farren, Minister for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, said: 'Ufi's work is at the heart of our lifelong learning plans for Northern Ireland. These first learndirect centres will pave the way for making flexible learning accessible to all, at a time and pace that suits individual needs and lifestyles.'
Commenting on Ufi's work in Northern Ireland, Ufi Board Member and Permanent Secretary of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Dr Aideen McGinley said 'These first learndirect centres in Northern Ireland are the beginning of the learning revolution promised by Ufi. We aim to transform how and where people acquire new skills and to harness information and communications technology to make learning more widely available than ever before, both to individuals and business.'
Ufi will shortly be inviting expressions of interest from consortia/partnerships of education and training organisations, trade unions, and community and voluntary groups wishing to set up further learndirect centres. There will be an information meeting in Belfast for potential partners on 29 February.
Ufi will also be setting up a new Northern Ireland Advisory Board. The task of the board will be to make sure that the Ufi's portfolio of learning materials reflects the specific skills needs of Northern Ireland and takes into account the recommendations of the Skills Taskforce and Strategy 2010, the vision for a knowledge-based economy in Northern Ireland.
The £1.5 million funding for learndirect in Northern Ireland announced John McFall in November 1999 will support the first wave of learndirect users and the development of further centres. It will also fund a Northern Ireland base for the free learning information line (0800 100 900) operated by Ufi under the learndirect brand name.
