Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Further Education (Amendment of Governing Bodies' Powers) Order (Northern Ireland) 2003 and shall come into operation on 14th April 2003.

Amendment of powers of governing bodies of institutions of further education

2.  Article 14(1) of the Further Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 shall be amended as follows, namely –

(a)after sub-paragraph (j) there shall be inserted –

“(jj)to enter into collaborative arrangements with other educational institutions or bodies and community groups on such terms as it thinks fit and to exercise its decision-making in relation to such arrangements through any joint body established for the purposes of collaboration under this sub-paragraph;”;

(b)in sub-paragraph (k) the words “or give such guarantee or indemnity” shall be omitted;

(c)after sub-paragraph (k) there shall be inserted –

“(kk)to give such guarantee or indemnity in relation to the obligations of a company to which sub-paragraph (j) applies or any other person on such terms and conditions (including the giving of security in respect of its obligations under such guarantee or indemnity) as it thinks fit;”.

3.  Article 15(1) of the Further Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 shall be amended by inserting after sub-paragraph (c) –

“(d)Article 14(1)(jj) (collaborative arrangements)”.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order.)

This Order amends the powers of governing bodies of institutions of further education by enabling them to enter into collaborative arrangements with other educational bodies and community groups, and by widening the powers of governing bodies to give guarantees or indemnities.