To ask the Minister for the Economy whether she will consider commissioning additional research to track the trajectories of students who leave Northern Ireland to study elsewhere.

I recognise the value of understanding the experiences and outcomes of students who choose to study elsewhere.

The Graduate Outcomes Survey provides information on students 15 months post-graduation, including those who study at home or away, and is routinely published.

In addition, the Longitudinal Education Outcomes database, which currently links education data, provides the foundation for future research into post-graduation destinations.

Any decision to commission additional research will be considered in light of departmental priorities and the potential benefits such work could provide in supporting future policy development.