Two Northern Ireland teacher education colleges this week sealed a new partnership with Queen's University Belfast, enabling them to use the university title. The university validates the BEd degrees and other approved courses at St Mary's and Stranmillis Colleges. The Privy Council has authorised the name change, supported by the Department of Education for Northern Ireland, to St Mary's University College and Stranmillis University College. Northern Ireland is exempt from the British criteria of degree-awarding powers for institutions using the university title because of the small size of the sector.