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The issue of the public sector pay cap is a major difficulty but ANIC continues to encourage the Department to make representations to the Department of Finance and Personnel. ANIC also continues to make the Department aware of the difficulties facing college employers in addressing the pay parity and pay claim issues for lecturers. This is particularly difficult as the further education sector in Northern Ireland is alone in being subject to a public sector pay cap, unlike our colleagues in the school and higher education sectors.
Chairs of new Further Education Colleges Announced The Department for Employment and Learning has announced the newly recruited chairs of the governing bodies for the six new further education colleges. To coincide with this, DEL and ANIC have produced “Moving Forward”, the newsletter of the FE Means Business Programme. To download the second edition of Moving Forward click here.
The National Vocational Qualification Level 4 in Newspaper Journalism programme, based in the Institute's Centre for Media and Communication at Millfield, has received high praise from the awarding body because of the quality of the journalist trainees' portfolios. Mr Martin Throssell, the External Verifier from Education Development International, said of the Belfast NVQ portfolios: "The clarity and consistency of the excellent portfolios submitted could be a model for all centres to follow." This year has been one of the most successful since journalist training was first launched in the mid 1960s, with 31 out of 39 candidates receiving their NVQ4 full awards and eight achieving part awards.
Tortilla, Tapas, Quiche, Croissant, Baguette, Fajita, are words that are now firmly part of our everyday language. Despite this, we never really even think about the fact that these words, like the food, come from foreign parts. On European Languages day (Tuesday 26 th September), Fermanagh College will convert its reception into a ‘Eurozone'- offering a FREE buffet of food from all over Europe . The College Language department, which is running the event, believes that because people nowadays are very open to exploring foreign dishes, they may also get a ‘taste' for learning languages and realise just how easy and enjoyable it is to learn a language. So come along and treat yourself and a friend to a bitesize language taster, beginning with the free food bites at 1.00 - 2.00 pm on Tuesday 26 September 2006.
EDGE Project Starts Soon at Newry Institute
Brian Robinson, a BA (Hons) Business Management student has recently returned from Kansas after completing a one year placement at an American University under the Business Education Initiative. Brian returned with an American student, Nick Mattingley from Kansas who will now spend a year at North Down and Ards Institute studying on the Business Management degree. Further students from the States will join Nick at North Down and Ards Institute in January 2007.
Four part-time students from North Down and Ards Institute recently achieved Grade A* in GCSE Italian in June. As well as receiving A* grades, they also received a letter from the Director General of the examination board, congratulating them on being amongst the group of candidates who scored one of the top five marks in Italian this summer. The Director General also stated in his letter that there were 3313 candidates this summer so it was an exceptional result and an outstanding achievement. Although there are a growing number of students studying Italian at NDAI's Centres in Bangor and Holywood, this is the first time that students have sat the GCSE exam.
Rebecca Toland, a former Performing Arts student at North West Institute, has a taken a giant leap toward stage stardom after gaining a place at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London . The Donegal girl has begun a three-year degree in Stage Management and Technical Theatre, and will be joined by students who have travelled from all over the world to do the course. Rebecca studied the National Diploma in Performing Arts course at North West Institute between 2004 and 2006. Over the next three years, Rebecca will rub shoulders with some the world's most talented drama performers and producers. As part of her course, she will rig and focus hundreds of lights, design many lighting plans for in-house college shows, and shadow Stage Managers and Deputy Stage Managers in a number of West End shows.
Women Behind the Business is a range of programmes developed by the North West Institute in partnership with Fermanagh College and Omagh College , for women who provide support to or operate within a small business. The programme is financed by DEL and The EU and begins in September 2006 and will provide a range of FREE workshops and training as part of a Business Talent Programme leading to a NVQ level 3 management qualification. Contact the local project officer for more information: Siobhain Mc Laughlin (North West Institute) 7127 6186; Gabriel Keown ( Fermanagh College ) 6634 2290; Edel Mc Cusker ( Omagh College ) 8224 5433.
Omagh College recently held a presentation night for students who studied the Level 3 Certificate and Diploma in Accounting. The OCR Level 3 Diploma in Accounting is a highly regarded qualification that consists of four units. The Unit titles offered during the course are the National Occupational Standards' key areas of accounting practice. In order to achieve the Certificate qualification, candidates must achieve two Units from the OCR Level 3 framework. Candidates can achieve individual units and upon successfully completion of all four units, can achieve the award of OCR Level 3 Diploma in Accounting. Omagh College is the first Further Education College or Accredited Centre in Northern Ireland to teach students that have successfully achieved all four Units at Diploma level.
As many HND and Degree Level Students now begin work placements in local companies as part of their qualification, one UBI student has decided to head further afield. Philip McCready a HND Computing student from Portadown has jetted off to Waynesburg College in Pennsylvania under the Business Education Initiative (BEI). As part of the HND in computing, students are required to undertake a placement year to obtain a Certificate in Industrial Studies. Philip heard about the scheme which provides the opportunity for students to study in the US for a year and obtain a Certificate in Area Studies. The scheme was originally set up in 1993 by the Interchurch Committee of Northern Ireland – a group of Protestant and Catholic Church officials. Its goal is to provide the means by which NI s tudents can spend time studying and developing skills in the US . The scheme aims to provide both the student with a valuable learning experience and the local economy with the skills that the student gains while abroad.
Upper Bann Institute recently held its annual local architects' presentation made to award winning architectural students from the college. In keeping with tradition, local architect's Mr Clive Henning, Mr Maurice Cushnie and Mr Harry Porter were in attendance to present awards to students who they had chosen as winners in each respective award.
Armagh College staff were honoured in a recent unique graduation ceremony. Staff were awarded the Certificate in Business Management (Education) from Lancaster University which was the first graduation of its kind in Northern Ireland . This graduation ceremony marked a very important and public milestone in the college's Professional Development Programme in Leadership and Management which started nearly two years ago. This programme was in partnership with the Centre for Excellence and Leadership, Lancaster University and LSDA. Staff completed eight modules and sub-modules of this demanding post-graduate certificate programme. Hundreds Attend Armagh Freshers' Fayre Armagh College welcomed hundreds of new and returning students at the recent Freshers' Fayre. The Freshers' Fayre educates students on life at Armagh College and the services and facilities that are available to them. Students also have the opportunity to meet with banks; building societies; health promotion agencies and local employers. Local exhibitors at the fayre included Tayto and the international call centre company HCL, along with a number of student and youth services, youth organisations, clubs and societies, career guidance and student support.
The Network Publishing Northern Ireland Conference will take place on 29 November 2006 at the Comfort Hotel, Antrim from 10.00am to 3.30pm. This free event will enable you to find out more about flexible learning as a training solution for Northern Ireland . There will also be a chance to meet with college practitioners who are currently delivering Network Publishing programmes, as well as representatives from CCEA and NCFE. The event will provide information on funding and delivery of flexible learning programmes, along with presentations from ANIC about employers' views and flexible learning from an FE sector perspective. There will also be an opportunity to view a wide range of flexible learning materials and to participate in discussion regarding the current need to up-skill the workforce within Northern Ireland. To book contact Claire Knaggs on 01904 550110 or e-mail claire.knaggs@tribalgroup.co.uk
Given the inevitable prospect of increased electricity prices and heating costs, See the Light 2006, held on 28 – 29 September 2006 in The Cavan Crystal Hotel, Cavan showcases the emergence of extraordinary standards of energy performance into the mainstream of building construction across Europe and Ireland , as well as the unprecedented level of uptake of renewable energy technologies for building services. SEI REIO has invited leading Irish and European experts to speak and share their expertise and experiences with delegates.
19th September 2006 26th September 2006 The workshop is being held in the Conference Room of the North West Institute, Northland Building from 9:30am-4:30pm. To register contact Clare McGee on
Cinemagic is hosting a special preview screening of Hoodwinked! The True Story of Red Riding Hood on Monday 25 th September at 7pm in the Movie House Cinemas Dublin Road, Belfast . Everyone knows the story of Little Red Riding Hood... or so they think. No one has ever seen their favourite fairytale quite like this – turned upside-down, inside-out and reinvented as a hilarious animated comedy caper that reveals the shocking truth behind the legend At last, discover the full story of how little Red, Granny, The Woodsman and the Wolf were all suspects in the crime that rocked the fairytale world. With inventive story-telling, cutting-edge animation and an A-list cast including Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close and Jim Belushi, Hoodwinked is riotously funny entertainment for the whole family. To book, contact Sinead at Cinemagic on 028 90 311 900 or email sinead@cinemagic.org.uk Tickets cost £3 for under 18s and £3.50 for adults.
British Council Northern Ireland will be holding an open evening on Thursday 21 st September from 4:30pm – 6pm. The education team will be on hand to talk about the wide range of international opportunities and initiatives which they are involved in. For further information contact Mark Bignell. Tel: 028 90 248 220.
Opportunity Europe highlights Northern Ireland 's European links to help you find out about working, studying, volunteering and travelling in Europe . This free fair and exhibition will be held in St. George's Market on the 3 rd -4 th October from 10am-4pm. You can also find out how languages can enhance your life - for work and for leisure. This unique event will bring a taste of Europe to Belfast with food, music, dance, language tasters and useful information. For workshop bookings contact the British Council on 028 9024 8220 ext 248; for general enquiries contact the Belfast City Council European Unit on 028 9027 From 2 – 9 October Channel 4's IDEAS FACTORY and Belfast City Council are offering a series of free masterclasses for those passionate to develop a career in the creative industries. From TV Presenting to TV Documentary-Making, Games Production, Graphic Design, Print and Online Journalism and Radio, the week will combine seminars on specific roles within the industry, paths to jobs and funding options, and insider tips from top industry professionals. For further information contact Maud Hand mhand@channel4.co.uk Mobile : 07968 082 673; Landline: 020 7306 5590.
The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) invites expressions of interest from individuals who wish to nominate themselves or someone else to serve as Board Member of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). Through this recruitment exercise, the Department intends to appoint five board members (two employer representatives, two employee representatives and one educationalist) from 1 February 2007 plus any member positions that may arise within the next six months. Application forms should be completed and returned by 5pm on Friday 6 th October 2006.
The September edition of the Rolls-Royce Science Prize newsletter is now available online.
The AoC has recently signed up with ‘Show Pairs' which offer vouchers for discounts on various London theatre productions. AoC currently has tickets for ‘Footloose' and ‘STOMP', which offers two top price tickets for the price of one. The Footloose voucher is valid for performances until 13th October 2006 and the STOMP voucher is valid for performances until 15th October 2006. For further information contact Barbara Omokaro on 020 7827 4600 or email barbara_omokara@aoc.co.uk
The European Day of Languages celebrates language and cultural diversity and will be held on Tuesday 26 th September 2006 . CILT, the National Centre for Languages, produces resources to help participants make the most of the day.
If you have anything you would like included in the FE Zine,
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