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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.
The achievements of 244 students from Castlereagh College will be celebrated this evening at its annual Higher Education graduation ceremony. A glittering ceremony will take place this evening at the Stormont Hotel in Belfast . Graduands will gather with friends and family to receive their higher level qualifications in areas ranging from the Institute of Leadership and Management qualifications to the QUB Certificate in Foundation Studies (Access to University). This is a very special evening for the students and staff of the college as it is the last Castlereagh College Higher Education Ceremony due to its forthcoming merger with Belfast Institute. Cecil Graham LVO OBE, member of Castlereagh College 's Governing Body, will introduce the ceremony's guest speaker, Mr. Brian Turtle CBE, Director Designate of the new soon to be merged organisation.
The Aimhigher roadshow is returning to Castlereagh College next week, as part of its annual tour of Northern Ireland schools and colleges. The aim of the roadshow is to promote the value of higher education to students, providing the opportunity to learn about the benefits and experiences of moving onto university. The roadshow is a partnership between the Department for Employment and Learning, the Department of Education and Ulster Bank and takes the ‘aim higher' message directly to young people in FE Colleges and Schools throughout Northern Ireland. During the visit, the Aimhigher team is holding six, 40 minute sessions for a total of 70 students who will be given a presentation by a recent graduate, to provide them with an inside view of all aspects of university life based on her own experience, using interactive film and the latest computer technology. The colleges hope that through initiatives like Aimhigher, students who may not have otherwise considered moving on to higher education, will now set their sights higher by realising the opportunities available to them.
The Castlereagh College Employer Engagement Team has developed a new suite of management short-courses targeted at local SMEs. The programmes will be managed and delivered by Conexus, the training division of Castlereagh College and will run throughout the new academic year.
Leading the way at East Tyrone College, five AVCE Media Students have not only excelled by gaining two A grades in their exams, but have been awarded the top five FE Media Students throughout the UK. This is a major achievement for the students who include: Debbie Larmour; Adele Harkness;Lisa Murphy; Oonagh McNulty; Hayley McKenzie.
Marie McGonnell, 3rd Year Student in NAFAS Floral Art & Design at East Tyrone College , has just been awarded the Nafas Margaret Newman Award of Excellence. This is a prestigious award presented for the best portfolio in Floral Art & Design. Marie was selected from candidates throughout England , Ireland , Scotland and Wales and so it was a major achievement for her and her tutor Yolanda Campbell. She has now been invited to attend the NAFAS AGM which will be held at Leamington- Spa, in England on the 11th of October where she will be presented with her prize. Upper Bann Institute Assistant Caretaker William Gray is an inspiration to all adults with literacy gremlins. Not only has he recently obtained his Certificate in First Aid, but has now vowed to continue with his studies to improve his reading and writing skills. And why? Because he wants to be able to help his eight year old son with his homework as he progresses into higher primary classes. Surely there could be no better reason!
Upper Bann Institute's Community Learning Team is tasked daily with working with a variety of diverse community groups to ensure access to education for all. The team at UBI have recently unveiled a new ‘live database' and ‘strategic report' based on this. They believe it will help them continue to successfully engage with the local community and community groups. Kyle Richardson has been awarded the prestigious Occupational Studies of the Year Award 2006 by the CCEA. Armagh College staff were so impressed by his dedication to his studies that they nominated him for this award, which will be presented to Kyle during a Celebrating Achievement in Skills ceremony this Autumn. Stuart Eakin , a former student of Armagh College and now at Harper Adams University, has won the John Thompson Award, (for effective communication and team building skills) the Presidents Award (for his contribution to the student's club of Ireland), and the Tesco Award (for best placement degree student) which he spent managing an organic farm shop in Worcestershire.
Hundreds of enthusiastic students descended on the Gerald Moag Campus at Millfield as the Belfast Institute's Freshers' Week was really getting into full swing. Organised by the Students' Union, Institute students attending the mid-week Freshers' Fair were able to get first-hand information on the wide range of clubs and societies and interest groups available, in addition to the numerous discos, dances and nights out that are provided on the various Institute campuses throughout the academic year. Exhibitors from NUS/USI, L.A. Fitness, Bank of Ireland, and the Holyland Community Warden Scheme, were kept busy as students filled their bags with useful information including the latest edition of Belfast Institute Students' Union Newspaper ‘The Buzz'.
As part of Belfast Institute's Centenary Celebrations, the Institute is inviting you to put on your dancing shoes and head along to College Square East on Saturday 14 October from 7.30pm – 12.00am for a recreation of the famous ‘Saturday Hop'. Tickets cost £15.00 and include supper and are available from Aiken PR, Tel: 028 9066 3000 or from Main Site Receptions.
With the final decisions made under the Review of Public Administration, the project is now firmly into its implementation phase. This seminar, which takes place in the Stormont Hotel on Tuesday 24th October 2006, will examine the detail of how this change programme will be executed across the public sector, and will provide vital information and direction for all those whose role is implementation of change within their own organisation. It will provide timely insight, coming directly from those who are at the centre of the change process, for public sector managers at all levels. Network Publishing Northern Ireland Conference 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
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.
British Council is looking for applicants to take part in the CEDEFOP Study Visits programme in the first half of 2007. There are 31 visits to choose from focusing on various vocational education and training topics including “Developing entrepreneurship among young people”, “Competence development of older workers” and “Needs of low-skilled and disadvantaged groups”. Study Visits are open to anyone working in the field of vocational training and for further information on CEDEFOP and the application process, contact Andrea Duenschede on Tel: 020 7389 4340 or click here.
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 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.
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