 |
Issue 90 Colleges Celebrate Learning in Further Education Learners from throughout Northern Ireland gathered in the Lagan Valley Island on Monday night for the annual LIFE awards for Learning in Further Education. LIFE awards were presented to learners of all ages from Northern Ireland 's 16 FE Colleges for showing outstanding achievement in their studies. Guest of honour on the evening was Dr Alastair McDonnell MP MLA who congratulated the sector on the initiative and who emphasised the important role which colleges have to play to create highly skilled workforce and a thriving economy in Northern Ireland . The winner of the overall Northern Ireland LIFE award was presented to Gwen Beck ett from Upper Bann Institute.
Representatives of Northern Ireland 's FE college employers recently met with Sir Reg Empey MLA, Minister for Employment and Learning and with lecturers' unions to discuss the ongoing industrial action over FE lecturers' pay. Speaking after the meeting John D'Arcy, Chief Executive of the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges, said: “College Employers welcomed the initiative taken by the Minister in hosting this meeting and welcomed his agreement to explore options to resolve this matter at a time of key change in further education. The Minister has undertaken to update college employers and unions as a matter of urgency.” Successful Management Training at East Tyrone The College and Dunbia (Dungannon) have recently joined forces to deliver a tailored Institute of Leadership and Management introductory certificate in Team Leading. Employees from the company completed the eight week training programme which was based in the Dungannon campus. The development needs of team leaders and managers at Dunbia were recognised by the company, who as a result enlisted the expertise of the College in developing and delivering a course in team leading skills. As a result team leaders and managers from Dunbia received a nationally recognised qualification delivered through a progressive framework that provided Dunbia with the necessary flexibility to select the most appropriate areas for development.
The Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum has decided to use a video created by media students at East Tyrone College to show to post-primary schools throughout Northern Ireland who are registered to receive NIABF ant-bullying week materials. First year media students produced the video which was co-ordinated by their lecturer Sharon Gray for Anti-Bullying Week which took place in November 2006.
The Beyond Caring Project is an equal initiative which was formed to test and research ways of overcoming barriers to training and employment for those with a disability or caring responsibility. Recently Noeleen Byrne- Project Officer at the college along with three members of the project from Omagh and Fermanagh colleges attended a training meeting which was held by the Hungarian partners in Budapest.
Fermanagh College is holding a free Silver Surfers' Day Event on Friday 25 May The event is open to the public between 2pm – 4pm and people can drop in between these hours. The event will be held in room MG08 and people are advised to go to the main College reception and they will be pointed in the right direction. The afternoon is open to anyone over 50 and they can ask questions/observe or have 15-30 minute 'taster' sessions on the basics of Internet/email , on something a little more challenging, that they're interested in or the digital switch-over and how it will affect them. Italian chef Claudio Menconi visited Newry Institute this week to showcase his skills in the art of vegetable carving. Claudio, who hails from Tuscany , took time out of his busy schedule which includes TV appearances with Rai Uno, tutoring at Barga College and guest chef appearances at some of the top culinary events in Italy , to visit Newry Institute's catering department. Nino Giovanni MacMahon, Vice-Chairman of the Northern Ireland Association of Chefs and Cooks, expressed his gratitude to Chef Menconi. The Newry based chef said he hoped the Italian chef's visit would strengthen the relationship between Newry Institute and Barga Institute and may lead to an exchange programme for Italian and Irish chefs in the future.
A new centre to encourage the formation and incubation of high technology and knowledge based start up businesses was officially opened recently in Newry by President of Ireland Mary McAleese. The first purpose built incubation and innovation centre in the Northern Ireland Further Education sector, the new £1.25m state-of-the-art building, called Greenshoots Newry Ltd, has been established as a joint initiative between Newry Institute and the University of Ulster.
North Down and Ards Institute (NDAI) hosted many events over Community Relations Week to help raise awareness of and respect for different cultures and nationalities within the College environment. This was a tremendous success with a great effort from everyone involved.
North West Institute is hosting the North West Academy of the Arts this year from 1 st – 15 th July, and the process of recruiting two hundred 16 – 18 year-olds to participate in the two-week residential has begun. If you know someone in your college, have someone in your family, or friends elsewhere who might be interested in dance, drama, music, media, or art and design, please ask them to apply. This is the chance of a lifetime, and a life-changing one too. Applicants will be auditioned and interviewed, and those selected will each receive a full scholarship to cover all fees and residential costs, worth over £3,000 per student. An application form and further information can be on found by visiting www.nwacademyofthearts.com or by contacting Tony Talbot or Edel McLaughlin on 028 7127 6351.
Louise McConville, a HND student at Upper Bann Institute recently received the honour of being invited to speak at the launch of The Chief Inspectors Report as a representative for students in the further education sector across Northern Ireland . Chief Inspector of the Education and Training Inspectorate, Marion Matchett, launched the Chief Inspector's Report at the Culloden Hotel in Belfast and highlighted that most learners in Northern Ireland are continuing to outperform their counterparts in England and Wales , as shown in GCSE and A-Level results. Louise was delighted to be asked to attend this event on behalf of the students in the further education sector. Louise (20) is a Year 2 HND student in Health and Social Care and currently studies on UBI's Banbridge Campus. Louise was tasked with talking about what she considered to be a ‘good college' and she was highly complimentary of Upper Bann Institute. In her speech Louise commented; “For me, a good Institute of Further and Higher Education is a college which provides support for all my needs. Unlike school, at Upper Bann Institute I am treated as an adult, a lot of the work is completed independently and I am given choices.” Louise is very supportive of the further education sector as a whole and says; “Further education is not based solely on written examinations, there is a variety of assessment methods which ensures all students learning styles are supported.”
UBI students enrolled on the National Diploma in Uniformed Services have just undertaken their first residential training session – a stint with the army during which they were thoroughly put through their paces. The BTEC National Diploma in Uniformed Services is a course specifically tailored for anyone interested in going into a career in any kind of uniformed/public service – for example, the army, navy, fire-fighter or paramedic. It is a three A Level equivalent course and currently runs on UBI's Banbridge Campus with students coming from all over to gain a place on this exciting and interesting course. This is the first year of this course – it having been introduced new last year after tutors at UBI identified a need for this kind of training for young people. For their residential, students were sent to the Army Cadets Base Camp in Ballykinler, near Newcastle . Since this work placement, Upper Bann Institute have sent three students; Nathan Allen, Connor Compston and Danielle Sergeant on work placement to Lurgan, Portadown and Newry Fire Stations and the Control Centre in Lisburn. The students on the course all agree that they are getting real, hands-on experience of working within all areas of Public Service. For more information about this course please contact Elizabeth Hudson on T: 028 3839 7700 or HudsonE@ubi.ac.uk
Carrickblacker Fold on the Gilford Road in Portadown will hold a Silver Surfers Session from 10am-noon on the 25 th May as part of a partnership initiative between Upper Bann Institute and the Everybody On-Line Project. All facilities will be provided on the day and a qualified tutor will be on hand to give users a short guided tour of the PC, Internet and Email. This course is completely free and light refreshments will be served after. The morning will be split into two sessions, from 10am -11am and 11am - 12 noon. Booking for each session is essential. For further details or to book your place please contact either Sandra Murphy on 028 3839 7868 or Gillian Burnett on 07824 327428.
Armagh College was unveiled on Thursday 10th May as the winner of this years Presidents Award at the AoC Beacon Awards ceremony in Westminster , London . The College was hand selected from the twenty-three AoC Beacon Award winners by the President of the Association of Colleges, paralympic gold medallist Giles Long, as a shining example of further achievement. Bill Gordon, Investors in People Assessment Manager at DELNI, and Peter O'Callaghan IIP Advisor, EEI Solutions, visited Armagh College on 15 th May to officially present Mr Paul Little (Director and CEO, Armagh College), on behalf of Armagh College, with the prestigious Investors in People Award.
Chloe Walkinshaw, a past student of the BTEC National Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science course at Armagh College , received the Armagh Sports Forum Sportswoman of the Year Award at the Awards Ceremony held in the Armagh City Hotel on Wednesday 16 th May 2007. While studying at Armagh College , Chloe played for the Armagh College Volleyball Academy Team to great success. Her love and determination of Volleyball has lead to a number of achievements including: Captain of the NI Seniors; Number 1 NI Beach volleyball Player; UWIC team member men and women's teams; and member of the Welsh Unis Team. This recent volleyball success, has lead to her gaining a place on the GB Volleyball Squad. Chloe will be continuing her training with the GB team with the ultimate goal of competing in the Olympics 2010.
Belfast Institute, in conjunction with Workwest, recently launched the first Social Enterprise Graduate Programme at the Institute's Springvale building. The programme places graduates with social enterprises in North and West Belfast for a period of three months to improve their employability opportunities. Social enterprises are community based organisations and host companies benefiting from this programme include the Now Project, An Munia Tober, Belfast Safaris and Belfast Print Workshop. Joe Weir, a programme graduate placed with An Munia Tober, an organisation providing support for the travelling community in Belfast said: “having grown up in West Belfast , I am looking forward to giving something positive back into my own community.” The programme will help broaden my experience and skills and therefore enhance my employability opportunities in the future. I am also looking forward to working with a mentor from the Institute during my work placement and receiving the necessary guidance to pursue my career.” For further details on the Social Enterprise Graduate Programme contact Gillian Harron at Belfast Institute on tel. 028 9026 5235, email: gharron@belfastinstitute.ac.uk
Belfast Institute in partnership with First Trust Bank is delighted to have recently launched the second “Enhancing our Customer Experience” Programme. Following on from the success of the Pilot Programme which is currently being delivered in Belfast Institute's Millfield Campus and is due to complete in June 2007, the second programme was launched on 20 March 2007 in the Leighinmohr Hotel in Ballymena and will run until June 2008. The ‘Enhancing our Customer Experience' programme is an accredited Customer Service programme which aims: • To improve the overall ‘Customer Experience' for First Trust Customers • To deliver on the ‘Customer Experience ‘Agenda' by developing a Customer Service programme which is customised to First Trust Bank • To develop First Trust staff through a practical / interactive (more than academic / theory based) training approach • To provide First Trust employees with the opportunity to gain a qualification specific to their area of work (BTEC Level 3 Award in Customer Service) • To expose staff to a training programme which combines the strength of internal and external trainers The programme is delivered through monthly workshops, the content of which have been customised to First Trust Bank and focus on the practical application of staff skills and experience.
Belfast Institute has launched its Business Solutions Short Course brochure for local companies wishing to improve their skills and training. Offering everything from Information Technology and Legislative guidance to Marketing and Business advice, there is something to suit everyone. “Making the news” is just one of the latest additions to the Institute's Business Solutions brochure. This innovative offering is an enjoyable workshop for anyone who wants to learn the top tips of catching the editor's eye and writing a newsworthy press release or newsletter. The Business Solutions Short Course brochure is among a long list of business initiatives launched by Belfast Institute. It is yet another move in its commitment to servicing the needs of local businesses and closing the gap between academia and industry. The new brochure offers a range of training solutions from Trading on ebay to Time Management and Customer Care Awareness to Construction Skills Register (CSR). To view the courses on offer visit www.belfastinstitute.ac.uk/business or for further information on enrolment call 028 9026 5265 or email short_courses@belfastinstitute.ac.uk
ANIC Conference 2007 will take place from 18-19 June at the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, Co Down. FSB and ANIC Future Students of Business Awards will take place on Friday 8 June in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast Back to top Transform your Business Idea The Transform – Ideas Into Businesses Programme is a one year full-time business incubation programme which is funded by the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and run by Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland . It is designed to provide ambitious entrepreneurs, who have an idea for an export focused business, with the necessary business skills, expertise, contacts, networks and facilities to establish successful businesses. It will allow you the time and space to develop your business plan and get your business up and running.
Skillsmart Retail and Retail Trust are making a final call for applications for their ten scholarships, worth over £1000, to the prestigious and highly respected British shops and stores association (bssa) ‘Oxford Summer School.' Running from 18-24 August, the programme features a mix of keynote speakers, central presentations, group discussions and focuses on enhancing each delegate's expertise in the management of four key resources: People, Money, Merchandise and Retail Space. The attendees will have a unique opportunity to harness valuable personal insight while sharpening their practical retail skills to help maximise their workplace experience and grow as retail leaders. The power of this program lies in the innovative way in which personal development and practical knowledge are woven together to develop attendees in a holistic way. With the knowledge of their own strengths and weaknesses, these junior professionals are in a better position to develop and sustain the important relationships needed for their role in steering retail to a higher level. Addressing skills gaps and developing and promoting skills and qualifications are key aspects of Skillsmart Retail's objectives. Since 1923, the Oxford Summer School has combined a challenging and inspirational academic programme with the opportunity to network with fellow retailers, and providing an ideal forum for retail managers to acquire the skills to maximise their workplace experience and grow as retail leaders and, ultimately, the bottom-line in their businesses. For more information, contact Kerry Burgess at Skillsmart Retail. Tel: 020 7399 3476 or email kerry.burgess@skillsmartretail.com If you have anything you would like included in the FE Zine,
|
