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Issue 89 ANIC Forthcoming Events 2007 ANIC Conference 2007 will take place from 18-19 June at the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, Co Down. Details to follow. ANIC LIFE Awards will take place on Monday 21 May at 6pm in the Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn. FSB and ANIC Future Students of Business Awards will take place on Friday 8 June in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast Belfast Institute Student is Shortlisted for Top Culinary Award Belfast Institute student, James Devine, was shortlisted among eight finalists for the 2007 Young Chef of the Year Competition to win the Robbie Millar Scholarship. Beating off stiff competition from entrants all over the UK, the Belfast Institute student participated in the final heat in East Tyrone College. James is studying a Foundation Degree in Science and Culinary Arts at the Institute. Having impressed the judging panel with an impressive three course menu, James showcased his gastronomic skills before the panel of industry representatives by preparing, cooking and presenting another three course meal within two hours. Launched earlier this year, the Robbie Millar Scholarship was set up in memory of the late Robbie Millar to award culinary excellence among young British and Irish chefs by giving them the opportunity to work with the world's finest chefs. The panel of judges was made up of industry experts including Richard Corrigan, Paul Rankin, Michael Deane and Neven Maguire. Belfast Institute Student Bags Top Excellence Award Belfast Institute student, David Shannon, has scooped a rare City & Guilds Medal for Excellence award in recognition of his exceptional work. Currently studying Heating and Ventilating at the Institute, David is one of only 117 people to scoop the 2006 award. Outdoing over 750,000 other entrants, David landed the City & Guilds Medal for Excellence for his outstanding performance on the Heating and ventilating NVQ level 3 course. David is now in the running to win one of eight prestigious Lion Awards, dubbed the ‘Education Oscars', which will be announced later this year at a gala event to celebrate learning, success and achievement in London. Belfast Institute Meets Construction Employers Needs Belfast Institute recently joined forces with the Department for Employment and Learning and Multi-Development UK Ltd to implement a 12 week pilot programme for unemployed men and women aged over 18. As part of the Renewing Communities ‘ Victoria Square ' initiative, students were trained in the construction skill of Dry Wall Lining as well as construction site safety, IT, numeracy and literacy skills. On 3 March 2007, 24 Belfast Institute students completed the full training programme with eight trainees being offered full-time employment and a further six on a waiting list. The programme was initially launched as a pilot project in November 2006 but due to its phenomenal success, and the opportunities it provided for unemployed men and women, the colegr hopes to resume the programme in the next semester. Trainees from East Antrim Institute's Hairdressing Salon raised £455 for the Dylan Dicks Appeal. Eight month year old Dylan suffers from the extremely rare Tay Sachs Disease (TSD) and requires treatment at Tubingen Children's Hospital in Germany . Level 3 trainees were assisted by pupils from Monkstown Community School in raising funds by colouring, perming, cutting and blow drying hair for visitors at the Institute's Open Day. Dylan's plight recently reached the headlines when Liverpool stars Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher each donated football shirts for his cause. East Antrim Institute's Motor Vehicle Department was the location for a recent IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry) Regional Network Training Session. Head of Quality Ian Cheetham, Administration Manager Julie Cartwright and Chief External Verifier Glyn Evans updated 15 delegates from colleges across the Province of IMI a ssessment processes and on-line administration systems. The training also included a number of demonstrations and concluded with an open forum discussion.
A new and exciting opportunity for young people aged 16-25 in the Cookstown/Dungannon area was launched recently by East Tyrone College in partnership with the Princes's Trust who is bringing the Team programme to Cookstown for the first time. The 12 week personal development programme aims to give unemployed young people a chance to gain qualifications, develop in confidence and learn to motivate themselves and others through taking part in team building activities. Healthy Eating Week at Limavady College Scrumptious smoothies, filling fruits and tasty treats are on the menu all this week at Limavady College. The College's Health & Welfare Officer, Ann McGarrigle has organised the 3rd Annual Healthy Eating Week to encourage both students and staff to consider healthier food choices, supplying literature and advice on the importance of combining physical activity and a healthy diet, as well as providing samples of fruit drinks and snacks to make students and staff aware of the healthier options. Occupational studies students from Limegrove School , St Mary's High School and Limavady High School who attend the college one day per week, will prepare a wide selection of healthy dishes including pasta, rice, veggie options, and desserts, using yoghurts, nuts, cereals and dried fruits for a special Health Eating Week lunch on Wednesday.
At a recent presentation held at the Kilkeel Campus of Newry Institute, Mrs Lorna Ballance and Mrs Irene Magowan were presented with the prestigious OCR Level 3 Diploma in Text Processing. To achieve this Award, both ladies have been attending the Institute over the past two years, where they have undertaken examinations in Advanced Text Production, Advanced Word Processing, Advanced Document Presentation and Advanced Audio Transcription. Newry Farmer Leads the Way in Diversification Mr John Maginn, a farmer from Annalong received £20,000 for a new on-farm diversification business. Dunmore Hill Kennels is the name of the new business which will be based on Mr Maginn's family farm in Annalong. The new business will offer boarding kennels, dog training and purchase and sale of dogs. The financial assistance came from the Peace II ‘Obtaining Alternative Employment; Reskilling & Diversification Programme for Farming Families' which had been running in Newry Institute. The funding was awarded to the Institute from the Department Agriculture Rural Development - EU Programme for Peace & Reconciliation. Further Success is Awarded to NEI's Centre of Excellence The Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Business Awards were announced recently at a glamorous awards ceremony and again the North East Institute was recognised for its training provision. In partnership with Ryobi, the Institute was commended in the Training Achievement category for providing bespoke training programmes for robot cell operators and maintenance technicians.
Six staff employed in the meat and livestock industry in the North West were awarded the Certificate in Red Meat Inspection at a recent awards ceremony held at North West Institute. The successful students had completed an eighteen-month programme at the Institute in order to achieve this prestigious certificate awarded by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. The certificates were presented by Stephen Cooper, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute. The successful candidates were Edward Doherty, Gary Forbes, Francesca Glackin, Ronald Green, James Jordan and Keith Rutherford. The course will commence again in September 2007. For further information contact John Keys at (028) 7136 4360 or 07746249873.
North West Institute's Software Professional Academy students have recently held a special technology awareness event, aimed at raising the awareness of careers currently available within the IT industry, and to promote computing courses on offer at the Institute. ‘Plan IT' involved representatives from some leading IT companies, such as Pramerica, West Care, and ASG (Belfast), who were on hand to make industry related addresses to the large audiences, which included students and staff from local schools. The event also included exhibitions from other organisations, including ANIC Seagate, Northbrook and Andronics, and representatives from Phooka – a computer games development company set up by students from NWIFHE. Each of these offered an insight to their products and services, and provided guidance and advice to those considering a career in the industry. The students, who were being assessed on the work undertaken in the organisation of the event, hope it will raise the profile of IT careers in the North West, and believe it could become an annual event in the North West's IT events calendar.
Students at UBI's Lurgan campus recently got together to form a new group on campus – Students Sharing Faith (SSF). The newly formed group meet once a fortnight to discuss all aspects of faith in modern society, dealing especially with issues facing young people. The group are only on their second time of meeting but already the student body on the campus has shown lots of interest. Students Sharing Faith is open to both staff and students on the Lurgan campus of UBI and all ages are invited to come along. It is also a non-denominational group so members of all faith communities are asked to come and participate. During sessions the group share aspects of each of their faiths, discuss societal and topical issue and build upon their relationship with God. It's informal and fun and the group even plays games to explore different aspects of faith.
Upper Bann Institute's BA Hons Creative Imaging students will be launching their end of year show on 30 th May 2007. The show entitled ‘Synergy' will display a diverse range of art, design and multimedia which students have been working on for a number of months. The Exhibition will be held in the St Patrick's Trian in Armagh and also incorporate the Market Place Theatre. The show will run until 30 th June with Opening Night being held on 30 th May 2007 at 7pm. Guest speaker on opening night will be Mr Billy Dixon, Communications and Image Consultant. Among the students displaying their artwork is Richard Farquhar. Formerly a HND photography student at UBI his work for Synergy is entitled ‘The Decommissioned Life' and includes an installation piece comprised of items from former troubled times in Northern Ireland. For further information contact Dr. Paul Hamilton on HamiltonP@ubi.ac.uk or tel: 028 3839 7800.
Dame Mary Peters visited Upper Bann Institute's Lurgan Campus recently for a special photography session with HND Photography student Andrea Brown. As part of her final major project for the HND Photography course, Andrea was tasked with producing a large piece of work to submit to achieve her final qualification. Andrea decided upon ‘celebrity photography' as her chosen subject area and contacted Dame Mary Peters about the possibility of being the celebrity in question. Mary herself was keen to lend Andrea a hand when she learnt of Andrea's past. Andrea lost her father, an RUC Officer, at the age of 12 and six years later at the age of 18, Andrea herself was blown up in a blast bomb in Lisburn. This caused severe spinal injuries leaving Andrea as registered disabled and with problems walking and with day to day life in general. Both these major incidents caused a halt in Andrea's education. Although she went on to have daughter Jade, who is now 11, having no qualifications and little mobility, Andrea was unable to find work that would suit her disabilities. Having always had an interest in photography Andrea decided to apply for the HND Photography course in UBI and now at the end of the two year course, Andrea has many plans for the future. She has already applied for the Honours Degree in Creative Imaging at Upper Bann Institute and her ultimate goal is to start her own business in Portrait and Wedding Photography. Andrea's final piece of work entitled “The Lady behind the Hero” featuring Dame Mary Peters, will be available for view at the HND Photography end of year show at the Millennium Court in Portadown. Opening night is 30 th May and the exhibition will run until 29th June.
As of 1 August 2007, Armagh College will be merging with Upper Bann Institute and Newry Institute to become Southern Regional College. A student conference took place at Armagh College Student Village on 2 nd May 2007 to give students from Armagh College information on the college merger and answer any student queries on the effects of the merger. The conference was student-led, with students providing music to kick-start the event, student union counsellors leading the discussion and many ice-breaker games held. The conference addressed issues about Student Services; Learning Supports; Ulster Transport and any changes to the Further and Higher Education Curriculum in relation to the SRC college merger.
First year students from the BTEC National Award in Music Performance at Armagh College performed live on stage at The Marketplace Theatre on 2 nd May 2007 to more than 150 guests. As part of this Music Performance course, the students are assessed on their music performance by lecturers and by themselves and what better way to facilitate this than putting on a live music show that everyone can enjoy. This is a very popular course at Armagh College , with students coming from all over to enrol on the course. Playing on the day, were Armagh College students from Armagh , Omagh, Portadown, Craigavon, Bleary, Lurgan and Waringstown. At the concert, the audience was treated to an extremely varied programme including a Jimi Hendrix number, folk music, acoustic guitar/voice solos, a Metallica cover, operatic songs, an electric guitar solo, a ‘bass and drum jam' written by the students, classical piano solos, songs from ‘Oklahoma' and ‘My Fair Lady' and Dusty Springfield's ‘Son of a Preacher Man,' as well as many more. Community Relations Week took place from April 30 th – May 6 th , with more than 140 events taking place throughout Northern Ireland. Armagh College got involved by running “Good Relations” classes all week. The training sessions focused on prejudice and explored the origins and consequences of sectarian and racist behaviour, helping students to identify actions and comments that may be considered to be racist or prejudice and how to avoid these. The Good Relations Programme at the College is designed to deal with highly complex and sensitive issues (e.g. racism, sectarianism, homophobia etc) in a safe environment. It encourages participants to critically reflect upon and challenge their own prejudices and stereotypes. Armagh College was the first further education college in Northern Ireland to have a nationally accredited Good Relations Curriculum which commenced in February 2005. Adult Learners Week 2007 If you're organising an event for Adult Learners' Week in Northern Ireland, 19th-25th May 2007 and want to promote learning or draw attention to your education provision, why not forward your information for inclusion on the ALW section of EGSA's website and a special ALW edition of EGSA's e-briefing? Deadline for events information is 4pm, Friday 11th May. Forward events information (as below) to Leigh Veighey at alw@egsa.org.uk • Organisation • Event Dates (From/To) • Event Title • Summary • Location (Centre/Address/Postcode) • Times (From/To) • Contact (Name/Telephone/E-mail/Website)
Innovation Week 07 aims to de-mystify and throw light on the concept of innovation. Through the three day exhibition, two conferences, practical workshops and seminars featuring internationally celebrated innovators and thought-leaders, Innovation Week 2007 will demonstrate the tools and techniques that can help businesses unlock original thinking and creativity and achieve measurable results. Northern Ireland Skills Conference - Skills for Innovation Silver Surfers' Day 2007 Back to top
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
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