News

Northern Regional College media student sizes up a career in fashion photography

Wednesday
6th February 2019

Thomas Hammill, a final year student in Creative Media Production (Interactive Media) at Northern Regional College’s Newtownabbey Campus has been putting the digital skills he has honed in the classroom to good use snapping product photography for international footwear and apparel brand, size?. Thomas, who has shortlisted for the WorldSkills UK finals last year in Birmingham, progressed from Level 2 Creative Digital Media to Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production (Interactive Media), which offers students a wide range of subjects including digital photography, video production and graphic design.

Lesley Ann Moore, from Magherafelt, got more than she bargained for when she enrolled on a part-time Accountancy course at Northern Regional College: a new career and a husband! When a shock diagnosis of Lupas disease prevented Lesley pursuing her dreams of missionary work she took on a role in an Antrim accounts office. Surprised by how much she enjoyed working with numbers, Lesley enrolled in the Accounting Technicians Ireland Level 4 Certificate, proceeding to do her Level 5 certificate.

Northern Regional College continually reviews its curriculum to ensure it meets the changing business environment. From September 2019, an HNC in Business will be offered on a part time basis at its Magherafelt campus. The course aims to give students the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for a career in middle to senior management. Mandatory units include Business Environment Managing, Financial Resources and Decisions and Organisations and Behaviour Marketing Principles.

As Northern Ireland’s Digital Industry flourishes, Northern Regional College is training the next generation of game developers. For many, a career in the video gaming industry sounds like a dream – but it’s a reality which is easier to achieve than most would expect. Northern Regional College’s Digital Games Development course teaches the core technical, practical and creative skills required to work within this highly lucrative industry, including: virtual reality, 3D digital animation and computer game design.

Northern Regional College offers a range of inclusive learning programmes to help prepare students with learning difficulties or disabilities for the world of work or further education courses. Inclusive programmes on offer at Ballymoney include Lifeskills, Transition2College, Aspire2Work and Route2Work. These programmes are tailored to meet the needs and abilities of students to help them gain essential skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT, as well as employability, social and vocational skills. With high student to lecturer ratios and opportunities to participate in work experience, the courses can provide a stepping stone to employment opportunities.

Northern Regional College’s Ballymoney Campus can be the stepping stone to a successful career in areas as diverse as media, catering, beauty and carpentry. For animal lovers, the Animal Care course could be the gateway to an interesting career, giving students the opportunity to understand and promote animal health, undertake an investigative project in the land-based sector and learn more about business management in the land-based sector, with a mix of class-based learning and practical work.