Rebecca Lockhart, Samantha Hughes and Robin McCollum from Health and Social care at our Newtownabbey campus were winners of the Entrepreneurial award for their project, F.I.N. Friend in Need.
IT students, Daniel Bell, Thomas Boyle and Matthew McMullen from our Magherafelt campus triumphed in the Software Award with their project First Aid FRED.
The winners were chosen by a panel of judges drawn from The British Council, the Department for Economy, the Federation of Small Businesses, the NI Science Festival, OCN Northern Ireland, The Princes Trust, Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, W5, the Royal Academy of Engineering and Young Enterprise NI.
Laura Firth, Head of Student Experience at Northern Regional College commented: “At Northern Regional College we recognise the importance of such competitions in playing a vital role in providing our students substantial experience, as well as showcasing their skills during the educational journey. The BEST Awards has been a fantastic and enjoyable opportunity for our students to showcase their skills and put what they have learned in the classroom into practice – and to do so in competition with their counterparts in another five colleges. The overall professionalism and standard of our students’ work on the day was so impressive and we are delighted that their work was rewarded with these prizes.
“My congratulations also go to all our competitors on the day – all of whom did the College proud with the work they put forward. I have no doubt they have learned a lot through this experience and will be encouraging those who will be with us again next year to take part in the 2018 awards.”
Gerry Campbell, Chief Executive of Colleges NI said: “Further Education Colleges across Northern Ireland are preparing students to play a leading role in the development of the Northern Ireland economy. The excellent projects produced by students who have taken part in the BEST Awards showcase the skills and entrepreneurialism that will be needed to fill the jobs of the future.
“It is vital that these students and all students across Northern Ireland receive the support that will enable them to achieve their full potential for the benefit of society. This support needs to be provided by government. Students and employers are facing huge uncertainties and threats to future funding owing to the absence of a pro skills and pro business Northern Ireland Executive.
Our economy faces not only the challenges of the global marketplace but the uncertainties around the potential impact of Brexit.”
