The event, sponsored by the Committee for Employment and Learning, was attended by key stakeholders including business and trade unions representatives, MLAs, as well as staff and students from the six regional Further Education Colleges.
A number of interactive exhibitions highlighting the range of Foundation Degrees, Higher Level Apprenticeships and Higher National Diploma courses offered by the FE sector were on display.
The exhibitions included courses from right across the priority skill sectors, namely, ICT, financial services, advanced manufacturing, life and health sciences and creative industries & digital media. Sports students from the South Eastern Regional College were on hand to discuss their App to show movement in sport as well as a sports hydration tester.
Employers were at hand to talk about their role in engaging with the Colleges, for example:
Norbrook Laboratories are involved in the Higher Level Apprenticeship in Applied and Medial Science offered by Southern Regional College
Equiniti ICS is working with Northern Regional College in their Foundation Degree in Computing; and
Liberty IT is working with Belfast Metropolitan College in the design of the Foundation Degree in Software Engineering.
Global Wind Alliance is working with South West College in the design of the Foundation Degree in Engineering and Wind Turbine Technology.
Today’s event also included a dance performance by ‘Ascent’ – a group of higher education performing arts students from the North West Regional College and a musical recital from Southern Regional College students studying towards a Higher National Diploma in Music.
Robin Swann, MLA and Chair of the Employment and Learning Committee said: “On behalf of the Committee I would like to take this opportunity to thank the students and staff from our local colleges for attending today’s event and for showcasing the range, the breadth and superior level of Further Education (FE) courses available.
“The Committee is very supportive of the Department for Employment and Learning’s ‘Widening Participation Strategy’ and as such we are keen to promote the opportunities available through Further Education Colleges for those students wishing to continue towards Higher Education courses and qualifications.
“It is crucial that we ensure that all prospective students are provided with a fair and equal path towards Higher Education. Sometimes, the most able people are the least likely to participate in education and we must do all we can to encourage, promote and support their access to and involvement in Higher Education. Today’s event is an important step in highlighting the opportunities that exist in Further Education and my Committee was delighted to be involved. We look forward to working with the FE sector to promote and support future initiatives geared towards increasing participation.
Colleges Northern Ireland, the representative body for the six regional FE colleges organised the event. Gerry Campbell, their Chief Executive said: “The FE sector offers an alternative route to obtaining a third level education. The sector supports over 11,000 Higher Education students annually and offers them the opportunity to progress on an undergraduate degree – in most cases this means potential progression on to the second year of such a course. In terms of success – our statistics are impressive - 37% of our higher education students are from the most deprived areas in NI and despite this we rate of 95% for retention and 91% for achievement”.
The event concluded with a question and answer panel whereby the event compere – Aidan Browne, from Belfast Metropolitan College, challenged six students (one from each College) as to why they chose to study at a FE college. For example, we heard about the individual who went from being an unemployed builder to completing a Foundation Degree in North West Regional College and is now working in Randox Laboratories in the field of cancer research.
