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The annual Chapter 4 Credit Union Quiz was held in the Canal Court Hotel earlier this year with winners qualifying for the All Ireland Final in Dublin this month. Unfortunately none of the local schools took home the silverware this time with the winners being Donard National School, Clonroche, Co. Wexford and Kilmacrennan National School, Co Donegal.
Speaking at the event, ILCU President Brian McCrory said “Every school child who participated in all rounds of the Credit Union Schools Quiz this year should be hugely proud of their achievement. I would like to congratulate each and every one of them, along with their teachers and parents, for the time they dedicated and the effort they demonstrated. A special word of congratulations must be given to all of the 100 finalist teams today. Making it to the national final takes a huge amount of effort and they should all be extremely proud. The competition was fiercely fought in the end and our two winning teams are extremely deserving of the title. I hope all of the children here today enjoyed the event as much as those of us spectating did.”
The hotly contested event is run by the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) each year and attracts more than 25,000 participants. The local and regional knockout rounds are organised by volunteers from 400 ILCU affiliated credit unions, and took place in over 300 venues throughout the 32 counties over the winter months.
Chapter 4 Competition A winners
1st: St Ronan's PS, Newry
2nd: Abercorn PS, Banbridge
Chapter 4 Competition B winners
1st: Armstrong PS, Armagh
2nd: St Mary's PS, Slieve Gullion
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A lecturer at the Southern Regional College has been awarded a coveted Medal of Excellence by City and Guilds.
The award was presented to Eileen Canavan in recognition of her outstanding knowledge and professionalism as lecturer on the City and Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care.
Eileen, from Armagh, was presented with her award at a ceremony in the SRC Newry Model Campus attended by Suzi Gray, Health and Social Care Advisor for City and Guilds and Maggie Grant Assistant Director for Further Education and Training at SRC.
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Pupils from St Joseph's Boys High School have been busy planting trees around the school grounds this week as part of a 'Green teens' initiative.
Gillian Fitzpatrick, Chairperson, Newry, Mourne and Down Council helped plant the 50th tree in the extensive ‘Green Teens’ project around St Joseph’s HS as part of the Shared Areas environmental project.
One pupil from each form class helped plant a range of semi-mature trees around the grounds of the school, as well as under-utilized grassy areas within the local community to help enhance the green footprint and environmental well-being of the area. Senior Leader, Mrs E. Fitzpatrick, helped plant a flowering Cherry Blossom on behalf of the teachers – past and present – who've been so influential in the life of St Joseph's.
Funding for the project was secured through Newry, Mourne & Down District Council’s Live Here, Love Here programme and the tree planting initiative was the latest in a wide ranging series of environmental improvement activities involving over 60 pupils. Project coordinator, Mr Brendan Fearon thanked all those who took part in the very enjoyable work, as well as past pupil Sean O’Hare at Carrive Grove Garden Centre for assisting in the preparation and procurement of the plants.
For more images, please see www.stjosephsnewry.com
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Southern Regional College student Joseph McKeown is set to travel to Pennsylvania, USA for 3 months study as part of the Erasmus+ programme. Joseph is from Silverbridge and study’s the Foundation Degree in Medical and Life Science at Newry campus.
As part of the Erasmus+ programme SRC was awarded an International Credit Mobility partnership programme between SRC and Messiah College Pennsylvania, USA. This programme allows students from SRC’s Foundation Degree in Medical Sciences to study at Messiah College whilst at the same time work with Almac Pharmaceuticals, Pennsylvania. The aim of the programme is to boost skills and employability of students as well as modernising STEM education at the two institutions.
SRC recently welcomed two visiting professors from Messiah College, Dr. Anne Reeve Ph.D. a professor in Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry and Dr. Rosann Sachs, Professor in Organic Chemistry and Chair of Department.
Commenting on the visit David Vint SRC Assistant Director, said “This is great opportunity to experience important international work practices in a major pharmaceutical industry like Almac. A student’s early adult work life is an important stage in their development. During this time they receive not only a broad based medical education but this work experience with the Company and Messiah College will develop their academic and other important life skills that they will need to succeed in life”.
The award of the ICM programme to Southern Regional College is evidence of SRC’s high standing in delivering Erasmus+ programmes.
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Southern Regional College has topped an official Further Education leader board to confirm its place as the best performing college in the north.
In an annual independent report published by the Department of Economy and the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre, which assesses the overall performance of all the Northern Ireland Higher and Further Education Colleges, the six-campuses of Southern Regional College (SRC) came out on top in all the key performance indicators.
Not only did the detailed statistical analysis confirm its status as best performing college overall, it also showed that SRC was “consistently strongest" in retaining its students, with annual rates well above the 90% mark across a five-year period, at between 92% at 93%.
SRC is the largest Further and Higher Education College outside of Belfast, with major educational facilities based in in Armagh, Banbridge, Kilkeel, Lurgan, Newry and Portadown. With over 34,000 full and part-time students, these six campuses deliver a wide range of higher level professional and technical courses across a wide area.
The report concluded that, overall, SRC was “still the best performing college”.
An earlier report published in 2013 by the then Department for Employment and Learning, had also concluded that a student who attended Southern Regional College was “significantly more likely to succeed” than students attending other NI Further Education centres regardless of their background. Based on the results of this report, The Southern Regional College success rate was ranked the highest in the sector.
Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, Brian Doran said “Providing our students with the highest quality education that can enhance their careers and deliver opportunities that is built on creating meaningful and enjoyable learning experiences.
“SRC continues to work hard at a local and regional level to support individual, community and economic ambition and we are pleased that our consistent efforts have been fully recognised alongside our peers.
“The fact that we enrol and retain so many students across the areas we operate in is a testament to the sheer hard work and commitment of our staff, the quality of our educational provision and the positive, stimulating and engaging environment which we foster.”
Both reports present a leading profile for SRC and which have been independently assessed over a prolonged period which included academic years from 2011-12 to 2014-15.
Ambitious plans are well under way to invest around £95 million to implement an Estates Strategy, supported by the Department of Economy, to develop new, state-of-the-art campuses at Armagh and Banbridge, as well as developing a flagship new unified campus at Craigavon by early 2020.
The Banbridge campus has already obtained planning consent. It will be located at the existing SRC site in Banbridge and is due to open by 2020. It will incorporate outstanding new learning facilities, including a dedicated Learning Resource Centre, innovation hubs, integrated student social areas and a high-quality dining provision, which will enhance the entire SRC offering to the local educational landscape.
For more information, please visit www.src.ac.uk.
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Over 150 Students from local high schools celebrated their success recently at an awards ceremony for students participating on the School Partnerships’ Programme (SPP) at Southern Regional College, Newry Campus.
The School Partnership Programme enables Year 11 and 12 students in the school sector to sample areas including, digital imaging, joinery, beauty, hospitality, hairdressing and motor mechanics to name a few, in order to make a more informed career decision. The students on the SPP programme attend SRC one day per week for two years and achieve recognised qualifications on completion of their studies.
Southern Regional College welcomed Year 12 students from Kilkeel High School, Newry High School, Newtownhamilton High School, Rathore School Newry, St Columban’s College Kilkeel, St Joseph’s High School Crossmaglen, St Joseph’s Boys High School Newry, St Mark’s High School Warrenpoint, St Mary’s High School Newry and St Paul’s High School Bessbrook to celebrate their achievements at this special awards ceremony.
Guest Speakers on the day were Alana Moore and Pavlina Zapletalova from Kilkeel High School who kindly outlined their experience of the SPP programme at SRC.
SPP top student of the year went to Joe Murphy from St Paul’s High School Bessbrook and the Endeavour award went to Cathal Hughes from St Joseph’s Boys School Newry. Justin McNulty Newry and Armagh MLA kindly attended and presented the special awards to students.
Brian Doran, Chief Executive, Southern Regional College, commenting on the close partnership working between local schools and SRC said: “The partnership between Southern Regional College and the schools in the Newry and Mourne Area Learning Community provides opportunities to pupils to benefit from a wider curriculum by undertaking a range of courses not available to them in school. The various courses lead to nationally-recognised qualifications that will not only help pupils make better career choices but will also help them get employment in the continuing challenging economic environment.”
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The Southern Regional College in Newry has now added Part-Time A-Levels to its curriculum across ten different subject areas.
Students can now study part-time evening AS levels in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Accounting, Religious Studies, Government and Politics, History and Photography. For greater flexibility a full A Level (AS and A2) can also be completed in one year in Sociology and Business Studies, attending class one evening and online one evening per week.
Not only do we welcome you if you are returning to education and wish to study A-Levels for the first time but we also welcome students who are currently studying A levels in school and wish to take on a fourth subject or to provide extra tuition for A levels being taken in school. The college also believes in giving students a second chance and we can therefore provide students with the opportunity to repeat one or more A-Levels on a part-time basis.
Michael McDonald, Head of School for Applied Science and Academic Studies at SRC said, “Due to the success of our full and part time A level curriculum offered on the Armagh campus I am delighted to extend our provision of A Levels to the Newry campus. This will provide students with the opportunity to take on an additional AS Level along with their existing A Levels to enhance their UCAS points and academic profile. For others it will provide the opportunity to study A levels for the first time or to repeat an A Level already undertaken.”
SRC is the largest Further and Higher Education College outside of Belfast, with major educational facilities based in in Armagh, Banbridge, Kilkeel, Lurgan, Newry and Portadown. With over 34,000 full and part-time students, these six campuses deliver a wide range of higher level professional and technical courses across a wide area.
For more information on A Levels at Southern Regional College visit www.src.ac.uk or email Nicola Stevenson stevensonn@src.ac.uk or call 0300 123 1223.
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Southern Regional College students have topped the polls again winning with some of their future innovators recognised at BEST Awards, taking four of the award categories at the biggest awards event in the Further Education calendar.
The BEST Awards recognise innovation in a wide range of areas ranging from creative industries, to visual design and life sciences being cultivated by students and lecturers across Northern Ireland’s six Further Education Colleges. This year they were held in Newcastle.
The Awards were organised by Colleges NI who are the representative body for all six of Northern Irelands Further Education Colleges. The Awards are linked to the development of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
The students competing for the awards highlight the cutting edge and economically relevant skills delivered by Colleges across Northern Ireland.
Southern Regional College winners were Joel Davidson for the Creative Industries Award with his ‘Sleepy Sheep’s Children’s Book’ project; James Shilliday won the Life Sciences Award with his pharmaceutical fridge temperature controller; Samantha Hyde took the Visual Design Award for her ‘Pop up Children’s Book’ ; and Ronan McGibbon, Paul Lyons, Joseph Murnion and Ryan Wilson won the Engineering Award with their ‘3R Mobility Chair’.
The winners have been 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.
Commenting on the success, 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.
Mr Campbell concluded "Our economy faces not only the challenges of the global marketplace but the uncertainties around the potential impact of Brexit.”
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The Southern Regional College last week hosted a Careers Information Evening on their campus on behalf of local leading company, First Derivatives.
Senior staff from First Derivatives outlined exciting job and career opportunities for graduates as well as for current aspiring students who are keen to secure a future position at the global company. They indicated what skills and qualities the company are looking for as well as informing attendees of the global opportunities available.
First Derivatives recently announced 400 new jobs across a range of areas including Computing and Software Engineering, Contact Centre and Digital Marketing. The Newry based business is growing substantially each year and is keen to attract local talent to join the exciting and fast growing company.
SRC was delighted to host this event on behalf of First Derivatives. Brian Doran, Chief Executive at SRC, opened the event and noted the significant attendance level present to learn more about the opportunities at First Derivatives and also to speak one-to-one with the staff present at the event.
Attendees also heard from Jonathan McCrink, a Foundation Degree in Computing student at SRC currently on placement with First Derivatives. Jonathan outlined his learning journey to date with SRC and how he is thoroughly enjoying and valuing his placement with the company.
First Derivatives looks forward to welcoming applications from local graduates. If you would like more details on how to apply for some of the 400 positions available, please email: jobs@firstderivatives.com
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