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Southern Regional College has signed up to an initiative allied to the college and university sector, which seeks to advance the role education has in delivering solutions to the biggest problems faced by the world.
College Chief Executive Brian Doran signed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Accord thus making a commitment to share learnings made with other institutions, both nationally and internationally. The College will report annually on progress made towards achieving goals, ensuring the College remains transparent in efforts to evoke real change. Reports will be shared annually with the UN’s High Level Political Forum, ensuring supervision at the top level.
The Principal commented “The Southern Regional College has signed the SDG Accord to confirm its commitment to being a sustainable college. We are already undertaking some excellent work in this area and signing the SDGs Accord is a logical step in ensuring that we contribute to the Further Education sector’s responsibility for achieving these goals. We hope to spread awareness and convey the importance of the UN SDGs both within the college, the FE sector and to the wider community.”
In signing up to become part of this initiative, Southern Regional College is also demonstrating its commitment to achieving one of the key pillars in the Department for the Economy’s 10 X Skills Strategy.
The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of seventeen goals covering areas from climate and our planet; poverty and inequality; justice and human rights, to gender equality. These goals form the centre of United Nation’s 2030 Agenda. This agenda requires all UN Member States to play their part in finding solutions to the world’s most urgent challenges.
We each have a role to play in effecting change, and the College strives to encourage all staff and students to take personal responsibility in changing the world around us. Real change only seems impossible until it has occurred!
The College is the latest signatory of a global movement involving over 300 institutions, with hopefully many more to come.
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Construction work has started at Loughbrickland on the new 620 pupil New-Bridge Integrated College which will replace the original school founded in 1995. The school caters for pupils from a wide area including Newry and Banbridge.
Education Permanent Secretary Dr Mark Browne has cut the first sod to officially mark the beginning of the £27million project. Funding came from the Fresh Start Programme and the school is due to be completed by the summer of 2025.
Speaking at the event, Dr Browne said: “Today is an important development at New-Bridge Integrated College, as work officially gets underway on new school accommodation.
“When completed, young people will have the opportunity to grow and learn in a modern, fit-for-purpose facility and this new building will create a better environment for all to flourish.
“The fantastic new facilities will also mean our teachers can get on with what they do best and inspire the next generation.”
The scheme was first announced as a project to receive funding from the Fresh Start Programme in March 2016.
Dr Browne concluded: “Schools are the hub of any community, and this investment will have a major impact on the wider local area by promoting good relations and creating positive outcomes for many years to come.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in this project for their hard work and commitment in getting it to this stage.”
Principal of New-Bridge Integrated College Anne Anderson said: “This new build signifies another chapter in our school’s history and an important development for Integrated education in Northern Ireland.
“The need for a new school for New-Bridge has been top of the agenda for the school for many years. Finally, this thriving school will get the state-of-the-art new buildings deserved by our dedicated pupils and staff and the entire community will benefit immensely from this new, modern, energy efficient school building.”
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Two students from the SRC Newry campus have been named as UK squad members in the WorldSkills competition which will be held in France in 2024. Only three people are in their UK Chemical Laboratory Technician team but only one of them will go on to compete at WorldSkills.
Anastasiya Kovtun and Wiktoria Kurkowska from Portadown are studying the Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA) Foundation Degree in Applied Industrial Science at Newry. A two year programme where students study one day a week alongside undertaking paid employment in a related industry the remaining four days.
Over the next year and a half, Anastasiya and Wiktoria will attend four to five weekend bootcamps honing their skills with a UK WorldSkills chemical specialist training manager from the University of Manchester. Additionally, online learning labs to practice the different skills required will need to be completed.
Southern Regional College has been successful in the WorldSkills series having been recognised as the top performing further education college in the UK in 2022. With 1,500 competitors competing in 60 categories, WorldSkills is the pinnacle event in apprenticeship training and standards and will take place in Lyon in September 2024. WorldSkills has often been dubbed the ‘Skills Olympics’ as competitors in employment and vocational training come together across the globe seeking gold.
Brian Doran, Principal & CEO of Southern Regional College congratulated both students and added "I want to recognise the commitment of our staff who put great effort into supporting and mentoring competitors through the local, regional and national competitions. I wish both students every success on their journey towards the WorldSkills competition to be held in Lyon next year”.
Both Anastasiya and Wiktoria were initially encouraged to enter the WorldSkills series of competitions by the College’s Specialist Lecturer in Science, Deirdre Murray. Having undertaken intercampus, regional and national competitions, the girls are delighted to have been named as members of the UK Squad. The road to Lyon may be 18 months away but there is still plenty of preparation to be done in advance.
To get to this stage both Anastasiya and Wiktoria have been supported by College staff and their employer Almac. Both organisations have taken the girls through numerous training simulations and been at their sides at competitions.
Anastasiya and Wiktoria are focused on the end goal. They know with perseverance and a lot of hard work they will achieve success. Speaking on the HLA route, both girls maintain the work/study route requires a lot of dedication, but there are plenty of people in Almac and the College to lean back on for support, including those who have previously taken the course.
Highlighting a benefit of the HLA foundation degree, Anastasiya and Wiktoria recognise they are already ahead of the game, compared to university counterparts. Both girls will complete their course with several years of industry experience added to C.V.s and no student debt, as course fees are fully funded by the Department of the Economy.
Speaking on the route so far, Anastasiya commented: “It has been an amazing journey so far and I am excited to gain more knowledge and explore available opportunities.”
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Fourteen school children from Ballyholland Primary School Student Council visited Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage at Council Offices in Monaghan Row on Monday 20 February.
The pupils from Primary 4 to Primary 7, expressed an interest in visiting the Council Chamber as they wanted to learn more about the Chairperson and his role and responsibilities within the Council.
During the visit students took the opportunity to take part in a lively question and answer session with the Chairperson, sharing their ideas on the projects they have been involved in with the School Council, discussing the role they played in developing an outdoor classroom.
Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage thanked the children for coming along and taking such an interest in the Council saying, “I was delighted to welcome the students from Ballyholland Primary School. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to gain knowledge and understand the civic role the Chairperson and Council plays within the district.”
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A proposal by the Education Authority to cut funding for local youth services had been condemned by MLA Liz Kimmins.
Speaking after Sinn Féin reps from across the north met with local youth service providers, the Newry and Armagh MLA said "We met with a number of local youth service providers, including the Bosco and St. Oliver Plunkett's from this area.
"We listened to them about the real impact this will have locally in terms of job losses and a reduction in services available.They have committed to meeting with us again to further discuss any possible support they can get in the time ahead."
Ms Kimmins added "People are struggling with the cost of living and the loss of these services would be a big blow to people across Newry and Armagh. As the mental health champion for the north, Siobhan O'Neill in particular has warned recently, the loss of these services could have a real negative impact on the mental health of young people who had previously availed of the services.
"The DUP should get back to work around the Executive table with other parties to get locally elected ministers in place and support the public against unbridled Tory cuts."
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Over 600 people attended the BIG Apprenticeship Event at Southern Regional College last evening. The Apprenticeship and Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA) open evening saw prospective students and parents given the opportunity to hear about available career opportunities with local employers and the College’s many apprenticeship and HLA programmes.
An initiative of The Department for the Economy, The BIG Apprenticeship event is not just big in name, but big in content. Throughout the event attendees were able to hear from current and past apprenticeship students, through drop in ‘My HLA/Apprenticeship Journey’- sessions. This allowed attendees to question current apprentices in detail on their thoughts of apprenticeship routes and courses.
The College career guidance team were available to speak with and guide attendees through the many career routes available. For those who had a clear career route in mind, campus staff were available to help with course applications.
One of the main focuses of the event was to enable attendees to meet with potential future employers. Over 46 employing businesses and exhibitors were at event including First Derivative, Re-Gen Waste and Shelbourne Motors covering a range of sectors from accountancy, beauty therapy, construction, engineering, hairdressing, and transport to science.
Speaking on the night, Jill Cowan, Head of HR at Alternative Heat commented "We really see Apprentices as our future, there is real skills gap in the market, and we need to be ready to address that. Apprentices are ready to go with great qualifications and the right work experience."
Brian Doran, Principal & CEO of Southern Regional College commented "We were delighted to see over 600 young people and their families attend our recent Big Apprenticeship Event at Newry campus. These events are important in showcasing the breadth and depth of apprenticeship training opportunities offered at Southern Regional College from level 2 right through to Degree level.
"Apprenticeships are an exciting option for people young and older, as they gain practical hands-on training while also having the chance to put their skills into practice in the workplace. The Apprenticeship pathway allows people to earn whilst learning at College and in the case of higher level apprenticeships, participants can obtain degree level qualifications without the level of student debt synonymous with full time higher education.
"The College partners with over 700 local businesses in offering Apprenticeship opportunities across a wide spectrum of areas from construction, software development to life science and digital communication. Apprenticeships are co-designed with business and industry thus ensuring that the knowledge and skills that are at the core of every apprenticeship are both up to date and relevant.
Mr Doran concluded "Apprenticeships are increasingly being used by employers, both large and small, as part of their development planning to harness new talent and thus create a loyal and motivated workforce. Our Big Apprenticeship Event is supported and sponsored by Mourne & Down District Council and saw over 46 local employers in attendance to provide information on apprenticeship vacancies within their businesses."
Also in attendance was Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Cllr Michael Savage who commented “Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, through the Labour Market Partnership were delighted to sponsor the SRC Big Apprenticeship Event, which has proved to be fantastic in providing potential apprentices with distinctive career pathways. Given the interest, attendance and buzz, it is clear that apprentices have a great deal to offer our local business community and similarly our employers can offer apprentices a fantastic opportunity in a range of sectors such as engineering, construction, tourism, digital, accountancy, science and sports. Apprenticeship Week has highlighted the fulfilling and rewarding routes available to secure your ideal job.”
To find out more information or make your application, see: www.src.ac.uk
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In advance of The BIG Apprenticeship events taking place in Newry on Tuesday coming, 7 February, Newry.ie caught up with current students on the Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA) Applied Industrial Science programme to chat about the course and the HLA programme.
The College’s Applied Industrial Science programme has both Life Science and Chemical pathways, giving students plenty of career options. HLA’s provide students with the unique benefit of being able to study for a recognised qualification whilst undertaking relevant paid employment with partnering businesses, such as Norbrook, Almac and Randox during the week. Courses are fully funded by The Department for the Economy, allowing students to earn while they learn and achieve professional qualifications without paying higher education tuition fees.
Dominika Simsch from Craigavon, a current student on HLA Applied Industrial Science programme travels to Norbrook in Newry for her paid work experience. The HLA program appealed to Dominika with the balance between getting real life work experience and studying. Simsch said "I like the balance between employment and education. Rather than going to University and just being in education you get to experience what the workplace is like."
The ability to “learn and apply” course content is one of the best things about the program! Students on one of the College’s HLA programmes attend College one day a week and put into action learnings the remaining four days in the work week. "It's like a break from work but then you're learning at the same time so you can apply what you are learning to your job." added Simsch.
Fellow student Alanna Sheridan from Armagh is currently employed with Almac in Portadown through the HLA course. Alanna previously studied a BTEC in Applied Science at the College and had gone to university to further her studies. However, the university route didn’t live up to expectations and Alanna examined courses on offer at the College.
Having previously been a student, Alanna knew "The College was a good place to learn.” The College offers many higher education options enabling individuals to gain a degree, without having to travel further field, at a fraction of the cost. Higher education courses are all validated and accredited ensuring graduates receive a recognised qualification.
Alanna loves everything about the course. “The ability to get out to work and see different things in the lab and how they correspond in class” has proven beneficial and enhanced her learning experience.
For anyone thinking of applying for a HLA’s, Alanna’s advice is to check out course modules to get an insight into what courses’ offer to be sure it fits for you. For Alanna the Applied Industrial Science HLA has proven to be “A very good course and experience”.
Students can use the HLA Applied Industrial Science courses to springboard into a top-up degree with the University of Ulster, which takes less time than traditional degrees. For students studying other HLA options at the College, there is the possibility to complete the top-up degree at SRC.
Degrees and foundation degrees offered at the College include a vast array of subjects from Computing, Cloud Computing, Quantity Surveying, Digital Construction, Electrical and & Electronic Engineering to FinTech, Digital Marketing and Sport & Exercise. For an up-to-date list of course offerings check out SRC’s website at: www.src.ac.uk
SRC recently obtained the honour of being the only college in Northern Ireland with formal accreditation status from The Royal Society of Chemistry for the Applied Industrial Science courses. The College is the only Further Education College within Northern Ireland to achieve this accolade, and one of only six Further Education providers in the UK with permission to use The Royal Society of Chemistry’s crest!
For students like Dominika and Alanna, the recent accreditation status has opened a world of opportunities. Students can travel the world with confidence their qualification carries the weight of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s approval, a more renown and marketable bow to their resume.
Deirdre Murray, Specialist Lecturer of Science at Southern Regional College commented “The recent accreditation for the HLA in Applied Industrial Science provides support to the academic and workplace training carried out within the College and by employers which students can bring with them to workplaces worldwide.”
The Big Apprenticeship
Prospective students are invited to attend The BIG Apprenticeship event at either SRC’s Newry West campus on Tuesday 7 February or at Craigavon’s Civic Centre on Thursday 9 February from 5:30pm – 7:30pm.
Events will be attended by employers for attendees to ask questions on current job opportunities connected to the College’s apprenticeship and higher level apprenticeship course offerings. Careers staff and campus staff will also be available to speak with.
For further information on the HLA programmes, please visit the website at: www.src.ac.uk/courses
Applications for HLA programmes are now open and can be made via the College’s website. It’s time to think differently and consider alternative, more affordable routes to higher level education.
Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA) application process
Stage 1 – apply online via SRC’s website and attend the Pre-Enrolment Advice Session (when notified by the admissions team). This may be in person or on Microsoft Teams.
Stage 2 – If a condition offer is received, your application details will be forwarded to SRC’s pool of potential employers.
Stage 3 – Employer interview.
Stage 4 – Upload A levels results on results day, unless they can be uploaded at stage 1.
(Obtaining a place on the HLA is subject to receiving an employment offer from an employer.)
For more information please go to issuu.com
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Southern Regional College are the first and only further education college in Northern Ireland to receive formal accreditation status from the Royal Society of Chemistry, and one of just six Further Education providers in the UK with permission to use The Royal Society of Chemistry’s crest!
The College was placed under the microscope during the accreditation process which took a year and a half to complete. Formal written submissions were required together with validation visits from Society partners, not to mention lengthy responses to written and verbal questions. During their visit the RSC noted the quality of support SRC staff gave to students in both their accademic and personal lives.
This accreditation was received for the College’s Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLAs) in Applied Industrial Science, both Life Science and Chemical pathways. Students enrolling on the HLA’s presently work at Norbrook, Almac or Randox four days a week and attend the College on the fifth day. This ensures students gain practical and relevant knowledge within their chosen career path.
These HLA's has been running for eight years at SRC in Newry and Portadown but now students have the added benefit of getting professional accreditation alongside the qualification.
This year there are 17 students on the Applied Industrial Science HLA. After two years at SRC their employer offers them an option to continue studying for a BSc at Ulster University and following that they can even study for an MSc while still employed as an apprentice.
HLAs are open to all adults, not just school leavers. A large proportion of HLA students are adults reskilling or returning to education, as the HLA programme enables a wage to be earned whilst learning. Fees for the programme are fully paid by the Department for the Economy, making HLAs an attractive prospect to minimise student debt. The HLA Applied Science programme is a two-year undertaking with around seventeen students currently in their first year of study. To date, around eighty students have completed the HLA Applied Science course.
The RSC accreditation supports the academic and workplace training that has been carried out by the college and the employer. It also helps students in terms of portability, so if they wish to travel it travels with them. Deirdre Murray, Specialist Lecturer in Science at SRC said "The RSC accreditation is known worldwide so they can apply for jobs all around the world if they want to. Ulster University may not be so well known but the RSC is a huge organisation so they are able to then say, my qualification is worth the paper it is written on, it's been accredited by this worldwide organisation."
Laura Martin, Curriculum Area Manager at SRC added "It's a stamp of excellence by the college. Students or potential students who are going to apply for our HLA's this year can apply with the confidence that we are RSC accreditated and therefore they know they are going to get high quality teaching and learning when they're here."
Prospective students are invited to attend The Big Apprenticeship Event in the College’s Newry West campus on Tuesday 7 February or at Craigavon Civic Centre on Thursday 9 February from 5:30pm to 7:30pm to gain more information and make an application.
For more information on the HLA programmes check out www.src.ac.uk
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The next generation of chefs at Southern Regional College in Newry joined students from the Omagh, Dungannon, and Enniskillen campuses of South West College to cook up their own game meat-based meals, after spending a day learning about wild game butchery, preparation, and cookery.
During the sessions, students got to learn about the sustainability benefits of game meat before sampling its unique flavours.
The events were organised by the UK’s largest shooting and conservation organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC).
BASC Northern Ireland country officer Jonny Orr said the main reason for hosting the educational days was to promote the benefits of locally-sourced, healthy and sustainable game meat to trainee chefs soon to enter the hospitality sector.
He said: “Our aim is that these educational days will empower the students to go into the world of hospitality with the knowledge and confidence to prepare and cook game meat. We want the chefs to have enthusiasm for local produce and to tell its unique and powerful story.”
At the end of each day, the students got to create their own dishes using venison and pheasant kindly donated by Baronscourt Estate in County Tyrone.
Matt Gisby, BASC’s wild food officer, said: “This was the first time many of the students had tried game meat and for some of them, it was definitely a game changer. They came up with some really inspirational and innovative ideas and should all be really proud of their efforts. We are proud to have helped the chefs of tomorrow take something special with them into their future.”
Darren Pitts, lecturer in catering and hospitality at South West College, said: “South West College is privileged to have had the opportunity for this invaluable partnership, working with BASC. The exciting workshop enabled our professional cookery and culinary art students to engage and be creative with pheasant and venison.
“The demonstrations and support given by BASC sharpened the students’ butchery and cooking skills for these different types of meats. During the workshop it was amazing to watch how the students combined new skills along with their existing skills to achieve creative and innovative dishes which will ensure they are ready for the industry.”
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