Apprenticeships are key to tacking skills shortage say Northern Ireland’s Further Education leaders

To mark the third annual Apprenticeship week, Northern Ireland’s six Further Education Colleges are highlighting the importance of apprenticeships to address the skills shortage. In a week-long celebration, in partnership with the Department for the Economy, Colleges throughout Northern Ireland will be highlighting how apprenticeships are the first step to gaining vital knowledge and skills that are needed to further …

Further Education Colleges join skills revolution as Northern Ireland receives world class skills boost

Northern Ireland is to get a world-class skills boost thanks to a revolutionary scheme aimed at attracting inward investment and generating economic growth. The Centre of Excellence from WorldSkills UK, in association with NCFE, is the brainchild of Belfast-born Dr Neil Bentley-Gockmann OBE, a former Deputy Director General of the CBI. Unique insights and expertise, gathered during decades of competing …

Further Education Colleges getting the jab done as doors open to Jabbathon

Mobile vaccination centres are to begin vaccinating students as they are set up across the six Further Education Colleges in a further push to encourage young people to get protected against Covid-19. Working in partnership with the Public Health Agency and local health trusts, College leaders are encouraging those students who have yet to receive the vaccine to do so …

Further Education Colleges call on school leavers to consider alternative routes to higher education

Northern Ireland’s six regional Further Education Colleges are encouraging school leavers to consider alternative routes to Higher Education and university during A-level and GCSE results week. Across the Colleges, hundreds of opportunities are open to learners seeking Higher Level options including Foundation degrees, Higher Level Apprenticeships and HNDs in subjects such as Accountancy, Business Studies, Health and Life Sciences and …

Economy Minister meets with Further Education students to discuss alternative routes to higher education

Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA, has met with Further Education Students at North West Regional College to discuss alternative routes to higher education. Across the Colleges, hundreds of opportunities are open to learners seeking Higher Level options including Foundation degrees, Higher Level Apprenticeships and HNDs in subjects such as Accountancy, Business Studies, Health and Life Sciences and Hospitality. Recently, with …

Leaders and Learners – Belfast Metropolitan College

Next in our series ‘Leaders and Learners’ we meet Mary who attended Belfast Met and has gone onto launch her own successful business Sioda Lingerie. Mary tells us that the foundations of her business were formed through the vital skills and support she had at college. #FEforMe

Universities and colleges lead initiative to offer school leavers alternative routes to university at local colleges

Northern Ireland’s Universities and Further Education Colleges have united behind a new initiative aimed at ensuring school leavers are made aware of the full range of higher education options available locally. For the first time school leavers, parents and careers staff will have access to the full higher education course listing through a single source at each of Northern Ireland’s …

Leaders and Leaners – South Eastern Regional College

As part of the #FEforMe campaign, we are speaking to some of the very best examples of Further Education in a series entitled ‘Leaders and Learner’. To kick off the series, we visit Taylor Dowling, a student at South Eastern Regional College and hear why she chose the FE pathway.

Further Education Colleges launch new Traineeship and Advanced Technical Awards

The six regional Further Education Colleges in Northern Ireland, with the support of the Department for the Economy, have launched a new system of vocational learning focused on building a skilled workforce. The Advanced Technical Award and Traineeships will help school leavers acquire new professional and technical skills in a range of vocational sectors. The awards aim to address the …