The six further education colleges in Northern Ireland have celebrated the achievements of their students and staff in their first-ever Further Education NI Excellence Awards which were hosted in Armagh.
Almost 50 students were recognised at the inaugural awards ceremony at the Armagh City Hotel on Tuesday night in categories reflecting the wide spectrum of learning levels and pathways available across the further education sector, from introductory and supported learning to apprenticeships, higher education and lifelong learning.
Opening the evening was Michéal McCloy, a Southern Regional College student from Armagh, who also picked up an award on the night. Michéal studies on the LEAP Employability Programme. He was also commended for being a great sportsman having been selected for Ireland’s first ever Down Syndrome Futsal squad that competed at the SUDS European Championship in Italy last September.
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FEEA4-1024x683.jpg)
The ceremony was also opened by the Economy Minister Conor Murphy who gave an address.
Minister Murphy said:
“I was delighted to attend these awards to celebrate the achievement of excellence by both students and staff across the further education sector.
“My economic vision has skills at its core and further education colleges have a significant role to play in delivering a regionally balanced economy with good jobs, higher productivity and which is reducing its carbon output.
“I commend our colleges, our students, our staff, and all who support you, for all that you do, and will continue to do, to support the north’s economy.
“I want to see and hear more of this excellence and for further education colleges to continue to collaborate, to lead, and to take their rightful place in the story of our improving economic outlook.”
Guests heard from Danny McGinley, a lifelong learner from Derry who is retraining to be a Rail Engineer for Translink through a higher level apprenticeship at Northern Regional College. Danny, a former bus driver who received an Excellence Award on the night, is an inspiring example for anyone considering a career change as since leaving his full-time employment, he has excelled in his new career path and was commended for his dedication to his apprenticeship and learning the technical skills required.
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FEEA7-1024x683.jpg)
The evening also heard how so many award recipients have improved their job and life skills thanks to the incredible effort they have made during their studies at their local college. This included several recipients from Ukraine who have settled in Northern Ireland and have been supported through the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programme and other training to boost their existing skills to secure employment here.
Staff Recognition Awards for Lifetime Contributions were also presented on the night to 12 staff who between them have over 362 years’ service in the FE sector. In addition to being recognised for their work in Further Education, they were also recognised for the contributions they make in their local community. Recipients on the night included caretaker Raymond Little, who has been caretaker at Southern Regional College since 1986; Ivor Neill who is Ireland’s strongest man over 65 and who has been a lecturer in Uniformed Public Services at North West Regional College in Limavady for 40 years; and Martha Craig, Deputy Head of School for Hairdressing at South Eastern Regional College where she has taught for 40 years.
The awards were presented by Director of Further Education from the Department for the Economy Louise Watson.
Chair of the Further Education Colleges Principals Group, Leo Murphy, also gave an address on the evening. He said:
“I am immensely proud to celebrate the achievements and commitment of our students and staff in the fields of Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Introductory Programmes, Level 3 Diplomas, Higher Education and Lifelong Learning.
“We’re living through a transformative time in terms of skills, the education landscape is changing with new and exciting career paths for our learners. The Further Education sector has moved with those times in supporting and nurturing the superb talent we have across our colleges that will ensure the future success of our local economy.
“And of course that would not be possible without the dedication of our staff, so it is right to see them recognised for their decades of service to our colleges as well.”
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FEEA6-1024x683.jpg)
The Inaugural Further Education NI Excellence Award Winners:
Belfast Met
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/BMETFEEA1-1024x683.jpg)
- FE Excellence Award for Introductory Programme Yuliia Roi
- FE Excellence Award for Supported Learning Corey Kennedy
- FE Excellence Award for Level 2/Traineeship Nadia Brown
- FE Excellence Award for Level 3 Further Education Ethan Kelly
- FE Excellence Award for Higher Education Cian Cash
- FE Excellence Award for Lifelong Learning Ainsley Graham
- FE Excellence Apprentice Award presented by Ian Reid Jack Fenton
Staff Recognition Awards for Lifetime Contributions
Rachel Burns, Manager, Centre of Business Development, Belfast
Ian Cairns, Lecturer in IT Services, Castlereagh
Northern Regional College
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NRC-2-1024x683.jpg)
- FE Excellence Award for Introductory Programme Ezra Carlisle
- FE Excellence Award for Supported Learning Naomi Wells
- FE Excellence Award for Level 2/Traineeship Casey McMaster
- FE Excellence Award for School Partnership Programme Lola Campbell
- FE Excellence Award for Level 3 Further Education Erin Maybin
- FE Excellence Award for Higher Education presented by Wrightbus Hannah Currie
- FE Excellence Award for Lifelong Learning Danny McGinley
- FE Excellence Apprentice Award presented by Mivan Conor Dallas
Staff Recognition Awards for Lifetime Contributions
Lisa Burns, Student Finance Co-ordinator, Newtownabbey
Gordon Kane, Curriculum Area Manager, Ballymena
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NRC-3-1024x683.jpg)
North West Regional College
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PEYE-040524KB3-1551_-1024x683.jpg)
- FE Excellence Award for Introductory Programme Matthew McBride
- FE Excellence Award for Supported Learning Paul Swann
- FE Excellence Award for Level 2/Traineeship Ayat Abdelrazek
- FE Excellence Award for School Partnership Programme Mark Jeffers
- FE Excellence Award for Level 3 Further Education Dayne Roberts
- FE Excellence Award for Higher Education Bronagh McDermott
- FE Excellence Award for Lifelong Learning Amy Crawford
- FE Excellence Apprentice Award presented by Fujitsu Jordan McElwee
Staff Recognition Awards for Lifetime Contributions
Pauline McShane, Senior Administrator, Exams Office, Strand Rd
Ivor Neill, Lecturer, Uniformed Protective Services, NWRC, Limavady
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PEYE-040524KB3-1564_-1024x683.jpg)
South Eastern Regional College
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SERC-1-1024x683.jpg)
- FE Excellence Award for Introductory Programme Dean Mackintosh
- FE Excellence Award for Supported Learning Avery Chambers
- FE Excellence Award for Level 2/Traineeship Yehor Chuckhil
- FE Excellence Award for School Partnership Programme Ellie Notley
- FE Excellence Award for Level 3 Further Education Cassie Caldwell
- FE Excellence Award for Higher Education Alex Markuls
- FE Excellence Award for Lifelong Learning Vikki Pinkerton
- FE Excellence Apprentice Award presented by Thales Andrew Smyth
Staff Recognition Awards for Lifetime Contributions
Wendy Baird, Finance Business Partner, SERC, Ards
Martha Craig, Deputy Head of School for Hairdressing and Barbering
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SERC-2-1024x683.jpg)
Southern Regional College
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FEASRC1-1024x683.jpg)
- FE Excellence Award for Introductory Programme Micheal McCloy
- FE Excellence Award for Supported Learning Marcus McKay
- FE Excellence Award for Level 2/Traineeship Ava Hamill
- FE Excellence Award for School Partnership Programme Lubo Mulkerns
- FE Excellence Award for Level 3 Further Education Robertas Vickus
- FE Excellence Award for Higher Education Declan Heaney
- FE Excellence Award for Lifelong Learning Linzie Haire
- FE Excellence Apprentice Award presented by Downshire Arms Ross Smyth
Staff Recognition Awards for Lifetime Contributions
Henry Douglas, Lecturer, Faculty of Building Technology and Engineering, Portadown
Raymond Little, Caretaker, Model Campus, Newry
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FEASRC2-1024x683.jpg)
South West College
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PEYE-040524KB3-1455_-1024x683.jpg)
- FE Excellence Award for Introductory Programme Dean Nicholas
- FE Excellence Award for Supported Learning Seainin Gervin
- FE Excellence Award for Level 2/Traineeship Kalum Griffin
- FE Excellence Award for School Partnership Programme Olesia Moliukova
- FE Excellence Award for Level 3 Further Education Leanne Hall
- FE Excellence Award for Higher Education Kathryn Davies
- FE Excellence Award for Lifelong Learning Hannah Scott Burrows
- FE Excellence Apprentice Award presented by Greiner Kim Hunter
Staff Recognition Awards for Lifetime Contributions
Tom Corr, Science Lecturer, Enniskillen
Marie McGlone, Office Administrator, Omagh
![](https://furthereducationni.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PEYE-040524KB3-1438_-1-1024x683.jpg)