Further Education NI celebrates its first Excellence Awards

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.

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.

Lifelong learner Danny McGinley from NRC with Tony Knipe from Translink

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.”