Northern Ireland is at the forefront of delivering a skilled workforce to meet the future needs of employers, according to national STEM organisation, the Intelligent College Network.
The UK-wide educational think-thank met this week at South West College in Dungannon to explore how colleges can meet future skills demands and accelerate economic growth.
The Intelligent College Network is made up of the UK’s top 16 colleges with advanced capability in Science, Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) and works to strengthen the position of further education colleges among both industry and government.
South West College is the only member college from Northern Ireland and the event marked the group’s first visit to the region.
Michael McAlister, curriculum and business development manager at South West College said: “Being part of the Intelligent College Network is important for us. It reaffirms our commitment to give students the very best resources and know-how while ensuring a qualified and well-prepared talent pool is available to local industry.
“This group helps to extend our influence and vastly increases our knowledge-base. It also provides an opportunity to collaborate on new strategies to increase the influence and capability of STEM colleges. We are pleased to show the committee of the Intelligent College Network how Northern Ireland is rising to the challenge.”
Mr McAlister’s views were echoed in Northern Ireland’s secondary school sector too by Stephen McCord, President of the Ulster Teachers’ Union which represents 6,000 local teachers.
Head of science at Glastry College, Newtownards, he highlighted the firm foundations being laid in STEM subjects in schools.
He said: “Employers are playing their part in supporting and backing our schools with STEM clubs and STEM ambassadors.This continued support will stimulate interest
and enthusiasm of pupils in taking up STEM subjects for GCSE and GCE preparing them for higher education and future employment. “The attainment of pupils in our primary schools in reading and numeracy is higher than in any other English speaking country in the world according to a recent international report and this augers well for the future.”
Meanwhile, Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry, said this week that Northern Ireland’s economic recovery would be under-pinned by its STEM workforce.
But it is up to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths sectors to communicate their diverse career opportunities to young people, he told guests at the recent third annual Business & Education through Skills & Training (BEST) Awards. The BEST Awards celebrate the creative and innovative talent within Northern Ireland’s six regional colleges in the STEM subject areas.