THE Further Education sector’s academy-style delivery of IT training is leading to employment, according to a prominent educationalist.
Justin Edwards, assistant chief execu-tive and director of curriculum, at Belfast Met, was speaking recently when he met participants on the new Cloud Academy and Software Professional Course at the Met’s e3 building on the Springvale Cam-pus.
He said: “This academy-style approach is working. It’s dynamic, proactive and flexible and most importantly it can lead directly to employment. The success of the academies such as this Cloud Academy shows the agility of the further education sector to react to meet the demands of industry.
“We’re delighted to be working in part-nership with the Department of Employment and Learning and a number of leading employers who are growing their skilled workforce whilst providing exciting career opportunities.”
As the chair of the ICT Working Group, Employment Minister Stephen Farry has liaised closely with other government departments, employers and the local further education colleges and universities, to develop and implement an ICT Skills Action Plan.
The plan has already produced a number of positive results in support of the ICT sector since its launch in summer 2012. The Cloud Academy and Software Professional Course will provide non-IT HND, degree or equivalent graduates with the skills and experience required to take up exciting new opportunities in Cloud computing and the IT sector.
Cloud technology has been highlighted as an area of growth in Northern Ireland highlighting the shift that is changing
the way ICT services are delivered and one with the potential to transform business opportunities across the economy.
Northern Ireland’s advanced telecoms network means it is an optimum location for the deployment and use of Cloud technologies. The Software Professional Course delivers accreditation of the industry recognised IT qualification, Level 5 BTEC software professionals course.
Meanwhile, a new learning centre in a south Belfast workplace aims to improve skills, and train and support Union Learning representatives. Premier Foods has provided the necessary IT equipment and a dedicated Learning Centre on the premises where courses can be run at times which suit the learners and their shift pat-terns.
Opening the centre the minister for Employment and Learning, Stephen Farry commended both Premier Foods and also the Bakers’ union (BFAWU) for their commitment to workplace learning.
There are currently 10 union learning projects operating in a number of work-places across Northern Ireland, funded through the Department for Employment and Learning’s Union Learning Fund.