Queen’s University
QUEENS University scientists are helping to spearhead a new £6 million initiative to find better ways to prevent cancer.
The new initiative, led by Cancer Research UK with matching investment from the BUPA Foundation, aims to support cutting-edge research to find better ways to prevent cancer.
It is estimated that more than four in 10 cancer cases could be prevented by lifestyle changes, such as not smoking, keeping a healthy body weight, cutting back on alcohol, eating a healthy diet, keeping active and staying safe in the sun.
Professor Frank Kee, who directs the UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health Research in Northern Ireland at Queen’s University, has been invited to join the International Advisory Board (IAB) of the new Cancer Prevention Science Initiative.
Prof Kee, from the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s, said ‘Advancing knowledge and changing lives is at the core of what we do at Queen’s University. I am honoured to be part of this initiative which aims to do just that. It is a tribute to the CRUK and BUM that a bold new initiative like this has been developed. It shows how major research funders want to support prevention science and the value they place in the sort of collaborations across disciplines that are required to fight cancer. Building capacity in this area is vital if new discoveries are ever to be translated into better outcomes for patients and the population.”
University of Ulster
THE University of Ulster has launched a new £240,000 seed fund designed to stimulate growth and enhance competitiveness within the digital content sector.
The Honeypot seed fund is part of the Honeycomb -Creative Works initiative, a £3.58 million skills and business development programme funded by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.
It is targeted at digital content creators across Northern Ireland, the six border counties of the Republic of Ireland and western Scotland.
The seed funding is available to organisations and individuals that will play a key role in the development of the digital con-tent sub sector thorough animation, film & broadcasting, computer gaming, interactive media and music technologies.
Fiona McElroy, creative enter-prise manager in the University of Ulster’s Office of innovation said “Northern Ireland is becoming renowned for innovation in the creative sectors and the university is committed to nurturing talent and playing a key role in helping the sector flourish through education and research. The wider Honeycomb initiative couples skills training and market development to enhance the capability of the SKIP. It is helping to cement Northern Ireland’s reputation as a leader in the creative industries, allowing local companies to compete on a global scale and potentially create new jobs.’
For more information on the Honeycomb – Creative Works initiative and the Honeypot seed fund visit thehoneycomb.net.
FE Colleges
SOUTH Eastern Regional College is delivering a career planning programme offering 16 to 24-year-olds the opportunity to navigate the wide range of rewarding and exciting career options available to them.
The 10-week Practical Approach to Careers Exploration programme (PACE) starting in September, will provide participants with valuable information about college options, further and higher education courses, subject information, career research, potential funding opportunities and assist in identifying careers that they are likely to enjoy doing most.
Students who sign up for the new programme will benefit from non-stop activities with other young people from their area, seeking employment, education and training opportunities and one-on-one lessons that tackle topics students don’t always learn in the classroom, including how to define their career goals and develop a comprehensive career plan.
The course will provide portfolio building tools including: building career profiles with emphasis on career paths, preparation for work confidence and motivation training, employer visits and employability skills training.
The programme aims to develop employment and sector specific skills in view of progressing participants into a full or part time course of their choice.
SERCs Emma Tate, collaboration and innovation fund project manager, said: ‘We want to help students to focus on their futures. This programme provides a host of information that can help students explore all options available to them.’
The programme will be delivered in partnership with The link Family Centre Newtownards, and MACS Downpatrick.