Open Learning
Open Learning Queens’s University is offering people the chance to see the ‘Hidden Belfast’ as part of the new Open Learning programme. The walking tours, which offer an insight into the city’s heritage, are just some of the 300 courses on offer in this year’s programme. Also in the new programme are courses which examine...
Last Call for Belfast ICT Apprenticeships
Today is the last day to apply for the Belfast ICT Apprenticeship programme. This innovative new apprenticeship scheme presents an excellent opportunity to star young people on an exciting career in ICT and to ensure that when they are seeking employment they have the necessary skills to take advantage of opportunities. Finance minister, Simon Hamilton...
Apprentices Earn Chance To Show Off Skills In Brazil
SEVENTEEN Northern Ireland apprentices have secured a place on the UK Squad for the prestigious WorldSkills 2015 Sao Paulo competition. WorldSkills is the largest international skills competition in the world. Held every two years, the competition sees around 1,000 young people from all over the world, aged between 18 and 25, come together to compete...
Apprentices Build Sound Foundation
JUST under 100 competitors from across Northern Ireland tested their skills in 11 different construction trades at Skillbuild 2014 recently at the Southern Regional College in Newry. Skillbuild NI, run by CITBConstructionSkills NI, is held annually each spring with the top local construction apprentices competing to win coveted titles ranging from brickwork to walland floor...
Mentors ‘Vital’
COUNSELLING in school can have a significant positive impact on young people’s mental wellbeing. That was the message from Education Minister, John O’Dowd, as he launched a report by Children’s Law Centre advisory group youth@clc into young people’s views on counselling in schools. Speaking during a launch event in Parliament Buildings, the Minister said: “Professional...
Belfast MET Honours Top Apprentices
A UNIQUE new event has celebrated the achievements of Belfast Metropolitan College and employers involved in its delivery of training programmes and apprenticeships. The first-ever Apprenticeship and Training Awards were held in the new e3 building at the Met’s Springvale Campus. Successful students received awards recognising their achievements through ApprenticeshipsNI, Programme Led Apprenticeship (PLA) or...
Union in apprentices call
As apprenticeships gain ground in the eyes of employers, society must recalibrate its attitude, it was claimed today. The Ulster Teachers’ Union, Northern Ireland’s biggest locally-based teaching union, was responding to a recent government survey which revealed that employers believe people with apprenticeships are more employable. “Whilst it is encouraging to see that employers –...
Minister Aims To Learn From Swiss Systems
A RECENT ministerial trip to Switzerland could provide inspiration for the future of apprenticeships and youth training in Northern Ireland. The purpose of the two-day skills study visit, linked to the recently announced review into apprenticeships in Northern Ireland, was to examine Swiss best practice, policies and initiatives in vocational and youth training programmes. During...
NRC campus set to host top construction awards
Northern Regional College, in partnership with CITB-ConstructionSkills NI, will host the cream of Northern Ireland’s construction apprentices and trainees in the Skillbuild NI 2013 national finals this month. Welcoming the news NRC principal and chief executive Trevor Neilands said the college’s Newtownabbey campus offered the competition the most up to date construction facilities. “We are...
ICT Apprentice Scheme Helps Recruit 32 Workers
More than 30 individuals have been recruited thanks to Belfast Metropolitan College’s Public/Private ICT Apprenticeship Pilot. The scheme, involving government and a number of local ICT employers, has seen 32 individuals recruited as apprentices and taking up various software development and IT infrastructure roles in both the public and private sector. Attending the celebratory event...