South West College has announced a marked increase in its full-time higher education courses.
The move will see the educational institute increase its number of available full time places by 23%, allowing 517 people to continue living and working locally while undertaking university linked courses.
The college already enrolls more than 20,000 students in a range of courses across four campuses.
The places are in a number of high demand areas and include five new technology foundation degrees, delivered in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster.
The college also confirmed that up to 40 post A-level students will have the chance to complete a pilot NVQ LIV Professional Apprenticeship programme linked to engineering and computer technology degree courses at the University of Ulster.
South West College director, Malachy McAleer, said the breadth and quality of the courses would meet student demands for locally available options.
He said: “The affordability of a nearto- home university education is an obvious benefit for financially hard pressed students and parents. These new curriculum developments will enable more than 1,600 students to avail of a local full-time or part-time higher education.
“It is another good news story for the region and complements our other recent achievements and investments that boost skills and employment options.
“In the last five years, we have worked closely with the local universities and the Department for Employment and Learning to develop a suite of industry relevant higher education courses tailored to the demands in the south west region.”
Meanwhile, Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry has reinforced the benefits of Essential Skills for adults.
Urging people to take full advantage of his department’s free Essential Skills courses, the minister said: “The Essential Skills classes offer a second chance for people to fulfil their potential with a suite of qualifications in literacy, numeracy and ICT. Since the start of the Essential Skills strategy 96,000 have participated, and improved their skills, gaining 192,974 qualifications.
“Gaining Essential Skills can help not only with day-to-day family life and everyday tasks but also with future career choices. The qualifications have proven to open up doors to various opportunities and help people fulfil their potential, build confidence, achieve their goals, up-skill the workforce and contribute to a stronger local economy.”
The minister concluded by saying: “Businesses now realise that in order to succeed, they need to invest in their workforce to ensure that it is innovative, enterprising and skilled.”