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Education & Training News
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 Launching a new series of social economy Masterclasses entitled 'Social Enterprise Means Business' are series partners Jonathan McAlpin (UCIT) and Kevin Kelly (Podiem Ltd), Marie Marin (Employers For Childcare), who is speaking at the first event, and Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster. For more information and to book a place at the events visit: www.podiem. |
 Hundreds of students and young people learned about the exciting job opportunities available across Europe and beyond at the University of Ulster’s Magee campus this week.
Ulster’s Career Development Centre in partnership with European Employment Services (EURES) Cross Border Partnership hosted a one-day event to raise awareness of the career prospects which exist globally for students and graduates.
Organisations including the London 2012 Olympics, International Experience Canada, the US NI Mentorship Programme, Dramatic English and EURES Cross Border and International were just some of the exhibitors on hand to promote the opportunities on offer. |
Tourism Minister Arlene Foster has urged small tourism and hospitality businesses to make the most of their web presence and online marketing through an innovative ICT advice service.
Working in partnership with ICT experts Logon.ni, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has rolled out the exciting initiative to businesses within the tourism and hospitality sectors who would like to boost their online marketing and general ICT skills. |
Students at Queen’s University have been given a unique insight into life as ‘tomorrow’s leaders’ thanks to a new programme run by leadership development organisation Common Purpose.
The four-day course, called Frontrunner, is aimed at enhancing student employability by letting students explore leadership outside of the lecture hall, and was available to undergraduates within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Queen’s. Students were given the opportunity to visit organisations from every sector, meet leaders from a range of business backgrounds, consult on real life business challenges and try their hand at leading teams. |
 Commenting on the official initiation of Reform of Irish Higher Education by the Higher Education Authority this week, President of IT Sligo, Professor Terri Scott, said that it is the ambition of IT Sligo to be part of a Technological University in the Border Midlands and Western Region.
“The Higher Education Authority is now starting to implement the National Strategy for Higher Education which was published at the start of last year,” Professor Scott explained.
“A new model of higher education is planned for Ireland, which will include a more coherent, complementary system of higher education. |
 As part of their Bring IT On NI IT careers attractiveness programme, e-skills UK have just launched a brand new Bring IT On website for young people in Northern Ireland. The new website shows just how motivating and rewarding careers in technology can be.
First created in 2008 as part of the Future Skills Action Plan for IT, and in conjunction with the Department of Employment and Learning, Invest NI and Momentum, the bringitonni. |
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed a partnership between business advisory firm BDO and Queen’s University Belfast, to build a stronger alignment between academia and family businesses.
The partnership between BDO Centre for Family Business and Queen’s University School of Management will focus specifically on issues impacting on family businesses in Northern Ireland.
Speaking at an event to launch the initiative in Queen’s Riddel Hall, Arlene Foster said: “The family business sector plays a vital role in the success of our local economy, as it is estimated that approximately 75% of all businesses in Northern Ireland are family run. |
February 09, 2012 |  |
 Newtownabbey based Northgate Managed Services (Northgate), which was recently named the UK’s IT Supplier of the Year at the British Computer Society (BCS) & Computer UK Industry Awards 2011, has further cemented its reputation as a leading provider of education based ICT solutions with the award of the £1.3m managed service contract for The Hastings Academy, East Sussex. Northgate which already provides IT services to every school in Northern Ireland, will use its proven expertise to help the Academy deliver a technology led environment designed to assist student learning. |
 Northern Ireland’s first society for Actuaries, The Society of Northern Ireland Actuaries (SONIA), was launched last night at Queen's University Belfast’s Management School by Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster.
SONIA will be a society for actuarial professionals along with those students undertaking the Queen's University Management School's (QUMS) Actuarial Science and Risk Management degree.
Speaking about the motivation for SONIA, Colin O’Hare, President of the Society and Programme Director for the actuarial science degree at Queen's, said: "The idea of establishing a society that includes professional actuaries and undergraduate students as its core membership has never been tried before in the United Kingdom. |
February 08, 2012 |  |
 Andor Technology has teamed up with the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) and the Grafton Employment Group to mentor Ulster and Ireland Rugby players, Andrew Trimble and Chris Henry, who are taking part in the ‘Ulster Rugby Mean Business’ mentoring programme.
The ‘Ulster Rugby Mean Business’ programme, which was launched at Ravenhill in January 2011 by IRUPA and Grafton, was devised to support IRUPA rugby players in their bid to secure a future career when their rugby playing days end. The programme helps them develop an alternative skill-set whilst actively playing to ensure they have a viable and secure future in later years. |
 Northern Ireland’s first ever financial trading room is set to open at Queen’s University Belfast. The First Derivatives Trading Room, supported by Invest NI, will provide a dynamic learning environment for students hoping to embark in a career in financial services or technology.
Based at Queen’s University Management School, Riddel Hall, Stranmillis, the facility, which will replicate New York and London trading rooms, will give students a real-life experience of a busy stock exchange with the capacity to deal in equities, bonds, foreign exchange and derivative instruments. |
 Ten 3rd year medical students have taken part in new Student Selected Component (SSC), “Follow the Leader”, where they shadow a local healthcare leader for two weeks.
With the help of the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride, the NI Ombudsman, Dr Tom Frawley, Chief Executives of three of the health & social care Trusts: Colm Donaghy (Belfast), Hugh McCaughey (Southeastern Trust) and Liam McIvor (NI Ambulance Service), Medical Director and Assistant Director Drs Tony Stevens and Cathy Jack (Belfast Trust), leaders from the Public Health Agency, Dr Carolyn Harper and Mrs Mary Hinds, Director of Care Services Age NI, Linda Robinson, and Dr Angela Carragher from the Northern Ireland Medical & Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA)---undergraduate medical students fro QUB have gotten first hand experience and exposure to the daily life of leaders in healthcare and policy making in Northern Ireland.
The module and placement developed and designed to enable students to experience and be inspired by local health & social care leadership, will ideally develop an understanding of their leader’s personal styles, abilities and role and help them to gain a better understanding of how effective leadership impacts the health & social care system and the patients it serves. |
Telecoms entrepreneur Denis O’Brien will give an inspirational talk at the University of Ulster’s Belfast campus tomorrow.
The Irish businessman will be guest speaker at Belfast-based chartered accountants, FPM’s 20th Anniversary Leadership Lecture, hosted by broadcaster Gerry Kelly.
Denis O'Brien is one of Ireland's and indeed the world's leading entrepreneurs with extensive investments across several sectors including international telecoms, radio, media, property, aircraft leasing, golf and other leisure interests. |
(Compliance and awareness)
As a small business or sole trader you normally are running around with various hats, e.g. sales rep, manager, PR and H&S plus many more. |
February 02, 2012 |  |
 Aurion Learning was celebrating today at the news that NetDimensions learning management solutions has won the Brandon Hall Gold Award in the Best Advance in Learning Management Technology category with NetDimensions EKP (Enterprise Knowledge Platform) for Extended Enterprise Management.
Aurion Learning is a certified reseller for NetDimensions award-wining learning & talent management products in Ireland and the United Kingdom.Speaking about the news, Gavin Woods, Sales Manager at Aurion Learning, said:
“NetDimensions is undoubtedly a global leader in performance, knowledge and learning management systems. |
 Sixth formers from across Northern Ireland were given valuable hands-on experience of the computer industry, thanks to the success of an innovative approach to work placement by the University of Ulster and School Employer Connections.
Over thirty Year 13 and Year 14 students took part an intensive two day workshop hosted by the School of Computing and Intelligent Systems at the Magee campus. Over the two days, they got a ‘taster’ of subject areas including web development, computer programming, computer gaming and mobile robots as well as a chance to use software like CrazyTalk and Dreamweaver to design their own websites. |
February 01, 2012 |  |
 Amy Adair, Tibus’s Marketing Executive, recently qualified in the Google Analytics Individual Qualification, shares her enthusiasm for the platform, having just completed her tests.
So what is the point in Google Analytics and is it really necessary?
To set the scene, you’re admiring the finished product; your brand new website. |
 Secretary of State Vince Cable and DETI Minister Arlene Foster have officially opened a £6m composites research centre for Northern Ireland which links the University of Ulster, Bombardier Aerospace and QUB.
The University of Ulster and QUB co-own and operate the 3,700 sq metre Northern Ireland Advanced Composites & Engineering Centre (NIACE).
Funding to build the £6 million centre was announced in February last year and included financing from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) through the Strategic Investment Fund, Invest Northern Ireland and Bombardier Aerospace. |
A survey conducted by the University of Ulster has listed research needs that would enable Allied Health Professionals (AHP) such as physiotherapists, occupational and speech and language therapists to improve the experience of people they care for.
The results were unveiled at a joint Public Health Agency (PHA) and University of Ulster workshop entitled “Shaping the Future” which highlighted the essential role of evidence-based research in effective health and social care practice.
The survey, in which Ulster researchers worked closely with leading AHPs, key stakeholders and service users throughout Northern Ireland, was funded by the Health and Social Care Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency. |
January 30, 2012 | |
 Gary: Maureen, tell us about Aurion Learning.
Maureen: Aurion Learning is an elearning company made up of a team of learning specialists and application developers. We’re based in Belfast, but we do most of our work in the south of Ireland and Scotland. |
 Queen’s University’s venture spin-out company, QUBIS, has appointed Frank Bryan as acting Chief Executive. Mr Bryan, who sits on the board of the Institute of Directors (UK), has served on the board of QUBIS as Non-Executive Director for the past three years.
Established in 1984 to commercialise Queen’s research and development activities, QUBIS is currently the leading company in the UK and Ireland for revenue generation created through its spin-out companies. |
 A breakthrough by University of Ulster scientists could transform the production and industrial use of graphene, a powerful and versatile material that comes from graphite, the carbon in pencil lead.
They have discovered a simple, low cost and environmentally friendly way to bulk produce high quality ‘graphene nanosheets’ from common flakes of graphite and hope to turn their patented process into a commercial success.
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. |
January 26, 2012 |  |
 Ballymena Student Rewarded with £2000 of latest technologies to further His ‘App’ Career!
A student from the University of Ulster’s Magee campus has won the coveted ‘2011 Awesome App’ award after the application (app) he developed while on the inaugural Kainos App Camp was downloaded over 10,500 times!Glenn Sayers, a Computer Science student from Ballymena, was one of eight high-flyers who took part in Ireland’s inaugural ‘App Camp’, a programme developed by leading technology company Kainos. |
January 24, 2012 | |
 Ex brick layer, Peter Kane (24) has become one of the first students to graduate and be hired from Newtownabbey based Northgate Managed Services’ prestigious Apprenticeship Scheme. First launched in 2009, the scheme offers school leavers, young people and those out of work the opportunity to develop a career within the ICT sector.
Peter’s journey began in 2009 when he successfully attained one of 10 places on the first intake of apprentices. |
 The five institutes of technology in the Border, Midlands and West (BMW) region are at an advanced stage in discussions regarding the establishment of a technological university.
Given Government approval, a Border Midlands West Technological University (BMW TU) would create the largest higher education institution in the state with 27,000 students.
A steering group comprising the presidents and senior staff of Athlone Institute of Technology, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, and Institute of Technology, Sligo, is directing the negotiations. |
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