Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry today officially opened the Southern Regional College’s (SRC) new student enterprise facility ‘The Hub’ at its campus in Newry.
The Hub has been developed by SRC to help encourage more students to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects and to provide learners with the opportunity to train and learn in a modern and innovative environment. The Hub will also support students’ engagement in enterprise activities, skills competitions and innovating projects, which not only enhance their learning experience but provide the business community with a modern skilled workforce.
Officially opening the new state of the art facilities, Minister Farry said: “The development of ‘The Hub’ is a dynamic illustration of how today’s world is interconnected through technology. Facilities such as these are extremely valuable and the skills gained from using technology are what drive modern businesses, locally, nationally and globally. The Hub Centre allows students and lecturers to share, mentor, collaborate and develop project ideas and concepts and turn them into prototypes and potential business ventures.
“This Centre supports my Department’s aims through the Success through STEM Strategy and encourages young people to study and pursue careers in STEM which are key drivers in growing our local and global economy.”
In addition, an Intercampus Skills Competition, involving 93 participants from the Schools Partnership Programme, also provided the Minister with the opportunity to meet and present awards to students from local schools who attend the college one day a week to undertake a vocational programme of study as part of the entitlement framework.
To round off the series of skills focussed events, the Minister presented awards to medal winners and teaching staff from the college who participated at the recent UK Skills Show 2014 in Birmingham.
Congratulating the winners, the Minister said: “I would particularly like to acknowledge the impressive result for Southern Regional College as the top FE College in Northern Ireland on medal count at the UK Skills Show. The college has recognised the important benefits of skills competitions as a quality teaching tool to inspire and encourage students and which contribute to raising standards of training and performance. I commend the contribution the SRC lecturers and local employers have also made in supporting competitors to reach this level.”
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