GRADUATE FOCUS – QUEEN’S AND UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER
Queen’s
Programme: Businesses across the island of Ireland are to receive a boost over the coming months with the announcement of a new graduate programme at Queen’s University Belfast.
The Leadership Institute, at Queen’s new £15 million Graduate Executive and Education Centre at Riddel Hall, has been chosen to deliver a new Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Management to graduates involved in InterTradeIreland’s all island FUSION Programme.
The FUSION programme partners businesses with high calibre graduates and third-level education institutions, allowing them to access the wealth of research and expertise available at prestigious academic institutions across the island of Ireland.
Aimed at science, technology and engineering graduates, participants will be better equipped to understand the challenges facing their organisations, and help them to thrive in today’s challenging economy. The course will be delivered to around 150 graduates over the next three years.
Study: The new Autumn/New Year Programme at Queen’s Open Learning centre offers hundreds of short courses open to the public.
Cathal McManus, Programme Co-ordinator of the Open Learning programme said: “We are really delighted to launch the new Autumn/New Year Open Learning Programme, and as always there are a huge range of programmes available to people from all walks of life. From wine-tasting to film making and personal finance to first aid – there really is something for everyone at Queen’s this Autumn.
“There are courses on aspects of Belfast’s history and walking tours concentrating on the most important citizens of Belfast and its most significant buildings and builders, as well as a course about the history of life on the River Lagan. As always there are plenty of practical courses including building a website, interview skills, yoga, and documentary film making.”
This year, as always, the programme responds to major international themes. In addition to Aung San Suu Kyi and the Struggle for Democracy in Burma, there is a topical spotlight on the forthcoming US elections, with So, You Still Want To Be President: A Guide to the 2012 Presidential Election.
In this very special year for Belfast, there is also a special series, funded by the Arts Council’s One City, One Book initiative, celebrating the musical, literary and visual arts heritage of the capital.
Distinguished writers Paul Muldoon, Polly Devlin, Carlo Gebler and Robert Welch have signed up to be a part of the new Autumn/New Year Open Learning Programme at Queen’s. They will contribute to the World Literature series which is just one of a vast array of courses on offer at Queen’s this Autumn.
Partnerships: Queen’s University is calling on more businesses to make use of a £13 million funding package to help them get ahead in the local and global marketplace.
The funding has been made available by Invest Northern Ireland and the Technology Strategy Board to help local businesses participate in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) with local universities and colleges.
Queen’s is currently the lead institution in the UK for KTPs which can help companies to grow, innovate and boost profits.
Backing Queen’s in its call is Hughes Insurance, a leading broker that has grown its business through a KTP project with the University.
Hughes’ Chief Executive, Gareth Brady, said: “Hughes Insurance has been working closely with Queen’s for almost two years to develop new ways to improve our customer contact activities.
“KTP has been hugely successful for us, embedding new technology and expertise in our business and contributing to a 4.5 per cent increase in customer retention figures.
“I would urge any firm in Northern Ireland, and particularly those in the flourishing financial services sector, to contact Queen’s to see how engaging in a KTP could help them. Even if they only have an idea about the direction they want their business to grow in, that conversation could be the start of new growth for them.”
University of Ulster
Magee: The University of Ulster’s Magee campus is inviting prospective students to attend its annual Open Day which takes place next week.
The event, hosted on Saturday 15 September, will allow visitors from across Northern Ireland, the border counties and further afield to experience the first-class courses and learning facilities on offer at Magee.
It will be the first time Open Day has been hosted over a weekend, giving parents and prospective part-time or postgraduate students the opportunity to attend alongside the traditional sixth -form audience.
Attendees will be able to meet with staff and existing students, get detailed information about full and part-time courses, tour Magee’s high-quality facilities and speak to advisors about finance and student support.
As well as sixth-form students and recent school leavers, Magee Open Day is aimed at mature students, those coming to university with Access Diplomas and anyone thinking of undertaking part-time study.
Davina Roche, Career Consultant at Magee, said: “This is an important time for anyone considering studying at university. Many students are now opting to remain in Northern Ireland, with one important factor being affordability. Magee gives local people the opportunity to gain an excellent qualification from a leading institution, right on their doorstep.
“The University’s Nursing, Irish Language and Literature, Dance and Drama courses are unique to the Magee campus and our BSc Hons Advertising is the only undergraduate programme in Ireland with full accreditation for the Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma.
“Other teaching strengths include the Creative Arts, Business, Computing, Social Sciences, Law, Psychology and Peace and Conflict Studies.”
She added: “Traditionally Open Days were only available to schools but this year as the event is being held on a Saturday, anyone who is interesting in studying at Magee can come along. It is also a great opportunity for parents to attend.”