South West College’s Higher Education courses, designed in partnership with employers and universities, are propelling a record number of students towards degree qualifications and brighter career prospects.
This year, more than 1,700 part-time and full-time places will be available to students across 25 special courses that combine academic study with practical workplace learning and offer a route towards an Honours Degree at university.
The latest BSc (Hons) Degree in Energy, Environment and Sustainability has been developed in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast to meet demands for skilled talent in the lucrative ‘clean and green’ sector with 15 student places available for the year ahead.
Malachy McAleer, Director at South West College, said the popular courses offer students a chance to progress towards an Honours Degree while studying locally and fitting their lifestyle.
“We understand that for a variety of reasons, a full or part-time university education is not always an option for students. The flexibility of these courses means they can study at their own pace, fit it around any paid work that they want to do and save money on travel and accommodation expenses.
“Employers lead in the design and development of our degree-linked courses to ensure that students are ready to meet real life needs and thrive in the demands in the workplace. On completion, graduates have a qualification and skills that are valued by employers. Year-on-year, we’ve seen the demand for new courses steadily grow and we have widened our approach to build networks within different industries. The number of students being retained by employers after placement speaks volumes for the quality of the courses and those enrolling on them.”
Dr John Moore, Coordinator of the Energy, Environment and Sustainability BSc (Hons) Degree said the course was an important addition to the suite of specialist courses available at the CREST Centre, South West College’s dedicated green technology research and development and training facility in Enniskillen.
“Across the globe the race is on to capitalise on the rapidly-developing green technology sector and we want local firms to play their part by equipping talent with ‘best in class’ skills, training and resources.
“This unique degree programme compliments the wide range of practical courses that we’ve developed in recent years and is designed to help people and industry better connect with new and exciting opportunities that bridge the gap between traditional skills and those demanded by the ‘clean and green’ sector.”
He added, “Demand in this type of course is high and, with a number of early applications already received, we expect places will fill up fast. Anyone interested in finding out more or applying should contact us as soon as possible to avoid missing out.”
Established in 2007 and operating across Fermanagh and Tyrone, South West College offers more than 20,000 places for students of all ages and levels throughout its extended range of vocational training and Further and Higher Education Courses.
South West College’s suite of Degree and Foundation Degree courses are developed in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University and delivered across campuses in Dungannon, Enniskillen, Omagh and Cookstown. To find out more log on to www.swc.ac.uk or call 0845 603 1881