John McCourt, from Armagh, was recently honoured for his exceptional accomplishments in the field of Transport and Supply Chain Management at South West Colleges Higher Education Graduation ceremony and was delighted to be presented with the ‘Best Overall Student Award’ in Transport, which was sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT) committee of NI.
As one of the first graduates to complete this newly introduced qualification, John expressed his delight in receiving this highly esteemed award, emphasising the significant positive impact the course has had on his professional development. Enrolled as a Higher Level Apprentice at the South West College Dungannon campus, he found himself in a unique position to enhance his career while maintaining full-time employment at Mc Kee Transport Ltd., while gaining his foundation degree on a part time basis, without acquiring any debt.
Speaking about his educational journey, John said:
“Completing my Higher Level Apprenticeship in Transport & Supply Chain Management at South West College provided me with the opportunity to both earn and learn. I went to college one day each week and I was in my workplace, McKee Transport Ltd., the remaining four days of the week. This enabled me to put my theory I learned in class straight into practice. In addition to this, I could obtain a higher education qualification at no cost and debt free.
“The modules I studied provided me with in depth knowledge and an insight into logistics processes and procedures which I was able to implement into my workplace. In my course I was educated in emerging technologies in the transport and logistics sector which will prove useful in the future for the industry.
“The college Lecturers and my employer, McKee Transport Ltd., were extremely supportive and encouraging in balancing academic study with full-time employment.
“I believe the achievement of this qualification will enable me to progress in my career in the Transport and Logistics industry.”
Based on his positive experience, John urges other individuals and those contemplating their next steps to explore the wide range of university-level study opportunities available at their local Further Education College.
Pamela Dennison, course Lecturer (industry expert) at the College, said:
“With the freedom to study part-time, learners like John can pursue their education while working as a HLA, gaining the expertise needed to excel in this rapidly evolving field of transportation and logistics.
“This course has been developed by industry for industry and is accessible to both industry professionals and school leavers, making it an excellent opportunity for businesses to support upskilling and enhance their workforce. Enrolling employees in this course positively impacts performance, productivity, customer satisfaction, competitiveness, supply chain visibility, and risk mitigation, ultimately leading to improved profitability and success.”
SWC offers a diverse array of university-accredited courses, including HNCs, HNDs, Foundation Degrees, honours degrees, and Higher Level Apprenticeships, enabling students to study locally, gain practical skills, and save on costs.
Applications for all courses commencing in September 2024 are now open.