Students receive recognition

Students receive recognition

12 September 2018

SOUTH Eastern Regional College held a graduation ceremony at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall last week which was attended by 1,2000 students, parents and staff.

The event recognised the hard work and dedication of hundreds of full and part-time students with the ceremony honouring nearly 300 graduates and over 20 local businesses.

Former College graduate Emma Cousins who studied an HND in Advanced Practice in work with children and families gave an address while the guest speaker was FinTrU chief executive and founder Darragh McCarthy.

College principal and chief executive Ken Webb said the graduation marked an important day in the lives of the hundreds of higher education students who completed their courses and he encouraged them to never stop learning and striving to better themselves. 

“The annual graduation celebration is a highlight in the College calendar,” he continued. “It showcases students’ achievements at higher education level in a variety of programme areas.”

Following the graduation ceremony, 16 excellence awards were presented, congratulating students on their enthusiastic approach to life and learning. 

The awards were established as an opportunity for the college to honour and reward those students whose commitment to learning and training has set them apart from their peers.

Also during last Friday’s ceremony, 26 excellence awards were presented to local businesses who have enriched the student learning experience through the provision of industry projects, educational visits and work placement opportunities.

During her closing address, Emma Cousins thanked staff, fellow graduates and her family for their support. She said she would encourage others to consider further education as their first option. 

“I am delighted to have completed my course at the College. I would like to thank all my lecturers who were very supportive and encouraging,” said Emma.

“Thanks to the skills and knowledge gained at the College I received an offer to study Early Childhood Studies at Doncaster University with hopes to go on to study a Master’s degree in social work.”

Emma added: “Before attending the college I wasn’t sure what to do with my life because I didn’t get the grades I needed for university after my A-Levels. 

“I thought my chances of getting my dream career were impossible, but it just goes to show it all seems impossible until its done.”

The college says that with 97 per cent of the further education college’s students progressing into employment, self-employment or onto higher level courses on completion of their course, it is a great example of how the further education sector offers a real alternative to university for intelligent and ambitious people who want to work towards internationally recognised qualifications and a rewarding career.