NWRC’s Finneen Bradley is looking ahead to Virtual Higher Education Week advising students of the Higher Education choices available locally.
Finneen Bradley, NWRC’s Careers Academy Manager, says the current Covid-19 pandemic lockdown is motivating students in the North West to consider closer to home options for university courses in September.
She said: “I understand that this is a worrying time for many students about to receive their A-Level, BTEC level 3 or Leaving Cert results.
“Our advisors at NWRC’s Careers Academy have received a large number of queries from students concerned about what will happen within the Higher Education system after the Summer.
“The Stay at Home message is really resonating with local students.
“Young people who were thinking about moving away from home are concerned about what will happen at the beginning of the new education term after September.
“At NWRC we have always promoted the North West as a first choice destination for local learners.
“This is a fantastic place to learn.
“It’s encouraging when we see our young people make the choice to study locally because keeping this talent in our local region helps grow and strengthen our local economy.
“The recent announcement that the Medical School at Magee will take its first students in 2021, is a huge boost for the economy in the North West and an endorsement of the standard of education available locally at our Schools, Colleges and Universities.
“We want to build on this news, by encouraging and supporting our young people as much as possible.
“There’s a perception that you don’t really experience college life unless you move away, and that’s simply not true.
“If your home town offers the course that you want to do, then it makes sense to stay.
“Not only will you be closer to family, you’ll have more money in your pocket, and you’ll still have the chance to experience college life, make new friends and all the other great benefits that go with it.
“I stayed locally and studied for my Degree and Post Graduate at Ulster University at Magee, I wouldn’t have changed a minute of it.”
Beginning on Monday, June 1, and running for seven days until Sunday, June 7, NWRC will host a Virtual Higher Education week on their Careers Facebook page @nwrccareersacademy
The event will provide information, advice and guidance on all Higher Education provision at NWRC, advice on progression to further study and employment, and an important session about funding and support available for all HE students.
Added Finneen Bradley: “I am delighted that we will be welcoming back some of our former HE students to take part in the event, where they will explain their education story and what they are doing now.
“NWRC offers a number of Higher Education Courses in the form of Foundation Degrees, Higher National Certificates, Higher National Diplomas and Higher Level Apprenticeships, which have a proven record of taking the student directly from the classroom into employment.
“We have also developed strong partnerships with Ulster University, QUB and Letterkenny IT, many of the Higher Level options we offer involve a top-up year or final year of study at Honours level with these partners.
“There are many reasons why studying a university standard Higher Education (HE) course locally makes sense.
“As well as the extensive range of courses available, Further Education colleges such as NWRC are often the more affordable option, with much lower tuition frees.
“Students also have to option to live at home, reducing the substantial living and maintenance costs that come with moving away.
“We hope to welcome as many people as possible to our Virtual Higher Education Week.
“We would also remind students that our Careers Advisors are available for help and support for any student, on any part of their education journey, who would like more information and advice.
“They can be contacted directly on [email protected].”
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