SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin
It is located at Ulster University’s Magee campus in Derry.
Mrs McLaughlin, her party’s higher education spokesperson, said: “The SDLP has long campaigned for the expansion of Magee into a full-sized university campus – and has also demanded a big increase in apprenticeships.
“It is essential that we increase the provision of advanced skills in our key sectors, which include manufacturing and engineering.
“I am delighted that this initiative of the first degree-level apprenticeship in manufacturing and engineering will help to further strengthen the skills base in and around Derry in an industry that we hope will rebuild our economy, not least through the City Deal for Derry and Strabane.
“The fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, provides enormous opportunities for Derry and the North West.
“It is essential that the Northern Ireland Executive, all its ministers and in particular the Department for the Economy honour their commitment in New Decade New Approach for Magee’s expansion to at least 10,000 students.
“I am pleased to see that the Department talks of a new chapter in higher education at Magee, but we need to see this on the ground and not just as an aspiration.
“The new manufacturing and engineering apprenticeship is another building block on the journey, as are the Medical School, the new paramedics course and the health and life sciences courses which transfer to Magee next year.
“But the people of Derry are impatient for further progress.
“The SDLP is totally committed to Derry being a university city with a full-sized campus, producing the skilled workforce we need for the future.
“At our party’s insistence that commitment is contained in New Decade New Approach and our party was instrumental in getting the Medical School over the line.
“We have campaigned for Magee expansion on a consistent basis.”
Professor Brian Meenan, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, Ulster University said: “We are delighted to work in partnership with industry, to put this new skills escalator in place to support industry in their innovation journey by offering the first and only Manufacturing & Engineering Higher Level Degree Apprenticeship programme on the island of Ireland.
“The apprentices are embarking on an exciting new chapter as they apply their skills within an industrial setting in real-time.
“This new innovative offering from Ulster University’s Magee campus is connected to the region’s future ambitions for the Derry and Strabane City Deal.
“The Ulster University CIDRA and CARL innovation projects will become an important destination for these apprentices and the companies they work for in the years ahead.”
Maria Curran, Project Director at MEGA added: “Our industry network is immensely proud to have been central in the development of this new Apprenticeship with Ulster University that is essential in securing our sectors’ success for the good of Northern Ireland’s economy.
“Without it, the sector will be unable to compete globally and jobs will be lost in the future when manufacturing is relocated elsewhere.
“Thanks to essential funding support from the Department of Economy, this programme is a chance for industry to embrace the future of Manufacturing & Engineering and we encourage companies from across Northern Ireland to apply to be part of this momentous step forward in adapting to the digital era.”
Applications have just opened for the 2022/23 course this week and will close on 31st January 2022.
A virtual Open Evening will be held on 4th November, register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mega-amp-ulster-university-34724672023
Those interested in applying should send their CV (including GCSE Mathematics grade and predicted results) to [email protected].
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