Heather McKee Director of Strategic Planning, Quality and Support
portfolio. This enables students and tutors to submit and review evidence of their learning and skills and, more importantly, is available to students and staff anywhere and on any device. This has enabled us to successfully deliver training online throughout the past year of sporadic lockdown and these tools will continue to be used. We also have the in-house capability to produce broadcast quality webinars which can be viewed at a time convenient to our business clients, such as our Technical Skills Masterclasses for the Let’s Do Hospitality and Tourism Recovery programmes.
the needs of businesses and their employees, have been part and parcel of our offer here at SERC. We have ensured student achievement has been kept on track and learners have been prepared for their next steps in education or employment. Short, intensive courses that give people the opportunity to reskill or retrain in a matter of weeks or months are proving popular. Over the past year, SERC has been proactive in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering training and support to businesses and students, demonstrating the resilience and creativity needed to safeguard the future of our economy. How do you expect it to impact your intake? Could we see more mature students seeking to learn new skills? More demand in specific areas? We have noted that people across a range of ages, not just the more mature, are seeking to future-proof themselves for work by upskilling or reskilling. Our short intensive courses have proved popular this year and applications from adults are high for the next academic year. This past year has given many people the opportunity to take stock and rethink what they are doing in terms of work. People who have felt vulnerable in their current jobs are exploring training opportunities which provide them with a more stable career. Multiple pathways are available for those who want to change direction, or study at a higher level. Those with limited qualifications can enrol on our Restart or Access to University programmes. Advice is available from our careers team for anyone who wants to get in touch.
Heather McKee Director of Strategic Planning, Quality and Support
Are there future developments in the pipeline? SERC continues to work directly with industry-led groups to develop tailored support. Our Business Engagement teams are currently working on future provision based on the recent NI strategic requirements outlined in the Skills for a 10X Economy and Economic Recovery Roadmap. We will continue to develop skills and innovations with a particular focus on manufacturing, green technologies, digital transformation, trade and export, health, wellbeing and care and any emerging skills gaps. This responsiveness is key to our curriculum development.
What kind of activity has been ongoing at the college? What kind of setups are in place for remote learning? SERC staff use a variety of electronic tools to facilitate online learning. The main platform is MS Teams, which incorporates MS Class Notebook, used by many courses as an electronic
SERC are working in partnership with H & J Martin and the Automatic Door Suppliers Association to develop new apprenticeships for the Automated Entrances Industry supported through the Department for the Economy’s Apprenticeship Challenge Fund. (L - R) William Greer, Chief Training & Contacts Officer and Tony Watson, Operations Manager, H & J Martin Asset Management Services.
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