First Career Academies UK students in Northern Ireland graduate with honours!
Saturday 7 November
2009 saw the graduation of the first cohort of students in Northern Ireland representing a significant milestone in the journey of establishing Career Academies in the region. What makes the event even more special is the fact that all nine students in the Belfast Metropolitan College Academy of Finance not only achieved a 100% pass rate in their A Levels (Business Studies and ICT), but all students progressed to Higher Education courses either within Belfast Metropolitan College or onto degree programmes at the University of Ulster.
For many of these students, the highlight of the programme (apart from their fantastic results, of course!) were the successful internships they secured with Belfast businesses such as Ulster Bank, Northern Bank, Citi, Progressive, Barclays, First Trust, Bank of Ireland and KPMG.In addition two students, Gemma McNally and Emma Harbottle, were each awarded a bursary under the Career Academies UK Grant Fund Award Programme in recognition of outstanding achievement on the programme.
Belfast Metropolitan College is not resting on its laurels, however. In September 2009 Career Academy of Science has been established focusing particularly on Health and Life Sciences. Recruitment has been very good, with students drawn from a range of Science A level subjects including Biology, Chemistry, ICT, Physics, Geography, Mathematics and others. All are keen to avail of the excellent opportunities afforded by the Career Academy in exploring the field of science.
Career Academies Director, Pat Brown, is obviously delighted at the students’ achievements, and proud of the successful establishment of Northern Ireland’s first Career Academy in Belfast Metropolitan College: “I am clearly delighted at the success of our graduate students from the Career Academy,” she said. “Their sense of enjoyment of this programme was evident throughout – helped no doubt by their visits to London for the Capital Experience and the Graduation ceremony! We are indebted to the help and support from those local employers who provided our Guru Lectures, Partners in Business and paid internships. The future of our Career Academy programme looks secure under the watchful eye of our Local Advisory Board “
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