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PROTEUS - EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation 2005/06
PROJECT: ‘Enabling Lecturers to Learn from Business’
On Wednesday 27 September St Mary’s University College, Belfast presented
a report marking the end of a very successful project ‘Enabling
Lecturers to Learn from Business’. This was a European Union
Peace and Reconciliation Programme Project facilitated by Proteus
NI Ltd. Project Officer, Miss Joan Campbell supported by Administrative
Assistant, Mr Leonard O’Regan.
The Project ran from October 2004 until June 2006 with an assigned
budget of just over £191,000. Its core aim was to provide
opportunities for lecturers to enhance their skills and understanding
in the area of business and entrepreneurship through placement
learning in a range of organisations from the private, public
and social sectors in Northern Ireland. Participating lecturers
had the opportunity for skills development and to involve themselves
in a mutual exchange of expertise and ‘know how’ with
partner organisations.
The project arose from the introduction of the BA (Hons) Liberal
Arts programme at the College in September 2000. This is a three-year,
multi-disciplinary programme which offers both the opportunity
to focus on a specialist subject, and to engage in areas of relevance
to contemporary society.
The degree programme includes a Work Based Learning component
that assists students in developing appropriate skills for employability.
The project allowed lecturers the opportunity to engage in an
extremely relevant placement which enhances the core themes of
the degree and contributes indirectly to students acquiring the
required leadership qualities to secure high value-added jobs
available in Northern Ireland and beyond.
Lecturers’ interests were matched with suitable organisations.
The placement consisted of ‘shadowing’ senior level
managers or the completion of an agreed ‘project’.
This achieved an ‘exchange of know how’ between all
parties involved. By the end of the project approximately 35 businesses
or organisations had been contacted and placement experiences
for 13 lecturers were secured.
Participating organisations included, Invest Northern Ireland,
Belfast, BT Northern Ireland, Belfast, Rocwell Irish Mineral Water,
Pomeroy, Mitchell Kane Associates, Belfast, Newry and Mourne District
Council, Kensington Interiors Ltd, Belfast, Ulster Rugby, Administration
Headquarters, Belfast First Trust Bank, Veritas Publishing, Dublin,
Zoogon Productions Ltd, Belfast, Clean Slate Television Ltd, Belfast,
MGTV, Belfast, Southern Area Hospice Service, Newry, W D Irwin
& Sons Ltd, Portadown, FOLD Housing Association, Holywood,
St Agnes Choral Society in association with the Grand Opera House,
Belfast, West Belfast Economic Forum, Belfast Riverside Theatre
at University of Ulster, Coleraine.
Lecturers also engaged in training around issues relating to
Peace and Reconciliation with the aim that support resources might
be integrated into their own teaching. In December 2005, they
attended a workshop entitled ‘Exploring Controversial Issues’
facilitated by the Nerve Centre, Derry. This demonstrated the
cross-community learning potential of multimedia resources ie
animation, video, DVD, interactive CD-Roms available in the area
of culture, history and identity in Northern Ireland today.
While on placement, lecturers were encouraged to focus on initiatives
or policies followed by their business or organisation to promote
peace and reconciliation within the community.
St Mary’s University College entered into the spirit of the project
wholeheartedly and supported it continuously. The organisations
which hosted the lecturers provided excellent working environments
and were fully supportive of the project objectives.
Lecturers reported highly significant learning experiences, some
describing the project as motivating and inspirational. Most reported
a boost to personal confidence and were pleased that they were
able to contribute to that organisation in such a meaningful way.
Employers confirmed this exchange of ‘know how’ and
indicated that the change to perspective when planning a work
task, involving the input from a professional with another level
of expertise, was energising.
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