|
In addition to its well-established relationship with several
universities and colleges in different parts of the USA, St Mary’s
has over the last four years, become a committed partner in the Study USA programme, which is a Business/Management Development Programme
for undergraduate students in Northern Ireland, funded by the
Department for Employment and Learning (DEL). BEI offers annually
165 study places in the USA, and despite its business orientation,
it is open to students studying in any discipline. The development
of the very successful BEI programme stemmed from discussions
in 1993 between members of the Interchurch Committee on Northern
Ireland, who considered the potential benefits and positive outcomes
that students could gain from a year of study at an American College.
The Committee envisaged students could bring business knowledge
and international experience back into the Northern Ireland economy
while simultaneously contributing to an era where the old historic
divisions hopefully would become increasingly less important.
The Training and Employment Agency (the equivalent of DEL at
the time) supported the idea enthusiastically, recognising the
significant impact that such a programme could potentially have,
and thus, the Business Education Programme was established.
The first programme was designed and piloted in the academic
year of 1994/95 and 19 students left N.I. to study in 19 U.S.
Colleges. Over the following years, places and partnerships were
established with Universities and Colleges affiliated to a wide
range of churches and traditions across the USA leading finally
to the consolidation of the target figure of 165 student places
spread throughout more than one hundred participating institutions.
St Mary’s University College is an enthusiastic and committed
member of the BEI “movement”, and this year will be
sending a minimum of 13 students to the U.S., a significant increase
on our first involvement three years ago when 3 of our students
achieved places on the programme. The level of interest in BEI
now generated amongst St Mary’s students, as a result of
our now well-established involvement in the programme, will ensure
that the College will be well represented in the USA in years
to come.
|
