Our Story
South Eastern Regional College, as an FE College, is a primary delivery arm for government to ensure that the NI workforce has the skills to build a successful economy. Find out more about SERC and our story so far.
Our story is your story
In 2012 SERC published ‘Our Story’, our strategy for delivering change to support the NI economy and our aspiration to become a world class college by 2020.
SERC has achieved that aspiration. We have built a College that is the most successful in NI as evidenced by Department for the Economy published success rates 2017/18. We have built a strong, professional, skilled team in SERC; we have built international relationships across the globe; we have built skills centres; we have built a workforce that is skilled as well as qualified.
Our Story is still your story, and it is one which continues to support you and meet your needs.
Whilst the economy faces an uncertain future one thing remains clear, skills are the main driver for economic success, and the Further Education (FE) Colleges of Northern Ireland, as the main skills providers, are instrumental to the solution.
In an environment where public spending is under pressure the focus must be on investing in the areas which are fundamental to the growth of our economy, and for the social cohesion of our communities.
South Eastern Regional College, as an FE College, is a primary delivery arm for government to ensure that the NI workforce has the skills to build a successful economy.
Read the SERC Strategic Plan
Our History
We have our origins in the rich history of technical education, introduced in the early 20th century. The technical schools of this time were designed to respond to the needs of the local community. Courses were vocational or technical including science, art and technology.
SERC has been driven by pioneers of education such as Cecil Webb. These entrepreneurs and innovators set us on course and we have done them proud. Over 100 years we have helped thousands to join the workforce and build the NI economy.
Over the last 3 years alone SERC has progressed 14,125 people within the local workforce to a level 2 qualification and 9,423 to level 3 to 7, both representing 16% of the total working population in the South Eastern region. Can you imagine how many local people have attended courses with us over the last 100 years?
Our Present
We have stayed true to our roots and remain the lifeblood of the local community and economy, and in doing so have become a top 30 UK College. We have built our reputation as a trusted and respected part of our local community by delivering an industry focused curriculum.
Whilst we have been better known for providing training courses we have become renowned as an innovative partner for companies seeking to improve productivity and develop new markets or products. Services such as product prototyping and business improvement consultancy help companies, large and small, to achieve their ambitions.
We work with Greenview Group, Andras House, Spirit Aerosystems, Denroy, Carmen House, Hastings Hotels, NI Water, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, to name but a few.
Our Future
- As we look forward to 2030, our vision is that we will be recognised as an innovative and entrepreneurial world-class education provider. We believe that, since the businesses and individuals we work with must compete globally, then so do we!
- The period 2020-22 saw new challenges, as the Covid-19 pandemic brought changes to ways of learning and working and impacted the economy of Northern Ireland and the world. As Northern Ireland responds to the impact of the pandemic and moves to recover, SERC and the entire FE sector have a crucial part to play.
- At SERC, our approach is solution-focussed, excellence-driven, collaborative and responsive.
- We aim to shape our community by promoting an inclusive learning environment which will enable and support individuals and businesses to fulfil their ambitions.