SERC Hosts IT and Engineering Employer Forum

South Eastern Regional College (SERC) recently welcomed local employers to an IT and engineering employer forum at the college’s SPACE campus, to showcase the curriculum provision of IT and engineering programmes. It was also an opportunity to gather feedback to help identify key skills shortages and shape future curriculum development for local industry.

During the event, the employers offered their thoughts on the curriculum delivered within the college at both FE and HE levels, helping to ensure that students completing programmes are equipped with skills which match those required by employers. Feedback included a review of the new Industry 4.0. programmes at SERC and the proposed Foundation Degree in Industry 4.0., which has been designed to fill the current skills gap within the NI industry, and to facilitate the digital transformation which many companies are considering and undergoing.

Trudy Patterson, SERC Curriculum Manager, School of Engineering says, “The employer forum is an opportunity for SERC to enhance relationships with local industry, to ensure we are providing students with the right skill sets to move into the local economy. It was great to see such a wide range of our local employers engaging, with representatives coming from Manufacturing, Industrial Automation, and IT Services to name a few.

“I’d like to extend a special thank you to our Guest Speakers: John McKeon from Gallarus Industry Solution Ltd for his insights into digital transformation; and Louise Dooley from Andor Technologies Ltd, who provided an overview of their wide range of products, as well as highlighting the benefits Andor have gained from employing SERC HLA students as valued members of their team.”

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