European Staff Mobility

Each year the International Team secures funding for staff to undertake professional development opportunities and exchange of best practice across Europe. 2017 Figures Colleges NI Funding PEACE (Promoting Employability Erasmus HE (Higher Education) • Diana Farrelly, Switzerland and Citizenship Enhancement) • Sharon Fitzpatrick, Malta • International Affairs • Lindsay Bronte, Switzerland • Paul Doran, Germany Karen McGivern, Malta • Chris Hobson, Switzerland • Darren Little, Germany • Anne Murray, Spain • Keith Kilpatrick, Switzerland • Ryan O’ Gorman, Germany • Lindsay Bronte, Spain • Fiona Bradley, Spain 2017 • David Vint, Netherlands, • Kyle Mulholland, Germany Newsletter • Diana Farrelly, Netherlands • Patrick Maguire, Germany • Gary Mackin, Spain • Julie-Ann Stevenson, Netherlands, • Lynn Stevenson, Italy • Tanya McAleenan, Spain • Patrick Mulholland, Netherlands • Linda Bussell, Italy • Kyle Mulholland, Germany • Chris Evans, Denmark • Paul Mcllwaine, Italy • Patrick Maguire, Germany • Helen Hughes, Denmark • Anne Murray, Spain • Helen Doyle • Michael O’ Neill, Denmark • Shirley Walker, Spain • Christopher Evans, Italy • Karen Templeton, Finland • Deborah Morris, Italy • Barbara Rooney, Finland • Amanda Evans, Finland • Ashraf Zatari, Germany • Bernadette McMahon, Finland • Gary Mackin, Germany • Diana Farrelly, Spain • Aileen Pyers, Malta • Maureen Walsh, Malta • Nicole Malone, Malta • Christopher Cousens, Malta • Carol Crozier, Malta • Stephen Ferris, Malta • Maeve Galloway, Malta

Interns Students on Work Placement How long are you here on place on placement? 221 I am here for three months. I attend the CPNV school Mediamatique in Switzerland. 51 Staff Mobilities What has been the best part of your placement so far? The best part of my placement is the opportunity to learn a foreign language and discover a new culture. 22 Incoming International Visits What do you hope to gain from your time at SRC? 5 EU Projects I hope I will progress my skills in English and in design.

Outside of the office, how do you spend your free time ? €644,158 Funding Secured I enjoy playing rugby and discovering new places. Erasmus+ Charter Name: Niki Zaal Age: 18 Where are you from: Switzerland Current Job: International Affairs Office Campus Base: Portadown

How long are you here on place on placement? I am here for four months.

What has been the best part of your placement so far? I have the possibility to work every Tuesday with the Design Centre (Lurgan Campus). I like that Info? because I can practice and improve my graphic skills.

What do you hope to gain from your time at SRC? If you are interested in obtaining further information on the international affairs unit at Southern First of all, I want to improve as much as possible my level of English, which is not good enough at Regional College, have any queries regarding our projects or services or would like to arrange a meeting the moment. I hope that some of my soft skills like independence, organisation and adaptation will call or email us. Our contact details are below and our email address is: [email protected] be at a better stage at the end of my internship. Finally, I hope to meet new people and to discover Northern Ireland as much as possible.

Outside of the office, how do you spend your free time? Name: Mehdi Jaballah I play tennis three times a week with the club in Portadown and I have a bike to do some tours Age: 18 Diana Farrelly MBE Gavin Haughey around the town. I have some homework to complete from my school in Switzerland as well. Where are you from: Switzerland Manager Research Assistant Current Job: Marketing department External Funding & International Affairs Funding & International Affairs Campus Base: Portadown Tel: 077 3633 6153 Tel: 0300 123 1223 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] The european commission Celebration event at the Armagh Campus of Southern Regional College for two successful erasmus+ programmes Erasmus+ vet mobility projects. replaced the lifelong learning The projects were based around the students academic studies programme (llp). ERASMUS+ in the subject areas of Early Years and Healthcare, Sports Studies Erasmus+ will provide and Computing. With Erasmus+ and Swiss Government funding, the students had the unique opportunity to visit Italy, Finland funding in the areas of Childcare Students Visit Helsinki and Switzerland and gained experience of working in a European education, training, youth placement. and sport for the The Erasmus+ programme, funded by the European Commission, Level 3 Engineering Students from Newry and Portadown attend an Engineering Technical College has enabled SRC to expand its European network through the Period 2014-2020. in Weiden Germany. formation of new links with European partner organisations, providing students with opportunities to experience work Students participated in placements in German companies (Vitron, Baumann and ISA) and took part in PLC control and automation classes in a placements in a European context. These will enhance the students technical college. The work placement was based around Industry 4.0 and its impact on German industry. self-development, academic prowess, employability skills and allows The Erasmus+ programme aims to them to gain cultural insights into the country visited. Accompanying boost skills and employability, as well as staff who travelled with the students also had the opportunity to modernising Education, Training and Youth meet their European partners and experience many aspects of the work. project in a European context. Erasmus+ provides students at SRC with opportunities to undertake work placements which will improve their skills Southern Regional College’s International Affairs team host a best practice visit from Jyväskylä and increase their employability. College in Finland. In 2017 SRC secured €644,158 through A group of 10 Btec Level 3 students from the School of Early Years the ERASMUS+ programme to send 170 Finnish visitors from Jyväskylä College with Keith Kilpatrick, Campus students and 45 staff across Europe for and Healthcare enjoyed a successful 2 week Erasmus+ funded work Manager and Diana Farrelly, International Affairs Manager, Hanna work placement and training. placement in Helsinki, Finland. Rajala (Chief Information Officer & Quality Manager), Jaana Virtanen There are also opportunities for staff to During a two week visit in October the students undertook work placements specialising in various (Learning Technology Lecturer), Vesa Pulkkinen (IT designer), Minna share best practice across Europe, attend elements of early years and healthcare ranging from primary school placements, mental health, nursing Ahokas (Manager, guidance counseling and student services) and European and International conferences and special education needs. The placements were organised by Helsinki Deaconess Institute / Diakonia Level 3 ICT students undertake internships in Switzerland. Rea Tuominen (International Coordinator) met with College staff and build links with other European College in partnership with Southern Regional College. to discuss student information services, guidance and careers and organisations. Five ICT students successfully completed internships at CPNV (Centre Professionel Du Nord Vaudois) and ETML ( Ecole Technique Des Metier international affairs. As part of the cultural activities, students had the opportunity to see Helsinki attractions, sample Finnish The main objectives of the Erasmus+ culture, language and foods. The unique Finnish experience provided to the students has been immensely Lausanne). The goal of the internship was to gain a global vision about ICT careers in Switzerland. project are to improve the personal beneficial to their personal and professional development. development of students, gain cultural awareness and boost their skills through European work placements to obtain Sports Students Visit Italy international exposure to European working practices. Prior to the new Erasmus+ Programme, SRC successfully managed over 50 innovative European projects from 2007- 2013 under the EU Lifelong Learning Programme. The two visiting professors pictured below are Dr. Anne Reeve Ph.D. a New partnership programme sends professor in Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry at Messiah College and A group of 28 Sports students 29 Construction work 10 Hospitality, Travel and SRC students transatlantic post-Doctoral Fellow in Medicinal Chemistry at the U.S. Army Edgewood recently completed a 2 week placements In Leipzig Tourism students in Sitges, Research and Development Centre. As part of the Erasmus+ programme Southern Regional College was placement in the Bologna Germany. Spain. awarded an International Credit Mobility (ICM) partnership programme Professor Sachs Ph.D. is in Organic Chemistry. Prof Sach’s spent ten years region of Italy. Level 2 & 3 Construction & Built Environment Ten BTEC Level 3 Hospitality, Travel and Tourism between SRC and Messiah College, Pennsylvania, USA, home of the teaching at Colorado College, in Colorado Springs and came to Messiah students and trade apprentices recently and Professional Chef students enjoyed a two famous NFL Pittsburgh Steelers. College as Chair of the new Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The group and accompanying staff were hosted returned from Germany. They were from the week Erasmus programme in Sitges, Spain. Her most recent sabbatical was spent at the Royal Université of Phnom by SRC’s Italian partner, Azzurra Sportilia, who This ICM programme allows students from SRC’s Foundation Degree Painting & Decorating, Tiling, Bricklaying, Penh, in Cambodia. Commenting on the visit David Vint said “it was a great A group of 29 Sports students completed a 2 week placement in have been hosting SRC sports students since During their two week visit students in Medical Sciences to study at Messiah College whilst at the same Carpentry, Joinery and Plastering departments. opportunity to experience important international work practices in a major Malta in April. 2007 and have provided excellent coaching and experienced working within the Hospitality, time work with Almac Pharmaceuticals, Pennsylvania. The aim of the During their time in Germany the students pharmaceutical industry like Almac. training placements to our students. Azzurra Tourism and Catering industry learning new programme is to boost skills and employability of students as well as were involved in working on a restoration The group and accompanying staff were hosted by SRC’s Maltese partner, Luxol, who have been hosting Sportilia have wide-ranging sports facilities skills, language and Catalan culture. The modernising STEM education at the two institutions. project in the centre of Leipzig. This work was A student’s early adult work life is an important stage in their development. sports students since 2007 and provided excellent coaching and training placements. Luxol have wide- which are used by athletes from all over the students’ placements were organised by SRC carried out to a very high standard and the site During this time they receive not only a broad based medical education but ranging sports facilities which are used by athletes from all over the world, both professional and amateur. world, both professional and amateur. European host partner Institut Joan Ramon this work experience with a company and Messiah College will develop their Luxol also provided accommodation through their partner hotels, language courses, sports and cultural management team were extremely impressed. Benaprès who arranged placements in Sitges: During the 2 week work placement, the students academic and other important life skills that they will need to succeed in activities for students. Four members of the Worldskills UK squad were Melia Hotel, El Xalet, Sitges Royal Rooms Hotel, developed their training and coaching techniques life”. The award of the ICM programme to Southern Regional College is part of this group of SRC students. The students Noucentista Hotel and the La Masia Restaurant. The main objectives of this project were to improve the personal development of students and boost through competing in friendly volleyball matches also got the opportunity to travel to Berlin evidence of SRC’s high standing in delivering Erasmus+ programmes. their skills through European work placements thereby enabling them to obtain transnational exposure to with Italian teams and also through intensive were they visited the memorial to the Jewish Students also had the opportunity to visit European training and coaching methods. coaching sessions. The students also got the Holocaust, the Reichstag German Parliament Barcelona on a cultural visit where they toured During the two week visit, students developed their training and coaching techniques and competed opportunity to meet Mr Gabriel Kunda, the Building and the Berlin Wall. Camp Nou, La Rambla, La Boqueria Market Argentina coach of the 1990 Men’s World enjoying food and attractions within the area. in friendly football matches with Maltese teams. Students undertook intensive coaching sessions with A further group of 14 Construction apprentices Championship volleyball team to gain an insight coaches at Luxol and delivered coaching sessions to local pupils in Maltese schools. During the visit the and trainees also visited Leipzig on a two week into coaching methods. Students also attended students met Mr Pippo Psaila, a local sports personality who previously coached the Maltese National work placement hosted by our partner VITALIS. Team. This helped them gain an insight into his coaching methods. professional volleyball match leagues. As part of the cultural activities, students had the opportunity to see local attractions such as Mosta, Ta’Qali Crafts Village and Mdina (Glass Blowing) Popeye Village and Valletta, Barracca Gardens and Waterfront where students learnt about the history of Valletta. The trip finished with a guided tour of the The main objectives of these Erasmus+ projects are to improve the personal development of students and boost their employability National Stadium and facilities from Mr Alfred Cachia, Maltese Football Association. skills through meaningful European work placements.