Infrastructure Minister has congratulated the latest
group of students who have graduated from the Department's Civil
Engineering Skills Academy.
The Civil Engineering Academy is a collaboration between the
Department and Belfast Met where students have been given an
introduction to Civil Engineering, learnt and developed skills
and knowledge across surveying, contract management,
construction, traffic management, health and safety, personal
development, teamwork and collaboration, communication and IT
essentials. This is the second Skills Academy taken forward
by the Department.
The Academy supports participants with the opportunity to gain
industry recognised accredited qualifications. Fifteen
students have graduated and have the opportunity to interview for
permanent employment with the Department and further their skills
and experience in civil engineering.
Minister Kimmins said: It was a real pleasure to meet this latest
cohort of Skills Academy students, who are at an exciting point
in their lives embarking into employment following a successful
period of study.
Civil engineering sits at the heart of everything we do as a
Department. From the roads we all use every day, to the
water we rely on for life, to the flood defences that protect our
communities. Your profession quite literally shapes the
world we live in and that makes this role incredibly important in
the delivery of services the Department is responsible for.
This combination of study and the opportunity to gain
employment is a good way to progress in civil engineering and to
contribute to our communities infrastructure needs of the
future. Congratulations on your graduation and I wish you
all the very best with your career.
Damian Duffy, Principal and Chief Executive of Belfast Met,
said: We are delighted to have continued
our strong partnership with the Department for Infrastructure
through this year's Skills Academy. Building on the success of
last year's programme, the Academy has once again provided
participants with practical, employer-led training to support
progression into employment within this important sector.
The partnership between Belfast Met and DfI has been central to
the Academy's success, ensuring the programme is aligned to the
Department's needs and the skills required in the workplace. It
has been excellent to see participants develop their knowledge,
confidence and understanding throughout.
At Belfast Met, we are committed to working with employers and
government departments to create clear pathways into employment.
This Academy is another strong example of how targeted skills
programmes can support learners, employers and the future
workforce.
