Twenty students have celebrated completing their data analytics training in the latest Digital Skills Academy delivered by Belfast Metropolitan College and funded by Bank of America.
The latest cohort took part in a graduation ceremony at the College’s Springvale Campus in West Belfast orecently. Learners celebrated with family and friends after completing the Data Analytics Academy where they gained industry-recognised qualifications and benefitted from insights and advice from industry representatives.
This particular academy was delivered in partnership with Specialisterne, an organisation supporting people who are neurodivergent gain employability skills in the IT sector.
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The Belfast Digital Skills and Employability Programme was announced in October 2023 during the visit by the US Ambassador to the UK, Jane D. Hartley and the US trade delegation facilitated by the US Envoy for Economic Affairs in Northern Ireland, Joe Kennedy III. The programme is being supported by Bank of America with funding in place up to 2027.
To date, 80 individuals have participated in the programme with further intakes scheduled to start early in the New Year. A total of 30 skills academies will be delivered over the course of the partnership, enabling around 600 participants to enhance their digital skills by gaining an industry-recognised qualification.
Commenting on the success of the Digital Skills Academies, interim Principal and Chief Executive Damian Duffy said: “We have seen the Northern Ireland Executive emphasise the need to reduce barriers to employment and promote access to good jobs in its recent draft Programme for Government.
“This kind of targeted training will bring real and positive change to people’s lives by providing them with opportunities they might not otherwise have. It is fantastic that we can offer this programme for the next two years, thanks to the support we’ve received from Bank of America to fund this important project.”
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Head of Environment & Social at Bank of America, Andrea Sullivan, said: “It is fantastic to see these diverse groups of learners get so much out of the Digital Skills Academy approach. This can help give them the boost they may need to continue their studies or gain employment and ultimately improve their lives. I would like to congratulate all the learners who have taken part and encourage others to take the first step and get involved with the College’s Digital Skills and Employability Programme.”
Sharon Didrichsen, Managing Director of Specialisterne Northern Ireland said: "It was lovely to see the celebration of participants who successfully completed the academy, and to hear how they connected with and learnt with each other, and made such an impact on the employers they met on their journey.”
Read Sync NI's free online Big Data Belfast autumn magazine here.
