Foundation degrees can play a vital role in equipping Northern Ireland with a highly-skilled and demand-led workforce.

That was the message from Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, as he launched a new Foundation Degree in Civil Engineering & Transport, which has been developed through a collaboration between the University of Ulster and South West College.

Addressing an audience representing employers, students and learning providers at the college’s Omagh campus, the Minister said: "In the current economic climate it is more important than ever that we continue to develop and deliver a high skilled and well educated workforce. One of the key strands of my department’s recently launched Skills Strategy is the need to equip our current workforce, and those people entering the labour market in the future, with the high value skills that employers and the global economy demand.

"Qualifications in areas such as Civil Engineering and Transport are, and will continue to be, much sought-after. Our future economic well-being will depend largely upon our ability to fill skills gaps in areas such as these.

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"The new Foundation Degree is the first of its type to be offered in Northern Ireland and is currently unique to South West College. The qualification, which has won backing from local employers and the institution of Civil Engineers is seen as having the potential to meet the needs of local industry, especially with the development of the new A5 Corridor Project."

The Minister continued: "Foundation Degrees have a major role to play in improving skills levels and are a demonstration of the cooperation - between universities, further education colleges and employers – that will be central to our goal of building a world-class skills base for Northern Ireland. It is hugely encouraging to have courses such as these which offer a combination of technical skills, academic knowledge and transferable skills at the associate professional and higher technician level that are increasingly in demand by employers."

Malachy McAleer, Director at South West College, said the course was crucial for students keen on a professional engineering career: "For many students, this course represents an important first step towards rewarding careers in the sector and to becoming an accredited Chartered Engineer. We understand that, for a variety of reasons, a full-time university education is not always an option.

"But a flexible course such as this means individuals can keep working while improving their skills and gaining a qualification that will help them to realise their potential. Also, it provides a "near to home" option and lower financial outlay for local full-time students."

(NS/BMcC)