QIH partnership launched with local school

 

First Minister of Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster and Education Minister, Peter Weir, today launched the Quinn Industrial Holdings DAC (QIH) Business Insights Partnership with St Aidan’s High School in Derrylin.

The initiative further extends QIH’s commitment to education and life-long learning in the region.

The five-year partnership will involve: significant engagement and collaboration between QIH and the students and teachers of St Aidan’s, the creation of a business insights hub for students, as well as sponsorship of St Aidan’s Business Department.

Partnership activities will include school and workplace visits, workshops, forums, practical business assignments and the development of industry-specific accredited courses and training.

The initiative is designed to support the school in delivering its Key Stage 4 Business Studies course and provide practical insights to students about starting, growing, working in and controlling a business.

It will furthermore support students’ academic performance and their understanding of course content as well as informing their future career decisions.

QIH and St Aidan's believe it is an important new offering to local GCSE students, and the scope and detail of this partnership is the type of collaboration recognised as best practice between schools and private industry.

In an environment of constrained education budgets, both parties consider that the move will help schools to continue to access infrastructure and resources in a way that would not otherwise be available.

Speaking at the launch today, March 5, QIH CEO Liam McCaffrey said:“We have been working successfully with St Aidan’s for some time but this new partnership is part of a much wider and more ambitious educational engagement programme that recognises the important interdependency between schools, business and the broader community.”

He added that through QIH's schools’ programmes, Apprenticeship, Graduate, Post-Graduate KTP and supported Chartership programmes, the company has seen at first hand the huge benefits of life-long learning and continuing education, both to the business and the local economy. “We are delighted that St. Aidan’s have come on-board with us and we are committed to working with them to developing sustainable early-stage careers-paths for our future leaders.”

St Aidan’s Principal, Pat McTeggart said St Aidan's were delighted to “formalise” their partnership with QIH.

“This promises to be an exciting adventure which will be hugely beneficial to the students and the staff here at the school. Sometimes the delivery of new business concepts in a classroom environment can lack the necessary practical and real-life references and examples that are necessary for students to gain a proper understanding of the topic.  Working closely with a wide range of people from all disciplines in Quinns and the site visits has brought the whole subject to life and we are extremely lucky to have this opportunity on our doorstep.”

 

Details of partnership with St Aidan’s includes:

·         Creation of a series of business insight opportunities which will facilitate teacher and student access to in-depth QIH business knowledge, techniques and personnel at various levels in the business,

·         QIH will host 4 focused site visits annually, aligned with the curriculum study schedule which will allow students to understand the practical implications of the study material,

·         Discussion forums and case-study sessions, facilitated by QIH personnel, on set topics will be scheduled each term to encourage interaction, real-life experience sharing and practical understanding of more complex topics,

·         Sharing of real case-example information and written material on specific business topics aligned to modules within the studied curriculum,

·         Assisting the school in the development of industry-specific accredited courses in areas such as Sustainability, Health & Safety and Construction,

·         Sponsorship of the Business department at the school and creation of a Business Insights Hub as a place for students to engage with material and case-examples in a practical way,

·         Supervised access tours of all QIH facilities plus dedicated mentorship from the QIH staff on specific topics; and

·         Free access for students and staff to accredited CPD modules delivered by QIH at its Innovation Academy.