Dr. Gordon Byrne

The new workshop centre, initiated by Upper Bann Director, Dr Gordon Byrne and costing almost £1 million, will provide a modern and spacious environment for the Institute's growing number of Brickwork and Plastering Trainees and Modern Apprentices.

The director of the UBI , Dr Gordon Byrne , said , This is a new venture and we're delighted to be working in partnership with staff and pupils from Clounagh.

We hope that as a result of the activities we have organised , plus having had the opportunity to talk to the tutors , these pupils will be helped to make more informed career choices..

Trevor Carson, Dr Gordon Byrne and Elizabeth Morrison
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Dr Gordon Byrne, OBE, Elizabeth Morrison, MBE, and Trevor Carson, Director, LSDA NI
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Dr Gordon Byrne, Inez Bailey and Mark Byrne
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Dr Gordon Byrne, OBE, Inez Bailey, NALA, and Mark Byrne, LSDA NI

Speaking at the launch, Dr Gordon Byrne, Chair of LSDA Northern Ireland?s Advisory Committee, announced the expansion of the successful Lecturers into Industry programme, which has been providing industry placements for teaching, management and technician staff in Northern Ireland colleges for the past five years.The scheme, unique to Northern Ireland, has been instrumental in bringing industry and the further education sector closer together.The scheme will now be extended into more industry sectors by LSDA Northern Ireland.

Dr Byrne said: There are gaps in staff development that need to be addressed through an enhanced programme.We need to help staff to update their skills and prepare our leaders of tomorrow.It means that colleges are better able to meet the training needs of industry and the community.LSDA Northern Ireland also plans to support curriculum development in colleges (particularly Curriculum 2000), with an emphasis on ensuring that the curriculum makes a key contribution to economic development, employability and ILT.

The launch of LSDA Northern Ireland took place at the Europa Hotel, Belfast, on 24 September.Speakers were: Mr Alan Shannon, Permanent Secretary, Department of Education and Learning; Mr Chris Hughes, Chief Executive, Learning & Skills Development Agency; Dr Gordon Byrne, OBE, Director & Chief Executive, Upper Bann Institute of Further & Higher Education and Chairman of LSDA Northern Ireland Advisory Committee; and Mr Trevor Carson, Director, LSDA Northern Ireland.

Dr Anne Marie Telford, Director of Public Health with the Southern Health and Social Services Board presented the award to Dr Gordon Bryne, Director of Upper Bann Institute as well as certificates of achievement to students who have stopped smoking.

Dr Gordon Byrne, Director, Upper Bann Institute of Further and Higher Education, who chaired the event, had the vision to see how the partnership can positively influence the future health and well being of young people and staff.He congratulated all the Colleges in the Southern area on their work to date and conveyed his appreciation to the health promotion departments within the Southern Health and Social Services Board for their ongoing support.He offered his continued support for future Health Promoting College initiatives.

(Front from left) Ms Lynette Burke (CBC), Dr Gordon Byrne (Director, UBI) and Dr Audrey McKeown (Training Direct Co-ordinator)

Dr. Gordon Byrne, Director of the Upper Bann Institute of Further and Higher Education said: "These courses provide aspiring young designer craftsmen and women with comprehensive training in the skills needed for creative furniture making.