There are more options than ever when it comes to Higher Education. Further Education Colleges have emerged as more and more of a legitimate alternative to University in recent years, primarily as people are beginning to see that degrees and apprenticeships are no longer two completely separate journeys, but merely different paths. However, these same Colleges can also provide Higher Education opportunities, again with their own set of benefits and advantages.
Further and Higher Education Colleges know what business and industry want
There has been a surge in Higher Level Apprenticeships in recent years, but there is also still an appetite for devoted, concentrated study, and although University remains desirable to many people for various reasons, in recent years Further and Higher Education Colleges have been credited with providing a more practical approach to learning, with things like employer links and a focus on work placements allowing for more employment led education. Now, full time and Higher Education courses can provide the same thing, while also providing the sort of devoted, focused study associated with University.
Advantages of studying close to home
Some of the differences between studying in a rural environment or an urban environment are huge. The financial, social and personal decisions involved in choosing what to study and where to study it, means that going to University it feels like a truly life altering decision. But if one of the former factors in the decision was that urban environments could offer educational services and industry opportunities which rural areas simply couldn’t, then the way the world is changing.
For South West College, breaking down the barriers of what may previously have been considered rural restrictions is nothing new. The IDEA centre in the colleges Omagh Campus is aimed at supporting students and organisations in the creative process of generating new ideas, while the IMAGE centre in Enniskillen is a design and development area focused on providing resources and services in the area of digital animation. Both are a sign that a rural education setting has never meant a purely rural education. This was never more evident than when South West College took its place as part of the SMART Region initiative.
Maintain your lifestyle while you build for your future
Uprooting and going to University in another county or country is one of the biggest decisions young adults make. Studying a degree at a further and higher education college like South West College can allow you to improve your opportunities for the future, without sacrificing what you have now; letting you study while at the same time keeping your part time job, staying close your family, and saving money on travel and accommodation somewhere else.
Study courses that are relevant to the latest careers
Advancements in technology and developments in industry mean careers are changing, and South West College changes with them. Traditional career areas continue to thrive, such as hairdressing and construction, but new employment opportunities continue to grow in computing and travel and tourism. South West College offers higher education opportunities directly inline with growing industries.
Follow your passions
Not everyone knows what they want to do for the rest of their life when they leave school and that's understandable. Further Education Colleges therefore provide many people to follow what their passionate in. South West College students have thrived in a huge variety of courses and disciplines, achieving higher education qualifications and progressing elsewhere for their education, or moving on t successful careers.
Higher Education Open Night takes place on Tuesday 26th March, 6-8pm at our Dungannon, Enniskillen and Omagh Campuses and is perfect for anyone interested in taking on a The Full Time Prospectus and Higher Education Prospectus are available online, and in print at all SWC campuses.