Ellie Carvill an 18 year student from Portadown has been appointed as a student ambassador at South West College and has recently been reflecting on why studying at the college has been the right choice for her.
Studying for a NCFE Extended Diploma in Travel and Tourism at the Dungannon Campus Ellie explained that she particularly enjoys the casual and mature atmosphere within the college and the approach taken to learning by lecturing staff. Reflecting on the course she added that in the first year of her studies she was able to gain a great insight into the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland and the wider UK market preparing reports and carrying out visits to leading attractions.
Ellie also took part in an Erasmus + trip to Tenerife in 2023 where she spent two weeks learning the principles of digital marketing and applying those to the industry. Describing the trip as ‘the experience of a lifetime’ Ellie plans to continue her studies with South West College by enrolling in the Foundation Degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
When asked what advice she would give to other students considering studying at South West College, Ellie said that it was important to not follow the crowd, ‘don’t do something because it is trendy’ and added that she has been fortunate to make a group of new friends while doing a course that she enjoys.
Chris Evans, Head of Department, Commercial and Business Services said;
“Ellie’s experience reflects that of many of our students across campuses in Dungannon, Enniskillen and Omagh. Choosing to study in a Further Education College offers students like Ellie the opportunity to learn vocational skills that are of continually growing importance across all professions and career pathways.
Students in Further Education can benefit from greater independence and flexibility, and at South West College we are very fortunate to have in place strong partnerships with academic and training institutions across the world, offering exchange programmes and excursions which add so much to the learner experience as Eillie illustrates.”
South West College is inviting applications from students leaving school this summer and considering their options whether those are post GCSE or A-Level. Course entry requirements, and progression opportunities are detailed at https://swc.ac.uk/courses