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Rural College Celebrates Ten Years of Academic Achievement

The Rural College, Draperstown, recently celebrated its 10th Anniversary, with its achievements over the past decade being marked by 130 ‘friends of the College’  attending a glittering gala event held  within the College grounds. Guests included Mr. Pat Toal, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Professor James Browne, Vice President and Registrar, NUI Galway, and Dr. Sally Shortall, Director of the Gibson Institute at Queens University Belfast, as well as community and business leaders, and others who have supported the College in various capacities over the years.

The Rural College is a multi functional educational and conference facility set within the picturesque surroundings of Derrynoid Forest, Draperstown. Mr. Shane Campbell, College Director used the occasion to thank everyone who had been associated with the success of the College, referring to these as ‘the friends of the College’. He said that the College had now reached a strong position and was planning for the future with a renewed confidence, adding that he hoped that support from these individuals and organisations would continue into the next phase of the College’s development.

 

Mr. Tom. Mc Ilwaine, Vice Chairman of the College, explained that over 500 students have graduated from the College, through its Education Programmes, which include the part–time Grad Dip / MSc in Rural Development, Diploma in Community Development Practice, and Certificate in Local History and Heritage. He referenced the report the College have produced profiling academic achievements over the past ten years and in particular thanked DARD for their investment in these programmes.

 

Mr. Pat Toal, Permanent Secretary of DARD congratulated the College saying, “We in the Department fully appreciate the work the College has done, year after year, to ensure the continued success of the rural education and training programmes which they deliver. The programmes enable students to develop many key skills and abilities, and, coupled with the experience gained through their employment, those who complete the courses will be in a good position to play a role in the shaping of rural development and rural economies in the future.”

 

The Permanent Secretary added that the development of a comprehensive rural strategy for Northern Ireland would be a key task for the Department over the next number of years.  “It would be my view that the efforts of the College to date will have an impact on the direction of travel for the rural community, in that we need to have knowledgeable advocates who have academic skills as well as practical experience of issues ’on the ground’.”

 

Education programmes at the College are delivered in partnership with both National University of Ireland, Galway, and The Gibson Institute for Land, Food and Environment at Queens University, Belfast.

 

Also speaking at the celebratory event was the Vice President and Registrar of National University of Ireland, Galway, Professor James Browne, who said, “When invited to enter partnership with the Rural College in offering our Diploma in Community Development Practice programme, we were happy to share our experience and programme in responding to similar issues in this region.”

 

“The programme is a carefully tailored response to issues of underdevelopment in our Border, Midlands and Western Region, particularly in rural areas and continues to have major relevance for communities across our region. Through its project-based approach, it has also been a very significant stimulus for local development – economic, social, and cultural – within communities across our region. NUI Galway is pleased that the Rural College has achieved its targets and more.  We are pleased to have been a small part of this great success story.”

 

Dr. Sally Shortall, Director of the Gibson Institute for Land, Food and Environment congratulated the Rural College saying that it had been “a brave and innovative initiative.” She noted the importance of providing education to people already active in rural development, and said that DARD’s support “reflected their commitment to ensuring the effective implementation of the Rural Development Programme.” Dr. Shortall also expressed a desire to further develop links with the Rural College through future graduate education and training. “The Gibson Institute is offering a new MSc in Leadership for Sustainable Development this month, and the Gibson Institute and the Rural College hope to collaborate to offer a part-time MSc in Sustainability in the College in the near future,” she stated.

 

 

 

 Rural College Graduation Ceremony, 9 September 2005

 

45 students who have achieved the Diploma in Community Development Practice were conferred their diplomas in a ceremony on Friday 9th September at The Rural College, Draperstown. Of the graduates, 14 had taken the course at The Rural College itself, 11 at Orana Family Centre Newry, and 20 at Armagh College of Further and Higher Education. All classes were delivered by Rural College staff and specialist guest speakers.

 

The Diploma in Community Development Practice, which has been delivered in Draperstown since 1995, is a one year part-time course, accredited by the National University of Ireland, Galway, offering an overview of community and rural development. It aims to build the skills and improve the effectiveness of those working mostly in rural and community development all over the north of Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland. The course forms part of The Rural College outreach programme whereby education is brought to those who do not have access to more traditional forms of course delivery.

 

Kate Clifford, Education and Training Manager of The Rural College commented, “The Rural College aims to help communities to help themselves and to assist those who want to reform our rural and urban environment on all fronts – social, physical and economic - to do so in a way that ensures that individuals, groups and communities are included and considered in the process.” She also thanked the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) for supporting the course and facilitating “the increased participation of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and locations.”

 

The keynote speeches were made by the Secretary for Academic Affairs NUI Galway Dr Seamus MacMathuna and the Chairman of Magherafelt District Council, Councillor Sean Kerr. They spoke of the success of the course over the past 10 years and congratulated graduates on their academic achievements particularly in light of their many other commitments, not least family and work.

 

The Rural College was opened in 1995 with funding from the European Union, the International Fund for Ireland and DARD. Its aim is to provide a centre for rural and community development in Northern Ireland and the border counties. For further information on the programmes offered by The Rural College please contact Ms Fiona Mullan on (028) 7962 9143

 

Currently Recruiting for the MSc in Rural Development

The Rural College is currently recruiting for Certificate / Graduate Diploma / Msc in Rural Development. This is a Queens University, Belfast course and is aimed at those involved in, or with an interest in, the field of rural community development, including community representatives, community workers and those working in development agencies, local authorities etc.

The aim of the course is to provide participants with an understanding of the theory and practice of rural and local development and to help them develop an understanding of socio-economic processes in rural areas. The Gibson Institute for Land, Food and Environment at Queen's University, and the Rural College, work in collaboration to deliver the course.

The part time course will be of interest to those involved in rural development in different ways. Past students have included staff from government departments, local Councils, regional development organisations and voluntary members of local development groups.

Applications are now invited for the course which will be delivered at the Rural College on alternate weekends, (Friday evenings/Saturday mornings), over two years, commencing in October. A number of bursaries are also available.

The Rural College, situated at Derrynoid outside Draperstown, tailors its now well established education provision to the needs of individuals and groups involved in the development of rural areas. The college, which started in 1995, has made a very significant contribution to local development practice by offering a range of opportunities aimed at supporting this work in a variety of ways.

Application forms and further details of the programme, including entrance requirements, are available from Fiona Mullan at The Rural College, Derrynoid, Draperstown, BT45 7DW. Tel. (028) 796 29100, Fax. (028) 796 27777, Email: enquiries@ruralcollege.co.uk

This course is supported by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.


 

The Rural College & Derrynoid Centre

Derrynoid, Draperstown, BT45 7DW

Tel: +44 28 796 29100    Fax: +44 28 796 27777

Email: enquiries@ruralcollege.co.uk