Lough Road Learning Centre students coding for success

Six students from Lough Road Learning Centre in Lurgan visited Stranmillis University College on Monday 11 April, to be awarded Certificates for completing a course in HTML web design and coding using the Go Berserk resources created by Stranmillis lecturer Ian Simons. The course was delivered as part of a joint initiative between Stranmillis and St Mary’s University Colleges.

Mikey Connors, Daryl Hearne, Christopher Adams, Caleb Myers, Caidon Canning, and Andrew Fan, were invited along with 3 teachers to the special event.

The Certificates were awarded to the students by Stranmillis Principal and CEO Prof. Jonathan Heggarty MBE, and St Mary’s Principal, Prof. Peter Finn KSG, CORE Systems CEO Patricia O’Hagan MBE, along with Ian Simons and Stranmillis student Jack Cassidy, who delivered the training at the Centre.

Lough Road Learning Centre provides education for young people who are unable to manage in mainstream school.

Congratulating the students, St Mary’s Principal Prof. Peter Finn KSG said, “ I am delighted to be part of this collaborative initiative with Stranmillis University College and the Lough Road Centre. Earlier in the year I observed at first hand how effective the Go Berserk resources are in teaching HTML web design and coding when Ian Simons took a course for students at St Mary’s. Congratulations to the six students from Lurgan on completing the course and receiving their certificates.”

Commenting on the joint initiative, Prof. Jonathan Heggarty said: “Partnerships like the one with Lough Road Learning Centre are vital if we are support, inspire and encourage all of our young people to maximise their potential and promote progression in education for all. Coding is a hugely important skill that is, and will continue to be, critical to the Northern Ireland economy. Our hope is that through collaborative and innovative initiatives such as this, that the young people involved may be inspired to pursue future study and indeed a career in the exciting and rewarding field of technology.”