N IRELAND COMPANIES MUST REMAIN FOCUSED

THE graduation ceremony of the Rapid Advancement Programme (RAP) was the platform used by Minister of Higher and Higher Education to ask companies in Northern Ireland to remain focused on the pursuit of prosperity.

Dr Sean Farren was speaking at the RAP graduation ceremony in Belfast’s Europa Hotel on Saturday evening. RAP is a 29-week IT conversion programme, which has been running for two years and is delivered by B.I.C. Systems, Northwest Institute and Western Connect.

Dr Farren congratulated each of the providers on their excellent delivery of the Programme, and said: “There is no doubt that the continued success of the programme is largely due to the high calibre of the participants. However, intellectual capacity alone does not ensure success and I know that you have all shown tremendous dedication and tenacity in completing the programme.”

Despite only running for two years, the contribution RAP has made to the economic prosperity of Northern Ireland was highlighted by the minister. He commented that a key influence in at least two IDB inward investment companies being attracted to the province, was the availability of skilled labour such as that delivered through the RAP programme.

The ICT industry in Northern Ireland is continuing to expand and has grown from an employment level of around 3,000 in 1998 to over 9,000 today, while revenue generated by the local ICT sector has increased from £196 million, to in excess of £1 billion.

Stressing his Department’s commitment to Lifelong Learning, the Minister said: “The RAP Programme is a prime example of an initiative, which fosters a culture of lifelong learning, providing a seamless continuum of education and training. The graduates here today have been courageous in their determination to follow the philosophy of lifelong learning and to acquire new skills.” (AMcE)