Enterprise Minister praises Broadband Project

Enterprise Minister Maria Eagle has today praised the successful Northern Ireland Broadband Flagship Project in County Londonderry.

The Minister was visiting a ‘smart’ classroom, created as part of the Broadband Flagship Project, at the Strand Road campus of the North West Institute for Further and Higher Education (NWIFHE).

A ‘smart’ classroom is a state-of-the-art development linking broadband technology with achieving educational excellence - students can use tablet computers to take lecture notes, pose questions to lecturers, and undertake experiments.

The Enterprise Minister said: “This element of the Northern Ireland Broadband Flagship Initiative shows how new ICT technology can be used to improve the learning experience for students and lecturers. We are preparing students for the workplace of tomorrow, and some of them will no doubt be future entrepreneurs in the online economy.”

In the first year of the Flagship Project, around 30 staff and students at NWIFHE have completed their studies in a newly approved Higher National Diploma in Interactive Media, and following this there has been a strong demand for even more places.

The Minister continued: “This pilot project has demonstrated that the technology works and enhances the whole learning experience by increasing the communication and interaction between students and lecturing staff. This technology has proven to be an excellent support to the lecturers in helping the young people here achieve their chosen qualifications.”

Highlighting the partnership approach which has helped the Flagship Project to succeed, the Minister said: “This project is an outstanding success for the city of Derry. The partnership of University of Ulster, NWIFHE and Derry City Council are to be congratulated.”

(EF/SP)