NI News In Brief

Documentary Course Students Awarded

A Masters course at the University of Ulster recently won three awards in its first year of operation. Students on the Masters in Documentary Practice course - Ireland's only documentary postgraduate course - have won prestigious awards in filmmaking. Ayodeji Shogbamimu, from Athy, won €8,000 from the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge to make 'Oil Boom', his dissertation film on the Niger Delta communities. James Slattery, from Dublin, won £800 for best post-graduate film at the Northern Ireland Skillset Academy awards ceremony and Kevin McSorley, from Tyrone, won one of only five UK-wide bursaries (worth £750) from the One World Broadcasting Trust (OWBT) to help him make his dissertation film on female Malian musicians, including kora musician Madina N'Diaye.

Police Suspensions Probed

Long periods of paid suspension for police officers - pending disciplinary action - have been queried by Northern Ireland Policing Board's Human Rights and Professional Standards Committee. Members had the opportunity to question the Deputy Chief Constable on how the PSNI currently deal with officers who are under investigation for criminal or misconduct proceedings yesterday and said that the while the highest professional and ethical standards must be adhered to, they were particularly interested in the cost of suspensions and the speed with which cases are processed through the legal and internal discipline system, noting that some officers have been suspended in excess of two years and in some cases up to seven years.

Armagh Integrated In Doubt

The Department of Education has confirmed that following representations from the Board of Governors of Armagh Integrated College, the future of the college is currently being reviewed. A spokesperson said: "The Board of Governors had expressed concern that only ten pupils had applied for admission to year 8 in September 2008. This fact, coupled with a recent reduction in pupil enrolments across years 8 - 11, had led the Board of Governors to meet specifically to discuss the future of the college. The college has since withdrawn the offers of places to the 10 potential pupils, who will be offered places at alternative schools. "The interests of the young people currently attending Armagh Integrated College are the priority. The Department of Education will work closely with the Board of Governors to ensure continuity of educational provision, particularly for those taking exams," he said.

NI To Fly High

Representatives from the Boeing Company, the world's largest aerospace firm, were in Belfast this week to showcase technological developments which could present significant future export opportunities for local companies. Invest Northern Ireland hosted the event, during which delegates from 12 local aerospace supply companies, Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster heard advice and guidance from Boeing on the latest techniques in the growing high-tech composite materials sector. Composite materials, which are lighter and more durable than metal, are becoming increasingly predominant in the aerospace and defence sectors. The Boeing team also conveyed to delegates how they can, through the company's Industrial Participation programme, directly market their products and services to companies in the Boeing supply chain and to the US Department of Defense.

(BMcC)