North West Institute of Further and Higher Education
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The North West Institute of Further and Higher Education (NWIFHE; Irish: Institiúid Breis agus Ardoideachais an Iarthuaiscirt Iar Thuaisceart) is a higher education institution in Derry, Northern Ireland. The institute is known to locals and students alike as "The Tech". Over the last 100 years it has provided educational courses both to the teenagers and adults of County Londonderry and surrounding counties both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Today the student body numbers over 20,000, full-time and part-time. In recent years the institute has revamped its physical appearance and in February 2001 it opened its state-of-the-art Northland Road building.
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[edit] The Departments in the NWIFHE
There are five academic departments in the Institute:
[edit] Department of Business Services
The department offers a range of popular courses in business, administrative and management studies, leisure, tourism, hospitality and related IT studies. In addition to preparing people with national qualifications for third level entry and entering the work force the department also does New Deal and Jobskills programmes throughout the Institute. The Current Head of Department is Mrs. Dorothy McElwee
[edit] Department of Caring, Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy
The department's main thrust is vocational programmes with an inter-personal focus. It offers courses in health, caring, hairdressing and beauty therapy. The Current Head of department is Mr. R. Cowan
[edit] Department of Continuing Education and The Arts
The department covers a range of vocational areas, such as Art and Design, Performing Arts and Media, as well as providing general education in the form of GCSEs, 'A' levels and university access courses. It also looks after basic education, community education and manages Keyskills throughout the Institute. The Current Head of Department is Mr. Ciaran Brolly.
[edit] Department of Staff and Student Services
This department aims to provide the following:
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- Provide you with information and guidance on all the Institute's programmes
- Offer you expert guidance on planning your career
- Explain the range of funding available to assist you with your studies (ie Grants, Loans, Support Funds etc)
- Assist those seeking apartments, rooms, lodgings etc to obtain quality accommodation
- Encourage you to participate in recreations and sport as part of your personal development
- Provide pastoral care and support which will make your stay at the Institute a successful and rewarding experience.
The staff providing these services currently are:
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- Paddy Breslin - Career Guidance, Guidance Councillor
- Elma Bray - Career Guidance, Guidance Councillor
- Willie O' Donnell - Career Guidance, Guidance Councillor
- Conor Mc Gurgan - Marketing Officer
- Susan Donaghey-Bell - Assistant Marketing Officer
- Danny Hutcheson - Finance
- Danny Lyttle - Administration
- Geraldine Hickey - Reception
The current head of department is Mrs. V. Goodman and she is assisted in managing the 3 sections by Mr C. McKeown, Principal Lecturer
This Department also includes NSS (Network Services & Support) and the Library
The Library is responsible for operating the LRC and all book loans in the Institute, Whilst NSS handle all ILT, Audio Visual and Telephony provision.
[edit] The current NSS team are as follows
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- Gerard McCole - Network Services & Support Manager
- James Keegan - Web Developer
- Ronan McElduff - Helpdesk operator / phone administration
- Alan Mitchell - Technician responsible for Apple Mac Integration and Outcentre specialist software
- David McNatt - Technician responsible for Library management system, Backups and IT logistics
- Seamus McPhillips - Technician responsible for Meridian Telephone system and Audio-Visual Provision
- Berni Smyth - Technican responsible for on-line exams and technology software
- Stephen O'Doherty - Technician responsible for Strabane sites and Printer Management
- Nicholas Mullan - Technican responsible for Security and Management Informantion Systems (MIS) systems
- Carol Martin - Technican for Northland building, City Factory and Christ Church
- Louise Cunningham - Technican for Northland building, City Factory and Christ Church
[edit] Department of Technology
The Department provides a wide range of courses in the fields of engineering, computing, information and communication technology, science, and construction and the built environment. The Department also has responsibility within the institute for provision in application of number and mathematics. Courses within the Department range from basic access and hobby courses through to Foundation degrees and Postgraduate qualifications. The Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland has designated the Technology Department a Centre of Excellence in two curriculum areas:
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- Construction and the Built Environment
- Software Engineering
On the 1st August 2007, the Institute is due to merge with Limavady College of F&HE to become North West Regional College
