Northern Ireland Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry today hosted an awards ceremony for graduates from the pilot Cloud Technology Academy.
The Cloud Technology Academy trained 14 graduates with the skills and accredited qualifications identified by ICT sector employers for new job opportunities in the growing area of Cloud Technology. The Academy involved 15 weeks training for the trainees at Belfast Met to achieve the HP Accredited Technical Associate qualification. This was followed by a six week work placement with one of the participating companies.
At the ceremony in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, Mininster Farry congratulated the graduates on completing the Academy, and said: “The Cloud Academy is an excellent example of how my Department is supporting graduates to find employment. Officials from Assured Skills Branch have worked closely with a group of employers from the ICT sector and Belfast Met to design and deliver this 21 week course to upskill graduates in Cloud Technology.”
The ceremony was attended by the Academy trainees and their guests, along with representatives of and Belfast Met and participating employers.
Justin Edwards, Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Curriculum at Belfast Met said: “The College plays a vital role in designing and delivering IT Academy programmes that equip recent graduates with the skills which are in high demand for dynamic roles in our burgeoning IT sector. Our approach to fostering technology talent through IT Academies such as this Cloud Academy is complementary to the College’s core offering of further education, higher education and our professional courses which are currently enrolling for a September start.“
Prodigy Learning (responsible for managing the HP ATA Cloud certification programme in the UK & Ireland) worked closely with Belfast Met to design and deliver the Cloud Academy since the College became the first HP Institute in Ireland in 2012.
Andrew Flood, Director at Prodigy Learning (pictured – right), presented the Cloud Academy Outstanding Achievement Award to graduate Daniel Russell (pictured – left), for achieving the best results in the HP ATA Cloud certification. Andrew said: “It is great to see Northern Ireland leading the way with innovative programmes that incorporate internationally recognised certifications demanded by employers. Prodigy Learning is delighted to have been able to support the Cloud Academy through our longstanding partnership with Belfast Met for delivery of HP as well as other IT certifications. The College is at the forefront of education and training for the ICT sector. Congratulations to Daniel and all the graduates!”
About HP Accredited Technical Associate Certification
HP Accredited Technical Associate (HP ATA) certifications validate real-world business and IT skills, preparing students for successful employment in today’s technology-driven world. The programme includes both a technology track and a business track. To learn more about HP ATA certification please click here.
