Twenty-seven students studying Higher Education courses at North West Regional College (NWRC) have been awarded scholarships from the 2023/24 SSE Renewables Scholarship Fund.
The students who received bursaries this year are currently studying across a range of curriculum areas including Media and Journalism, Engineering, Art & Design, Digital Design, Renewables and the Built Environment, and Music Production.
138 Higher Education students at NWRC have now been awarded this prestigious scholarship since the initiative began six years ago, sharing a total fund value of over £276,000, with most students receiving individual awards of up to £2500.
Dr. Catherine O’Mullan, NWRC’s Director of Curriculum and Academic Standards thanked SSE Renewables for their ongoing commitment to financially supporting students at the College.
She added: “In the six years since SSE began this scholarship, several hundred students have benefitted from the financial support which has greatly assisted them in successfully completing their Higher Education course at NWRC, progressing to further study and successful employment. We hope to continue to work in partnership with SSE Renewables as we grow the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) workforce of the future.”
Dr. Danny Laverty, NWRC’s Head of Technology and Creative Industries said:
“NWRC is committed to providing Higher Education programmes in key technological and creative industries critical for the growth of our economy. Our STEAM courses offer critical and transferable skills that our students will use beyond their years of study and into future careers.”
Jacqueline Durnin, Community Investment Manager, SSE Renewables said: “Our scholarship programme was created to help local students with their student fees and living expenses whilst creating a pool of well-trained and experienced professionals, transforming career prospects in regional communities, and positively impacting future generations. The scholarship focuses on STEAM subjects in a bid to help fulfil employment demands in these fields.
“We are delighted to be able to provide financial support for the students at NWRC and the programme has been an incredible success, with demand growing each year.
“At SSE, we are committed to bringing as much added value as possible to communities around our wind farms, and the scholarship fund is having a direct and positive impact on the lives of these young people as they begin their studies. We hope that the support for these students, along with the rest of the recipients, will help them succeed in their ambitions for the future.”
SSE is Northern Ireland’s largest renewable energy generator, and this is the sixth year that students from NWRC have benefited from the scholarship fund. The fund supports students living close to the company’s wind farms in Tyrone, Derry~Londonderry, Fermanagh, and County Donegal and provides 50% funding support (up to £2500 per student) towards the cost of third-level fees for recipients commencing first-year studies in STEAM-associated subjects at partner colleges.
