STUDENTS at a school in Downpatrick have become the first in Europe to tap into a unique IT learning system which offers 5,000 online courses created by 800 digital leaders worldwide.
St Patrick’s Grammar has been chosen to pilot the venture created by Belfast-based ICT company Wholeschool Software and prominent American on-line training firm Pluralsight. And the partnership is being hailed as being a significant step in helping solve the digital skills gap in the north’s workforce.
As part of the pilot, students at St Patrick’s will be able to link into Pluralsight’s much-heralded worldwide learning platform consisting of more than 5,000 professional online courses developed by the world’s leading digital experts.
“As a result, students and teachers will be given fast track access to the everchanging world of digital technology,” Wholeschool Software founder Frank McGonagle said.
“No matter what career a young person chooses, in whatever sector, it’s an absolute certainty that they’ll need an understanding and a familiarity with the technology that is revolutionising the world of work.
“The change is evident every day with the internet, mobile technology, social media along with the explosion in opportunities for the Internet of things.
"This partnership holds out the possibility of being a game changer for all of Northern Ireland and thousands of young people to become digitally competent, no matter what section of the work force they enter.”
Former St Patrick’s student Colin Reid – who recently retired as chief executive of Totalmobile – said he is delighted St Patrick’s has been selected as European Flagship School for the groundbreaking initiative.
"Students here really are taking the lead in addressing the ICT skill’s gap between education, industry and the growing software sector in Northern Ireland,” he said.
St Patrick’s principal Sean Sloan said: “By maximising this opportunity we hope to see Ireland capable of producing some of the best computer scientists and technical engineers in the world. We are determined this school will pave the way as centre of excellence in digital literacy.
“This important pilot will hopefully be a compelling model of how we can all meet the everchanging challenges of the digital age.”
