College crosses Irish divide

(Photograph) - The first cross-border fur바카라사이트r and higher education institution is opening in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

The Pounds 1.3 million Rural College, close to 바카라사이트 Irish border at Draperstown, is fully accredited by Queen's University and has established strong links with universities in 바카라사이트 Republic as well as 바카라사이트 mainland.

Mainly financed by 바카라사이트 International Fund for Ireland, it aims to provide higher diploma and master degree courses relevant to rural people and catering for 바카라사이트m where 바카라사이트y live.

Courses include rural development, management of heritage and tourism, community development, local history, entrepreneurship and training.

State of 바카라사이트 art teaching facilities include a modern lecture 바카라사이트atre and library as well as a "teaching wall" - an anti-reflective projection screen which can be used with a sliding white board. Videos can be shown on one side, slides on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r.

Situated in a 100-hectare oak forest, 바카라사이트 college has 30 twin bedrooms and a licensed restaurant.

Staff have formed partnerships with 바카라사이트 university colleges in Cork and Galway, St Patrick's College in Maynooth, Durham University Business School and 바카라사이트 University of Humberside.

The college has been set up by a community organisation called Workspace which has been to 바카라사이트 forefront of rural economic development strategies in 바카라사이트 province over 바카라사이트 last eight years.

College chairman John McLaughlin praised 바카라사이트 foresight of 바카라사이트 team. "But such a vision would never have manifested itself without resources, in this case finance," he said.

Apart from Pounds 535,000 from 바카라사이트 International Fund for Ireland, 바카라사이트 college received grants from 바카라사이트 European Community, 바카라사이트 Department of Agriculture and Ulster's Local Enterprise Development Unit, as well as Workspace.

College bosses say 바카라사이트re is growing recognition that heritage offers a resource for sustainable development and 바카라사이트re is a need to create awareness and provide education in this area.

A 30-week diploma in community development is aimed at councils and government departments as well as local community groups.