Two engineering students returned from a trip of a life time to Morehead State University, Kentucky. Nicholas Penny and Derek Tweed, both Higher Education Engineering students at NRC, spent a week meeting students and staff at the University and viewing the facilities of the Industrial Engineering Department. The visit also gave the students the chance to visit and tour Engineering companies in the area including, Summit Polymers Inc, SRG Global Inc and KDMK ( Kyosan Denso Manufacturing Kentucky). The trip extended the opportunity for the College to raise the profile of the Centre of Excellence in Manufacturing Engineering at NRC. The students were accompanied by Engineering lecturers William Watson and Paul Casson. NRC Engineering Students Go Stateside! The Manufacturing Engineering Section within the Northern Regional College was recognised as a regional centre of excellence for the manufacturing industry by government. The facility provides cutting edge technologies and training resources to support the competitiveness of the Manufacturing Engineering Industry. Such training resources offer fully computer- integrated learning and training and offer a number of advantages over conventional training methods: A multidisciplinary approach, offering training across a wide range of topics, e. g. Design to Manufacture, CAD/ CAM, CNC, Quality Control and Inspection, Process Control. A flexible approach to training to suit the requirements of industry. The benefits of such a centre include: The competitiveness of manufacturing industry will be improved as employees acquire skills in modern manufacturing techniques using computer-integrated systems. The Centre provides a focal point for innovation in key sectors such as manufacturing engineering. The Centre has improved qualification rates contributing to the improvement of skills needs within the province. The centre provides an industry standard facility that companies can use to inform their decisions about investment in equipment, adoption of new processes etc. Has improved provision for mainstream FE and HE students, ensuring that training is relevant to the current and future needs of employers. Provide a consultancy service for the manufacturing industry. CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE in MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING Best Student Performance National Diploma in Communications Technology Student Profile: Norman Black Norman achieved 3 D's - the highest grade possible, he was a mature student who produced excellent work throughout the course and was highly motivated. He is now studying on a BSc Eng programme at UUJ.

http:// www. nrc. ac. uk NRC Student wins University ' Dragon's Den' The University of Ulster in partnership with Connected hosted a successful competition open to all Further Education Students in Northern Ireland. The organisers asked students to come up with innovative scientific idea that has the potential for making money. The five best entries were invited to the Science Innovation Centre at the University of Ulster Coleraine to pitch to 3 successful Dragons. Three NRC students were chosen among the final five and all produced innovative and highly original presentations. Warren Rea a 2nd year National Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering was the out right winner on the day and picked up £ 400.00 in prize money. Warrens pitch was developed on a mechatronics based engineering project focused on a particular hobby of his. His research & development of the project spanned over four years. The potential of the business opportunity was quickly realised by the ' Dragons', as Warren demonstrated in detail, his research with respect to the marketplace, technology involved, expected valuations and material costings. Bottom left: Winner of the competition Warren Rea collects his prize from Alison Rankin Deputy Director of Finance, University of Ulster, Coleraine. Bottom right: NRC tutors Bill Watson and John McClintock pictured with Alan McAfee Engineering Business Support and Development Officer and NRC students, Warren Rea, Algirdas Navalinskas and Ruediger Lohe. Best Engineering Students 2009 Best Student Performance in National Diploma Manufacturing Engineering Warren Rea Warren Rea is a past pupil of Larne Grammar School who successfully completed the National Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering in June 2009 at the Ballymena Campus. Warren achieved a distinction in all 18 units studied during his two years at the college. Warren is currently studying for a Masters in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown. Warren was the winner of the Concorde Cup, an award given to the most outstanding National Diploma Engineering student whilst attending the Farm Lodge Campus, NRC. He also won the best manufacturing project award, sponsored by Schrader Electronics Ltd. He was also the winner of the Connected Thinking Dragons Den competition at the University of Ulster Science and Innovation Centre in Coleraine in June 2009. National Diploma in Engineering Craig Meaklim Craig joined the ND Engineering in Sept 2007, from Glengormley High School. He produced an excellent standard of work throughout the course and demonstrated an exceptional ability to work independently and met assessment deadlines. Hence a well deserved overall grade of DDD ( achieving D grades in 13 out of the 17 individual units). He is now at University of Ulster at Jordanstown studying for a B Eng with Hons in Mechanical Engineering.