By Sandra Bailie from NICVA
Published on 21 Nov 2006
Sixteen managers from the voluntary and community sector were the first in Northern Ireland to achieve the MSc Voluntary Sector Management in June 2006, with outstanding results.
Pride
There was a real sense of accomplishment and pride as the course director praised their hard work and dedication, presenting them each with a master’s award from Cass Business School in London.
Delegation from London
A delegation from Sir John Cass Business School attended to congratulate the students. Greg McConnell, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) added his congratulations on behalf of the department, praising the students for all they had achieved personally and for the sector.
Celebrations
After celebratory drinks and a hot buffet, NICVA Director of Corporate Services Úna McKernan welcomed graduates, friends, family and line managers to the very special event. Seamus McAleavey, chief executive of NICVA congratulated the graduates on achieving such a prestigious qualification. He reflected on how NICVA had carefully selected Cass Business School to deliver the programme, bringing both specialist expert knowledge and UK wide perspective to the learning experience. Commenting on the management development programme he said:
Tonight is one aspect of the overall success of the management development programme, it is one of the most successful things that NICVA has done and it has really had an impact.
Graduate Amanda Patterson from New Life Counselling Service with her parents
Caroline Copeman, course lecturer,
paid tribute to the student’s commitment travelling over to London for monthly weekend lectures for seven months and thanked their families for their support and understanding.
She highlighted the wide variety of subjects covered in the graduates’ research reports and how this wealth of knowledge could now be shared to strengthen the sector. She urged the graduates to use their learning to benefit others and encouraged them to invest in their organisations and in the sector, emphasising the importance of return on investment.
The course director
028 9065 9808Professor Palmer, course director, gave a good humoured speech celebrating the positive relationship that Cass enjoyed with NICVA over the past two years.
The cohort of students from NICVA on the MSc Voluntary Sector Management at Cass Business School provided a wealth of diversity both in course discussions and assessed work.
Active participation in the various course exercises and interaction with students from the other UK and European Nations enabled learning and management development. The high number achieving a distinction reflects both their hard work and commitment. The voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland and throughout the UK will benefit from this initiative for many years to come.
Professor Jenny Harrow was unable to attend the graduation but sent her best wishes which were passed on by Prof Palmer.
The master’s charity programmes at Cass have been enormously enriched by the participation of the two cohorts of student colleagues from Northern Ireland. Their serious and grounded approach to their studies and their willingness to share their experiences thoughtfully and carefully, rather than simply anecdotally has contributed immensely to all our learning, staff as well as other students.”
Exceptional learning
Exceptional learning has taken place over the past two years and this has dramatically impacted on the sixteen organisations that the students are from. All those who completed the masters have gained confidence, skills and knowledge that allow them to manage and lead their organisations successfully, and intelligently navigate their path into the future.
One of the students remarked
The MSc in Voluntary Sector Management has provided me with an opportunity to listen to the leading thinkers and is a unique opportunity to network with other professionals in the sector. This was an extremely valuable course and well worth undertaking. While another said that “It exceeded my expectations. It has been a very challenging two years but definitely worth it!
Congratulations from NICVA
NICVA would like to formally congratulate the sixteen students and wish them every success in the future.
This page has been viewed 9435 times since it was published.
