IT Sligo has won a prestigious Satellite Broadband Ireland Digital Media Award. The institute won the Best in e-Learning award for the KITE project. The main aim of the IT Sligo element of the KITE project is to enhance its online programmes by providing “live”, interactive, instructor led training on specialist software and hardware over the internet. In addition distance learning students can remotely access and control this equipment in their own time, reinforcing their knowledge and understanding, resulting in an enhanced learning experience.
KITE Project Co-ordinator Stephen Reid said that the project has enormous potential for the further development of online learning at IT Sligo: “There simply are no barriers to this type of learning that allows practical work to be conducted entirely through the internet. IT Sligo is a recognised leader in online learning and the KITE Project and the unique features that it offers, provide us with the opportunity to increase our lead in the field even further.”
The KITE Project has been developed by IT Sligo in partnership with Northern Regional College (Northern Ireland) and Ayr College (Scotland) and is part funded by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund through INTERREG IVA Cross-border Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. IT Sligo is a national leader in the provision of online courses and was also a Finalist in the 2008 Digital Media Awards.
Acting Head of School of Engineering at IT Sligo, Frank Carter, said: “The methodology developed in the KITE Project is pioneering. It brings online learning to a new level, allowing students to develop practical techniques in a virtual learning environment. This ‘innovation through education’ has enormous potential for industry because it facilitates up-skilling on-the-job, leading to increased productivity and competitiveness.”
Other winners included Martello Media, who scooped the 2011 Grand Prix accolade. The firm picked up the award for Best Digital Design for a project with the Glasnevin Museum. Well known design studio CKSK had a very successful evening and picked up 4 awards for projects with Heineken, Vhi and the Oxegen music festival. They also achieved 8 runner-up placements.
Kevin Ryan of Satellite Broadband Ireland said:”We have the cream of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship within the digital sector across the various nominees, and in an era of change and uncertainly we can be sure of one thing, the digital sector in Ireland is thriving. Through the hard work and dedication that takes place within the industry we are positioning ourselves as a nation at the forefront of the Digital Revolution.”
The IDA has predicted that between 9,000 and 10,000 jobs in the field of digital media will be created in 2011 through direct foreign investment, a most welcome prediction. There are strong opportunities in the digital sector for both business and employment providing indigenous investment is forthcoming. However a warning from Ronan Harris, Director of Online Sales at Google and a member of the awards judging panel, is worth heeding: Irish business will not recover without e-commerce.
Commenting on the awards, event director Susan Grant said: “The benchmark is always high for these awards and this year was no exception. We should be proud to have such amazing, world-class digital genius here in Ireland and it was certainly an honour for us to acknowledge it. I’ve no doubt that we have seen some international leaders of the future.”
KITE Project Co-ordinator Stephen Reid and Technician Ross McMorrow receive the award for Best in eLearning on behalf of the KITE Project team from Mark little at the 2011 Satellite Digital Media Awards in The National Convention Centre last Friday.
Pictured at the Digital Media Awards are (from left to right), John McGowan, IT Sligo Governing Body and Engineers Ireland member; KITE Project Technician Noel Walsh, KITE Project Co-ordinator Stephen Reid, KITE Project Technician Ross McMorrow, Open Learning Co-ordinator Brian Mulligan, Acting Head of School of Engineering, Frank Carter.