Henry Douglas has been lecturing at the Southern Regional College (SRC) in the Faculty of Building, Technology and Engineering for 39 years. His dedication was honoured at the first ever Further Education NI Excellence Awards when he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.

Speaking after receiving his award, Henry said: “Further Education is the gateway to the rest of the student’s life, should they be 16 or 60. Teaching in Further Education has been one of the biggest rewards of my life.” The inaugural awards ceremony, held at the Armagh City Hotel, included categories reflecting the wide spectrum of learning levels and pathways available across Northern Ireland’s Further Education colleges, from introductory and supported learning to apprenticeships, higher education and lifelong learning.

The ceremony was opened by the Economy Minister Conor Murphy . Guests at the event heard how student award recipients have improved their life and job-related skills thanks to the incredible effort they have made during their studies, and of the positive impact made on people’s lives by the winning staff members. Advertisement Advertisement A total of eight SRC students received awards on the night, including several from the Lurgan and Portadown areas.

Linzie Haire from Portadown received the Lifelong Learning .