The Manx Educational Foundation (MEF), an Isle of Man charity of which IQE is a Member, will be providing funding for the International Centre for Technology (ICT). The ICT will be a new dedicated facility, set to become a specialist centre for practical, world-class tertiary education – specifically designed to enhance the profile of the Isle of Man's information and communications technology sector.
The MEF is seizing the opportunity to create a specialist educational establishment for this leading sector of Island business – which will aspire to become a centre of excellence on the worldwide stage.
Anne Couper Woods, Executive Director of IQE said "IQE are delighted to be a Member of the Manx Educational Foundation, an Isle of Man charity that will provide the funding for the International Centre for Technology project.
The partnership with the Open University will ensure qualifications are internationally recognised and the unique curriculum which combines relevant work placements and industry accredited qualifications with the more traditional research and studies will ensure that the graduates are well equipped for the business world.
We perceive that it will bring many benefits to the Isle of Man in terms of direct spend into the economy, a regeneration of Douglas to accommodate the students, and a steady stream of high quality individuals into the ICT sector.
The Island needs to diversify and make the most of its attributes in order to continue its growth and meet the current economic challenges. A successful further education campus, which provides a unique opportunity for local and international students in a safe and beautiful environment at a competitive cost, would be a great step towards achieving that aim. Having the ICT here provides opportunities for Manx students to continue their higher education locally whilst still enjoying the diversity of international student life.
IQE has long had a policy of supporting training, development and education and we believe that the quality and professional qualifications of our staff have been major contributors to our own success. We believe it is important to support our local community and to be able to do this through an educational facility which can adapt to meet the ever changing requirements of the fast moving technological world creates an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of what we hope will become a huge success for the Isle of Man."