Northern Regional College celebrates four nominations at prestigious Northern Ireland learning awards

Northern Regional College, Ballymena campus

Northern Regional College is celebrating a major achievement after being shortlisted in four categories at the 2026 OCN NI Learning Endeavour Awards, recognising both the success of individual learners and the College’s wider contribution to education and skills development across Northern Ireland.

The College has been named as a finalist for the coveted Provider of the Year award, while three learners have also secured places on the shortlist in their respective categories.

The recognition highlights the impact of learning, personal achievement and educational support at a time when skills development and lifelong learning continue to play a crucial role in communities across Northern Ireland.

The winners will be revealed at a special awards ceremony at Titanic Belfast on Tuesday 23 June 2026.

Four nominations for Northern Regional College

Northern Regional College has been shortlisted for Provider of the Year, an award recognising organisations that demonstrate excellence in supporting learners and delivering opportunities that help people progress in education, employment and personal development.

Alongside the institutional nomination, three learners from the College have also been recognised for their individual achievements.

Alex Erdis has been shortlisted for Further Education Learner of the Year.

Grace Montgomery has been named a finalist in the Health and Well-being Learner of the Year category.

Daniel Mitchell has secured a place on the shortlist for Essential Skills Learner of the Year.

The annual awards, organised by Open College Network Northern Ireland (OCN NI), celebrate achievement, resilience, innovation and the life-changing impact education can have on individuals and communities.

Recognition for learners and staff

Welcoming the nominations, Northern Regional College Principal and Chief Executive Mel Higgins said the shortlisting reflected the commitment shown across the College.

“We are delighted that Northern Regional College has been shortlisted for Provider of the Year at this year’s OCN NI Learning Endeavour Awards,” she said.

“This is a wonderful recognition of the dedication of our staff, the ambition of our learners and the strong culture of support that exists across the College.

“Every day, our teams work hard to create opportunities, remove barriers and help learners build the confidence, skills and qualifications they need to progress.”

Ms Higgins also praised the three learners who have reached the final stage of the competition.

“We are also incredibly proud to see Alex, Grace and Daniel recognised as finalists in their individual categories. Their nominations are a fantastic achievement and reflect their hard work, determination and commitment to learning.

“On behalf of everyone at Northern Regional College, I would like to congratulate all of our shortlisted finalists and wish them the very best of luck at the awards in June.”

Celebrating achievement across Northern Ireland

OCN NI unveiled the 2026 shortlist on 18 May, following what organisers described as an exceptionally strong year for nominations.

The organisation, which works to advance education and opportunity across Northern Ireland, said the awards showcase the determination of learners and the dedication of educators and training providers.

Martin Flynn, Chief Executive of OCN NI, said the number and quality of nominations reflected the strength of the education sector.

“The high volume of nominations this year reflects the extraordinary dedication and ambition of learners, educators and OCN centres across Northern Ireland.

“The Learning Endeavour Awards are a powerful celebration of what can be achieved through perseverance, support and a passion for learning.

“Congratulations to all our shortlisted finalists, your stories are inspiring and you represent the very best of our community. We look forward to celebrating your success together this June.”

Awards ceremony at Titanic Belfast

The 2026 Learning Endeavour Awards will take place in the Titanic Suite at Titanic Belfast on Tuesday 23 June, with guests arriving from 11.30am ahead of the ceremony beginning at noon.

This year’s shortlist spans nine categories, recognising achievement across further education, schools, apprenticeships, essential skills, innovation, teaching and learning support.

For Northern Regional College, the four nominations represent a significant endorsement of the work taking place across the institution and the achievements of learners who have overcome challenges, developed new skills and pursued opportunities to progress their education and careers.

The outcome will be known later this month when finalists from across Northern Ireland gather in Belfast to celebrate excellence in learning and achievement.