Professor Paul Fleming, Associate Dean of Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Professor Marie Murphy, Head of the School of Sports Studies, and Noel Munnis from N3C Leisure Solutions

The University of Ulster has teamed up with  Bangor-based business management and training consultancy, N3C Leisure Solutions  to deliver a wide range of internationally recognised fitness instructor training courses , to over 300 students at venues throughout Ireland.
 
N3C Leisure Solutions is a Central YMCA Qualifications (CYQ) approved training centre.  All training offered through the partnership is CYQ approved and Register of Exercise Professionals (REPS) accredited.
 
The agreement builds on the desire to combine higher education with certified vocational training. Professor Marie Murphy, Head of the School of Sports Studies at the University of Ulster said:
 
“We are pleased to be part of Northern Ireland’s premier fitness instructor training programme. We believe that employability in the leisure sector is enhanced through a combination of academic qualifications and industry specific vocational training.
 
“As a leading provider of academic courses in sport and exercise science it is entirely fitting that the University should be involved with N3C in developing and delivering  high quality professional qualifications for the fitness industry”
 
As part of the agreement ‘School of Sports Studies’ students at the University will be offered the CYQ Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course as a vocational training module within their degree course.
 
Noel Munnis, Managing Director of N3C Leisure Solutions said: “I am delighted that our training courses are going to be delivered in partnership with the University of Ulster.  I regard the agreement as a solid endorsement of the quality of our training programmes, resource material and tutor team.”
 
Courses are already underway at venues throughout Ireland.  The programme, running from September 2009 to January 2010, includes a broad range of Level 2 courses, with Level 3 courses expected from January 2010.
 
The University of Ulster and N3C Leisure Solutions have introduced an additional certificate of recognition for outstanding students. In addition to the industry accredited CYQ qualification, awarded to all successful candidates on our courses, individual students who demonstrate exceptional personal qualities and achieve outstanding assessment results will be awarded the unique N3C/University of Ulster ‘Certificate of Distinction’.
 
 
• Central YMCA Qualifications (CYQ) qualifications are internationally recognised and highly respected by employers throughout the UK, Ireland and abroad with all CYQ certificate courses at Level 2 and Level 3 officially approved by the European Health and Fitness Association.

For further information, please contact:

Trina Porter
Telephone: 028 71675511
Email: Trina Porter