Through its commercial arm, Business Solutions, Coatbridge, a further education college with over 6,000 enrolled students, engages extensively with employers across Scotland and the UK to offer innovative and flexible products and services.

Computer Wings is a vocational or role-based progressive skills programme which focuses on key functional activities within a modern organisation; communication, marketing, IT networks and security, business development, process flows and project management. It is a flexible, modular-based programme consisting of 10 standalone modules, enabling candidates to demonstrate modern, progressive computer skills to enhance their career prospects.

 
(L-R) Gary Cleere and David Carpenter, co-founders, Q-Validus with ClionaCollege Manahan, Consul General of Ireland to Scotland and John Doyle, College Principal, Coatbridge

Computer Wings is for organisations and candidates seeking to develop new skills such as Project Management, e-Marketing, Search Engine Optimisation, Web Creation and Web Analytics techniques using computer applications such as MS Project, Visio, Publisher, Dreamweaver, Google Analytics and Ad Words. The use of such applications is becoming increasingly common in today’s workplace.

Q-Validus, headquartered at NovaUCD the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre at University College Dublin, was established in 2007 and is already recognised as one of the most innovative players in the certification solutions sector. Q-Validus is supported by Enterprise Ireland and is part of the agency’s High Potential Start-up Programme.

Speaking at the launch, David Carpenter, Q-Validus, co-founder and CEO said, “We are delighted to formally launch the Computer Wings programme in association with Coatbridge College, the first authorised Computer Wings centre in the UK. As Scotland’s oldest College, Coatbridge has a rich history and tradition in providing students with education and training to the highest standards.”

He added, “We look forward to Computer Wings providing students with access to new and relevant IT skills that will enable them to fulfil their potential and meet the demands of the individuals and corporates alike.”

The Computer Wings programme was developed by Q-Validus as a response to detailed research into the demands of candidates, training centres and corporates for new progressive computer skills. The development of such skills raise organisational productivity through improved communication and collaboration in the workplace, resulting in higher standards of output and improved user confidence.