September has seen the return of the Institute of Hospitality Northern Ireland Awards for Professionalism 2024. In a glittering awards ceremony at the Culloden Estate & Spa on Friday 20th September 2024, Southern Regional College (SRC) lecturer Yvonne McCaghey was announced as finalist for the ‘Lecturer of the Year’ Award.
This year marks the 27th year that the Institute have recognised the achievements of individuals working in all sectors of the industry. The awards provide a platform to celebrate those who have made a recognisable contribution to their place of work and to the industry in general.
Yvonne has over 30 years’ experience within the catering industry, with 20 of those years training news chefs. Yvonne started out firstly as a part-time lecturer before accepting a full-time lecturing position at SRC in recent years.
Yvonne is the lead programme coordinator and lecturer on the Level 1 and 2 Larder and Patisserie courses at SRC as well as the Quality Assurance lead for catering courses at the College. Since joining SRC, Yvonne has found new challenges every day. Reflecting on her role as a lecturer, Yvonne says:
“Even in teaching, you learn something new every day. We live in a world of constant flux. Due to the fast-paced nature of the world evolving around us, I have never been stuck for a challenge. Being able to learn more and pass this knowledge on to my students is incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about teaching them the skills they need for the catering profession, but also about inspiring them to be adaptable and innovative in their careers.”
Whilst Yvonne is immensely proud of her nomination as finalist for Lecturer of the Year Yvonne maintains her biggest professional success is helping students develop and progress into full-time employment or advance to further and higher education courses each year.
Yvonne is dedicated to creating new opportunities for her students. She has established work placements for newcomers and recently initiated projects focused on gluten-free foods and street food production. These initiatives are designed to enhance students’ skills and abilities.
Speaking on Yvonne’s finalist nomination Award Michelle Moore, Curriculum Area Manager commented:
“We are incredibly proud of Yvonne for being a finalist for / for winning Lecturer of the Year at the Institute of Hospitality Northern Ireland Awards. Her dedication to her students and their success, plus her innovative approach to teaching have made a significant impact. Yvonne’s passion for hospitality and her commitment to excellence inspire both her colleagues and students every day.”
