Education Magazine 34-2

Education Since 1987 | Volume 34 Issue 2 | w: educationmagazine.ie | t: 01-8329246 | e: education@clubi.ie

The Value of Sport in Ireland | Careers Army Engineer Graduate Programme | Apprenticeships Getting mature students back to learning | Green News Research & Innovation News | News | Reviews

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Education Volume 34 Issue 2 Editor Niall Gormley

4 News: From 25 to 24 as class size becomes headline for education in Budget 2022

Production Michael Farrell

5 News: 2022 budget reaction: Govt gets mixed marks; The Decade of Centenaries History Competition

Publishers Ard Education Ltd. Tel: 01-8329246 Email: education@clubi.ie www.educationmagazine.ie

7 News: Two new technological universities unveiled for north west and south east 8 News: New Shannon university rises to the challenge 9 FEATURE: The Choose Tech Programme at FIT

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12 FEATURE: The Value of Sport in Ireland

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18 Considering a career in childcare?

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14 FEATURE: Army Engineer Graduate Programme

21 Montessori for adults with dementia at St. Nicholas Montessori 22 What is Social Care?

24 Scholarships at Griffith College 26 Launch your beauty career at Blackrock Further Education Institute 29 The EMS Managed Print Solution 31 Study History & Geography in GMIT 32 See your career going places with the ESB Networks Apprenticeship Programme

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34 News: Three new Local Creative Youth Partnerships unveiled; Ulster University's celtic researchers strengthen connection to Brittany 36 Sallynoggin College students are looking forward to a bright future 38 Training Services at Kilkenny and Carlow ETB 40 Research & Innovation News: DCU; Maynooth University; NovaUCD; UL; Queen's 42 Record graduate success for Dunboyne College 44 Want to go to college? Not enough points? Sorted...come to DFEi 47 Green News: Campus Living Labs initiative aims for a transformation; E-waste reaches record levels; Irish seas now in Marine Protected Area; Ros a Mhíl could be hub for floating turbines 48 The Pathway to YOUR Future at Liberties College

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50 FEATURE: Getting mature students back to learning 52 INFOGRAPHIC: Study smarter by discovering your learning style 53 National Museum - the way we wore 54 Reviews - recently published books Education 3

NEWS ................................................................................................................................

From 25 to 24 as class size becomes headline for education in Budget 2022 Some 1,165 additional special needs assistants (SNAs) will be allocated, bringing the total numbers to almost 19,200 in 2022. The breakdown of the 1,165 SNA posts is: • 574 to support students in new special classes • 46 to support students in new special school places • 545 to support students in mainstream classes on children.

The 980 new teacher posts are broken down as follows: • 620 of the new posts will provide additional support for those children attending mainstream Gross Current and Capital Expenditure 2019 to 2022 (€'m) classes including new and expanding schools.

• 360 posts will facilitate the opening of 287 new special classes providing over 1,700 new places in 2019 2020 2021 2022 2022 and 140 new special Gross Current Expenditure Gross Capital Expenditure school places.

THE Government has promised to reduce the national student-teacher ratio from 25-1 to 24-1. In order to do this there will be around 1,750 additional teachers in the education system in 2022 over 2021, including some 980 special education needs teachers.

The 2022 gross core expenditure allocation for the Department of Education will be some €9.2 billion, €0.5 billion (5.8%) above 2021. Around €1.2 billion (15%) extra will be allocated to education at school level in 2022 compared to 2019, which includes special Covid spending.

€10,000 €9,000 €8,000 €7,000 €6,000 €5,000

#HelloMIC Gross Current & Capital expenditure 2019 to 2022€9,500

Core & Covid (€'m)

€9,000 €8,500 €8,000 €7,500

By the numbers €9.2 billion: 2022 Budget of the Department of Education 1,750 Additional teachers in the education system in 2022 over 2021, including some 980 special education needs teachers 19,200 Special needs assistants in the education system in 2022, an increase of 1,165 on 2021 30,000 The number of school places that will be provided by 200 large scale and additional accommodation school projects currently at construction stage €87 million Funding provided specifically to support schools as they continue to operate in a Covid-19 environment €790 million Providing additional capacity to the school system to manage in the Covid environment and to cater for increased demographics with 30,000 extra pupil places.

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES AT MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE

€7,000 €6,500 €6,000

2019

2020

€0

€180

EDUCATION POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES 2021 2022

• Structured PhD in€0Education €0 Capital Expenditure Core €764 €745 €940 €792 • Structured PhD/Masters in Literacy Education Current Expenditure Covid €0 €151 €308 €87 • Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology Current Expenditure Core €7,297 €7,634 €7,913 €8,358 • Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) • Master of Education (M Ed) • M Ed in Religious Education • M Ed in Educational Leadership and Management • M Ed in Leadership of Wellbeing in Education Schools and Special Education • M Oid san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta • MA in Education and the Arts (META) Teacher numbers and demographics • MA in STEM Education The total number of new teaching posts will be in the region of 1,750 by the end of 2022. Of • MAwith in Music these posts, 980 additional teachers will be working with children special Education educational • ofGraduate Diploma/M needs, 420 additional posts will arise following the inclusion more schools in the DEISEd in Adult and Further Education scheme while a further 350 new teaching posts will be created at primary Diploma/M level arising from • Graduate Ed ain Information and Communication further reduction in the staffing schedule – see below.

Technologies in Primary Education • Graduate Diploma/M Ed in Special Education Needs • Graduate Diploma in Mentoring and Leadership in Schools 4 • Graduate Certificate/Graduate Diploma/M Ed in Middle Leadership and Mentoring in Primary and Post-Primary Settings • An Teastas iarchéime i dTeagasc Ábharbhunaithe (TTA) san Iarbhunscolaíocht Lán-Ghaeilge agus Ghaeltachta • Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice • Graduate Certificate/Diploma in Autism Studies Capital Expenditure Covid

LIBERAL ARTS POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES • Structured PhD in Applied Linguistics • Structured PhD in Contemporary Irish Studies • MA in Applied Linguistics (online/on-campus/blended) • MA sa Ghaeilge • MA in History • MA in Local History (with UL) • MA in Media Studies • MA in Modern English Literature • MA in Language and Culture in Europe • Certificate/MA in Christian Leadership in Education

PhD & MA BY RESEARCH AND THESIS IN THE FOLLOWING LIBERAL ARTS DEPARTMENTS Drama and Theatre Studies; English Language & Literature; French Studies; Gaeilge; German Studies; Geography; History; Mathematics and Computer Studies; Media & Communication Studies; Music; Philosophy; Psychology; Theology and Religious Studies.

PhD & MA BY RESEARCH AND THESIS IN THE FOLLOWING EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS Learning, Society & Religious Education; Language & Literacy Education; Arts Education & Physical Education; Reflective Pedagogy & Early Childhood Studies; Educational Psychology, Inclusive & Special Education; STEM Education.

4 Education

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................................................................................................................................ NEWS

2022 budget reaction: Govt gets mixed marks THE release of next year's budget, with its provisions for education, drew a mixed reception from the sector.

The INTO was mostly posit i v e w e l c o m i n g i n c re a s e d spending on class sizes, special education and DEIS. The union said that the spending plans were making progress on class sizes. "This government appears to have got the message that Ireland is significantly out of kilter with the rest of Europe," it said.

On the downside the INTO also said that 'school leaders have been let down in this budget' in respect to their efforts during the lockdown.

The Irish Universities Association were cautious: "The investment in higher education and research announced in Budget 2022, while welcome,

is not sufficient to address the core funding deficit in the sector. The provision of dedicated funding for extra places and for student supports is welcome.

However, a large proportion of the remaining funds for the sector will be absorbed by ‘stand still’ funding".

The two second level unions were unanimous in denouncing the budget. ASTI said: "We are greatly disappointed that there has been no announcement to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio at second level", while the TUI highlighted the pay differential issue: "The Budget is silent on the ongoing scourge of pay discrimination affecting those appointed since 2011, a situation which has driven a recruitment and retention crisis in second level schools and colleges."

The Decade of Centenaries History Competition THE decade 2012–2023 is categorised as the ‘Decade of Centenaries’ as it marks the centenary of a number of important historical events and developments that occurred in the period 1912– 1923, and which formed a vital role in the formation of modern Ireland.

As part of the commemorat i o n p ro g r a m m e f o r t h e ‘Decade of Centenaries’, students at all levels of primary and post-primary across the island of Ireland are invited, in the 2021-2022 school year, to enter the annual all-Island schools’ history competition.

The selected themes have a particular link to events of a century ago across the island of Ireland.

The Decade of Centenaries All-Island Schools’ History

Competition, for both primary and post-primary, is run by the Department of Education and University College Cork School of History. It is supported by Áras an Uachtaráin, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and ‘History Ireland’.

This competition is intended to complement the history curriculum at both primary and post-primary levels. It can also help support and promote the study of history by students.

The competition is entirely optional and is not intended to place any additional burden on schools, teachers or students.

More information is available on the Dept of Education's website.

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Two new technological universities unveiled for north west and south east THE Government has announced the establishment of two new technological universities at either end of Ireland.

First to be unveiled at the end of October is a new Technological University (TU) for Connacht and Ulster comprising GalwayMayo, Sligo and Letterkenny institutes of technology.

The Connacht-Ulster Alliance, established to campaign for the new TU said that The new university for the West and NorthWest of Ireland will be one of the largest multi-campus universities on the island.

"The TU will have the critical mass and academic depth to attract, educate, nurture and retain talent in the West, North-West and cross-border region and will strengthen and benefit our region socially, economically and culturally," they said.

In early November Higher Education Minister Simon Harris signalled the end of one of the longest running issues in Irish

Education when he confirmed the new TU for the south east to be formed by the amalgamation of Waterford and Carlow institutes of technology.

Acknowledging the campaigners Minister Harris said: "After years of debate, the establishment of this new technological university will become a reality next year, and the South East can look forward to it increasing higher education access, driving enhanced regional development across Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford".

The two new TUs are in addition to TU Dublin and Munster TU; and the recently named Technological University of the Shannon (see page 8).

The two remaining Institutes of Technology, Dundalk and IADT in Dún Laoghaire are also working on attaining TU status with IADT pursuing the novel goal of becoming Ireland's national Creative Arts University.

Power 2 Progress initiative for DEIS school students A NEW scheme for 700 students in DEIS schools has been announced which will see the students getting help from UCD student teachers, additional classes and tutorials and access to laptop PCs. Over 700 students across Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare and Wexford have signed up, with plans to expand into Laois and Offaly.

Power 2 Progress is a programme from UCD in collaboration with Zurich Ireland and with support from the Z Zurich Foundation and Rethink Ireland.

The programme will facilitate onsite visits to UCD and Zurich offices based in Ireland to encourage students to pursue further education and professional careers.

UCD student teachers will provide educational support to participating students through weekly tutorials over the course of their senior cycle

Education 7

NEWS .........................................................

New Shannon university rises to the challenge

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8 Education

TECHNOLOGICAL University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest is the Name of Ireland’s Newest TU. TÚS, in Irish, denotes a beginning or start for the new university while Midlands Midwest represents the principal regions, whose geography and provenance are linked by the River Shannon. Inspired by Ireland’s longest river, TUS: Midlands Midwest represents the flow of knowledge and ideas. That's the rationale for the new name.

The name of Ireland’s newest TU emerged from extensive independent research carried out with almost 3,500 students, staff, and regional stakeholders over several months.

In a statement, the presidents of both institutes of technology, AIT’s Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin and LIT’s Professor Vincent Cunnane said this was another momentous step in the journey towards the opening of Ireland’s newest TU. Commenting on the name reveal, President of AIT Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin said, “This name marks the start of an exciting, bright future for the new u n i v e r s i t y. T U S : M i d l a n d s Midwest speaks to our shared geography, heritage, and to the flow of knowledge and ideas that will bring TUS: Midlands Midwest to the cutting edge of higher education in Ireland and beyond.

“As well as providing a cultural reference point to the Irish language, the River Shannon provides a feature of scale with which to communicate our international ambitions and our ability to impact regionally, nationally and internationally.

President of LIT Professor Vincent Cunnane added, “This is a new name that reflects a new beginning. TUS: Midlands Midwest brings a reality to our new TU, whilst TUS signifies a new beginning for our region and speaks to the connecting force of the River Shannon. The name represents a new beginning for our staff, our students, our communities, for the locations of our campuses and for the reinvention and reimagination of our region.

“The legislation underpinning the technological university clearly sets out our remit and the role of our stakeholders in our future direction. To root the name of the institution in these stakeholders’ views signifies the intent of this technological university right at the very start of its existence.

The new university, which is set to open its doors later this year, will comprise a student population of more than 14,000 and a staff complement of approximately 1,200 people across six campuses in Athlone, Limerick (2), Clonmel, Ennis and Thurles.

Education 9

10 Education

Education 11

The Value of Sp We know that sport is invaluable. But now we have a better idea of the actual monetary value of sport with the publication of a new report from Sport Ireland - 'Researching the Value of Sport in Ireland' THE National Sports Policy has identified the need to gain a deeper understanding of the value of sport in Ireland and the returns that Government investment in sport provides across relevant policy areas such as physical and mental health, education, community development, economic activity, tourism, crime, sport club membership, volunteering, etc.

Against this national backdrop, Sport Ireland commissioned Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) to conduct a programme of research for assessing the value of sport in Ireland.

The economic impact of sport in Ireland was measured using the National Income Accounting (NIA) methodology. This enables the sport economy to be broken into seven sectors: consumers; commercial sport; commercial non-sport; community/non-profit sports sector; local government; central government; and, international trade.

The income and expenditure accounts for these sectors are used to derive three key economic indicators: consumer expenditure on sport; sport-related Gross Value Added (GVA); and, sport-related employment.

Consumer expenditure Consumer expenditure on sportrelated goods and services in Ireland in 2018 was €3,341.6m, or 3.1% of total consumers’ expenditure. Since 2008, sport-related expenditure has grown both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the Irish overall consumer spending. The latter increased from 2.0% in 2008 to 3.1% in 2018.

A large part of consumer spending on sport is directed towards participation. For example, the biggest spending categories are ‘subscription to sport clubs’ (€622.9m), followed by ‘sport clothing and footwear’ 12 Education

(€568.8m), ‘subscriptions to fitness and dance’ (€490.9m) ‘admissions related to participation’ (€427.2m), and ‘sport goods and bicycles’ (€345.2m).

GVA Sport-related value added to the Irish economy in 2018 was €3,671.8m, or 1.4% of total output in Ireland. Sport-related economic activity has grown from €1,830.3 (1.1%) of Irish GVA in 2008. As in the case of consumer expenditure, this represents a growth in both absolute terms and as a percentage of the whole economy.

mercial sport, commercial non-sport and public sectors support 24%, 23% and 21% of Ireland’s sportrelated jobs respectively.

Economic value of volunteering Volunteering represents both a non-financial input to support sport and physical activity and an outcome in terms of the non-market value generated for sports organisations using volunteers.

The economic value of sport volunteering in Ireland in 2018 is estimated at €1.5 billion, which represents a substantial increase from 2008 (€0.3-€0.6 billion).

Sport's share of employment (2.8%) is greater than the sportrelated share in GVA (1.4%).

Employment This is Health impact of sport Employment in sport was 64,080 consistent It is estimated that over 97,000 in 2018, or 2.8% of all employment with the cases of disease were prevented in in Ireland. Sport-related employment European Ireland in 2019 from sport and has grown from the original position experience, physical activity participation, which of 2.1% of Irish employment in showing that is equivalent to nearly €0.5 billion in 2008. This represents a growth in sport is an health care and wider costs savings. absolute and percentage terms. The effective sport share in employment (2.8%) is policy tool for The notional cost of sports injuries was estimated to be around €93 greater than the sport-related share generating Employment million and therefore the net gain in in GVA (1.4%). This is consistent employment. health was worth closer to has €0.4 bilwith the European experience, showis likely in Ireland.

Employment in sport was 64,080 in 2018, or 2.8%This of all employment Sport-related employment grown lion.a growth in absolute and percentage ing that sportposition is an effective policy to be from the original of 2.1% of Irish employment in 2008. This represents It isshare projected that the value of the tool for generating This is greater particularly terms.

The sport share employment. in employment (2.8%) than the sport-related in GVA (1.4%).

This is consistent health benefits can increase even is likely to be particularly effective with the European experience, showing that sporteffective is an effective policy tool for generating employment.

This is likely to be particularly effective during periods of recession. during periods of recession. during periods further to more than €0.5 billion if the proportion of Irish adults underThe largest sector of sport-related of recession The largest sectorinof2018 sport-related employment sector, the supporting 20,690 jobs orlevel 32% ofof taking recommended employment was the com- in 2018 was the community all sport-related employment in Ireland.

The commercial sport, commercial non-sport and public sectors support 24%, activity increases from 34% to 45%. munity sector, supporting 20,690 23% of Ireland’s jobs respectively.

Sport and physical activity has a jobsand or21% 32% of allsport-related sport-related measurable impact on the physical employment in Ireland. The comSport-related economic indicators for Ireland

2008

2018

Consumer expenditure on sport (€million)

1,885.6

3,341.6

Total consumer expenditure in Ireland (€million)

93,863

106,977

2.0%

3.1%

Percentage of Ireland’s total consumer expenditure Sport-related GVA (€million)

1,830.3

3,671.8

Total GNP in Ireland (€million)

160,903

256,322

1.1%

1.4%

Sport-related employment (000s)

38.22

64.08

Total employment in Ireland (000s)

1,803

2,255

Percentage of Ireland total employment figures

2.1%

2.8%

Percentage of Ireland total GVA

Economic value of volunteering Volunteering represents both a non-financial input to support sport and physical activity and an outcome in terms of

port in Ireland "It is estimated that over 97,000 cases of disease were prevented in Ireland in 2019 from sport and physical activity participation, which is equivalent to nearly €0.5 billion in health care and wider costs savings"

and mental health of participants in Ireland who achieve the National Physical Activity Guidelines (150+ minutes per week).

Beyond these monetised estimates, there is emerging scientific evidence about the health benefits of being physically active during the Covid-19 pandemic.

While it has not been possible to value these health benefits in the same way as non-communicable diseases, they provide evidence of the importance of promoting regular physical activity among the general population and incorporating it into routine medical care to mitigate the impact of pandemics.

Increasing importance The importance of these indicators has increased in real terms since 2008. Furthermore, sport-related employment has grown at a faster rate than overall employment growth and, since 2008, at a faster rate than sport GVA. The report also demonstrates that sport and physical activity has a measurable impact on the physical and mental health of people who achieve the National Physical Activity Guidelines (150+ minutes per week).

Health impact summary for Ireland Condition

Cases Prevented

Cost savings

CHD / stroke Breast cancer Colon cancer Type 2 diabetes Hip fractures Back pain Physical Health Total Dementia Depression Mental Health Total

9,429 213 116 22,306 776 32,133 64,973 5,342 26,996 32,338

105.98 13.46 7.34 122.25 12.91 8.44 270.38 97.72 130.25 227.97

OVERALL

97,311

498.35

Less: Sports injuries

(93.07)

NET VALUE

405.28 Education 13

Unique - Army Engineer THE Army Engineer Graduate Programme is an elite leadership programme for engineers. It will transform your potential to: Lead Our Team; Make An Impact; Be The Difference. Óglaigh na hÉireann is an organisation like no other in the state and we need the most talented people so that we may best serve the nation in an ever-evolving world.

We offer a unique opportunity to motivated, curious, and hardworking engineers who have a will to succeed. We’re not after superheroes, but if you have a sense of adventure, the confidence to collaborate, and an instinct to give more than you take you’ll fit right in.

You’ll start your journey in The Cadet School, the best leadership school in the country.

It will be challenging but we know that with resolve and the support of your classmates, you will achieve your goals. If successful, you’ll be promoted, and we’ll continue to invest in you with further training, earning a Level 9 Masters before sending you to get practical leader14 Education

ship experience in your unit. The culmination of both of our efforts will see you leading engineer troops overseas, devising solutions in the most demanding circumstances; ultimately changing lives for the better.

That said, it’s not all work. You’ll have life changing experiences and make life-long friendships along the way, and you’ll always have the most interesting stories.

In return for your commitment and determination we will support you and develop your talents to bring out your best as a person and as an engineer. This programme is the beginning of a journey that will take you to the highest levels wherever you decide to go.

The Corps of Engineers The Corps of Engineers is responsible for ensuring that the Defence Forces can live, manoeuvre and o p e r a t e w h e re v e r w e m a y b e deployed.

As a combat support corps, our troops are qualified soldiers, combat engineers, and technicians. In addi-

"You’ll have life changing experiences and make life-long friendships along the way, and you’ll always have the most interesting stories"

tion to all-arms capabilities we provide the essential specialist skills to: • Build bridges • Construct routes • Clear obstacles • Employ explosive demolitions • Conduct high risk Engineer Specialist Search and Clearance Both at home and overseas we construct fortifications and operational bases where we provide essential life support capabilities such power generation, potable water production and fire fighting.

The Corps of Engineers is also responsible for the maintenance of the Defence Forces built infrastructure such as barracks, training areas, airfields, and naval installations. This includes: • Overseeing maintenance staff • Design tasks • Contract and tender preparation • Project management • Acting as the client’s representative during ongoing projects

Graduate Programme Lead our team No other job will offer you the leadership skills or experience provided in the Defence Forces.

Our engineer troops are trained soldiers and qualified technicians.

Leading them in harsh environments and pressurised situations overseas is the biggest challenge we can set you.

After 15 months of world-class leadership training in The Cadet School you’ll be well prepared to be responsible for 30 soldiers: harnessing their skills; developing their potential; inspiring them to overcome obstacles; and motivating them to accomplish the mission.

Make an impact In Ireland, Engineer Officers ensure our personnel have modern and safe facilities to live, work, and train in. In an era of climate change we protect the homes, livelihoods and lives of our fellow citizens during blizzards, wildfires, and floods.

When foreign leaders visit, our Search Teams sweep for IEDs and other threats. The life of a President

and the reputation of our nation could literally be in your hands.

Our experience of working in harsh environments and pressurised "Our situations, devising solutions with experience limited time and resources mean that of working in we have been among the first to harsh environments deploy in the event of a humanitarian crisis or natural disaster. We have and responded in the aftermath of earthpressurised quakes in Haiti, volcanos in the situations, Congo, the tsunami in Banda Ache, devising solutions with s u p e r t y p h o o n H a i y a i n i n t h e Philippines, refugees at the Turkishlimited time and resources Syrian border, and the Ebola Crisis in mean that we Sierra Leone.

Engineer Officers are key members have been among the first of Ireland’s negotiating teams on arms control treaties in the UN. In to deploy in the event of a particularly they were instrumental in Ireland's effort’s to ban cluster humanitarian munitions which was agreed in crisis or Dublin Diplomatic Conference in natural 2008. disaster" Be the difference Engineers make a difference every day. In the Defence Forces however, the Engineer Officer often IS the difference.

Success or failure, or even life or death, will be determined by your solutions, your decisions, and your judgement.

You could be assessing log bridges on long range patrols (LRPs) in the African jungle. Too gung-ho and the bridge could collapse, plunging the armoured personnel carrier (APC) and its occupants into the river below; overly cautious, and the patrol has to return to base and the mission fails.

You could be clearing villages and fields of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) post conflict in the Middle East. Miss something and there may be civilian casualties; succeed and local people can return to their homes and resume their lives once more.

You could be providing potable water in the Saharan desert to support an Irish base.

Fail and we have to withdraw giving armed militias free reign; succeed and our troops can survive hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town thereby protecting remote villages from attack.

Continued >>> Education 15

Be part of an elite leadership What is the army engineer graduate programme?

The Army Engineer Graduate Programme is an elite leadership programme for engineers.

It will transform your potential to: Lead Our Team; Make An Impact; Be The Difference.

It is designed to last approximately five years (though you can leave at any time you choose) culminating with you leading engineer troops on an overseas deployment. Thereafter, you may continue serving in the Defence Forces or you can leave and capitalise on your superior leadership and technical skills in a civilian career.

The first phase of the programme is the Cadetship. Here you will undergo 15 months of world-class training in The Cadet School, the best leadership school in the country.

This is your formative military training and will qualify you to command a platoon of 30 soldiers.

On successful completion of the Cadetship you will be commissioned as an officer and will commence your 15 month ‘Young Officer’s Course’ in the School of Military Engineering (SME) where you will earn a Level 9 Masters. This will qualify you in a wide range of military combat engi16 Education

neering skills such as field fortifications, obstacles, explosive demolitions, bridging, mine warfare, firefighting, specialist search and clearance, boating, water purification, power provision and more. You w i l l a l s o u n d e rg o a 3 m o n t h Maintenance Engineering Course where you will study contract and tender preparation, project management, health & safety, range design, energy management, fire engineering and procurement.

Thereafter you will go to your assigned units for a year, further developing the skills you’ve learnt in

15 Months Cadetship

On successful completion of the Cadetship you will be commissioned as an officer and will commence your 15 month ‘Young Officer’s Course’ in the School of Military Engineering (SME) where you will earn a Level 9 Masters. This will qualify you in a wide range of military combat engineering skills such as field fortifications, obstacles, explosive demolitions, bridging, mine warfare, firefighting, specialist search and clearance, boating, water purification, power provision and more.

You will also undergo a 3 month Maintenance Engineering Course where you will study contract and tender preparation, project management, health & safety, range design, energy management, fire engineering and procurement.

1 Year Unit level experience

1 Year

It is designed to last approximately five years (though you can leave at any time you choose) culminating with you leading engineer troops on an overseas deployment. Thereafter, you may continue serving in the Defence Forces or you can leave and capitalise on your superior leadership and technical skills in a civilian career.

The first phase of the programme is the Cadetship. Here you will undergo 15 months of world-class training in The Cadet School, the best leadership school in the country. This is your formative military training and will qualify you to command a platoon of 30 soldiers.

2 Years

Level 9 Masters & Maintenance Engineers Course

Overseas Mission

the SME and getting practical experience of leading engineer troops.

Finally, all this training and experience will culminate in you deploying overseas in command of engineer "Here you will troops as part of an Irish unit serving under a UN mandate. This starts undergo 15 with a 3-4 month intensive period of months of pre-deployment preparation and world-class training in The training known as ‘form-up’, folCadet School, lowed by a six month deployment, and finishes with one months UN the best leave on your return. Overseas serleadership vice promises to be the highlight of school in the your time in the Defence Forces and country. the ultimate test for a young This is your Engineer Officer. formative WHAT IS THE ARMY ENGINEER GRADUATE PROGRAMME? military The Army Engineer Graduate Programme is an elite leadership programme for engineers.

What weAn Impact; offer training andyour potential to: Lead It will transform Our Team; Make Be The you Difference.

If you’ve read this far you are will qualify you to command a probably not the type of person who platoon of 30 is primarily motivated by money.

However it is important to know soldiers" you’ll be well compensated for your efforts. Service as an Engineer Officer offers a very competitive package with many benefits.1 Pay & Pension. During your 15 months initial training in The Cadet School you’ll earn approximately €19,000 p/a but this will quickly rise to approximately €50,000 p/a by your third year of service. You will Thereafter you will go to your assigned units for a year, further developing the skills you’ve learnt in the SME and getting practical experience of leading engineer troops.

Finally, all this training and experience will culminate in you deploying overseas in command of engineer troops as part of an Irish unit serving under a UN mandate. This starts with a 3-4 month intensive period of pre-deployment preparation and training known as ‘form-up’, followed by a six month deployment, and finishes with one months UN leave on your return. Overseas service promises to be the highlight of your time in the Defence Forces and the ultimate test for a young Engineer Officer.

programme for engineers also be a member of a public sector pension scheme.

Level 9 Masters. You’ll get paid while undergoing a cost-free Level 9 Masters.

Accommodation. You’re entitled to free meals and accommodation while in training during the Cadetship. Subsidised accommodation is available in barracks after commissioning.

Leave. 31 days Annual Leave with the ability to carry over up to 24 days.

Fitness Training. Free access to gyms, personal trainers, sports facilities, and adventure training.

Keeping fit is part of your job and part of your working day.

Medical. Medical & dental cover provided.

Professional Fees & Chartership.

Your professional membership subscription to Engineers Ireland will be paid. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities are ongoing to support you on your path to earning the professional title of Chartered Engineer.

This is in addition to: • Unrivalled leadership & management experience

"You will be commissioned as an officer and will commence your 15 month 'Young Officer’s Course' in the School of Military Engineering (SME) where you will earn a Level 9 Masters"

• Personal development • Travel • Working in diverse, cross-cultural and multi-cultural environments • Working with international organisations and militaries • Access to a network of veterans across a multitude of industries and sectors • Strong personal network • Life-long friendships How to apply1 The first step will be to complete the official electronic application form available at www.military.ie Stage 1 – Online Psychometric Testing. Thereafter you will be asked to complete an unsupervised psychometric test online.

Stage 2 – The Assessment Phase.

If you meet the required standard you will be invited to attend Stage 2 in the Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh, Co Kildare. This consists of: • Physical Fitness Test • Supervised online Psychometric Test • A Group Assessment • Realistic Job Preview Successful candidates at Stage 2 will be sent an Online Personality

Questionnaire to be completed before attending for interview: Stage 3 – The Interview.

This is a competency based interview where you will be assessed on the following areas: • Planning & Organising • Decision Making & Problem Solving • Working with Others • Communication • Leadership & Supervising • Personal Motivation & Discipline • Resilience • Information Handling • Technical Aptitude This is a highly competitive programme and places are limited. To increase your chances, you can also apply for an Ordnance or Army Cadetship. Applicants can apply for all cadetships simultaneously The launch of the 2022 Cadetship will be in Quarter 1 of 2022 Full details of these competitions can be found on www.military.ie 1. All of these examples are illustrative only.

Please see www.military.ie and ‘Terms and conditions and general information regarding officer cadetships in the defence forces 2020’ for full details.

Education 17

Considering a car A career in childcare is unique. No two days or even hours are the same.

It requires energy, creativity and a willingness to follow a child’s mind.

It is a unique person who can take the mindset of a child and follow their lead.

AS AN early childhood educator, you will be playing an important role in supporting young children along a pathw a y of lif e lon g l e a rn i n g .

Childcare lays an important foundation for our children's first experience of education outside the family home and as a career, their purpose is to make a positive difference in the lives of young children.

The first five years of a child’s life inform and inspire children's futures and play a major role in their development into well rounded and happy

"The first five years of a child’s life inform and inspire children's futures and play a major role in their development"

little people.

As a career, you have the wonderful opportunity to watch the children make their first friends, take their first steps, grow, develop and learn skills that will shape a lifetime of learning. The universal word used by childcare workers, who work at Giraffe, describe their jobs is "rewarding".

When choosing a career, it is important to be mindful that there are opportunities to grow and develop your skills. In Giraffe, we're

proud to support our staff on their professional childcare learning journeys and we believe that matching great people to the right roles ultimately creates the best outcomes for the children and families who use our services.

In our recruitment process, we match recruits to their area of interest, be it younger children, preschool or Montessori. We offer support and training to our careers and empower them to take a lead in the curriculum and welcome their ideas to create a fun learning program for the children.

As we are proud partners with Busy Bees, our scale means Giraffe can offer staff professional development and international opportunities that many smaller organisation may not be able to offer. We take great pride in this commitment to developing our staff through mentorship and training programs, as we understand the development of our teams is the key to our success.

We invest in our teams and offer opportunities for career progression and ongoing training and development.

Since Giraffe is Ireland's largest childcare employer, we are honored to be able to offer an exciting range of career opportunities for motivated professionals at all levels.

While we are always looking for new early year's practitioners and educators, we also offer career opportunities that support our childcare centers.

Childcare Work Experience and Placements At Giraffe, we are proud of our established partnerships with numerous colleges throughout Dublin, Kildare and Meath. We believe in

18 Education

reer in childcare? empowering future childcare students by providing them with support, mentorship, hands-on work experience and assisting to put the theory into practice. Many students who attend our centers for work experience join our team and develop a long career with Giraffe.

So, if you have just started a FETAC course and looking for work placement, we would love to hear from you.

Who is Giraffe Childcare?

Giraffe Childcare first opened its doors in its IFSC crèche in 2001 and today have 21 childcare centers, with new and beautiful centers opening soon. We are based across Dublin, Meath and Kildare and employ over 600 childcare staff, serving thousands of families every year. We have been voted Best Crèche five years in a row by our parents and staff.

Why choose a career with Giraffe?

Working at Giraffe is more than just a job. It's a career. We invest in our team’s career development, which is demonstrated by the fact 95% of our management and leadership team members began their career with Giraffe, as newly qualified practitioners.

Through our training and career development opportunities, we give everyone who works for Giraffe lots of opportunities to grow. You can take early years training courses, improve your organisational skills, gain a qualification or even join one of our leadership programs to support your personal development.

How far you go is up to you.

If you wish to inquire about a career with Giraffe Childcare, please contact our team at careers@giraffe. ie today. We would love to hear from you.

"So, if you have just started a FETAC course and looking for work placement, we would love to hear from you

Ellen Smyth – My Childcare Journey THIS is the story of Ellen Smyth, who started her Work Placement in childcare with Giraffe and in four short years, is now a Deputy Manager of our Elm Park Center.

“I started my career with Giraffe in March 2016 in the IFSC Center through the Giraffe Work Experience Program, whilst I was studying in Sallynoggin College of Further Education. After completing my FETAC Level 5 in 2017, I started full time in the Baby Room in the Elm Park Center, where I cared, loved and welcomed the new babies joining the Giraffe family.

"Everyone was so welcoming and helpful from day one. I had the opportunity to move with the children that I cared for and transitioned with them as they progressed to the next age group. It was fantastic as I was able to create fun activities for them and watch each child develop and help them along the way.

Skills recognised "In 2018, I was promoted to Center Supervisor, it was wonderful that my skills and special bond with the children was recognised. In 2020, I was again promoted to Center Deputy Manager of the Elm Park Center. I have been able to grow with the children and families of Elm Park throughout the last four years and I am having the best experience, watching the children grow and blossom into their own self.

"I have recently started a part-time Degree in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) at Maynooth University. I am very excited to see what else I can offer the children, as working in childcare is such a rewarding job and I am lucky to be part of such a great team.

Progressing further "I have now been with Giraffe for over four years, and I am looking forward to progressing further with the help of the Giraffe team. It is a great work environment, with so many opportunities to progress. I would highly recommend everyone to consider joining Giraffe Childcare. It has opened my professional world."

Education 19

SUSI Grant!

SMSI is happy to announce our affiliation with the SUSI Grant for all of our Full Time study programmes.

Shape a Future with SMSI Important Dates Virtual Open Evening

B.A. Honours Psychology

18 Nov, 6pm

A QQI accredited Level 8 (180 ECTS) for those wishing to study on a three year Psychology degree programme full time

CAO Course Code: NM802 Virtual Open Evening

31 Jan, 6pm

Virtual Open Evening

4 Apr, 6pm

Application Deadline

1 July 2022

Contact Admissions Director Bríd Hannan for a school visit by emailing Brid.Hannan@smsi.ie

20 Education

A QQI accredited Level 7 (180 ECTS) for those wishing to study on a three year Montessori Education and Early Years degree programme full time

CAO Course Code: NM701

B.ED (Honours) Montessori Education

Schedule A Visit

www.smsi.ie

B.ED Montessori Education

A QQI accredited Level 8 (240 ECTS) for those wishing to study on a four year Montessori Education and Early Years degree programme full time

For more information, please visit SMSICAO at Course Code: NM801

www.smsi.ie

MONTESSORI FOR AGEING & DEMENTIA

Create an environment of joy & purpose , where older adults can flourish.

Create an environment of joy & purpose, where older adults can flourish.

Montessori and Dementia

FOR the past 50 years, St Nicholas Montessori Society has been training and equipping Montessori professionals in Ireland with the hopes of bringing professionalisation to the early years sector and transforming education in the Primary education sector and beyond.

Now, SMSI is expanding the scope of Montessori to encompass all ages, through the new groundbreaking QQI accredited Level 6 Special Purpose Award in Montessori Education for Dementia.

In an interview with Programme Director and Montessori Dementia expert, Jennifer Brush, we learned more about this transformative programme.

Why Montessori?

Montessori is based on the principles of free choice and purposeful activity. In a Montessori community for elders, individuals with a wide range of abilities work both individually and collaboratively on an array of activities from which they are free to choose, explore, and discover (Brush, Douglas, and Bourgeois).

Montessori for adults with dementia, how?

Montessori Education for Dementia respects the older person and enables them to continue to make contributions to the community in whatever way possible, encourages caregivers to make observations in order to learn about the person, encourages independence in a specially prepared environment, provides meaningful engagement for older adults, and reminds us that learning and engagement can occur at any age. This is a life changing approach to dementia care.

The Montessori philosophy encourages and incorporates the prepared environment, freedom of movement, hands-on activities, intrinsic motivation, concentration,

independence, and mixed abilities.

This philosophy allows for a sense of individuality and joy within the individual. Older adults and children alike can utilise these attributes and flourish in their lives.

It is at this intersection that SMSI is offering its unique expertise in the creation and delivery of one of the world’s only Montessori Education for Dementia programme.

About the programme SNMCI is offering the standalone introductory workshop (ideal for groups of colleagues who seek insight into this field) and a Semester-long certificate programme (ideal for carers, activity professionals, social workers, nursing home directors, and leaders in the field of ageing and Montessori). The workshop and programme will now take place completely ONLINE due to COVID-19 for the 21/22 Academic Year.

This course provides a powerful approach to dementia care that will change perspectives on ageing and dementia care. Students will learn how to create a dementia friendly physical and social environment that supports people with cognitive impairment to participate in meaningful activities that match their cognitive skills, interests and abilities.

Students will also develop an understanding about memory loss, learning, and attention in order to best communicate with individuals living with dementia. The course will result in the tools care providers need to cope with the challenges of dementia care in order to create an environment where everyone wants to live and work.

"The programme will provide the tools care providers need to cope with the challenges of dementia care in order to create an environment where everyone wants to live and work"

For more information, please visit SMSI at: www.smsi.ie/dementia/ Applications can be made prior to 1 January 2022 for the February intake: www.smsi.ie/all-courses/apply/

Education 21

What is Social Care?

SOCIAL care is a profession where people work in partnership with those who experience marginalisation, disadvantage, or special needs.

Social care workers professionally guide, challenge and support those entrusted to their care toward achieving their maximum potential.

Social care workers may work, for example, with children and adolescents in residential care; people with learning or physical disabilities; people who have experienced trauma and adverse childhood experiences, people who are homeless; people with alcohol/drug dependency; people with mental health or wellbeing difficulties; families in the community; older people; minority and marginalised populations; and others.

In summary, social care professionals work with diverse service user groups presenting with complex needs.

Defining Social Care CORU, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, defines social care as: “A relationship-based approach to the purposeful planning and provision of care, protection, psycho-social support and advocacy in partnership with vulnerable individuals and groups who experience marginalisation, disadvantage or special needs. Principles of social justice and human rights are central to the practice of social care workers.”

In addition to a strong academic background, social care workers should have certain personal attributes such as reliability and trustworthiness; altruism, selfawareness, empathy, compassion, 22 Education

ability to work independently and as part of a team. Social care work can be emotionally and physically challenging and can mean working in difficult environments - but it can also be uniquely rewarding.

What qualifications do you need to be a Social Care Worker?

Social Care Workers require a Level 7 BA in Social Care. Member colleges of the Irish Association of Social Care Educators (IASCE) offer a range of social care qualifications at Level 7 Ordinary degree, and Level 8 Honours degree. Some programmes are delivered on both a full-time and part-time basis. For further details on specific college offerings, please refer to the contact list at the end of this article.

“Social care workers will typically work in a direct person-toperson capacity with the users of services”

A course of study in Social Care typically includes subjects such as sociology, psychology, social administration and policy, principles of professional practice, law, creative studies (art, drama, music) and research methods.

A key element of studying to be a professional social care practitioner is involvement in at least two supervised work practice placements of 400 hours each within a social care setting under the supervision of a social care worker employed in the placement agency.

Social Care students are challenged to develop academically through deepening their knowledge, professionally, by learning and practicing social care skills, and personally, by developing a capacity to look at their own strengths and weaknesses in relation to the work involved.

In line with the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, the Social Care profession is moving towards regulation and social care programmes across Ireland are currently being validated to comply with these statutory regulations.

CORU (Health & Social Care Professionals Council) is the body responsible for regulating health and social care professions, with their main role being to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training, and competency.

All social care workers, once qualified, will be required to register with CORU to enable them to practice in the sector. Like other health and social care professions Social Care Workers will have to adhere to the code of professional conduct and ethics of the profession.

What’s the difference between a social care practitioner and a social worker?

Social care workers will typically work in a direct person-to-person capacity with the users of services.

They will seek to provide a caring, stable environment in which various social, educational and relationship interventions can take place in the day-to-day living space of the service user.

The social worker's role, on the other hand, is typically to manage the 'case', for example by arranging the residential placement in which a child is placed, coordinating case review meetings and negotiating the termination of a placement.

It is possible for those with a degree in social care to qualify as a social worker via postgraduate studies.

Several Irish universities accept holders of Level 8 social care degrees to social work postgraduate programmes.

Where do Social Care Workers gain employment?

Social care workers are employed in a variety of sectors including the public sector e.g. TUSLA and Health Service Executive, voluntary organisations e.g. St John of God’s Services, Enable Ireland, community development organisations, juvenile justice projects and in the private sector social care organisations.

Further Information You can obtain further information about social care courses and qualifications by contacting any of the institutions in the box to the right.

Institution

Contact Person

Contact Details

Athlone Institute of Technology

Oliver Hegarty

ohegarty@ait.ie 090 6442530

Carlow College, St Patrick’s

Dr John McHugh

jmchugh@carlowcollege.ie 059 9153200

Dundalk Institute of Technology

Patricia Rahill

patricia.rahill@dkit.ie 042 9370200 Extn 2948

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology

Dr Mark Garaven

mark.garavan@gmit.ie 094 9043143

Institute of Technology Waterford

Hazel Finlay Victoria McDonagh

hfinlay@wit.ie vmcdonagh@wit.ie

Institute of Technology Carlow Main Campus

Vicki Anderson Eileen Farrell

vicky.anderson@itcarlow.ie 059 9175383 eileen.farrell@itcarlow.ie 059 9175391

Institute of Technology Carlow Wexford Campus

Susan Barnes Christina Sieber

susan.barnes@itcarlow.ie 053 9185828 christina.sieber@itcarlow.ie

Institute of Technology Sligo

Sheena O’Neill Caroline Costello

oneill.sheena@itsligo.ie 071 9155222 costello.caroline@itsligo.ie

Letterkenny Institute of Technology

Dr Louise McBride

louise.mcbride@lyit.ie

074 9186308

Limerick Institute of Technology (Moylish campus)

Dr Carole Glynn Jennifer O'Grady

Carole.Glynn@lit.ie jennifer.ogrady@lit.ie

061 239209

Munster Technological University (Cork campus)

Dr Aoife Johnson Dr Tom O’Connor

aoife.johnson@cit.ie Tom.OConnor@cit.ie

021 4326178

Munster Technological University (Kerry campus)

Dr Patrick McGarty Aisling Sharkey

patrick.mcgarty@staff.ittralee.ie 066 7191660 Aisling.Sharkey@staff.ittralee.ie 066 7191662

Open Training College

Dr Noelín Fox

noelin.fox@opentrainingcollege.com 01 2988544

Technological University Dublin Blanchardstown Campus

Emmett Tuite

emmett.tuite@tudublin.ie 01 8851161

Technological University Dublin City Campus

Dr Ailish Jameson

ailish.jameson@tudublin.ie 01 2205477

Technological University Dublin Tallaght Campus

Marian Connell

marian.connell@tudublin.ie 01 4042816

051 302106

Education 23

Scholarships at Griffith College ESTABLISHED in 1974, Griffith College is Ireland’s largest independent third level institution with 7,000 learners at its campuses in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. The College offers courses in a wide range of disciplines including Business, Computing, Design, Law and Media.

Every year, Griffith College awards a number of Opportunity Scholarships to students progressing directly from the Leaving Certificate or a college of further education. This scholarship covers the entire cost of the programme for the duration of the student’s degree at Griffith, including registration fees.

Applications will open on 15th November 2021and close on 22nd April 2022.

Other scholarships include, Basketball Scholarships provided by Griffith College's Student Activities Team, Earn and Learn Scholarship Programmes in partnership with The Central Bank of Ireland and Fidelity Investments, and the Brendan Lynch Scholarship in partnership with Donore Credit Union.

To find out more about these opportunities and the application processes contact Sarah Edmondson at schools@griffith.ie or request a visit to your school or college at griffith.ie/cao.

24 Education

BLACKROCK FURTHER EDUCATION INSTITUTE

Apply Online

Institiúid Bhreisoideachais na Carraige Duibhe

www.bfei.ie

BUSINESS AND LAW

Find the right pathway for you

Main Street, Blackrock Tel: 01 288 9717 Email: office@bfei.ie COMPUTING,

NETWORKS AND DIGITAL DESIGN

BEAUTY THERAPY, MAKE-UP AND HOLISTIC THERAPIES

DESIGN

COMMUNITY, EMERGENCY AND HEALTH CARE

View Courses/Apply On-Line

www.bfei.ie Education 25

Launch your beauty career WITH graduates including Suzanne Jackson, Rosie Connolly, Lyndsey Cavanagh, Michelle Regazzoli (Mrs Make Up) and Jennifer Rock (The Skin Nerd), to name but a few, Blackrock Further Education Institute (BFEI) is justifiable proud of the success of its beauty and make up graduates.

International awarding bodies, ITEC and CIDESCO, certify BFEI’s full time, one and two year courses, in a wide range of skill areas including Beauty Therapy, Nail Technician with Eyelash and Eyebrow Treatments, Holistic Therapies and Theatrical, Media and Fashion Make Up Artistry.

Excellent working knowledge Using professional product ranges and state-of-the-art equipment, students studying at BFEI will gain an excellent working knowledge of a range of treatments, and will learn the professional skills required for a successful career in this thriving industry.

We are proud of our long association with professional skin care company, Dermalogica, and honoured to have been selected as Ireland’s first Dermalogica School of Excellence, in 2019, receiving recognition for training our students in a simulated Salon environment to the highest standard using a wide range of Dermalogica products.

Students are also trained to use the Matis skincare range and are provided with an opportunity to compete in the Matis Student of the Year competition each year to win the opportunity to travel on an allexpenses paid trip to the exclusive Matis headquarters in Paris.

Holistic and Sports Massage Students on our Holistic and Sports Massage courses study for qualifications in Anatomy and Physiology, Holistic Body Massage, Reflexology, Nutrition, Sports 26 Education

"Students studying at BFEI will gain an excellent working knowledge of a range of treatments, and will learn the professional skills required for a successful career in this thriving industry"

Massage, Aromatherapy, Stone and On-Site Massage.

Our Theatrical, Media and Fashion Make Up Artistry course is well established, and we have over time, developed excellent relationships with employers including Inglot, Monroe Recruitment and Benefit Cosmetics. These companies recruit directly from BFEI assured of the quality of graduates who have undertaken a one year full time course.

The additional industry standard training provided to students on the course including training in Tanning, Advanced Special SFX, Drag training and hair styling including Up Styling, enhances graduates employment prospects.

Management roles In 2019, we launched a new one year, full time, course in Salon Management. This course is aimed at students who aspire to managem e n t ro l e s w i t h i n t h e b e a u t y industry.

"This new Course content includes managing initiative seeks clients, scheduling and managing to address the staff, marketing and promotion and current health and safety. This course will recruitment provide graduates with the necessary crisis in the skills and confidence to avail of a Beauty range of management employment Therapy opportunities in the industry. industry and will enable Erasmus opportunities BFEI graduates BFEI has been involved in to avail of the Erasmus+ mobility projects since many 2018. Students from our beauty employment therapy courses are provided with an opportunities opportunity to undertake a 3 week currently work experience placement in 4 and available in 5 star spas and salons in Tenerife, the Spa Spain, in March each year. industry" This year, for the first time, our Make Up students spent three weeks working with a designer in Tenerife to prepare for the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, one of the largest carnivals in the word.

Funding is provided to students to cover the cost of flights, accommodation and living expenses, under Erasmus+, the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe and is coordinated by Ireland’s national agency Léargas. Students who have participated have improved both their technical and personal skills and have described it “the experience of a lifetime!”

Internship programme Exciting plans are currently underway to develop an internship programme for Beauty Therapy students in partnership with the Irish Spa Association. Second year beauty therapy students attending BFEI will be provided with an opportunity to work in a luxury Spa one day per week while continuing to attend College for the remaining four days to add to the portfolio of qualifications gained in first year.

This new initiative seeks to address the current recruitment crisis in the Beauty Therapy industry and will enable BFEI graduates to avail of the many employment opportunities currently available in the Spa industry.

There are many benefits to participating in an internship programme including providing students with valuable hands on experience that cannot be obtained in a classroom, increasing their confidence and providing an opportunity to develop and refine both practical and soft skills while networking with professionals in the beauty industry.

BFEI is delighted to be involved in this new initiative and we look forward to working with the Irish Spa Association and its partners to offer students the opportunity to participate in this new internship from September 2021.

Visit www.bfei.ie

Education 27

sales@emscopiers.ie

Lo-Call: 1890 770 770

www.emscopiers.ie EMS COPIERS MANAGED PRINT SOLUTIONS WORKING WITH SCHOOLS FOR OVER 50 YEARS Email sales@emscopiers.ie with Code 2022 to be considered for unique to schools sponsorships from EMS when you avail of a Managed Print quote from EMS before the end of 2021!

28 Education

The EMS Managed Print Solution EMS Copiers have been in business since 1970, working with schools and colleges in Ireland for over 50 years. The company recently relocated to state of the art, 15,000sq ft offices in Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, having outgrown two previous premises in the past five years due to a period sustained growth and subsequent staff expansion.

EMS believe this growth is attributable to our bespoke solutions, focus on customer service and value for money propositions.

Our Managed Print Solution, essentially a brand-new device or devices with no capital outlay and including consumables and maintenance, is tailored to the specific needs of the school or college. It is designed to provide maximum efficiency and savings. We understand

that there is no “one size fits all” solution, the hundreds of schools and colleges in our customer base is a testimony to this.

The team at EMS Copiers have listened to our customers carefully and understand that every school is different. We aim to continually work with them to ensure that we fulfil all our client’s requirements and expectations from our first consultation through to installation and implementation.

Innovative solutions Another example of our innovative solutions is Intelligent Colour Billing. A simple concept but one that has a huge impact on costs. If you use less ink on a page, for example a small colour logo, you pay a lower cost per copy, from as low as 2.5 cent. Typically, the industry

"The team at EMS Copiers have listened to our customers carefully and understand that every school is different"

standard is between 5c and 7c. This is extremely popular with our customer base and has proven to pass on significant savings.

Our environment is extremely important to us and while our devices fulfil the stringent legal requirements, we aim to ensure our products impact on the environment is minimised.

We are committed to meeting the requirements of the (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2014, requiring producers of electrical and electronic equipment to finance the takeback, for reuse or recycling, of WEEE resulting from products that we placed on the Irish market. In line with that commitment, EMS Copiers will take back WEEE from you.

More information on print solutions on www.emscopiers.ie.

Education 29

GRETB Training Centre is the largest Training Centre in the West of Ireland. We are continually developing new courses to meet the needs of our clients and the needs of employers. We offer a wide range of courses in the following areas:

IT, Engineering, CAD/CNC Milling & Turning, Transport, Manufacturing/Cleanroom, Pharmacy Sales Assistant Traineeship, Beauty Therapist Traineeship All of our courses are certified, and accredited by national and internationally recognised examining and professional bodies.

To see the full list of our courses www.gretbtrainingcentre.ie. To apply for any of our courses www. fetchcourses.ie. You can email us at recruit@gretbtrainingcentre.ie or Tel: 091 706200 for further information. You can also message us on facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Apprenticeship programmes for Galway & Roscommon are administered through the Training Centre. An apprenticeship is a programme of education and training which combines learning in the workplace with learning in a training centre or educational college. As well as the traditional trades such as plumbing and electrical, we now offer new apprenticeships in areas such as auctioneering, arboriculture, manufacturing, finance, laboratory technician, accounting technician, insurance practitioner and many more.

For further information on Apprenticeships visit: apprenticeship.ie or email: apprenticeship@gretb.ie or Tel: 091 706200

30 Education

Study History and Geography in GMIT FOR students interested in history, geography, archaeology and wildlife, the BA (Hons) in History & Geography in GMIT’s Mayo Campus offers the opportunity to study an area they love while preparing for a career afterwards.

The programme combines classroom-based and fieldwork activities to give students a diverse and varied experience that is both academic and hands-on.

ponent provides our students with valuable practical experience, in addition to allowing them to build relevant industry contacts’.

Graduates can proceed to a range of interesting careers using the knowledge and skills gained during their studies. These include work in environmental conservation, rural and community development, museums, archaeology, tourism and libraries.

A range of modules Students of the programme study a range of modules including History (European, Irish, Local, Genealogy); Folklore; Physical and Human Geography; Natural Environment and Ecology; Archaeology (Prehistoric and Medieval) and Tourism.

Students undertake work experience as part of their studies.

Programme Chair Dr Fiona White observes ‘the work experience com-

Master of Education Graduates who wish to become teachers of history and geography may apply for the Professional Master of Education programme.

Many graduates of the programme have gone on to complete postgraduate studies at masters and doctoral level.

Dr White notes ‘this programme may be of interest to those who do not meet the language requirements to study arts in other

"I highly recommend this course for anyone interested in getting a better understanding of natural and cultural environments at both a national and international level"

colleges. ‘There is no requirement for students applying for the History & Geography to have studied a foreign language’.

"Natural and cultural environments" Liam Loftus is a graduate of the programme and now works as Corncrake Officer for west Connacht. He remarks: "I highly recommend this course for anyone interested in getting a better understanding of natural and cultural environments at both a national and international level.

"I have found my degree to be a great benefit to finding work both at home and abroad."

There are three routes to studying this programme at Level 6 (GA862), Level 7 (GA872) and Level 8 (GA887), with progression between levels possible.

Contact fiona.white@gmit.ie for further details.

Education 31

See your career going pl ESB Networks Apprenticesh DO you want to be part of the team connecting our communities to clean electricity? If so ESB Networks Apprenticeship Programme might be for you.

At ESB Networks, we build and maintain Ireland’s electricity network, connecting over 2.3 million homes, farms and businesses to a clean electric future.

We have recruited over 300 apprentices in the last five years and we will be recruiting up to 60 apprentices across the country again in March 2022 for our programme starting in September 2022.

Recruitment for Our 2022 Apprenticeship Programme will be open for applicants from Mid March 2022 at www.esbnetworks.ie/careers/apprenticeships. There are a number of interesting Apprentice Videos on our website that will give you an idea of the type of work our Apprentice Electricians/Networks Technician are involved in on a day to day basis.

High level of interest The 2021 ESB Networks Apprenticeship Programme recruitment campaign received over 4,500 applications, highlighting the level of interest in the programme and in a career that is diverse, challenging and rewarding.

As an Apprentice Electrician/Network Technician, you will receive on-the-job training and working as part of front-line teams, as well as classroom-based learning, Apprentices benefit, from varied work experience, working both indoors and outdoors, and learning about technology, customer service, and delivering results under pressure. Apprentices learn a variety of electrical and practical skills and, upon completion of the pro32 Education

gramme obtain a QQI Advanced Level 6 Electrical Trade Certificate which is recognised around the world.

Apprentices learn a variety of electrical and practical skills and, upon completion of the programme obtain a QQI Advanced Level 6 Electrical Trade Certificate which is recognised around the world.

Seven phases The ESB Networks Electrical/Network Technician Apprenticeship is SOLAS standards-based, consisting of 208 weeks over four years. During this time, there are seven SOLAS phases which include on job training during phases 1, 3, 5 and 7 where apprentices work closely with a qualified Network Technician constructing and maintaining the electricity network on varied sites across their assigned area of the country.

The SOLAS phases 2, 4 and 6 consist of off-the-job training modules, with phase two in a SOLAS Training Centre, while Phase 4 and 6 are in IT Colleges around the country. Finally, there are 24 weeks of ESB Networks off the job training which takes place in the ESB Networks Training Centre, Portlaoise.

Having completed the four-year programme, apprentices will have gained experience working with a leading utility company.

At ESB Networks, we’ve been connecting customers to Ireland’s power network for years. We’ve also been making new connections, building a network that’s stronger than ever so we can all be kinder to the planet.

We are connecting over 2.3 million homes, farms and businesses to a clean electric future and ESB Networks’ apprentices play an important role in delivering this.

The Role Our Customers are at the heart of ESB Networks,

laces with the hip Programme through their on-the-job experience, ESB Networks’ apprentices will be at the fore front in delivering and providing a world class service to our 2.3 million customers.

Although the job requires an element of physicality, there is much more to the programme than climbing poles and heavy lifting, this role combines both physical effort and logical thinking.

No two days are the same in the programme, apprentices will be assisting and dealing with a wide range of our customers’ needs.

In their day-to-day work activities they may be responding to faults and fault finding to maintain a reliable supply of electricity for our customers, connecting new customers, both residential and commercial to the electricity network, replacing and maintaining electrical assets and installing new elements to the electricity network like overhead wires and unground cable technologies.

Peer support A critical part of the ESB Networks Apprenticeship Programme is the training and peer support given to the apprentices. Throughout the programme, apprentices work alongside and closely with experienced Network Technicians.

While the job may be challenging, the apprentice is always part of a team who will be there to assist and support throughout the programme. ESB Networks greatly fosters and encourages the idea of creating a team and peer support network.

How to apply FOR those, who are interested in becoming an ESB Networks Apprentices Electrician/Network Technician, the programme will open to applicants in March 2022.

All Interviews will take place during the month of May. With offers been made the last week in July/ first week in August. All new recruits will start their apprentices with ESB Network September 2022. The programme is open to individuals over 16 years of age on 1st June of the year they are applying.

At the time of application, candidates must have obtained the following minimum educational qualifications: Junior Certificate (Ordinary Level) Grade C or higher at Ordinary Level (or Grade D or higher at Higher Level) in the Junior Certificate (or equivalent) in the following subjects: 1) Irish or English 2) Mathematics 3) Science* 4) Any 2 other subjects * If you have not obtained the required grade in Science, Grade C or higher at Ordinary Level in any one of the following subjects is acceptable: Technology, Art Craft and Design, Technical Graphics, Materials Technology (Wood), Home Economics or Metalwork.

Leaving Certificate Grade D / O6 or higher at Ordinary Level in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) in the following sub-jects: 1) Irish or English 2) Mathematics 3) Science Subject (Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics & Chemistry)* 4) Any 2 other subjects * If you have not obtained the required grade in any of the above Science subjects, the following is ac-ceptable at Leaving Certificate Level (Grade D/O6 or higher at Ordinary Level) : Art, Construction Studies, Design and Communication, Graphics, Engineering, Home Economics, Technical Drawing and Technology.

Education 33

NEWS ................................................................................................................................

Three new Local Creative Youth Partnerships unveiled THREE new Local Creative Youth Partnerships (LCYP) will be based in the Cork ETB, Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB and Galway Roscommon ETB regions. These new partnerships, which commenced in mid-2021 brings the total number of LCYPs to six.

The LCYPs combine a wide range of human and infrastructural resources to develop and provide out-of-school creative activities for children and young people that complement and work with the formal school settings.

The partnerships will bring together the ETBs (including youth officers and other relevant personnel), local authorities (arts officers, Creative Ireland coordinators, heritage officers, librarians etc.), education centres, representatives of the local early years’ sector (County Childcare Committee), repre-

sentatives of the non-formal education sector, relevant Government Department representatives and local cultural and creativity resources.

Each LCYP is afforded support

by Hub na nÓg, which is a service of the Department of Children and a centre of excellence on children and young people’s participation in decision-making.

The three LCYPs that have been piloted since 2019 are based in the Kerry ETB, Laois and Offaly ETB and Limerick and Clare ETB areas.

ETC Consult

Online career assessment WE have been asking our clients for 37 years to finish the following sentence: “I would love a job that………………”

The most common responses have been: ……would enable me to help others …...would allow me to use my strengths …...would be interesting …...would offer me a challenge …...would not be the same every day …...would pay well Our new, online Career Fit programme provides our clients with a personalised list of the jobs that will fit those criteria based on their individual mix of interests and aptitudes as well as unfolding job opportunities.

What is Career Fit? Career Fit is a scientifically-validated online career assessment created by ETC Consult. At ETC Consult, our Managing Director Pat Shortt and his team have 37 years of experience of using aptitude and interest assessments to help thousands of people find their ideal job and career.

If you are looking for a professional, accredited and inexpensive career guidance assessment to help you, or your students or your children to make the best career choice for them, then Career Fit is the optimal approach to take.

However, Career Fit not only tells our clients what jobs are right for them - it also describes them and advises on the best ways to get into them.

FIND OUT MORE: www.careerfit.com I www.etcconsult.com 34 Education

Ulster University's celtic researchers strengthen connection to Brittany IRISH & Celtic Studies research at Ulster University is involved in research across the breadth of the discipline, in particular Early and Modern Irish Literature, Celtic Philology and Linguistics, Irish and European E t h n o l o g y a n d F o l k l o re , M a n u s c r i p t a n d Te x t u a l Studies and Revivalism.

The university has announced is that Dr Maxim Fomin, Research Director – Modern Languages and Linguistics at UU, has been appointed Visiting Professor at University of Western Brittany (Brest) at the Centre for Research in Breton and Celtic (CRBC) for five years.

Since 2017, Dr Fomin has been the Irish lead of a two-

year, European Union certified Master’s degree programme (via Erasmus) entitled ‘Celtic languages and Cultures in Contact’.

This year sees the fourth year of the programme and it recruits each year between 15-20 students, with several of its graduates moving on to do PhD projects at Ulster University, Harvard, Stanford and Limerick.

Within this collaboration, a number of BA and PhD students at Ulster availed of the opportunity to visit Brest as part of the Erasmus agreement to spend one semester there and to attend summer school in Breton and Celtic Studies.

S ALLYNOGGIN COLLEGE OF F U RT H E R E D U CAT IO N YOUR

SALLYNOGGIN | DÚN LAOGHAIRE | CO. DUBLIN

2021-22

Check us out @ www.scfe.ie

CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA COURSES • NO CAO POINTS REQUIRED ART, CRAFT & DESIGN (PORTFOLIO PREPARATION) PROFESSIONAL FLORISTRY FASHION DESIGN FASHION BUYING, STYLING & VISUAL MERCHANDISING FASHION STUDIO WITH CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP HAIRDRESSING & BEAUTY THERAPIES PERFORMING ARTS ACTING FOR THEATRE, TV & FILM MUSICAL THEATRE AND DANCE EARLY LEARNING AND CARE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTING EARLY LEARNING AND CARE WITH MONTESSORI ADVANCED EARLY LEARNING AND CARE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTING ADVANCED TRAINING IN SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTING WITH INCLUSION INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY STUDIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTING NEW SEPT 2022 PERSONAL TRAINER/ SPORTS REHABILITATION/ PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSISTANT/ STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING/SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPIST FITNESS INSTRUCTOR AND EXERCISE SCIENCE PHYSICAL EDUCATION & SPORTS COACHING NEW SEPT 2022 PHYSICAL EDUCATION & INCLUSIVE EDUCATION NEW SEPT 2022 YOGA & PILATES TEACHER TRAINING AIRLINE AND TRAVEL INDUSTRY STUDIES HOSPITALITY, TOURISM AND EVENT MANAGEMENT SOCIAL STUDIES INCLUDING CRIMINOLOGY & ADDICTION STUDIES ADVANCED SOCIAL STUDIES INCLUDING ADVOCACY CRIMINOLOGY INCLUDING SOCIAL STUDIES NEW SEPT 2022 YOUTH WORK AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WITH CRIMINOLOGY & ADDICTION STUDIES

Courses Commence Sept 2021 Apply online www.scfe.ie

VIRTUAL COURSE INFO DAYS

20-26 November 2021

OPEN DAY 20 January 2022 All courses lead directly to employment or progression to Higher Education Institutes. All courses recognised for SUSI grant. Funding available for Social Welfare recipients and exemptions for Medical Card holders

Sallynoggin College of Further Education is a Constituent College of Dublin & Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board

www.scfe.ie Education 35

SCFE students are looking IT’S that time of the year again when school leavers and other adults are planning for next September. The value of Further Education or Post Leaving Certificate courses as an alternative pathway to Higher Education is now widely understood especially by students who find the Leaving Certificate model of assessment does not work for them.

Sallynoggin College of Further Education has a long history of providing courses at QQI Level 5 and Level 6 as well as other industry recognised certification including ITEC, REPS Ireland, The Irish Board of Speech and Drama, IAOT and the State Junior Trade examinations.

These qualifications ensure that students have the relevant expertise, skills and experience to gain employment in their chosen field with the option of progressing to higher Education if they wish.

SCFE College has a truly diverse range of courses on offer, many of which really suit learners who excel in creative and practical areas such as Art, Floristry, Fashion, Drama and Musical Performance, Hairdressing & B e a u t y, S p o r t , F i t n e s s a n d Wellbeing.

SCFE has a strong reputation for excellence in the area of Early Childhood Education, Youth Work and Social Studies and now also offers courses in Inclusive Education,

SCFE Student Grazia Savoka celebrates her achievements at the virtual graduation

36 Education

Special Needs Assisting and Pre University Primary and Post Primary Teacher Training. Our Travel and Tourism courses suit learners who enjoy working with others and have an interest in travel and heritage.

Choose what’s right for you, and the staff of Sallynoggin College will be there to help and support you on every step of your journey.

SCFE College Life: Embracing the challenge and staying strong SCFE students are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel by continuing to forge ahead with their dreams and aspirations by following their chosen career path. The SCFE virtual graduation took place on November 27th and hundreds of graduates and their families tuned in to celebrate their achievements and chat to staff about where they are now.

SCFE has been busy adapting the college facilities and virtual learning platforms to ensure that the quality of learning continues in a safe and healthy environment. Students have stepped up to the challenge and are determined to make this year count by achieving a well earned qualification.

From Cocooning to Climate Change: SCFE budding designers and stylists are future focused SCFE is well recognised as trend setters in Fashion Design, Fashion Buying, Styling and Visual Merchandising and Fashion Industry Practice. The way we create, wear, style and design our clothes is rapidly changing, in response to this SCFE has a strong focus on ethical and

sustainable approaches to fashion while keeping an eye on future trends.

This term our Fashion Design students are working hard to design and finish their first garments. Meanwhile Thinking ahead to 2021, our Sallynoggin College Advanced Fashion Industry Practice students "SCFE has will be bringing us their updated been busy version of Cocooning. adapting the After months of lockdown, living college and working in our slippers and facilities and comfy layers, we are all ready to virtual learning make some shapes and bring a little platforms to drama into our wardrobes. Our stuensure that dents will be exploring shapes and the quality of ideas, between protection and learning breaking free, by devising and styling continues in their “Cocoon” themed Fashion a safe and Photo-shoot for Spring/Summer healthy 2021. We are all looking forward to environment" seeing the world through their eyes and making an entrance into a new and better year.

Travel and Tourism set to recover in 2021 The Travel and Airline industry may have been hard hit by the global pandemic, but with airlines forecasting a rapid return to activity from mid-2021 SCFE Airline and Travel Industry Studies students are ensuring that they are well positioned to take advantage of the upturn.

Our current students are already preparing for assessment in their Cabin Crew Operations module and will shortly engage in virtual training with Waterford Airport to perfect their skills.

Fashion Design upcycling project

by SCFE student Santiago Vahn Sire

SCFE: A Career in Special Needs Assisting, Inclusive Education and Disability Support Services.

One of the issue highlighted

FIND OUT MORE: Check us out at www.scfe.ie for a full list of courses.

Contact us: reception@scfe.ie Tel: 01 285 2997 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @ SCFEOfficial

forward to a Bright Future through the COVID-19 related lock down was the importance of educational support services and in particular the work of Special Needs Assistant for children and adults with special needs and disabilities and their families.

The role of the Special Needs Assistant or Care Assistant in disability support services is crucial in enhancing the quality of life and educational outcomes for thousands of individuals in Ireland yet the education and training programmes for this role often fall far short of the skills and knowledge required for the challenges involved.

SCFE has worked closely with service providers such as pre-schools, schools and disability services to develop a course that ensures that learners are fully equipped with the skills, knowledge and professional capacity to provide the highest standard of support to children and adults with special needs.

The SCFE Inclusive Education and Training with Disability Studies and Special Needs Assisting course is a QQI Level 6 award which prepares learners to work in a range of settings including pre-schools, primary and post primary schools and in public and private health services and community settings.

Alternatively, learners can start their educational journey with QQI Level 5 Early Childhood Care and Education with Special Needs Assisting. This course primarily focus on young children and will give learners the option of working as an SNA in preschools and primary schools.

SCFE continues to ensure that our courses are up to date, relevant and future proofed to give our students the edge in their chosen field.

Applications open Applications are now open for September 2021. Apply online at scfe.ie or contact Reception@scfe.ie Tel: 012852997

SCFE Socially distanced Pilates Teacher Training class

SCFE Early Childhood Education students explore our range of specialist learning equipment

SCFE students prepare for take off

SCFE Airline and Travel Industry Studies class of 2021 prepare to welcome our future visitors

Education 37

Services at Carlow ETB TRAINING Services at Kilkenny and Carlow ETB offer an extensive range of free full time training programmes for young people and adults who wish to develop the skills and competencies that are required for the workplace and/or progression to further education and training opportunities.

All of our courses lead to nationally and internationally industry recognised accreditation.

Furthermore, many of our courses lead directly into employment.

Traineeships A Traineeship is an occupational skills development programme which is designed to provide flexible training solutions to the identified needs of Irish industry and local businesses.

Traineeships gives participants the opportunity to develop cutting edge skills and knowledge on-the-job, making them more skilled, more employable and enhancing their career options and enables employers to access a pipeline of talent and learners.

Traineeships are structured learning programmes which lead to awards at NFQ levels 4-6. They are between 6-20 months in duration and learners will complete at least 30% of learning on the job.

For further information visit www.traineeship.ie Generation Apprenticeships The SOLAS Standards Based Apprenticeship is a system of employment focused training and 38 Education

education which enables an individual to obtain the knowledge, skills and competencies required to perform effectively as a craft person in industry.

It also enables the individual to progress through further education and training within the national framework of qualifications leading to a QQI level 6 Advanced Craft Certificate.

Apprenticeship has long been an accelerator for individual and corporate development in Ireland.

Generation Apprenticeship is a major expansion project to more than double the number of learners of all ages and backgrounds taking the apprenticeship route.

This promises to be a huge source of inspiration in opening apprenticeship into a full range of twenty-first century industries and skill sets.

SOLAS has the responsibility for promoting and overseeing the training and education of all the apprentices in the current 27 designated crafts.

A national standard is delivered for each craft based on the occupational analysis of that craft, written as key learning outcomes and structured in modular format.

New Apprenticeships New Apprenticeships are currently available and are being developed in conjunction with SOLAS and lead industrial consortia across a wide range of industries and sectors, some of which include New Apprenticeships will combine

The 27 designated crafts are as follows:

"All of our courses lead to nationally and internationally industry recognised accreditation.

Furthermore, many of our courses lead directly into employment"

• Agricultural Mechanics * • Aircraft Mechanics * • Brick and Stonelaying • Carpentry & Joinery • Construction Plant Fitting * • Electrical * • Electrical Instrumentation * • Electronic Security Systems * • Farriery • Floor & Wall Tiling * • Heavy Vehicle Mechanics * • Industrial Insulation • Instrumentation * • Metal Fabrication • Motor Mechanics* • Painting & Decorating * • Pipefitting • Plastering • Plumbing * • Print Media * • Refrigeration & Air Conditioning * • Stonecutting & Stonemasonry • Sheet Metalworking • Toolmaking • Vehicle Body Repairs * • Wood Manufacturing and Finishing • Mechanical Automation and Maintenance - MAMF * * A person wishing to become an apprentice in one of the trades marked * must pass a colour– vision test approved by SOLAS.

In Training Services we run traineeships in the following areas

Culinary Skills

Engineering

Hospitality

Professional Bus and Coach Driving

Software Developer

Van Delivery Driver

Healthcare Assistant

Office Administration

practical on-the-job learning in sponsor companies, with off-the-job training, which will be delivered by the ETBs and/ or recognised training and education providers. This will allow Apprentices to develop technical knowledge through formal qualifications, as well as key workplace skills and competencies through experiential learning.

The programmes will lead to QQI awards from level 5 to 9 on the NFQ. The duration of these apprenticeships will range from two to four years, depending on the chosen field of learning and the degree of difficulty involved in meeting the learning outcomes for the particular apprenticeship programme.

Community Training The community Training centres (CTC’s) provide training to early school leavers aged between 16 and 21 years, who are most in need of basic vocational training.

This training provision is divided between in centre learning and linked work experience. Courses lead to Major awards at QQI Level 3 and 4 or VTCT awards.

New Apprenticeships are currently available and are being developed in conjunction with SOLAS and lead industrial consortia across a wide range of industries and sectors, some of which include: • Accounting Technician, Level 6 • Industrial Electrical Engineer, Level 7 • Commis Chef, Levels 6 • Financial Services, Levels 6-8 • Insurance Practitioner, Level 8 • Manufacturing Engineer, Level 7 • Polymer Processing Technologist, Level 7 • Manufacturing Technician, Level 7 • ICT Network Engineer, Level 6 • ICT Software Developer, Level 6

Our Contact Details:

www.kcetbtraining.ie

Office: Training Services, Kilkenny and Carlow ETB, Unit 4 Danville Business Park, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 7813014

Training Centre: Unit K, IDA Business Park, Purcellsinch, Dublin Road, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 789456

Provision co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union

A number of Kilkenny and Carlow ETB Further Education and Training programmes are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

Education 39

RESEARCH & INNOVATION NEWS ........................................................................................

DCU research to examine the impact of sextortion and corruption UL research reveals runners who socialise with others before a race perform better THE many health benefits of running are well known, but new University of Limerick research has revealed that runners who socialise with other runners before an event tend to perform better.

A study by researchers at UL and Oxford highlighting the benefit of sociality for running experiences and performances looked at participants in parkrun, a free weekly community-based 5km run that takes place in over 2,000 locations worldwide.

The research team found that the social element of the weekly 5km event has significant benefits. Feeling included in the parkrun community and being social before the event (eg, chatting with friends) were both associated with higher enjoyment and increased energy levels during the 5km run.

Further, the study found that increases in energy levels linked to feelings of social support and inclusion led to faster 5km run times (between 3 and 12 seconds faster, on average), with no corresponding increase in perceived effort.

Queen’s research show plastics threaten marine biodiversity NEW research at Queen’s University highlights the impact that microplastics are having on hermit crabs, which play an important role in balancing the marine ecosystem.

The research found that microplastics are affecting the behaviour of hermit crabs, namely their ability during shell fight contests, which are vital to their survival.

The new study builds on previous research by Queen’s University that showed hermit crabs were less likely to touch or enter high-quality shells when exposed to microplastics.

40 Education

DCU’s Anti-Corruption Research centre has been awarded €319,258.27 through the Irish Research Council to examine how sextortion kills entrepreneurship, innovation, and the escape from poverty.

Sextortion is a form of corruption in which public officials use their public power to sexually exploit those whom they have power over. Like most forms of corruption, the burden falls particularly hard on those who are already vulnerable.

The funding, to be awarded over three years, will be used to fund the project Corruption, Gender and Sustainable Development project (COGS), and will investigate previously unexplored ways in which corruption undermines gender equality, increases humanitarian need by closing off economic opportunity, and blocks climate action.

Burden of corruption DCU’s research partner is Burkino Faso’s Université Norbert Zongo. COGS will carry out interviews with female entrepreneurs and politicians in Burkina Faso to under-

stand how sextortion and other forms of corruption can impose specific and extremely damaging costs on women seeking a career in business or politics. COGS will also analyse data collected from across Africa and the rest of the world to model how the burden of corruption falls most heavily on women.

Data from Transparency International tells us that 20% of people in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa have either experienced sextortion themselves or know someone who has when accessing government services. In Ireland, the corresponding number is 4% - representing a lower but unacceptable level of suffering.

MU researchers awarded over €400,000 in IRC COALESCE funding MAYNOOTH University humanities projects have been awarded a combined grant of €403,000 as part of the Irish Research Council COALESCE research fund to confront societal challenges.

The funding has been awarded to Dr Richard Roche, Department of Psychology, and to Dr David Doyle, Department of Law. The projects will explore the benefits of tailored interventions to cognition, memory

and psychological health, and the ethics of patent law in the case of de-extinct animals.

The COALESCE fund is run by the Irish Research Council under the Collaborative Alliances for Societal Challenges (COALESCE) programme. A total €5.3 million was allocated amongst 21 successful projects that will address key national and global societal issues.

Taoiseach opens new €6.7m NovaUCD expansion A N E W €6 . 7 m i l l i o n e x p a n s i o n o f NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs at University College Dublin, has been opened by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD. The project saw the renovation and expansion of NovaUCD’s East Courtyard, increasing the hub’s capacity to house hightech start-ups by over 50% - meaning more than 450 founders and their teams can be supported by NovaUCD. The new facility also includes 20+ business units and laboratories and a new co-working space.

Since opening in 2003 NovaUCD has developed a range of comprehensive business support programmes, including

Professor Orla Feely, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD and Tom Flanagan, UCD Director of Enterprise and Commercialisation

accelerator programmes, and a peer-support ecosystem of experienced mentors, founders, alumni, investors and sponsors, of entrepreneurs at NovaUCD and across the UCD campus.

For enquiries or one-to-one consultations regarding our courses contact our Guidance Counsellors: Derek Ball – Dball.dbc@Lmetb.ie Meabh Nimmo – Mnimmo.dbc@Lmetb.ie 01 – 802 6577

HEALTHCARE DEPARTMENT Social Studies/Social Care Youth and Community Work *New Applied Psychology Criminology and Psychology *New Childcare/Special Needs Assistant * Pre-University Nursing with Midwifery Option Health Care Assistant Pre-Paramedic Fire and Ambulance *New Physiotherapy Studies *New Occupational Therapy Studies *New Pharmacy Assistant

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

Pre-University Science Pre-University Agricultural Science Pre-University Forensic Science *New Pre-University Environmental Science *New Pre-University Sports Science Pre-University Food Science-Nutrition, Health and Well-being *New Pre-University Animal Science *New *

ARTS / LAW /TEACHING DEPARTMENT Pre-University Arts Pre-University Liberal Arts Pre-University Teaching Pre-University Law Pre-University Business Law

BUSINESS DEPARTMENT

Pre-University Business * Pre-University Business and Accounting *New Legal and Medical Secretary/Office Administration Office Accounts Administration and Information Processing (Family Friendly Timetable) *New Journalism, Digital Media and Public Relations *New Tourism and Business *

COMPUTERS AND DESIGN DEPARTMENT

Software Development & Games Design *New Creative Digital Media Online Marketing/eBusiness Computer Systems and Networks Graphic Design Architectural Technology and Design *New Media and Film Production Music Performance Sound Production Art (Fine Art or Design/2D) *New Animation *New

SERVICES AND LEISURE DEPARTMENT

Airline Studies Beauty Therapy * Hairdressing * Professional Cookery * Sports Management and Coaching Sports Injury Prevention and Massage Therapy Animal Care & Grooming* Horsemanship and Equine Business * * Level 6 Option Offered

Applications open in November 2021

Education 41

Record graduate success for Dunboyne College OVER 900 students graduated this week from Dunboyne College in a unique graduation ceremony. The virtual online event took place as the record figures for graduate progression and employment were announced by the college.

Dunboyne College Principal Denis Leonard revealed that CAO figures show over 90% of students who graduated from Dunboyne College and applied for third level places received at least one offer.

Demand for places The Dunboyne Principal also announced that Dunboyne College is now among the top 5 largest colleges of further education in the country and the largest in the north east region. The demand for places at the college is out stripping supply.

Over 2530 students applied for 1000 places for 2020 entry. This is expected to continue in 2021 as new courses in Occupational Therapy, Software Development and Games Design, Animal Science and PreApprenticeship Banking, Insurance and Financial Services were announced.

The college has already accepted several hundred applicants for places in 2021. This figure is expected to grow with Virtual Open Evenings scheduled on Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th January 2021 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

42 Education

Speaking in advance of the unique graduation ceremony Mr Leonard said that the college felt it was very important to celebrate the achievements of the graduates. “2020 was a very strange year for them, a graduating class always has reason to be proud. But this group of students have added reason.

"They adapted very quickly to online learning and achieved great success despite the disruption to their studies. As a college we felt it was more important than ever to honour the graduates of 2020 and their resilience in finishing out their course and progressing to Universities and Institutes of Technology and employment in such great numbers.”

Virtual ceremony Drawing on the skills of its Film and Media Production department the virtual ceremony was broadcast live to graduates and their families with an opening address by Mr Leonard, a summary of the student’s academic achievements and their journey thought the year from Deputy Principals Irene Togher and Emer Cloak as well as a special address from the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. In a series of three ceremonies the name of each graduating student was announced by the academic staff.

Mr Leonard revealed that

Dunboyne College is represented in nearly every third level college in the country from Dublin to Dundalk, Athlone to Galway, Waterford to Cork to Tralee.

In congratulating the graduating c l a s s o f 2 0 2 0 D e n i s L e o n a rd , Principal, Dunboyne College revealed the highest progression rates to universities and Institutes of Technology in the history of the Meath based college.

“Three hundred and seventy-four (374) students received honours degree Level 8 offers and two hundred and forty-eight 248 received a Level 7 ordinary degree offers. These figures do not include the many mature students who received early offers and those who took up offers in the UK for nursing, law or sports degrees.

"They adapted very quickly to online learning and achieved great success despite the disruption to their studies.

As a college we felt it was more important than ever to honour the graduates of 2020 and Strong progression their resilience "In addition to these students the in finishing out majority of the students who studied their course" on the vocational skills courses obtained employment, this is particular relevant in the service and leisure courses. The strong progression to direct employment must be noted too, as many students choose not to make a CAO application but to upskill with a chosen sector, thus enhancing their CV for future career opportunities.”

“Distance proved no barrier to Dunboyne College students. From

Nursing and Midwifery in Dundalk, to Sports Science in Carlow, to Bio-Veterinary Science in Athlone, to Sports Management in Waterford, to Environmental or Marine Science in Galway, to Arts in Cork or Forensic Investigation in Sligo, students travelled to access the exact course they wanted."

As usual some of our local universities had the bulk of the offers. In total there were 130 offers for Maynooth University with 75 students receiving offers for First Arts, while 10 were offered Social Science, 13 received offers of place for Science and 7 for computer science with 14 offers across a range of business course.

Growing university link The growing link between our pre-university law course saw 3 students receiving offers for law, with some students also offered places in psychology and early childhood studies.

32 students were offered places in DCU with 5 of these receiving offers for Nursing and 3 for Law. This is a remarkable achievement given the limited number of places available in N u r s i n g a c c o rd i n g t o t h e Dunboyne Principal.

28 students from Dunboyne College progressed to UCD (including nine into various science courses), while there are 14 students studying in Trinity College on courses ranging from Law to Dental Nursing.

T h e r e w e r e 7 o ff e r s o n courses in National College of Ireland and 5 for each of the National College of Art and Design and the Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

There were 92 offers of Level 8 places and 166 at Level places to Dunboyne graduates by the new TUD Dublin which comprises of DIT, IT Blanchardstown and Tallaght IT. The bulk of these were in Social Care, Business, Computer/IT courses, Pharmacy, Tourism, or Sports Management and Coaching, Other college offers include: • Dundalk Institute of Technology...27 • Athlone Institute of Technology...21 • Waterford Institute of Technology...11

"Dropout rates for students who do a level 5 QQI course are less than 3% on progression compared to up to 10% in universities and up to 33% on some third level courses for Leaving Cert entrants"

Just one donation can save up to 3 lives We need over 3,000 units of blood every week

• Tralee Institute of Technology...7 • Carlow Institute of Technology and Carlow College...23 In addition, some students opted for private colleges with eleven offers for Dublin Business School in 2020 and five for Griffith College. Many students went to the UK this year to study nursing and many of other graduates attainted immediate employment in areas like childcare, sports, computers, health care, business, hair and beauty, tourism and professional cookery.

Flexible options Reflecting on the success of the students Mr Leonard said that the Dunboyne College sends more students to universities and Institutes of Technology than the majority of secondary schools in the country.

“The flexible options in Dunboyne allow students to sample various modules in September to make sure they are pursuing the correct course choice. Dropout rates for students who do a level 5 QQI course are less than 3% on progression compared to up to 10% in universities and up to 33% on some third level courses for leaving cert entrants.”

The Dunboyne Principal believes that the skills the students acquire will support them in their further studies. “As students also learn referencing, research and self-directed learning they tend to stay the full third level course afterwards, unlike many who go straight from leaving cert who are often not very sure of their options.”

Download the "Blood Donor Schools Education Pack" at giveblood.ie or call us on 01 432 2800 for more information.

Every new donor, every new donation saves many lives. #EveryOneCounts Follow us for more updates and news

The ISPCC Shield Programme The ISPCC Shield Programme provides a range of resources, giving children and young people the necessary coping skills to deal with and protect themselves from bullying.

Discover more at www.ispcc.ie/shield-anti-bullying-programme/

Education 43

Want to go to college?

Sorted...

WHEN summer is over, seaside towns have more to offer than icecream cones and candy floss, and the Victorian seaside town of Dún Laoghaire is no exception. In the quiet end, bordering on leafy Monkstown, a restrained revolution is playing out in a modest building on Cumberland Street.

The warriors are students and teachers carrying the banner for that educational sector that does not receive the same media attention as other educational sectors; extraordinary when you think that it is Further Education colleges like DFEi that are very real channels into third level institutions for school leavers who are disappointed with their Leaving Certificate results, and mature students who are looking to improve their prospects. It’s what a casual observer would call a win, win situation in the educational stakes.

Personal missions So, let’s dust off our imaginary satchels and go inside the building where we will be met by a veritable ant colony – stairs and corridors filled with students of all ages and from diverse backgrounds, each focused on their own very personal mission.

The short-term mission might be getting a seat in the canteen; the longer term one will, of course, be getting a place in a third level college or finding employment; but students always work better on a full stomach, so, while the queue for the canteen moves at its own pace let’s take a quick tour of DFEi. If you are lost, Kieran at reception will point you in the right direction, so don’t hesitate to ask him. Perhaps you would like to see the Learning Centre, and why not? It is a very bright and attractive space, specifically designed as a study hub replete with banks of computers. It is also 44 Education

on this corridor that you will get that recognisable smell of newly sawn wood. If you dream of designing and making your own furniture, or making and repairing musical instruments, this is where you need to fulfil that dream.

Or perhaps you look at the bigger picture – the buildings that house the furniture and the musical instruments. If this is the case, you need to look at DFEi’s Architectural Te c h n o l o g y & D e s i g n o r Construction & Engineering Technology courses.

STEM cells It may seem insincere to say that STEM is a ‘no brainer’ but when you think about it, it’s true. Courses related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics have proven to be reliable and sustainable routes to gainful employment. DFEi’s Pre-University Science courses in Laboratory Techniques and Food Science & Nutrition are the perfect first steps to a STEM career.

Indeed, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs has identified a dearth of graduates to fill available scientific jobs. If you are more attracted to the binary than the organic, a bit ‘nerdy’ perhaps, or a fan of the IT Crowd, you need to check out DFEi’s Computing & Electronic Technology or Software Development courses.

These courses are supported by FIT (Fast Track into IT); a unique IT led initiative giving students the opportunity gain the skills that lead to employment. It’s true then; STEM is a ‘no brainer’.

‘Front of house’ roles Of course, while the STEM people are beavering away in the background, other personality types like to be ‘front of house’, or managing situations. If you fall into this category you should consider DFEI’s courses in Marketing & Event

Management, Business Studies with Law, or Police & Security Studies.

If your desired theatre of action falls into the medical sphere, DFEi’s Community & Social Care course will get you started on the path that will enable you to work with dementia sufferers, or people with disabilities, mental health or social issues.

If your heart is set on the nursing profession, you need to consider DFEi’s very popular Nursing Studies course. The success rates from this course are very high for progression to third level nursing degree programmes in Ireland and the UK. Some people are attracted to the unconditional love of animals; and where would the world be without domestic pets, farm animals and wildlife? Delivered by practicing professionals, DFEi’s Animal Health Care courses boast state of the art facilities and provide regular field trips.

On occasion, you might be surprised by a preponderance of dogs around the building; probably a clue that the animal grooming class has gone ‘live’ or the canine obedience class needs willing woofters. You will be relieved to learn that the large farm animals do not stalk the corridors of DFEi but are instead receive visits from the animal care students.

Going digital The doings of humans, animals, and machines make for an interconnected machine in a complex world; a world that needs to be interpreted, entertained, investigated, and reported on. We’ve got it all covered at DFEi with courses in TV & Digital Film, Digital Radio Production, Journalism for the Digital Age, Sound Production, and Music Production.

The Higher National Diploma in Music Production is taught by working professionals.

On each of these courses you will use industry standard equipment and software. You can do your own

Don’t have enough points?

come to DFEi recording in the sound studio, broadcast your own show in the radio studio, or edit your own programme in the TV studio. Why not tune in to 107.8fm and listen to DFEi’s very own radio station, The Wave? You will find an archive of accomplished documentaries.

Of course, nothing goes unnoticed by journalists, and the journalism students in DFEi are given every opportunity to report on the doings of the humans, animals and machines that make for that interconnected machine in a complex world. Having visited the Criminal Courts of Justice and listened to the evidence in a murder trial, sat in on a Dail debate, or grappled with the spectres of Brexit and Trump, the journalism students have plenty to write about.

will be taught basic research skills, referencing systems, and general academic conventions across all courses. Experience at DFEi has taught us that every student does not learn in the same way or at the same pace. If you have particular learning support requirements, they will be met at DFEii. A tried and tested way DFEi’s quality assured courses are open to anyone who is seeking the knowledge, skills and competencies to enhance their employment opportunities or educational progression.

If you did not get enough points for your chosen third level course, consider spending a year in DFEi. It’s another tried and tested way to get a place in college, as incidentally, is our legendary Arts, Culture & History course – an excellent founda-

"The academic life of DFEi is punctuated by a vibrant calendar of social events showcasing the talents of the students.

If you like an audience, there’s a captive one in DFEi.

tion for pursuing an arts degree in NUI. With subjects like archaeology, folklore and local history, this course is perfect for those of you who want to use your fascination with the past to propel your academic career forward. The formula is simple – eight QQI Level 5 or Level 6 modules with as many distinctions as you can get.

But it takes work on your part. You need to come to class, complete assignments on time and prepare for exams. The teachers are there for you every step of the way if you are there for them.

Find out more Look at our website on www.dfei. ie; it’s really rather attractive and the menu is quite tempting; our brochure is not bad either. We don’t offer ice-cream or candy floss but we do offer a fine education.

Showcasing talent The academic life of DFEi is punctuated by a vibrant calendar of social events showcasing the talents of the students. If you like an audience, there’s a captive one in DFEi. Sound Production students compose their own material to audition for the annual college album release.

The skills of the Event Management, Office Administration and Security students are always sought for college events. Gigs, concerts, and talent shows are enjoyed by both students and staff, usually in the canteen, also known as The Hub, which as well as providing hot food, is equipped with a stage, sound booth and acoustic panelling.

Ladder to a third level DFEi’s courses are designed to meet current industry standards.

Students are taught the fundamental skills and survival techniques that will put them on the ladder to a third level qualification.

You will be taught how to present work in written and oral format. You Education 45

Your Progression Starts Here

46 Education

.....................................................................................................................GREEN NEWS

Campus Living Labs initiative aims for a transformation THE Irish Universities Association has launched Campus Living Labs, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a project aimed at reducing waste and increasing recycling on IUA University campuses.

This two-year initiative, will design and deliver behavioural and infrastructural interventions targeting consumption as well as the waste management habits of campus populations.

Funded by the National Waste P r e v e n t i o n Programme (NWPP), a Government of Ireland initiative, the project aims to prevent waste, improve waste segregation and increase recycling across university campuses.

Unique ecosystems With over 162,000 students across eight campuses, Irish Universities are unique ecosystems with populations like that of a small town or village, making them ideal testbeds or living labs for trialling waste and recycling interventions.

With a focus on reducing food waste and eliminating certain single use plastics, the project will recommend and introduce best practice on waste and recycling to improve the overall sustainability of Irish campuses, moving Universities towards a circular economy.

The waste and recycling interventions introduced under Campus Living Labs will also assist the higher education sector in meeting wider national targets, especially under Ireland’s Climate Action Plan and the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy.

Multiple aims The Campus Living Labs initiative is particularly aligned with several aims set out in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, including education to improve waste segregation, halving our food waste by 2030, improving recycling infrastructure, and banning certain single-use plastics in line with the Single Use Plastics Directive.

E-waste reaches record levels THIS year’s worldwide mountain of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) will total an estimated 57.4 million tonnes – greater than the weight of the Great Wall of China, Earth’s heaviest artificial object, according to the WEEE Forum.

Last year’s Global E-waste Monitor 2020 reported that an estimated 53.6 million metric tonnes (Mt) of WEEE was generated in 2019. That represented a 21% jump in the five years since 2014 (with e-waste on a predicted course to 74 Mt by 2030).

Global e-waste generation is therefore growing annually by 2 Mt, or about 3 to 4%, a problem attributed to higher consumption rates of electronics (increasing 3% annually), shorter product lifecycles and limited repair options.

According to estimates in Europe, where the problem is best studied, 11 of 72 electronic items in an average household are no longer in use or are broken. Annually per citizen, another 4 to 5 kg of unused electrical and electronic products are hoarded in Europe prior to being discarded.

When it comes to mobile phones, a French study estimates that 54 to 113 million mobile phones alone, weighing 10 to 20 tonnes, are sleeping in drawers and other storage spaces in French homes.

Irish seas now in Marine Protected Area

The project will: • Directly address & support the sustainable campus ambitions of Ireland’s universities.

• Link to the Sustainable Development Goals for Ireland, particularly Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production and Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.

• Assist campuses deliver on current and future legislative requirements regarding waste management, including the following: • reducing the generation of waste, in particular waste that is not suitable for preparing for reuse or recycling.

• increasing the segregation & recycling of waste (particularly food waste).

• addressing UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 to reduce by 50% per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels.

THE Government has joined 14 other countries and the EU in making a legally binding decision to establish the North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Sea basin Marine Protected Area (NACES MPA). The MPA covers 595,196 km² (over eight times the size of Ireland’s land area) and comprises a vitally important area for seabirds in the North Atlantic.

The designation of the new MPA takes place amidst a worrying decline in seabird numbers.

Located in the High Seas, the designated area is home to up to five million seabirds across 22 different species, including five – such as the Atlantic Puffin – that are globally threatened. Other threatened species, like the wide-ranging Basking Shark and Leatherback Turtle, also use this area.

Ros a Mhíl could be hub for floating turbines A report for Údarás na Gaeltachta has proposed that Ros a Mhíl habour be a centre for the development of the floating wind turbine industry off the west coast of Ireland, with the possibility of 900 jobs in the Galway Gealtacht.

Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) outlines the possibility of 27 GW of floating wind in Irish waters (7GW on the West Coast region closest to Ros a Mhíl).

Ros a Mhíl has a natural 12 metre deep access but would also require extensive investment.

Education 47

Liberties College

The Pathway to YOUR Future ESTABLISHED well over 50 years ago, Liberties College has earned its well-deserved reputation as a major p l a y e r i n t h e a re a o f F u r t h e r Education and Training in Dublin.

Situated in the heart of the Liberties and just a stone’s throw from bustling Grafton Street, we attract students from all corners of Ireland as well as from all over Dublin and its surrounding areas.

Our range of courses caters for school leavers, people who wish to upskill or re-skill, as well as people returning to education.

With over 600 students across our two campuses, the mix of nationalities, ages, backgrounds and experiences makes for an exciting culture and atmosphere in the College.

In addition to the academic sched-

"Liberties College is as much about personal development as it is about academic development and it helped me believe in myself and showed me what I could achieve"

ule, students engage in a variety of extracurricular activities including practical workshops, seminars, educational and cultural trips, visits, shows and a range of hobby and relaxation options – so in such a busy college, with so much happening, you’ll always have an interesting calendar.

This year, Liberties College introduced 3 New Courses: 1. Textiles – Heritage Crafts Revival and Renewal This course focuses on developing artistic skills, techniques and knowledge, based on the traditional crafts of weaving, embroidery, lace making and felting.

Students receive the QQI Level 5 Award in Design 5M2208 2. Pre-Apprenticeship in Software Development This course prepares students to progress into the FIT Apprenticeship in software Development, where they can “Earn as they Learn”, in companies such as, Google, S a l e s f o rc e , M i c ro s o f t , A p p l e , Facebook, Linkedin and many more.

Students receive the QQI Level 5 Award in Software Development 3. National Tour Guiding Award with Business Option This course is for people who have a genuine interest in their locality and are enthusiastic about sharing Ireland’s history, tradition, culture and folklore with others.

The business option provides an insight into running your own business. Students will receive the QQI Level 6 Special Purpose Award in National Tour Guiding together with

48 Education

The QQI Level 6 Award in Tourism with Business.

The feedback received from graduates of Liberties College has been excellent over the years. Many highlight the new skills and confidence gained, which enabled then to take up employment in their chosen area or gain entry to third level institutions to complete Level 7 or Level 8 Degrees, Masters Degrees and even PhDs….

“Liberties College was the catalyst for everything I have done in my life since I left there in 2004, with a Certificate in Youth Work and Community Development – it started a journey that would transform my life.

"I completed a degree in youth work, became a project leader in the John Bosco Youth Centre, where I’ve worked for the past 14 years and am currently studying for a master’s degree in PR and Journalism.

"Liberties College is as much

about personal development as it is about academic development and it helped me believe in myself and showed me what I could achieve” Stephen Sharpe, Youth Studies 2004 “I enjoyed every moment of TAP. This eye-opening course has reversed my attitude towards education and prepared me for university.

"Most importantly, it lighted a spark of interest in the world around me, which I’ll keep forever. I believe the unique opportunity to study at Trinity College afterwards puts TAP ahead of most other PLCs in the country.”

Daniel Craig, TAP Student 2018 “Completing my Travel & Tourism Level 5 Course at Liberties College has opened up a world of opportunities for me.

"I have since graduated as an official Cabin Crew Member with Emirates and have been travelling all over the world” Shannon Foley, Travel & Tourism 2015 “I received huge amounts of support and encouragement from all the tutors at Liberties College.

“I currently work as a Programme Facilitator in a day service for adults with disabilities, whilst completing my degree in Social Care at night” Mairead

E H T O E T K TA STEPS E R T U S FIR R FUT W O U N .IE YO G LLEGE N I L ESCO L O R ERTI

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Blank T: (01) 454 0044 E: info@liberties.cdetb.ie @libertiescollege @LibertiesCollD8

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Our new preapprenticeship courses in ICT/Networking and Software Development open doors to careers in IT.

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With QQI Level 5 and Level 6 qualifications, our students greatly improve their prospects for a third level qualification.

ive at re rts A

Looking forward to welcoming you to our College Open Day on Friday January 21st 2022

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Our Guidance and support services take enormous pride in helping students to reach their potential and a range of student supports are provided in this regard.

It is gratifying each year to see our students blossoming, as they engage in courses and activities that interest and inspire them. Many discover individual skills and qualities they weren’t even aware they possessed.

So, if you’re looking for a way to kick start your career, in a progressive and supportive environment, just log on for more info to our website www.libertiescollege.ie and follow us on Facebook, Instagram at #libertiescollege…… And twitter @ LibertiesCollD8 Looking forward to seeing you in Liberties College, the pathway to further study and to your future career.

Our practical courses meet the needs of students and employers and are focused on emerging employment and 3rd Level opportunities.

Con tinuing Edu cation

Education 49

Getting mature stude How are mature students getting on in our education system and what can be done to improve access and outcomes.

The HEA set out to find out and have produced a comprehensive report LIFE long Learning is a phrase that growth in the Irish economy.

As noted by the US Nobel Prize encapsulates the idea that people will start formal learning at three or Winner, economist Kenneth Arrow, four and that it will continue to the in a review of the Irish economy, grave. But there many cases where “education is important in increasing the first phase of people's lives individual productivity and higher leaves them short of education. education is now playing a more Poverty and exclusion of certain important role in increasing labour groups as well as personal situations productivity than in the past.”

The HEA defines mature students Study of means that large numbers of Irish adults miss out and the only way to as those 23 years or over on 1 Mature Student make it up is as mature students in January of their year of entry to Participation in higher education. The targets as set Higher Education adulthood.

Indecon International Research out in the National Plan for Equity of is available at hea.ie Economists were appointed by the Access to Higher Education 2015Higher Education Authority (HEA) to 2019 (National Access Plan or NAP) undertake an independent research uses a definition of those students study on mature student participa- who are first-time entrants.

"Access to A summary of Indecon’s recom- higher tion in higher education.

The main aims of the project were mendations based on detailed education is to examine levels of educational research evaluation of participation critical in attainment of the Irish population; by mature students in higher educa- ensuring that to analyse the trends in mature stu- tion in Ireland is listed here. individuals The research undertaken as part of realise their dent participation; to investigate the barriers and challenges for mature this study shows that in many cases potential [v3 June 21] HEA Mature Student Participation in HE.qxp_Layout Page of 10 participation by the low17:25 levels students, especially for NAP target1 04/06/2021 and are not groups; to assess funding supports; certain groups reflects specific barri- left behind. to review supporting structures; to ers and challenges rather than a lack Access examine models of delivery and to of interest. to higher STUDY OF MATURE STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION: develop recommendations to inform education iii | WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE 1 | Efforts internationally to future policy initiatives. also impacts This study is of particular impor- promote access focus on employment The four NAP target groups (namely persons from disadvantaged areas, Irish Travellers, persons with a disability and disadvantaged communities tance as access to higher education prospects and lone parents) recorded lower educational attainment levels than the national average. This is particularly the case for The Irish National Access is criticalofinthe ensuring individuals overalllevel of members Traveller that Community, where in 2016 a majority of the population hadPlan a higheston educational (NAP) haswith overall targets maturefromproductivity" realise their potential are not primary-school educationand or below.

Loneleft parents, persons a disability andfor individuals disadvantaged areas also had low levels of attainment. students, defined as first-time new behind.

Access toeducational higher education also impacts on employment pros- entrants who are 23 years or over in pects and on overall productivity and January of their year of entry.

NAP Group by Highest Education Level, 2011 and 2016

Persons from Persons Disadvant Lone with a Irish aged Parents Disability Travellers Areas

Highest level of education obtained 2011 2016

12%

43%

26%

2011

14%

62%

2011

36%

31%

2011

21%

2016 0%

36%

11% 13%

46%

17%

19%

42% 20%

16%

33%

37%

2016

12%

28%

69%

2016

Primary or below

44%

31%

40%

Lower secondary or Upper Secondary

23% 60%

16% 20% 14% 18%

80%

Post Leaving Certificate

100% Third Level

Note: In the case of Irish Travellers and persons with a disability, the category “Post-Leaving Certificate” includes: Technical/Vocational, Advanced 50 Education Apprenticeship. Statistics from CSO also report “Other” and “Not stated” as additional categories which we exclude from Certificate/Completed the graph. Source: Indecon Analysis of CSO data.

Internationally, efforts to increase participation by students generally are aimed at those from more disadvantaged communities, whether they are mature students or not. This is also reflected in the focus on specific NAP groups within the Irish National Access Plan.

2 | Educational attainment rates in Ireland are high Educational attainment rates in Ireland are very high, with 40% having achieved third-level education and only 7% have primary level or below. Within the 25 - 44-year age cohort, levels of participation in higher education have surpassed 50%.

However, despite the overall levels, NAP target group members have relatively low levels of educational attainment.

3 | Number of mature students in HE declined as unemployment fell The evidence also shows greater volatility among males than females.

The decline in the number of mature students may in part reflect the significant increase in overall higher educational attainment.

4 | More mature students attended institutes of technology than universities More mature students attended Institutes of Technology than universities and represent a larger portion of student intake in their respective institution type.

The greater number of mature students attending institutes of technology is likely to have been influenced by the duration and type of programmes provided.

5 | A majority of mature students attend HE on a fulltime basis While a majority of mature students participate in higher education on a full-time basis, older candidates and members of the Traveller Community are more likely to participate on a part-time basis. 90% of

ents back to learning "Some areas were seen as needing development, namely availability of part-time courses, the options for online or distance learning, and flexibility in time to complete modules"

part-time undergraduate courses are undertaken by mature students, whereas 15% of full-time undergraduate students are mature students.

6 | Financial cost viewed as the single greatest barrier Financial cost is viewed as the single greatest barrier to participation by mature students. This is a particularly important barrier for the NAP target groups.

Other barriers include family responsibilities, job commitments, timing of study, and distance. Those in NAP groups reported higher barriers than other respondents.

7 | There are existing supports for mature student participation in HE There are existing supports available. These include: SUSI, BTEA, Free Fees Initiative, Springboard+, Parttime Education Option, National Childcare Scheme and the Student Assistance Fund, as well as a number of charitable/philanthropic bodies which support access (eg, St. Vincent de Paul, Uversity).

There is also funding to support higher education institutions to facilitate students with disabilities.

The main support is through SUSI grants which have remained unchanged for the last number of years.

The Government has initiated a review of SUSI, the terms of reference for which include examining the value of the maintenance grants and income thresholds, the availability of grants for part-time students, supports for postgraduates, and how Ireland compares against other jurisdictions.

8 | Non-acceptance rates of SUSI grant awards are higher for mature students The number of refusals of SUSI grant awards are higher for mature students than for other students.

This may, in part, be because of eligibility criteria for different programmes.

9 | Three main methods of increasing participation: In-reach; Outreach; Flexibility Apart from funding supports and changes to delivery options there are three main methods of facilitating increased participation among mature and other students: In-reach - actions by HEIs to create new ways for students to access existing programmes; Outreach - proactive efforts to widen participation and create partnerships with wider community; and Flexibility - providing education in locations, modes and at times that best suit students.

10 | Guidance and peer supports deemed to work well Positive views were expressed for mature students on guidance and support, including career information, community supports and help with specific skills. However, for a minority percentage of mature students, some aspects of supports were perceived as working poorly.

Survey of Barriers to Participation in Higher Education

11 | FET courses and/or community education is an important pathway to HE Further Education and Training providers play an important role in encouraging students to participate in HE. Almost three in four mature students reported having participated in education and training prior to engaging in HE. Over half participated in a FET course, while 21% participated in a community education course.

12 | Issues concerning parttime, online learning and flexibility relevant for some mature students For some mature students, aspects of the current model of education delivery represent barriers to participation. Some areas were seen as needing adjustment/development by 20% or more of mature students, namely availability of part-time courses, the options for online or distance learning, and flexibility in time to complete modules.

Education 51

The Infographic ■●▲

52 Education

The way we wore THE history of Irish fashion in clothing and jewellery. Come and see garments made in Irish fabrics and the importance of textile production and clothing manufacture to the economy of the country.

The Way We Wore exhibition displays clothing and jewellery worn in Ireland principally from the 1760s to the 1960s.

Although many still think of ‘Irish Dress’ in the context of woollens worn in the West of Ireland, this exhibition shows that in the past the majority of Irish people, even those who wore locally woven fabrics (silk, linen, wool and cotton), dressed in styles that competed with the fashion conscious of Europe.

The exhibition of jewellery features some of the materials from which jewellery has been made, the variety of reasons for wearing jewellery, and the range of styles that people have bought and worn over the last few centuries.

Location: National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, South Block, Benburb Street, Dublin 7.

Are you free?

So are we!

Free admission to the greatest collections of Irish heritage, culture and history in the world.

Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7.

LUAS Red Line Museum Stop

Open: Sun & Mon 1pm to 5pm.

Tues to Sat 10am to 5pm.

Closed: Christmas Day, St Stephen's Day & Good Friday.

Information: Tel: +353 (0) 1 6777 444 Email: info@museum.ie www.museum.ie

Are you free?

So are we!

Free admission to the greatest collections of Irish heritage, culture and history in the world.

Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Merrion Street, Dublin 2.

Benburb Street, Dublin 7.

Turlough Park, Co. Mayo.

Outreach Events, Guided Tours & Lectures.

Museum Shops & Cafés.

Open: Sunday & Monday 1pm to 5pm.

Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm.

Closed: Christmas Day, St Stephen's Day & Good Friday.

For further information: Tel: +353 (0) 1 6777 444 Email: info@museum.ie Visit: www.museum.ie

Education 53

RECENTLY PUBLISHED ...........................................................................................................

Voices: An Open Door Book of Stories Edited by Patricia Scanlon SINCE 1998, Open Door has been introducing readers new and old to some of Ireland’s finest writers. In this our first collection of stories, we have gathered a range of voices to suit every taste. With them e s r a nging f ro m fa m i l y a n d friendship to ageing, love and childhood, there is something for everyone.

Featuring writing from: Blindboy Boatclub, Dermot Bolger, Marita Conlon-McKenna, Sinéad Crowley, Martina Devlin, Roddy Doyle, Christine Dwyer Hickey, Rachael English, Patrick Freyne, Yan Ge, Carlo Gébler, Ciara Geraghty, Ruth Gilligan, Emily Hourican, Úna-Minh Kavanagh, Louise Kennedy, Sinéad Moriarty, Graham Norton, Nuala O’Connor, Roisín O’Donnell, Sheila O’Flanagan, Colm O’Regan, Paul Perry, Deirdre Purcell, Donal Ryan, Patricia Scanlan, Melatu Uche Okorie.

New Island • Around €10

Flann O’Brien: Gallows Humour

By Ruben Borg and Paul Fagan

Beyond the Tape

By Marie Cassidy IN 1997, Dr Marie Cassidy arrived in Dublin from Glasgow. There to discuss a possible deputy state pathologist post with Professor John Harbison, instead she was whisked by police escort to a Grangegorman murder scene. There was no turning back. She became Ireland’s State Pathologist from 2004 until 2018, her image synonymous with breaking news of high-profile cases – a trusted figure in turbulent times.

Here, with the scalpel-like precision and calm authority of her trade, Marie shares her remarkable personal journey from workingclass Scotland into the world of forensic pathology, describing in candid detail the intricate processes central to solving modern crime. Beyond the Tape is a unique behind-the-scenes journey into the mysteries of unexplained and sudden death.

Hachette Ireland • Around €16

Making Belfield - Space and Place at UCD

By Ellen Rowley & Finola O'Kane (editors)

THE essays collected in this volume draw unprecedented critical attention to the centrality of politics in Flann O’Brien’s art. The organising theme of Gallows Humour focuses these inquiries onto key encounters between the body and the law, between death and the comic spirit in the author’s canon.

These innovative analyses explore the place of biopolitics in O’Brien’s modernist experimentation and popular writing through reflections on his handling of the thematics of violence, justice, capital punishment, eugenics, prosthetics, skin, prostitution, syphilis, rape, reproduction, illness, auto-immune deficiency, abjection, drinking, Gaelic games and masculinist nationalism across a diverse range of genres, intertexts, contexts.

Cork University Press • Around €39

RICHLY designed and illustrated, Making Belfield reflects on the making and shaping of UCD to celebrate 50 years of college life (Belfield 50).

Dipping in and out of recent architectural histories and older and more far flung landscapes, it brings key UCD thinkers on spatial and cultural history together as well as highlighting the Libraries and collections of the university.

"Making Belfield describes the UCD’s campus’s significant international impact on the historiography of the Modern Movement, as well as placing it firmly within Irish cultural and institutional history. Intrinsically significant, the book’s thematic analysis of Belfield as a large-scale Modernist complex is pioneering for Ireland." Prof Miles Glendinning, University of Edinburgh.

UCD Press • Around €35 Hardback

The Last Day at Bowen's Court

Ireland - A Directory 2021

By Either Walshe

By the Institute of Public Administration

This remarkable novel explores the life of the Irish novelist, Elizabeth Bowen, her time in London during the Second World War and her ‘reporting’on Irish neutrality for the Ministry of Information.

At the centre of the novel is her Blitz love affair with the Canadian diplomat, Charles Ritchie, a wartime romance that inspired her most famous novel, The Heat of the Day, a gripping story about espionage and loyalty that became a bestseller.

At the centre of the novel is a portrait of Elizabeth Bowen, one of Ireland’s most influential writers.

Somerville Press • Around €10

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Do you want to have at your fingertips the name of the human resources director of Diageo? Or the CFO of Smurfit Kappa? Or the secretary general of the Department of Justice? Or any leading business person in this country? The IPA’s Ireland – A Directory provides all of that and more in mobile App and hard copy formats.

The IPA’s Ireland is now in its 55th year, this resource lists the details of over 9,000 organisations and 11,000 contacts across both the private and public sectors. The Ireland – A Directory App is available from 1st December on Apple App Store and Google Play.

IPA • Around €70

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