New online portal for those wishing to upskill

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

A new online portal – www.gov.ie/therightcourse - a one stop shop and outlines the third level options available to those wishing to obtain or add to their qualifications has been launched this week.

The unemployed, employees and employers in Galway and South Mayo will benefit for this new facility for people seeking to upskill or retrain, said Minister for Higher Education, Simon Harris TD.

Computer science degrees provide amazing career paths, says tech leader

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Not enough students are applying for computer programming courses that are guaranteed to lead to fulfilling and well-paid roles in an exciting and increasingly creative industry, one of the country's leading tech leaders has said this week.

Exploring your college options for 2021

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Many students get obsessed with points when thinking about their college options. There are many courses for which points are only one of the requirements. Points are only a factor when a student applies for a course where there are more students than college places. Basic entry requirements are equally important.

Check out the entry requirements thoroughly as there is a requirement to apply for “restricted courses” by February 1. Explore all of the courses in the sector you are considering to ensure, first of all, that you actually want to go to college, and that you know exactly what is involved in the course/s you hope to study. “If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.”

Choose GTI for your further education

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Galway Technical Institute (GTI) is one of the leading colleges of further education in the west of Ireland. In uncertain times, a one-year course at GTI is a positive choice for your future. Experienced GTI staff have risen to the challenge of working in an online learning environment and implementing all Covid-19 safety measures. GTI has embraced this new blended learning approach and is committed to the belief that students will succeed in their chosen vocational area.

Now is an exciting time to join IT Sligo

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

IT Sligo is at the forefront of quality third level education in Ireland, exploring new ways to study by offering flexible degree options, full time online programmes, and work-based learning degrees for an ever-changing world. Often availing of added value such as work placement and accredited qualifications, IT Sligo graduates are highly sought after. The institute has been growing for 50 years and the high level of employability is exceptional in Ireland, due to the strong reputation and relationships IT Sligo has built with companies over the years.

No Leaving Cert classes in February should ensure no Leaving Cert exams in June

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

As the parent of a 2020 Leaving Cert student, I have every sympathy for the class of 2021 and the uncertainty caused by the continuation of the Covid-19 pandemic for those students and their families. The debate which surfaced in April of last year has already begun in relation to the leaving cert of 2021, and whether the exam should be conducted in the 'traditional' format, or in a 'predicted grades' scenario, similar to last year.

Galway Community College offers courses for progression to higher education courses and employment

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Galway Community College offers full-time courses in a wide variety of vocational areas designed as a step towards skilled employment or progression to higher education institutes and universities.

The changing world of work

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Up to the moment that Covid-19 blew apart the entire model by which humanity expressed itself in every aspect of our daily lived experience, nobody could have foreseen what was about to occur.

Consider university learning with St Angela’s College, Sligo

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

The academic year 2020-2021 began like no other, with a hybrid model of on-site practicals and virtual lectures. Following national guidelines, St Angela's College has put in place the measures required to ensure the safety of students and staff on campus at all times. With semester two now started, the college will continue to plan according to national safety guidelines.

College president, Amanda McCloat, said: "Our students this year have had a very different college experience, but we look forward to welcoming our 2021 cohort in safer times ahead. Being a small college means we can ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students is closely monitored, and we take pride in our community strength."

Advice for my 16 year old Self...

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?
I find it hard to conjure up advice for my 16 year-old self because that implies a certain amount of regret or “if I had my time all over again, I’d do it all/something big so differently” and that’s now how I feel about life. I would possibly tell myself to spend more time getting to know/understand myself: know your personality type, know your impulses, know what you like and what you don’t like. And, then, allow all of that to feed into key decisions you make in life - rather than corresponding to the perception others have of you. I took decisions in life that many considered a bit crazy but not only did they make sense to me, they corresponded to my personality type (but I was probably into my 30s before I was able to articulate it because I started to really understand my own personality type. I’m not sure if that makes sense - I was doing things because they made sense to me, but I didn’t really realise why they made sense to me. For example - I like ‘the shiny apple’, new things: but I was well into my 30s before I could actually summarise a key part of my personality in a few words like that. Now that I know that about myself, I allow myself gravitate to the shiny apple.

Focus on progression to further and higher education for current second level students

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

NUI Galway Access Centre provides pathways for current second level students who are generally under-represented at third level to progress to university. The Access Centre targets young adults who have a real desire to study at third level but are unable to do so due to financial or social reasons or because of a disability.

HEAR and DARE access routes

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

As the normal closing date for CAO is fast approaching on February 1 2021, students who wish to be considered for HEAR or DARE must remember to have indicated this by ticking the boxes accordingly on their CAO form before this deadline. If a student does not meet this deadline his/her HEAR/DARE application will not be considered further. It is also very important to start gathering any supporting documentation that may be needed to complete the application now if you have not already started this process.

Discover your path at DCU

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Choosing a university and undergraduate course is never an easy decision. A broad range of factors have to be weighed up, and even then, the best conclusion is not always clear. However, a deciding factor for many people is the employability record of graduates.

Consider a career with Corrib Oil

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Corrib Oil has been in business for more than 30 years. The company was founded in Claremorris, Co Mayo, in 1987 and through its network of home heating oil depots, delivery services, and service stations now supports almost 700 local jobs right across Ireland.

Qualify as a secretary in one year at GCC

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

The Galway Community College (GCC) legal secretary, medical secretary and office administrator course is an extremely popular course due to its continued success rate. Some 85 per cent of its graduates obtain full-time and part-time employment in a legal practice, medical practice, hospital administration, public service, and as office administrators in multinational companies within six months of graduating. The remainder of the students progress to higher education courses in the GMIT and NUIG and apprenticeship programmes.

Why study at AIT, Ireland’s top-ranked institute of technology

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) is a modern third-level institute on the cusp of becoming a technological university. Over the course of its 50-year history, the institute has established itself as a centre of academic excellence with an applied, industry-focused, offering, world-class research and development capabilities, and state-of-the-art sporting facilities.

UCD – your pathway to success

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

UCD is Ireland's first choice university among Level 8 CAO applicants. Internationally, UCD continues to rank in the top one per cent worldwide of higher education institutions. Since 2017 UCD is No 1 in Ireland for graduate employability. It is one of Europe's leading research-intensive universities and ranked No 1 in the US News & World Report's Best Global University Rankings. UCD has been chosen as University of the Year 2020 by The Sunday Times.

GCC’s PLC biomed course provides an access route into university science degree courses

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Galway Community College has been successfully running a QQI Level 5 biomedical/laboratory skills course for the past five years. This course gives students many options to progress into university degree courses and to access employment in the thriving MedTech sector in Galway.

Advice -16 year old Self...

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Memories of my schooldays — I work with young people now in Youthreach Tuam, Youthreach is a second chance Education Centre, more often than not a lot of the young people who leave mainstream secondary school or just cannot fit into the system that is in place, come to Youthreach. What I think is completely wrong is the fact that some mainstream schools are not offering the Leaving Cert Applied, an alternative Leaving Cert, for those who just find the traditional Leaving Cert to difficult. I went to Presentation College in Headford. It was a great school. You could call it a border school as many of my classmates were from Shrule, Cong, the Neale, Kilmaine.

GCC’s PLC biomed course provides an access route into university science degree courses

Thu, Jan 21, 2021

Galway Community College has been successfully running a QQI Level 5 biomedical/laboratory skills course for the past five years. This course gives students many options to progress into university degree courses and to access employment in the thriving MedTech sector in Galway.

This one-year course is designed to allow students who may have missed out on CAO points to gain entry into science degree courses which reserve a number of places for PLC students.

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