WIT News

Waterford Institute of Technology clears paths to higher education for newly unemployed Posted: Fri, April 3, 2009

With the number of people recorded as out of work and on the Live Register reaching over 370,000 in March – an increase of more than 87 per cent on the same month in 2008 - Waterford Institute of Technology has responded to the growing jobs crisis by widening access to its programmes and strengthening a foundation course preparing those considering higher education with a chance to sample college life.

Part of a wider drive to open out the Institute to more learners, the Higher Education Authority-funded intensive foundation course provided by the Institute’s School of Education in conjunction with REGSA (Regional Educational Guidance Service for Adults) provides would-be students with an opportunity to gauge whether a return to full-time education to gain new skills and qualifications might be their best response to finding themselves out of work.

In addition, the Institute is examining new ways to open existing full-time programmes to more adult learners so they can study in flexible ways. This may also suit learners who are on short-time working arrangements.

Designed for those aged 23 and over, the foundation programme which commenced this week is free to participants and designed to boost their confidence and allow them explore options for further study in areas that they may have work experience in or which are of particular interest to them but which they have not previously studied formally.

As well as the core subjects of communications; information and communications technology (ICT); study skills; personal development and mathematics, the foundation course which will run for 20 hours per week over a 20-week period to August 21 has three streams offering a choice between business and humanities; science and technology or art and design.

Speaking on Friday (April 3) as the Institute hosted the day-long ‘Waterford Working Together’ information fair coordinated by Waterford Area Partnership to bring together numerous agencies working with the unemployed, Dr Derek O’Byrne, Registrar, Waterford Institute of Technology said it is clear that unemployment is a growing issue for many in the southeast region and beyond. It is, he said, also a reality that those with a track record of educational attainment will be best placed to see their careers recover when a gradual upturn begins.

“There is growing statistical and anecdotal evidence of widespread job losses in the southeast while others who are still in employment may be working reduced hours or facing uncertain futures. There will also inevitably be further job losses in the months ahead and many of those impacted will have had little reason to feel insecure about their work until very recently – making their job loss all the more traumatic.

“Given this, it is incumbent on higher education institutions which receive significant public funding to make every possible resource available to those who may consider a return to education as part of steps to improve their skills set and accredited learning,” he said. “A unique feature of the current unemployment crisis is that it is impacting people with a range of existing qualifications. Accordingly, we need to offer a wide range of programmes to ensure appropriate up-skilling in the region for those seeking to build on an already sound platform.

“Even before the current economic downturn, we have seen a growing number of mature students successfully pursuing studies at third- and fourth-level. Indeed, these are often among our highest achieving students once they have caught the ‘learning bug’. Many also say they appreciate a second opportunity having perhaps not enjoyed their previous experiences of formal education. The advice mature students provide to those considering a return to education includes assessing their aptitudes and areas of interest as well as considering the time commitment involved.”

Dr O’Byrne added, “Delivering on this agenda will require us to open out ever more imaginative pathways to study. Clearly, what will suit a school-leaver in terms of how they generally access higher education in an intensive three- or four-year block will be very different to how more mature learners want to study given the various existing commitments they are required to juggle. We must be increasingly flexible in how we deliver programmes to ensure that they are genuinely accessible to the widest possible group of learners whether they are out of work, in part-time or full-time employment. Where barriers are identified, these will be removed where possible.”

• Further information about courses at Waterford Institute of Technology is available by calling 051-302000 or visiting www.wit.ie while REGSA can be contacted on 051-302287.