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Free College Places for Unemployed
National College have a small number of places remaining on the FETAC Certificate in Business Studies. Places on our other Labour Market Activation funded courses are now full.
If you are currently unemployed you can apply now to receive a free place on the course in the IFSC campus which is due to commence on the 31st January 2011.
The places are available to all those who have been unemployed for 3 months or more and you will need confirmation of this from your social welfare office to apply. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. To reserve a free place contact NCI on 1850 221 721 or download an application form.
Am I eligible?
The scheme is open to all those who have been in receipt of Job Seeker’s Allowance or Benefit for the 3 months or more prior to the commencement of the course.
How do I apply?
Download an application form and submit the completed form along with the following documentation:
- A confirmation letter from your local social welfare office confirming how long you have been in receipt of job seekers payment.
OR
- Confirmation that you are currently participating in a FAS or VEC training scheme.
Once we have received your application we will send you an offer letter by post to confirm whether you have met all requirements for the scheme and are eligible to participate in your chosen course. Your offer letter will have a date by which you will need to confirm that you are accepting your place on the course. If we do not receive your acceptance the place will be withdrawn and offered to the next available candidate. Once you have accepted your place you will be given a date to start your programme of study.
Each individual is responsible for providing relevant documentation and confirmation of their eligibility for funding under the scheme from their local social welfare office.
Please note participants must meet NCI’s admission criteria for any courses. Eligibility for funding does not infer eligibility for the course.
All courses and locations run subject to student numbers.
Please note that places are strictly limited. It is expected that demand for places will be higher than the number of places available on all courses. All places will therefore be offered on a first come first served basis.
The courses are funded under the Labour Market Activation Fund 2010. The Labour Market Activation fund is managed by the Department of Education and Skills. The programme is government funded and supported through Ireland’s EU structural funds and the European Social Fund.
Request for Work placements for students of the Certificate in Business Studies
National College of Ireland has been awarded funding for specific programmes under the Labour Market Activation Fund administered by the Department of Education and Skills. One of these programmes is the Certificate in Business Studies at FETAC Level 5 which will be delivered several times over the next 10 months. This programme is a foundation level introduction to the world of business and students will learn key business principles to enable them to work effectively. An integral element of this programme is a 3 week work placement with an organisation for each student. The students on this programme will come from a diverse range of backgrounds. Some will have limited formal education where others may have qualifications in another area and wish to pursue a business qualification.
We are seeking commitments from organisations to agree to take a student (or a number of students) from this programme for a 3 week work placement. This work placement is unpaid.
Organisations prepared to make this commitment would facilitate activities for the students such as:
- approving them to utilise work place equipment where possible (telephone, photocopier, computer etc)
- allocating light administrative duties that need to be completed in a specified time frame
- arranging a meeting with the manager with responsibility for Health & Safety to gain information about how the organisation meets its Health & Safety duties
- arranging a meeting with a HR representative (where applicable) to gain information about entry requirements in to the sector, career paths, development opportunities etc
- providing access to public information about the organisation (website, company brochures, annual reports etc) to create a pack of information about the company
- allowing students to sit in on a team meeting to understand how such a meeting operates
Our objective is that on successful completion of the overall programme that students should be able to:
- participate effectively in the workplace, e.g. carrying out tasks, meeting deadlines, good timekeeping etc
- practice the personal skills which support integration in the workplace e.g. appropriate dress, adaptability, reliability, punctuality, health and safety awareness, appropriate use of initiative etc
- communicate effectively with supervisors/managers, fellow workers and the general public, (including customers where applicable)
- maintain a workplace diary/journal which describes, reflects on and analyses experiences in the workplace
- identify the Health, Safety and Welfare regulations which apply in the workplace
- undertake research into work organizations and career opportunities in their vocational award area
We would be delighted if you felt your company could offer our students such a work placement opportunity. The purpose of the government funded Labour Market Activation Fund is to accelerate the return of people to the labour market and the involvement of an organisation such as yours will ensure the success of this initiative. In supporting this programme your organisation will not just be enhancing the opportunity of specific students but in addition will be giving these students the opportunity to change the current course of their lives for the better and to contribute to creating an improved economic environment.
If you think your company can assist us then please contact Ashleigh Burke on 014498674.
