'Staying the Course'
Gregori Meakin successfully completed an Access Course earlier this year and was offered a place on an Arts Degree course at UCD.
Gregori Meakin is a mature student who begins an Arts degree with Sociology this year. Here he writes about experience as an adult learner.
I left school at 16 with a poor Intermediate certificate, straight into the recession in the early 1980s and I spent most of the decade, like many, working abroad returning in the early 1990s. My most recent job in a specialist area of IT gave me a stable income for the last 15 years on which I was raising a family. However changes in the market and the current recession have ended any real career in this field. Though I gained many skills through a wide range of jobs I have no solid qualification and during this current bout of unemployment I resolved to make something of it; to treat it as an opportunity to get a qualification. Through some good advice from a career guidance officer I signed up to the UCD 'Access to Arts' program at nights last September which would prepare me.
Returning to Education?
It's that time of year again - congratulations if you're one of over 7,000 mature students so far who has been successful in your application for third level this year. If you have any questions about finance or grants, visit www.studentfinance.ie. Looking for a particular course? Then visit www.qualifax.ie. Also, CD VEC is hosting a freephone guidance helpline until the 15th September. The number is 1800 20 40 80. Download our new one pagers on Funding, and Activation Measures. Visit our Frequenty Asked Questions section or check out sixteen helpful resources to get you on your learning journey!
Labour Market Activation Measures
In June 2010, the Tánaiste Mary Coughlan announced a number of new training and education initiatives particularly targeting people between the ages of 18 and 35 who have been made unemployed. The measures cover anything from web design to aquaculture, and will be delivered by a range of public, private and statutory providers throughout the country. In August 2010 the Tánaiste announced an additional fund of €12 million. To find a course happening near you and view our map of the measures, click here. To read the latest press release from the Department click here.
