What are conversion courses? Courses UCC Careers Service courses are taught postgraduate courses that enable you to convert your degree to a new discipline or a new career. They are found in most subject areas high concentration in, Arts and Humanities, Also possible in and (related degree required) Also available in Medicine and Health Why convert? A conversion course can provide you with: Increased job prospects Skills/expertise in a new area A valuable combination of separate skills Increased Job Prospects? courses are often created in response to current or predicted skill shortages. E.g. HEA Skills programme, Teaching/ Work/ UK Likelihood of increased job prospects will depend on: Suitability of the programme to needs (good fit?) Proven track record in particular field (through placement, previous roles or voluntary experience) Are there skill shortages? Expert Group on Future Skills Needs produce regular Bulletins (most recent July 2010) examining 60 occupational categories in relation to: Level of unemployment Growth in employment rates Production rate of qualified graduates They also produce reports on particular sectors (e.g. BioPharma, Green Economy) Have a look! http://www.skillsireland.ie/ Fastest Growing Industries Information Technology Healthcare Energy Efficiency / Environmental E-Learning Microelectronics Manufacturing Productivity Composite Materials Networking Services esp. Multilingual Telecommunications Food Ref: Enterprise Ireland - HPSU s IDA Ireland Competence Centres Care of the Elderly & Personal Coaching Personal Wellbeing Medical Devices & Technology Accounting (some more than others) Digital Media eg -gaming, mobile media, animation Alternative Power Generation Financial Regulation and Control Corporate Compliance Life s Biotechnology 1
Great Skill Combinations Logistics and languages Marketing/sales and languages Sales and product knowledge Finance and quantitative modelling Finance and law Statistics and software modelling Software architect and business Web design; animation; programming Source: National Skills Unit The Graduate Skills Programme A joint initiative with the Department of Education and and the Higher Education Authority, in response to the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills needs Funded under the National Development Plan. Aim : to provide graduates with the opportunity to acquire qualifications for employment in the ICT area. A composite fee applies to all courses under the programme. Fees currently are : 2750 Euro http://www.hea.ie/en/skills+funding Entry Requirements Many open to graduates of any discipline! Some will require a relevant qualification. Result required will depend on level of demand. Relevant experience may be required/desirable even compensate for absence of degree. Characteristics of Courses Focused and intense Tightly-packed schedule Teaching and assessment methods highly varied (group assignments, presentations, reports) Relevant work placement may be included Fresh Start! Issues to Consider How will this qualification complement primary degree? What is the reputation of the course amongst employers? What is the employment record of graduates on the course? Is it possible to progress to a masters degree on completion of the diploma? Is the course eligible for reduced fees, e.g. under the Graduate Skills Programme? 2
Seven Major Areas of Postgraduate Study Arts & s Media Pathways to Arts, Humanities and the s Arts/ Humanities Education Arts, Humanities and Options Liberal Arts: Archaeology, Geography, History, Modern Irish Applied Arts: Journalism/Media/Communications/Public Relations E-Learning Design/Technical Communication Film Studies/Literature and Publishing/Arts Administration Languages Translation, Interpreting, Linguistics, Languages with or, European Studies Peace Studies, Women s Studies, Development Studies, International Relations, Politics Arts, Humanities and : Qualifications Dip Psychology, UCC H Diplomas in most Arts Subjects UCC (level 8) Dip Policy UCC Dip/MA Journalism, DCU,UL, C MSc Planning and Sustainable Development, UCC MA Translation DCU, NUIG MA Public Relations D, C MA Arts Administration, UCD MA Literature and Publishing, NUIG MA E-Learning Development, UL MA Screenwriting NUIG MA Library and Information Studies UCD MA Digital Arts NUI Maynooth Pathways into : Options and Qualifications Solicitor Preparatory Courses for the Society of Ireland's Final Examination - Part One (FE1) Griffith College Cork & Dublin Progression onto Society Training i Courses & Traineeship Arts and s Bridging/conversion qualifications: Graduate Entry LLB - UL Postgraduate Diploma in - D Barrister Diploma in Legal Studies Kings Inn (Part-time) Progression onto Barrister at degree & Devilling 3
Pathways into : Options Arts and s Eng and Heath/ Accountancy Finance Marketing Supply Chain Management Logistics International Human Resources Management Economics (Financial/) Entrepreneurship Information Systems Analytics Risk Management : Qualifications Pathways to For Non- Graduates: Masters Management and Marketing (UCC) Masters E- (UCC) Masters Management (UL) Masters Management (UCD) PGDip Accounting and Finance, UCC PG Dip Accountancy, DCU HDip Economics, UCC Masters MIMAS, UCC HDip Entrepreneurship and East Asian Affairs, UCC Masters in Financial Economics, UCC Masters in Marketing, UL Masters IS for Performance Need Degree/PGDip: Masters Economics, UCC Masters Human Resource Management, UL, UCD Masters Accountancy (MACC) Masters Food Marketing, UCC Masters B.I.S., UCC Masters Government, UCC Masters Corporate Finance, UCC Masters Computational Finance, UL Masters Risk Management, UCD Masters Quantitative Finance, UCD Masters Strategic Management Accounting, UCD : Options Software Development Networking Telecommunications Security and Forensic Computing Software Localisation Technology Management Project Management and Finance Interactive Media Instructional Design : Qualifications For non- graduates: HDip in Applied Computing Technology, UCC HDip Software, NUI Maynooth HDip, DCU PGDip Telecommunications, DCU PGDip Software Localisation, UL PGDip Technical Communication and E-Learning, UL HDip, NUI Maynooth Masters Interactive Media, UCC Masters Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing, UCC (!*) PG Dip Health Informatics, TCD Masters Music Technology, NUI Maynooth Masters Translation Technology Need related Degree/PGDip: Masters in Computer, UCC Masters Software Systems for Mobile Networks, UCC Masters Telecommunications, DCU Masters Software, NUI Maynooth Masters Geographical, Information and Remote Sensing, UCC Masters Security and Forensic Computing, DCU 4
Pathways to Education Education Education: Options and Qualifications Primary: Ireland and UK Secondary: Ireland and UK Arts * * * Engineer -ing * Pathways to : Options Energy Process/Chemical Electronic g Biomedical Bio-engineering Arts and * Heath/ * Many courses open to graduates with good degrees in maths, physics and related subjects, E.g. Chemical, UL Pathways into Health and : Options Arts and * Health / * Nursing Medicine SLT OT Dietetics Public Health Health Informatics Health Economics 5
Essential Sources www.qualifax.ie http://www.hea.ie/en/skills+funding www.skillsireland.ie www.prospects.ac.uk www.gradireland.com 6