Ireland’s National Workplace Wellbeing Day, April 13th 2018

National Workplace Wellbeing Day is in its fourth consecutive year, over 500 businesses got involved in 2017. Companies of all sizes and from all sectors are now planning their activities for what promises to be the biggest celebration of workplace health and wellbeing in the Irish calendar.

I encourage companies and individuals to  embrace Mindfulness – an easy way to deal with stress and promote wellbeing.  The following two exercise: Body scan and raisin exercise are guided meditations to help you create awareness of your needs and reach your full potential.

Mindfulness –  What is a body scan meditation?

 

Mindfulness – The raisin exercise – 12 Minute exercise

Advertisements

SUSI – Grants – college students

Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) – the centralised grant application scheme for college students, reopens for both new and renewal applications as of –  Thursday 5th April 2018.

Application Process

SUSI administers the student grant scheme in its entirety. Last year SUSI processed 103,000 applications with in excess of 81,000 students awarded grant funding for the 2017/18 academic year.

Who can apply

Eligible students in approved full-time, third-level education in Ireland and, in some cases, students studying outside the State can access grant funding. All types of students, from school leavers to mature students returning to education can apply.

Any student who thinks they might be eligible for a SUSI grant is urged to submit their application online to SUSI as soon as possible to ensure that it is processed as quickly as possible.

The priority closing dates for the 2018/19 student grant scheme are:

• 12th July for new applicants
• 14th June for renewals from students already in college.

Note: As a new grant applicant, you do not need to have accepted a place on a college course in order to apply for a grant. You can do this later in the process.

The student grant scheme is quite a detailed application process so it is crucial that you apply as early as possible if you plan to take-up a course of study this year. Grant applications are processed in the order in which they are received, so the earlier you apply and get any supporting documents required submitted to SUSI, the earlier you will have a response on the outcome of your application to put your mind at ease when it comes to starting college.

SUSI Communications and Information Services Manager, Aoife Greene said, “We advise students to visit our website www.susi.ie and use our Eligibility Reckoner before making their application. This will give them an indication as to their eligibility for student grant funding. We also have a number of self-help tools available on our website, including videos and detailed guidance notes for making an application.

“It is important to reiterate that students who are progressing to the next year of their course must renew their grants and we have e-mailed students in the lead up to opening to inform them of the process for renewing. The priority closing date for renewal applications is 14th June, 2018.”

 

For full details and online application see www.susi.ie

2018 Applications to HEAR and DARE

 

CAO applicants wishing to be considered for HEAR or DARE have until 1^st April to submit all their supporting documentation to CAO to complete their application to one or both of the access routes.

What is HEAR and DARE?

The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education. The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is an admissions scheme set up to support school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are resident in the Republic of Ireland. HEAR and DARE schemes offer places on reduced points and extra college support to students throughout their third level education.

2018 Applications to HEAR and DARE

According to CAO figures released earlier this month the number of students who applied for DARE entry this year increased whereas the figures for HEAR were down. Overall the applications for CAO are down by over 3,000. This is a 4.5% decrease on the numbers applying in 2017.

DARE figures have steadily increased since 2010, the rate of eligibility for DARE is up by over 200% on the numbers eligible 8 years ago. 2018 has continued the upward trend with DARE applications up by 2.9% on 2017, despite the decline in applications to CAO this year. Increased applications in recent years may be influenced by the addition of three new colleges engaging in the DARE scheme: Carlow IT, IADT and LIT. Overall 2018 has seen 6,571 students apply for DARE; that accounts for 9% of all CAO applications.

The story is somewhat different for HEAR. Like DARE, HEAR also experienced growth. During the same period as mentioned for DARE, 2010-16, the eligibility rate for HEAR increased by 100% but since 2014 the figures for HEAR appear to have reached a plateau. Two new colleges have entered the HEAR scheme in 2017, IADT and IT Sligo. Despite the increased pool for application, this year’s numbers for HEAR are down by a significant 8.9%

Number Applying for HEAR are Down by 8.9%

Careers News

 

1. WIT Students Stories
2. Technological Universities Act Signed
3. DCU to go Plastic Free
4. Arriving at a Sustainable Future
5. DIT Mathematics Competency Test
6. Applicant Information Event – Magee Campus
7. Plunket CFE Information Day
8. Extra Places on Teacher Training Courses
9. Supported Transitions to Employment
10. New Courses in Film Business
11. 2019 HPAT Preparation Courses
12. Training Programme In Family Therapy

 

Undergraduates looking to secure employment upon graduation might be disappointed to discover that they lack a range of core skills high on employers’ agendas when recruiting. Some students opt for postgraduate studies to give them the edge on other interview candidates but further studies isn’t always the answer. Often employers are looking for skills that aren’t taught in college and need to be learnt and developed in the workplace.     Having the skills and knowledge demanded by the sector is no longer sufficient. Jobs are now cross-sectoral. With rapid advancements in IT and technology infiltrating all industries, new skills are demanded of employees. Although efforts have been made to develop and adapt many undergraduate programmes, many more courses do not prepare students for the requirements of the workplace.

Going to College: Opportunities now to apply for apprenticeships

During Leaving Cert year there is an understandable focus on college, CAO and post-Leaving Cert courses, but not everyone wants to start their career path with the CAO. These students can often feel overlooked.

Thankfully, there has been a massive increase in the number of apprenticeship options available in recent years. These programmes allow participants to study, work and earn all at the same time.

There are many ways of gaining an apprentice role, including private companies and public bodies. Apprenticeships are now available in non-traditional areas such as accounting, finance and insurance, with a logistics apprenticeship due shortly. However, some excellent opportunities in more traditional areas are currently open for application.

Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann

Over the last number of years, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus and Iarnród Éireann have all recruited apprentices. While Iarnród Éireann has not yet announced a 2018 competition, both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are currently recruiting. Educational requirements are standard and applicants will be required to present at least a Junior Cert in maths, English, Irish, science and two other subjects. Applicants must apply online by March 24.

ESB

Today is the final day to apply for places on the highly sought-after ESB apprenticeship. Applicants will be trained as electrical apprentices and the deadline for applications is 11.59 p.m. today. Applicants must hold at least a Junior Cert with Irish, English, maths, science and two other subjects. However, as competition is likely to be high, a strong Leaving Cert may be helpful. The application takes about 60 minutes to complete and will time out if left inactive for too long. Applicants will then be asked to take an online aptitude test. More information on esb.ie/careers.

Air Corps Technician

 

EUNiCAS invite students interested in studying abroad to two information sessions scheduled to take place in April.

 

EUNiCAS invite students interested in studying abroad to two information sessions scheduled to take place in April.

• Dutch Gateways to Employment in Dublin (12^th April) and Cork (11^th April)
• OMG I’m Going To Be A Doctor or a Vet (or a Dentist) – Dublin 19^th April

Who are Eunicas?

EUNiCAS (European University Central Application Support Service) was established to facilitate the growing numbers of UK and Irish students who wish to study abroad in European Universities. EUNiCAS is a college application support service to help students to access information and apply to colleges in Europe. In its development phase, EUNiCAS has been supported by Enterprise Ireland, which is part of the Department of Enterprise & Employment in Ireland.

Dutch Gateways to Employment:

Meet Dutch Applied Universities in Dublin and Cork

• 11th April Cork – Click here to register for this event
• 12th April Dublin  – Click here to register for this event

Maths course for Engineering

Applicants to Engineering in Maynooth University and DIT require a H4 for matriculation and students applying to Business Analytics (DIT) require a H5. To assist students in achieving the required Maths grade both colleges offer students the chance to sit a Maths competency test before sitting the Leaving Cert. DIT also offer Maths tutorials to prepare for this test.  If students achieve the required result in the Maths test they will not be reliant upon achieving the H4/H5 Maths grade in Leaving Cert.

Tutorials and exams are free of charge so this is a great opportunity for prospective students to get ahead of themselves. If successful in the exam they will free themselves of the burden and uncertainty around the Leaving Cert Maths exam.

Careers News

1. Global Warming and Disease Proliferation
2. Guide to CAO Choices
3. Creative Coding for Maths Makers
4. Advanced Entry to the second or subsequent year of an undergraduate degree
5. IT Sligo Masters in Social Work
6. New course in Creative Writing for Digital Media
7. DIT LIVE Q&A / LIVE CHAT
8. Counselling And Psychotherapy Training 
9. Europass Europe
10. Office Administration Course
11. College of Sciences & Health Open Day

 

Walking On Air

 

 

Out on sale now

• A page turner book about resilience
• Short stories and poems to support positive approaches to life
• Personal stories to support authentic  reflection on life

“All profits from proceeds of the book to go to help the Peter McVerry trust, a charity working to reduce homelessness“

Purchases Walking On Air