Careers
What courses are required to work in Childcare in Ireland?
Embarking on a career in childcare in Ireland is an enriching path, yet it’s vital to understand the educational groundwork necessary for a role in the Early Years sector.
Under Irish Childcare Legislation, anyone looking to work in a childcare setting registered with Tusla must hold at least a QQI Level 5 Certificate in Early Learning and Care. Additionally, for a childcare centre to receive subsidies for ECCE Sessions, the Early Learning & Care Room leader must possess a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care or higher.
Selecting the Appropriate Course:
If you’re just beginning your journey as a childcare practitioner, it’s advisable to start with the QQI Level 5 Certificate in Early Learning and Care. This initial step provides a solid foundation of knowledge and skills, covering 4 modules over one year, and sets you up for working as an Early Years Educator. This course is designed to prepare you for further advancement in your career, possibly stepping into a lead role.
This course nurtures a broad range of competencies necessary for the modern early years’ educator, encouraging independence, teamwork, flexibility, creativity, and inclusivity. This approach fosters the holistic development of children from birth to six years. Completing this level enables you to progress towards the Level 6 Advanced Certificate, essential for those aiming to lead in the Early Learning & Care setting.
If you’ve already achieved a QQI Level 5 Major Award in Childcare, the next step is the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care, focusing on higher-level skills and leadership in childcare settings.
Advantages of our Childcare Programmes:
Flexibility: The online learning format offered by The Open College is designed to fit various schedules, allowing you to progress at your own pace.
Cost-Effective: With an easy payment plan of €125 per month over 12 months, our programmes are financially accessible, requiring no complex loan agreements as with other Colleges.
Online Classes: We offer virtual live classes during evenings, perfect for professionals or those with busy schedules, eliminating the need for travel.
QQI Accreditation: Being registered with QQI ensures our programmes are recognised by both the government and employers in Ireland and abroad.
Personalised Support: Dedicated tutors provide one-on-one support, enhancing your learning experience with personalised feedback.
24×7 Access: Our courses offer around-the-clock online access, allowing you to learn anytime and anywhere, accommodating all learning styles and preferences.
Making sense of the various childcare courses available requires careful consideration of your current educational achievements and professional aspirations. Whether starting with a Level 5 Certificate or moving on to a Level 6 Advanced Certificate, it’s crucial to align your education with your career goals.
The Open College’s online Childcare programmes offer a supportive and flexible learning environment, making it an excellent choice for those aspiring to become childcare practitioners.
For further information or to get started on your childcare education journey, explore our courses:
Feel free to contact us today for more details!
Exploring Alternative Options After the Leaving Cert
For the majority of 6th year students who sat their Leaving Certificate, the best summer of their lives is about to come to an end. Soon they will need to start thinking about what comes next. For some, the path will be clearly written in the points they receive in their Leaving Cert results and they will go on to Higher Education in many corners of the country. Nice and simple and if that will be, we send many well wishes your way! For others, it is not as simple as the pressure to pursue traditional third level education looms large.
Well, we are here to tell you that, in this day and age it is important to recognise that the pursuit of a third level education isn’t the only pathway to career success or personal growth. There are many reasons why higher education may not be for you and that is ok. You have many options out there, which will open up a world of diverse opportunity.
Let’s look at some of those opportunities:
1. Apprenticeships:
It is essential to understand that academia isn’t for everyone, but it is also equally important to understand that the majority of training will have some sort of theory or traditional book learning involved. If you are the kind of person who has had enough of books and exams, why not consider an apprenticeship. There are MANY out there from plumbing, electrical studies, hairdressing and mechanics to name a few that will keep you out of the office. Having said that, if you do want an office environment, your apprenticeship can be in hospitality, accounting, ICT and even insurance. The beauty of an apprenticeship is that you also earn as you work, making this a great choice for those of us who cannot afford that high cost of a third level education.
More information can be found on becoming an apprentice can be found here.
2. Gap Year:
Ah yes, the “Gap Year”, no doubt a thought every Leaving Cert student must have had. A great idea for those looking for some personal growth, take a break from education and even in the process of this gap year, you can discover what you want to do with the rest of your life. This year allows you to do many things, it’s not always about travel. You can take time and volunteer, work, upskill with some short courses or even simply just explore some passions you have which you could turn into a career. The options are endless and the experiences gained during this time can lead to a broader perspective on life.
3. Online Education & Progression with QQI courses:
Obviously, we’re going to include this as an option, have you even read our blog, don’t you know how much we love eLearning!?
On a serious note, it is a very viable option for those of you who may not have received the points you needed but also don’t want to repeat 6th year again.
It’s an excellent steppingstone into third level education. With online education, you can do a course that will act as a boost and progression route into the third level course you wanted. It’s very flexible and much more affordable than a degree straight away (although online degrees are also possible). You can also work while you study – best of both worlds really.
For more information on online courses, check out all our courses here.
If we don’t offer what you need, check out the national course database – www.qualifax.ie.
4. Work:
Another popular option amongst Leaving Cert students is not going to college straight away. Many people start college, struggle, hate what they are doing and drop out which results in time, energy and money wasted. Some even struggle through for fear of failure and judgement and eventually do a complete U-turn and in many years’ time, re-train.
Some people opt to work straight out of school, gain the experience they need and eventually, when ready to take that next step in their career, they go back to college for that career boost. Be sure to understand, this is not easy. Going back as a mature student can be difficult, you may have a family or other important commitments which you will need to learn to juggle around a college course but there are also positives here. Many people who go back to college as adult learners have an established personality, know their likes and dislikes well and know what they want out of a career so they end up doing something they really love.
The above 4 points are only some options. Your journey after secondary school doesn’t have to follow a traditional path of pursuing a University Degree. The world offers diverse paths to success and personal fulfilment. Remember, there is no one size fits all approach.
Embrace your unique talents, passions and goals and explore the myriad of opportunities that are available to you. By making informed decisions and staying true to yourself, you can carve a path that aligns with your vision of a successful and rewarding future.
5 Ways to Create Work Life Balance
In today’s fast paced world, achieving a healthy work life balance has become increasingly challenging. As we strive for career success and personal fulfilment, its crucial to develop effective strategies that allow us to thrive in both aspects of our lives.
By finding a harmonious balance between work and personal commitments, we can enhance our wellbeing, productivity and overall satisfaction.
In this blog post, we hope to explore and give you some practical tips and strategies to help you achieve a work life balance and lead a fulfilling life.
1. Define Your Priorities:
Begin by identifying your core values and priorities. Think about what is important to you in your career and personal life. This will give you a clear focus and help you in your decision making process. However, don’t forget to be realistic with your goals and that they align with your priorities, allowing you to give time and energy accordingly.
2. Establish Boundaries:
Boundaries are important when it comes to maintaining a healthy work life balance. Learn to say no when necessary and avoid overcommitting yourself. Being clear in your communication when it comes to your limits with colleagues, clients and loved ones will ensure that you have time for both work related and personal activities.
3. Time Management:
Prioritise tasks, delegate if and when possible and take advantage of productivity tools to optimise your time. Make sure to set aside time for things you enjoy doing too such as hobbies, time with family and friends and even personal time.
4. Self-Care:
Speaking of personal time, include self-care practices into your routine such as exercise, yoga, meditation – just do what brings you joy and helps you relax. This will help you enhance your ability to handle work and personal challenges effectively.
5. Supportive Relationships:
Surround yourself with supportive relationships both in your professional and personal life with people who understand the importance of work-life balance and can offer guidance and encouragement on your journey.
Don’t forget that work-life balance is a continuous ever changing journey that requires commitment and some effort. Remember that achieving work-life balance is not about perfect harmony but about a rhythm that allows you to thrive in both areas of your life.
Achieve this and you could lead a more fulfilling and balanced life.
Tackling Unconscious Bias in Further Education with Online Learning
As the CEO of an online college, I have seen firsthand (and I’m sure my colleagues would agree) how online learning can help combat unconscious bias in further education.
Unconscious bias is a pervasive problem in our society and it can have a significant impact on how people are treated in many areas of society. It can also lead to missed opportunities and lack of diversity in further education.
Unconscious bias is defined as a type of bias that we are not consciously aware of. It is an automatic and often subtle response to a situation, based on preconceived notions and stereotypes that we have developed over time and never challenged ourselves on. It impacts how we perceive and interact with others and can lead to unequal treatment of individuals based on things such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status and/or other personal traits.
In the context of further and even let’s also say higher education, unconscious bias can lead to missed opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
For example, a teacher might unconsciously assume that a student from a particular racial or ethnic background is less capable of academic achievement and give that student less attention or support – sometimes the opposite is also true. Similarly, a teacher might unconsciously favour students who share their background and certain characteristics to unequal treatment of students based on their identity.
Online learning can help tackle unconscious bias in further & higher education in several ways.
Firstly, online learning is designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of their backgrounds and characteristics. This means students from all walks of life have equal opportunities to participate in online courses and programmes without being subject to unconscious bias from teachers or administration.
Secondly, online courses can be used to provide training supports to teaching personnel to recognise unconscious bias in their teaching environment. Educators can learn strategies to promote a more inclusive learning environment and also connect with other educators and share best practices for promoting inclusivity and addressing bias in education.
Thirdly, online courses are designed to be self-paced which allows students to progress through the course at their own speed. This is particularly helpful to students who may need additional support or who may not have access to traditional classroom settings. eLearning allows students to connect with one another, fostering a sense of community and promoting a more inclusive learning experience.
Finally, e-learning can help promote a more diverse faculty with online courses which can be designed by educators from diverse backgrounds, including those who may not have had access to traditional academic pathways.
By promoting a more inclusive learning environment, providing training and support to educators and, providing a more equitable learning experience for learners, online learning can help tackle unconscious bias and promote a more diverse and inclusive learning experience.
As the CEO of an online college, I am committed to promoting inclusivity and addressing bias in education and I believe that online learning does play a critical role in achieving this goal.
Joe Walsh
Director
The Open College
Online Learning Helping You Succeed
One thing we love is to see at The Open College is our student population grow and every year we go from strength to strength.
The online learning route could be for many reasons of course, which expands far beyond practicality because online learning can also have a positive impact on personal lives so we wanted to look into why online learning is becoming more and more popular.
Firstly, online learning allows us to learn at our pace and in our own time. You can revise the content as often, as quickly and as slowly as you want.
This is something traditional classroom based learning cannot provide. This flexibility can be quite beneficial to people with busy schedules who would find it difficult to attend schedules classes regularly. By allowing learners to fit learning around their responsibilities and personal commitments, online learning can help reduce stress and improve work-life balance.
Secondly, online learning allows you to study from anywhere. With online courses you can access quality education from lead institutions and it won’t matter where you are based. However, saying this comes with a bit of a caveat because some QQI courses do have a work experience element to them which dictates that you should complete your placement in Ireland.
Thirdly, online learning does not always mean that you should complete courses with a career in mind but it could open the doorway to new career opportunities too. Online courses can be used to develop hobbies or learn new skills. This could be anything from, cooking and photography to coding and art. By doing this, you can boost your confidence and develop a greater sense of self.
Finally, online learning can be a fantastic way to improve your mental health and wellbeing. By learning new things, challenging yourself and achieving a personal goal, you can boost your self esteem and sense of accomplishment. You can even make new connections with people virtually if you live in a remote part of the world.
Education has many benefits, especially online learning. It doesn’t always mean learning for a job, it could be for learning out of curiosity or to satisfy a personal goal.
Whatever way you look at it, online learning is an investment into yourself.
5 Solutions to Misconceptions in e-Learning
It is normal in life for things to grow, people’s needs to change and for people to adapt – more often than not this is for the better. Developments are made at a rapid pace in many areas of society and embraced. This rings true in how we live, how we travel, our shopping experiences and even medical care. One of the main ways, if not the main way in which this was made possible was through technological advancements. The accessibility technology gives us is undeniable and affords us a lot of conveniences.
Online education was an obvious answer for all schools and colleges across the country during COVID-19. Most Irish educational bodies scrambled to get into the online world in a short space of time which in the end proved to be successful and kept their doors open…virtually of course. Showing that it can be done and it can be done well.
So, why is it that we don’t see e-learning in the same light as attendance based education?
Why do some see it as a second rate system rather than what every other industry does and see it as progression?
Why did it take a global pandemic, with the education industry to be on its knees for any change to happen?
How is it that traditional education remains to be the most popular where e-learning should be king?
I won’t blather on about how great e-learning is, there will be time for that during another blog post.
What I do want to talk about is the perceived issues around e-learning and how they can be addressed. Some issues of course are far too large and by no means am I suggesting I am an expert on it, but I do know a thing or two when it comes to learning virtually. The best policy after all, is to be proactive about short comings and find solutions.
So, here we go…
- Internet Access: This one may be hard to believe for some, we’ve grown up with the internet at our finger trips however, the digital divide is very real and very much a problem, be it geographical or socio-economic. These issues are quite large with many factors to them and something that will not be solved in a day; however, I do believe the government needs to step up and resolve this issue. After all, it is the 21st century and access to the internet needs to be available to all.
- Credibility: Assumptions are that e-learning is not reputable, that somehow presenteeism allows for better credentials. This is not true and merely an old stereotype. E-Learning is just a modern day form of distance learning when course work was posted to students. Here in Ireland academic standards are monitored. Our Accreditation comes mainly from QQI (Quality Qualifications Ireland) which is a Irish state agency responsible for quality of qualifications which they accredit. There are other reputable, industry specific organisations that accredit courses, QQI is just one such example.
- Computer Skills: Many of us were born into the online world, some of us were lucky to be young enough to grow up with it and others still struggle to understand it – call it the “generational gap”. There needs to be more of a push to equip people with basic computer skills and not just for education, but for everyday life. This is a topic that you could write a thesis on because again, geographic and socio-economic issues are at the heart of this but the fact remains the same – education around computer literacy needs to be more accessible.
- Social Aspects: It is common place for people to turn to online education mainly for their time constraints – they want to fit education into an already busy schedule. The social aspect is something that is least on their mind. However, with modern day technology, the social aspect is available but virtually through software made just for this or even your old reliable Whats App group.
- Change: As humans we generally don’t like change and would find anything new difficult to adapt to, we love the predictability of our comfort zones. This may not be such an easy solution as it involves changing a person’s mindset. Our job as e-learning professionals and advocates is to give as much help as we can, educate people on e-learning benefits and hopefully then through conversations with peers, mindsets and outlooks can begin to change and adapt to a new more flexible way of learning online.
Online education has a long way to go and many obstacles need to be cleared before e-learning becomes mainstream, until then, we remain being confident that we are doing all we can to make further and higher education accessible to everyone.
Joe Walsh
Director
The Open College
How to smash that Virtual Interview
Virtual Interviews were fast becoming the norm, but the pandemic has really forced companies to now conduct all their interviews online. Since the pandemic began right at the beginning of last year, I have conducted many virtual interviews. I have noticed that candidates can be quite uncomfortable during the first interview due to interview nerves and having to look at themselves on the screen. People can be too focused on how they are presenting themselves and not focus on what exactly is being asked.
If you have an online interview coming up, below are some useful tips I can recommend to prepare and present yourself well during the interview:
- Look presentable – dress appropriately from top to toe. Ideally, you shouldn’t have to get up from your desk during the interview, but you never know what might happen! I’ve had this happen a few times while conducting interviews so make sure to dress the bottom half as professionally as the top – no pjs!
- Mind your background – whether it’s a virtual background or your own background. De-clutter and only select professional looking screens– no beeches or bars!
- Noise & Distractions – make sure there is no distracting noise in the background like a washing machine / dog barking / cats jumping up on the table and try to avoid doing the interview in a restaurant or public area.
- Don’t have the camera too close to you. Make sure your interviewer can see your top half and not just your head.
- Make sure your Audio is working properly and you can both hear one another.
- Make sure your internet speed is suitable for the interview.
- Once you are happy with your position, don’t pay too much attention to yourself on screen– pay the full 100% attention to your interviewer and make eye contact with the camera so it looks like you are making eye contact with the interviewer. It doesn’t look professional if you are constantly looking at yourself which results in broken rapport with the interviewer.
- Have a trial run with a friend – ask a friend / colleague to have a trial virtual interview with you beforehand to check internet speed / audio / background / how you come across and also practice your questions.
- Other than that, the same rules apply as with a face to face interviews – research the company, practice your questions, make sure you have lots of examples you can provide for the skills they are looking for, be confident with your answers however, not overly confident and no waffling, create rapport from the start, know your CV and (or) application form, prepare your own questions and never have a bad word to say about a former employer.
Hopefully, these tips and tricks should help you with any future interviews you may have coming up. Good luck!
Make the most of your Christmas
What a year it has been. Lots of worry, change, uncertainty all things we find very difficult to deal with however, there is a small light at the end of that tunnel with new vaccines being given the go ahead, and hopefully getting to see our loved ones over the Christmas period. This should all hopefully build up our spirits and try to enjoy the festivities.
One of the positives from the year is that you hopefully got to complete or are completing a course with us which will put you on the right path to a more fulfilling job or career or simply upskill for your current role. Whatever the reason, you put the effort in so you should be very proud of yourself.
There is always hope in every situation, this pandemic won’t be around forever and although this Christmas will be very different to the ones we are used to and everyone’s situation is different, try to make the most of your break, the people around you and have a proper rest. Make sure to check in on those who may be on their own and keep your social contact even if it only through phone or video calls. This really will help you start the new year with more energy and a more positive outlook.
Focus on what you can do, instead of what you can’t, enjoy the relaxation and laughter over the holidays but above all, keep yourself safe.
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas from all at The Open College and we look forward to catching up with you in the new year.
The Value of Time
Working from home has almost become the norm and while The Open College have always been predominantly an online distance learning college and were very well prepared for the Covid-19 pandemic, we envisage that remote learning will also become the norm with more and more educational institutions and the government recognising the importance of flexibility when it comes to learning and education.
The pandemic has been a challenge, an eye opener, an absolute game changer which has forced us to re-evaluate what we really value – the importance of having more time with our family and friends and indeed with ourselves. Time is something we can never get back and using it wisely is the number one thing that everyone seems to have valued during this crazy time.
The Open College recognised very early on the importance of this precious commodity and envisaged the need for a more flexible way of learning for people with families, early school leavers, people who are already working or who just need to upskill without the need to attend classes over a long period of time. We have worked tirelessly to make sure that all our courses are professionally developed and that our students are happy with how the courses are run. The support and drive have been there from the very start to make it a success and continues to be at the heart of our operations.
We have also just launched a new and very exciting Degree programme in Health & Social Care in which would give people from all over the country the chance to apply for a well-recognised Degree programme and complete it from the comfort of their own home while being as job ready as possible following completion. We aim to extend on these Degree courses on an ongoing basis.
If you want to complete a course with one of the most experienced online Irish colleges then please drop us a line and we can discuss your options with you.
How to study and keep positive in these worrying times
Some of you may already be completing a course with us or considering completing a course to pass the time at home during isolation.
Although these are very worrying times, you can use the time wisely as an opportunity to learn new things. Rather than worrying about the future, focusing on what you can do now and keeping your brain active in the right way is a more positive and productive solution.
We offer many different courses designed for todays labour market needs. We have excellent courses and assigned tutors who support you with anything you may need from wondering how to write an assignment to sourcing a work placement.
If you are unhappy in your job, if you want to upskill or even completely change career, use this time to reflect on what you enjoy doing, what your values are and how they would fit with a career that you would enjoy rather than it feeling like a chore. We also have a special package for anyone who wants to become a Carer to help the country fight Covid 19. Give us a call anytime and we would be happy to answer any of your queries. Our enrolment procedures are very straight forward, and you will receive the support you need to get going on your desired course.
For those of you already completing a course, make sure to create a routine for studying. Get up in the morning and try to have the same routine as you normally would have -get up early, take a shower, eat breakfast, get out of your PJ’s, and put on other clothes.
This helps get you in the right frame of mind to tackle any outstanding assignments / projects etc. Make sure to have a studying slot every day that you can stick to and make it your daily routine. Have your support network around you that you can contact easily like on the phone or through skype and make sure to take some time out to relax and do something you enjoy like baking / meditating / getting some fresh air/ sitting in the sun.
Whatever stage you are at with your learning, we are here to support and help you on your way to a more satisfying and more rewarding career.
Keep safe everyone!