The Open College - Our Team

Our Tutors are carefully selected as experts in their fields with extensive educational qualifications and practical experience. The role of The Open College Tutors is to correct assessments and to provide advice and support to students.

We are the official trading division of Open College for Direct Learning, a company limited by guarantee, whose main objectives as stated in the company’s Memorandum of Association are:

“To carry on the business of sourcing educational and training materials and the commissioning of writing and development of same with the object of offering these to the public on a not for profit basis.”

We are extremely proud of this and believe we are the first private company in Ireland to offer educational and training courses to the public on a not for profit basis.

Margaret O'Connor – Intellectual Disability Studies Childcare and Health Care

Margaret has over 20 year's experience working as a registered Nurse both nationally and internationally within Rehabilitation Wards. Margaret has worked in both Supervisor and managerial roles for community centres throughout the country. Margaret is currently tutoring all Health Care FEATC Level 5 Modules.

Qualifications Include:

Diploma in Health Care and Positive Living, Waterford Institute of Technology
Management for Senior Nursing Staff, Waterford Institute of Technology
Introductory Certificate to Mental Handicap (Intellectual Disability) for Qualified Nursing Staff, Evaluation Training and Consultancy International
Primary Course in the Principles and Practices of Food Hygiene, Environment Health Officers Association
Certificate in the Management of Food Hygiene, The National Hygiene Partnership
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Waterford Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (1st Class Honours), Waterford Institute of Technology
Train the Trainer FETAC Level 6 Distinction
Certificate in General Nursing, Jervis Street Hospital Dublin.

Paula Duggan – Anatomy & Physiology/Nutrition Courses

Paula Duggan is the director for PTN Health acting as both a personal fitness trainer and nutritional therapist for private clients. Paula’s approach to health and well being is to “provide effective tailored fitness and nutritional programmes based on the client’s personal level of fitness”.

Paula is involved within a number of projects such as Stretch and Grow, System Slim Ireland and is also a member of IANT (Irish Association of Nutritional Therapy).

Qualifications Include:

National Certificate in Swiss Ball Training for Core Stability and Balance, National Training Centre
National Certificate in Step Aerobics, National Training Centre
National Certificate in Exercise and Fitness, National Training Centre
Diploma in Naturopathic Nutrition, Griffith College
Currently Studying: Check Exercise Coach, University of Surrey UK.

Teresa Beirne – Coaching Course

Teresa has years of experience of working with groups and individuals in a coaching and training capacity in Ireland and internationally. Prior to this she worked at all levels in the corporate world, ending up at senior management level. Teresa is regarded as a top class trainer who has the ability to impart her knowledge and experience in a down to earth manner which is easily understood.

Qualifications include:

Bachelor of Financial Services (Honours) – UCD/Smurfit School of Business
Diploma Management & Executive Coaching – International Coaching & Training Institute
Diploma Life & Business Coaching – Irish Life Coach Institute
Diploma in Humanistic & Integrative Psychotherapy (Counselling) – Tabor Institute
Licensed Business Practioner NLP – Irish Institute NLP
Train the Trainer FETAC Level 6 - Distinction
Certificate Organisational Development – Northern Arizona University
Qualified Financial Advisor & Chartered Banker – Institute of Bankers Ireland.

Christine Lodge – Mental Health

Christine Lodge is an accredited, qualified Psychotherapist with years of experience working with individuals and groups. Christine has worked closely with clients with general and acute social, psychological and psychiatric problems. Christine’s style of work is Humanistic and Integrative, meaning that she combines a variety of techniques and approaches from schools of therapy such as Psychoanalysis, Person Centred, Gestalt, and Cognitive therapies.
She currently works in private practice, and provides training and support to both parents and teachers with children who have challenging behaviour.

Qualifications include:

BA Hons Degree Counselling & Psychotherapy
Level A & B Psychometric Testing
Certified Facilitator –Parent & Teacher Training – Incredible Years
Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy
Certificate in mediation & conflict resolution
Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy
Directors & Senior Managers Programme
Currently studying a MA in Counselling & Psychotherapy –HETAC level 9

Deirdre Harrington – Business/Management Courses

Deirdre Harrington is the main tutor for all our Management Courses; she has extensive experience within the areas of Management and Marketing. Deirdre has acted as a tutor for the University of College tutoring modules such as Human Resource Management, Market Research and Principles of Marketing.

Deirdre was also involved with the faculty of Commerce in UCC, presenting lectures to first year international students. In both roles Deirdre acted as both a corrector for assignments and an External Examiner in all areas of Management.

Qualifications Include:

Batchelor of Arts Degree in Irish and Geography, University College Cork
Higher Diploma in Management and Marketing (H.Dip), University College Cork
Research Masters, University College Cork.

Brian E Swinyard - Digital Photography
BA(Hons) MA ARPS EFIAP/b DPAGB BPE3* PPSA MInstLM MIfL

An 'Aspirational' Photographer with special interest in Contemporary, Creative, Portrait and Travel photography.

Brian is regarded in the UK Camera Club Circuit, not only as a prolific image-maker but also as an inspiration to others. His photography, which nowadays is exclusively digitally-based, is varied and shows a great deal of technical expertise, originality and enviable imagination.

He is a member of the Royal Photographic Society (RPS), Photographic Society of America (PSA), Bureau of Freelance Photographers (BFP), London Independent Photography (LIP), InScape, SchoolOfPhotography.com (SOP), Cheltenham Camera Club (CCC), Gloucester Camera Club (GCC) and Smethwick Photographic Society (SPS).

Approximately 1500 of his images have been accepted (some Medal winners) in National/International Exhibitions/Salons in Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Caribbean, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Macedonia, Portugal, Qatar, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, USA and Wales. His work has been published in In-House and Photography Magazines and Journals.

Qualifications Include:

BA(Hons) Degree in Psychology with The Open University, Milton Keynes
MA Degree in Photography with De Montfort University, Leicester.

Irene Togher – Legal Studies & Communications Courses

Irene Togher has over 15 years’ experience teaching at both secondary and PLC levels, giving her an insight into education from first year in secondary school up to Level 7 in college. She is also an established educational writer, having published ‘Shortcuts to Success: Study and Exam Skills for Leaving Certificate’ with Gill and Macmillan as well as numerous articles and courses. Her areas of interest are Study Skills, Communications, Media and Law.

Qualifications Include:

Bachelor of Arts in English and Legal Studies, NUI Galway
Bachelor of Laws (LLB), NUI Galway
Masters in Arts in Media Studies (Honours), Dublin Institute of Technology.

Helen Nolan – Health & Safety Courses

Helen Nolan has over 5 years’ experience tutoring FETAC Courses in: Intellectual Disability, Social Studies, Understanding Special Needs, Special Needs Assisting, Safety and Health, Childcare & Challenging Behaviour.

She also has over 3 years experience in Programme Facilitator Teaching adults with Intellectual Disability FETAC Modules & 4 years Special Needs Assistant working with children with ADHD and Autism.