NCI Blog

National College of Ireland is known for its small classes and friendly atmosphere. The College takes a ‘whole person’ approach to education, and your wellbeing is as important as your academic success, in helping you achieve the career path you’re aiming for.

Many of our prospective students are curious about what online learning might look and feel like as they commence their college careers during a time of global pandemic, which limits the amount of on-campus time they can enjoy.

On a normal working week, home visitors from Early Learning Initiative’s ParentChild+ programme bring the gift of playtime into homes across Dublin’s inner city by providing disadvantaged families with the educational materials they need to encourage their child’s early learning and development. Research tells us that a child born into poverty is more likely to start school without the basic knowledge and skills they need to keep up with their peers. One factor of future academic success is a positive and nurturing home-learning environment. By providing families with educational support early in the child’s life we can help to give that child the best possible start.

We are living in extraordinary times. Just over four weeks ago, all educational institutes were asked to close their doors to assist in containing the spread of COVID-19, and all our staff and students went home. The instruction came suddenly, we closed the same day as the Government announcement. But thanks to good continuity planning delivered through the hard work, cooperation and adaptability of staff and students, National College of Ireland was able to quickly move all its programmes to online delivery. At the same time, we were able to continue to provide access to library services, student services, academic support, disability support and our careers service, for all our learners.

As students are facing very particular challenges while studying at home, we're sharing our Top Three evergreen tips and two tips specific to studying while social distancing:

The Early Learning Initiative at National College of Ireland has a deep and active connection with the community of the North East Inner City. Staffed primarily by people from the area, ELI works with other organisations, community groups and schools, through vital funding partnerships with government, businesses and corporations, to weave a network of support for families and children across the NEIC.

We asked Dr Josephine Bleach, Director of the Early Learning Initiative here at National College of Ireland, for some advice and tips for parents during this particularly challenging time.

We asked Dr Josephine Bleach, Director of the Early Learning Initiative here at National College of Ireland, for some advice and tips for parents during this particularly challenging time.

Tummy time, modelled on the My Place to Play play mat by Shauna O'Neill from Ringsend, and her 12 week old daughter Elise.

Cathy Dunne, who graduated with the MSc in Data Analytics from NCI this year, started her higher education studying French and Maths, before transferring to Economics.