NCI Blog

With a history of teaching HR courses that stretches back more than 60 years’, it’s no surprise that our human resource management courses and lecturers are always kept busy at NCI’s summer open evenings.

Pictured: Course leaders Sinead Matson (left) and Dr. Arlene Egan (right) at the launch of the new BA programmes

Sinead Matson is a specialist in Early Childhood Education, with a particular interest in play. She is also the Course Director for NCI’s new BA Hons in Early Childhood Education, and has a background in Montessori teaching. In advance of the launch of the new BA, she poses the question, “What piece of advice would you give yourself as you started out in your education and training?” I like books. I like books, instructions, policies and procedures. I like to know what I’m doing and when I’m doing it. I like check lists, action lists, task lists. Scrap that… I like lists. Yes I’m “that” person! I cannot tell you the satisfaction I get from checking off a completed task or the comfort of knowing my next step. I do not like the unknown. Not only do I not like it but I’ve been known to let it hold me back.

Getting caught up in the daily tasks of the 9-to-5 grind can be a great distraction from developing a strategic career goal. While focusing on the here and now it’s hard to take a step back and consider the bigger picture.

Springboard courses are free courses for the unemployed that can you get back into the workforce or help you with a career change. Springboard courses are government funded so they are free of charge to eligible unemployed people. National College of Ireland has been running Springboard courses for several years and here we try answer some of the most common questions about a Springboard course.