NCI Blog

This blog is written by Carrie Archer, Programme Director for the microcredentials in Technology Enhanced Learning in the Centre for Education and Lifelong Learning. In today's classrooms, educators are increasingly turning to technology to support the creation of more productive, engaging, and inclusive learning environments. Learning environments shift, evolve and change all the time. They include our traditional classrooms, but now also include the use of learning management systems and a variety of platforms to facilitate asynchronous learning. They also include virtual classrooms where we engage with learning synchronously, but from locations all over the world and across time zones. Regardless of context, the learning environment or the discipline you work in, learner variability is a given.

Deciding between a full-time or part-time postgraduate programme is a significant decision to make, with many factors that you will need to be take into consideration.

At National College of Ireland, we understand that the demands of a busy lifestyle can impact your decision to return to education. Therefore, we have designed accelerated business courses which are delivered in a flexible, intensive way to ensure that you can work towards your undergraduate degree while keeping up with multiple commitments such as work and family life.

Aiming to take his career to the next level and having set a goal of becoming a CEO, Alan Roche attended an MBA taster event at National College of Ireland. He discovered that this degree, which is a highly regarded and much-sought-after qualification, could give him the confidence and credibility to lead and drive the growth and success of his organisation.

If changing careers and starting a new path has been on your mind for some time now, why not consider a career change into technology? It’s challenging, exciting and in Ireland, you will be given significant opportunities to really make an impact in the industry.

With vast experience in the service industry, Linda Conway had gained a good understanding business operations. However, she had a desire to gain a formal qualification as she knew this was an essential step that would help her navigate the path ahead.

Having always loved working with people during his career in retail management, Brendan Breslin had an abundance of experience but came to a professional crossroads. After some advice from a career coach, he started his journey to gaining valuable qualifications in the HR field and he hasn't stopped since.

Navigating a career crossroads can be tricky for several reasons. You might ask yourself “how can I progress further in my current role? What industry do I want to work in? Do I have the right skills to switch roles? Can I afford to return to education if required?”. If you have asked yourself any of these questions, then a Springboard+ programme may be a suitable solution for you!

Having worked in hospitality for a number of years and having recently moved into a new role training and support role for an international hotel group, Stephen McCusker decided to return to education to gain a relevant qualification accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, CIPD. Stephen shares insights into studying the (CIPD) Diploma in Professional Learning and Organisational Development at National College of Ireland, including how he has applied what he has learned in his current role and his advice for anyone considering this programme, in the Q&A interview below.

Marius Petraitis set himself a goal of becoming a tech startup founder, but always wanted to expand his knowledge and skills before doing so. His first step was to join an undergraduate degree that included both business and technology subjects. After gaining a postgraduate qualification in the e-commerce space, the Springboard+ initiative gave him the opportunity to build on his existing skills in specialised areas such as Data Analytics and Cybersecurity.