NCI Blog

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.

Like many who are getting ready to leave secondary school, final year BA (Honours) in Human Resource Management student, Chloe Baxter, didn't know what she wanted to do next. None of the courses she seen jumped out to her so she decided to gain experience in industry first which gave her the opportunity to learn about the different functions of a business and lead to her interest in HRM.

There is a big deciding factor for students who wish to pursue degrees in accounting and finance which is exam exemptions from professional accountancy bodies. When researching her CAO options, Denisa Mihalute found that graduates of the BA (Honours) in Accounting and Finance at NCI could apply for generous exemptions from the examinations of professional accountancy bodies, such as Chartered Accountants Ireland, upon completion of the course.

After a successful year completing his work placement with PwC UK in Edinburgh, Andrew Conlon is preparing to return to National College of Ireland to begin his final year of undergraduate business studies. During his work placement, Andrew was presented with the opportunity to begin his Chartered Accountant exams, which he passed with flying colours, as well as work from various offices across the UK, meet lots of new people and make lifelong memories but now, he is ready to apply the practical experience he has gained during his placement to his studies.

It’s easy to see why many students choose to study international business. Whether you have a business background or you’re transitioning from another discipline, a postgraduate degree in international business can accelerate your career by helping you step into a middle to top management position in a global organisation. You will gain a high level of knowledge across a range of relevant topics that will impress your current colleagues or future employers in a job interview.

There’s a new opportunity at National College of Ireland for someone who is looking to kickstart or advance their career in accountancy. Our new MSc in Accounting, starting in September 2023, will allow students to fast track their accountancy career by gaining generous examination exemptions from the professional accountancy bodies. This is a conversion course meaning students with undergraduate degrees from disciplines such as computing and engineering, along with those holding related qualifications such as business, can start or continue their journey to becoming a professional accountant by completing this full-time programme.

An MBA is an internationally recognised qualification that will enable you to position yourself to take advantage of career opportunities at the highest level of business. The MBA at NCI emphasises the development of business and management skills to solve problems through structured analysis, effective decision-making and strong communication and leadership skills.

As a teenager or young person starting your adult life, the choices you make, such as deciding whether to continue your studies to third-level and which college and course to choose, may be based on examples you see around you. For instance, you might think that you wouldn't be able to work at a desk job for 8 hours a day as you don't see examples of this in your life. As a result, you don't understand the rewarding challenges such a professional can face and the little wins that drive them to continuously learn and build new skills in their role, ultimately leading to personal growth and job satisfaction.

Have you ever considered studying accounting and finance? Accounting and Finance continues to remain a popular undergraduate and postgraduate course in Ireland, with Chartered Accountants Ireland highlighting a 70% increase in those studying the subject at higher level since 2011.

An MBA or Master of Business Administration is synonymous with senior management leadership positions. At NCI, we think of an MBA as a ‘passport’ that can open up new career opportunities both in Ireland and internationally.