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Part-time Study Options at NUI Galway
We have reached a significant milestone in March 2021, a full year of living with COVID-19, a year like no other. As we look back on this year and the skills that we have learned - at speed, this global pandemic has changed the way we live, work and communicate with one another.
“Having celebrated the 50th anniversary of Adult Learning at NUI Galway, it has been a challenging, but exciting year at the Centre”, reflects Nuala McGuinn, Director at the Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development at NUI Galway.
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“Many of our courses were ideally placed to upskill employees to meet the demands of a world where teaching and learning moved entirely online for many months and where workers were asked to stay and work from home”.
Enhancing Digital Skills
Among those courses which prepare learners for a digital world is the Diploma in Technology Enhanced Learning. A one year study option, which gives participants a hands-on, practical approach to develop skills in the design, development and delivery of online courses. It focuses on pedagogical concepts and instructional design models that are fundamental to designing and developing an online learning experience.
The course is applicable for practitioners managers, teachers, learning and development specialists who are seeking to incorporate digital learning practice and strategy into their organisation into diverse social, and behavioural problems,”explains Nuala McGuinn. “Our students are from teaching, psychology, nursing, social care and early childhood studies backgrounds”.
The postgraduate Certificate or Diploma takes up to 20 months to complete and includes a clinical placement requirement. There is a summer school option (15 days), at the NUI Galway campus or weekend workshops in either Dublin or Cork.
Fees and Funding
Conscious of the financial demands that many students are experiencing, particularly in the current economic climate, a number of funding opportunities are available to reduce course fees.
An Adult Learning Tuition Scholarship is available for those in receipt of specific payments from the Department of Social Protection, Springboard+ funding for approved courses and scholarships are also offered in collaboration with the 30% Club in the area of technology management.
Launching 50 years of Adult Learning, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh President NUI Galway and Nuala McGuinn
areas such as staff training and development, strategic leadership and change management.
Teacher Education
The training and education sector is experiencing rapid change and growth with an increasing focus on creating educational pathways for learners right across the national framework of qualifications. Providing upskilling opportunities for educators to develop their professional competencies in response to complex learning environments at each stage of their career is a core focus of the Training and Education courses available at NUI Galway.
The Professional Diploma in Education (Further Education), is a two-year course focusing on the professional knowledge and skills necessary for further education teachers and tutors to carry out their teaching roles.
“It is ideally suited to those who wish to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland for certification as a Further Education teacher in Ireland, the EU, as well as other English speaking countries,” explains Paul Gormley, Course Academic Coordinator.
A number of progression options are also available to graduates with many progressing to masters level with the MA in Adult Learning and Teaching.
“This masters can be completed in one year and focuses on the management and leadership demands of practitioners to develop a learning strategy for their classroom or workplace, which is relevant and up-to-date with current developments. It also focuses on skills development for learners to become effective e-Learning professionals, enabling their learners to achieve their full potential."
Play Therapy
Play therapy as a therapeutic approach to counselling for young children is an area of study which has grown in popularity in the past number of years.
“This counselling approach is specifically aimed at helping children with emotional,
