theirishtimes--2020-05-25--Why choose a business course? Creativity, teamwork alongside enterprise

The shock of Covid-19 shut down businesses across the country .
Many people were able to keep working from home , but hairdressers , restaurants and cafes , clothes shops , garden centres and gyms were among the businesses that were forced to close their doors .
The slowdown - and the economic hit that came with it - highlighted how business is the engine of the economy .
The financial and banking sectors took a hit too .
Shares and stocks fell as consumer confidence was eroded , people lost jobs and there wasn ’ t much to buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Global carbon emissions fell .
Business is broad .
You ’ ll find people with business degrees in restaurants , shops , transport , science , health , food and agriculture , law , entertainment , education and more .
They ’ re working in a range of roles including accounting , banking , entrepreneurship , finance , human resources , insurance , management , sales and marketing .
And , of course , people with business skills are working in financial services including banking , consumer finance firms , stockbroking and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re also well equipped to set up their own enterprises .
Samantha Kelly is an entrepreneur who started off with a product called Funky Goddess , a gift basket for young women who had had their first period .
“ I used Twitter and Facebook to market the business and I knew that , if I told stories and people told me theirs , they ’ d be more likely to buy the gift box.
” Kelly later sold the business because she needed investment .
“ There are highs and lows in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with it .
Over time , people approached me about how to use Twitter to boost sales , and I went on to build the Women ’ s Inspire Network [ Twitter : @ WomensInspireIE ] .
I don ’ t fit the image of a business person in the suit and felt like I didn ’ t fit in because I was different , quirkier , messier .
But I did have the characteristics to succeed in business : you have to enjoy what you ’ re doing ; you need resilience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first place ; and determination , courage and stamina to keep going at it.
” Business can feel impersonal , but Kelly says that there is a real person behind every business or image .
“ In business , you need to be good at building relationships and that does take empathy and compassion .
It ’ s not about being cutthroat and I don ’ t have people like that in my network .
We work on mentoring and helping people by adding value and sharing knowledge.
” Yes , employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than that , they value key skills such as teamwork , creativity , enterprise , problem-solving and analytical skills - and courses that help students to develop these skills are worth a look .
But students should also look to get involved in clubs and societies , running events , watching the money and working as part of a team .
Courses that offer a work placement or work experience can also give students a leg-up , as can business courses that include an option to learn a foreign language whether as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choosing the right business course , students should consider average class sizes , work experience and project work , the skills they want to develop - and whether to go for a broad , general entry course or whether to apply to a specialist course ( such as marketing or supply chain management ) from the outset .
Ailbe Murphy , career guidance counsellor with studyclix.ie and a teacher at Jesus and Mary Secondary School in Enniscrone , Co Sligo , points out that students have hundreds of different options when it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certificates , level seven ordinary degrees , level eight honours courses and PLC courses that may give a taster of the business world and guidance on the modules that are most interest to them .
“ Some students know what they want to do , whether that ’ s HR , business and law , ICT , entrepreneurship or perhaps commerce with a language .
But if they ’ re not sure , a broad business or commerce degree gives an opportunity to sample a range of subjects in first year and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
Students could also consider business apprenticeships .
In recent years , Solas , the further education and training authority , have developed a suite of apprenticeships that including accounting technician ( level six ) , insurance practice ( level eight ) , international financial services associate ( level six ) and international financial services specialist ( level eight ) .
All of these courses give students a chance to earn money while they learn , so could be a great option for those concerned about the cost of college .

The slowdown - and the economic hit that came with it - highlighted how business is the engine of the economy. Photograph: iStock
The shock of Covid-19 shut down businesses across the country. Many people were able to keep working from home, but hairdressers, restaurants and cafes, clothes shops, garden centres and gyms were among the businesses that were forced to close their doors.
The slowdown - and the economic hit that came with it - highlighted how business is the engine of the economy.
The financial and banking sectors took a hit too. Shares and stocks fell as consumer confidence was eroded, people lost jobs and there wasn’t much to buy with shops closed. Aeroplanes were grounded. Global carbon emissions fell.
Business is broad. You’ll find people with business degrees in restaurants, shops, transport, science, health, food and agriculture, law, entertainment, education and more. They’re working in a range of roles including accounting, banking, entrepreneurship, finance, human resources, insurance, management, sales and marketing.
READ MORE
And, of course, people with business skills are working in financial services including banking, consumer finance firms, stockbroking and marketing and advertising firms. They’re also well equipped to set up their own enterprises.
Empathy and compassion
Samantha Kelly is an entrepreneur who started off with a product called Funky Goddess, a gift basket for young women who had had their first period. "I used Twitter and Facebook to market the business and I knew that, if I told stories and people told me theirs, they'd be more likely to buy the gift box."
Kelly later sold the business because she needed investment. "There are highs and lows in business but you learn to get on with it. Over time, people approached me about how to use Twitter to boost sales, and I went on to build the Women's Inspire Network [Twitter: @WomensInspireIE]. I don't fit the image of a business person in the suit and felt like I didn't fit in because I was different, quirkier, messier. But I did have the characteristics to succeed in business: you have to enjoy what you're doing; you need resilience and courage to start the business in the first place; and determination, courage and stamina to keep going at it."
Business can feel impersonal, but Kelly says that there is a real person behind every business or image. “In business, you need to be good at building relationships and that does take empathy and compassion. It’s not about being cutthroat and I don’t have people like that in my network. We work on mentoring and helping people by adding value and sharing knowledge.”
Yes, employers might value a business degree but, more than that, they value key skills such as teamwork, creativity, enterprise, problem-solving and analytical skills - and courses that help students to develop these skills are worth a look. But students should also look to get involved in clubs and societies, running events, watching the money and working as part of a team.
Courses that offer a work placement or work experience can also give students a leg-up, as can business courses that include an option to learn a foreign language whether as a core or optional module.
Considerations
In choosing the right business course, students should consider average class sizes, work experience and project work, the skills they want to develop - and whether to go for a broad, general entry course or whether to apply to a specialist course (such as marketing or supply chain management) from the outset.
Ailbe Murphy, career guidance counsellor with studyclix.ie and a teacher at Jesus and Mary Secondary School in Enniscrone, Co Sligo, points out that students have hundreds of different options when it comes to business courses, including level six certificates, level seven ordinary degrees, level eight honours courses and PLC courses that may give a taster of the business world and guidance on the modules that are most interest to them.
“Some students know what they want to do, whether that’s HR, business and law, ICT, entrepreneurship or perhaps commerce with a language. But if they’re not sure, a broad business or commerce degree gives an opportunity to sample a range of subjects in first year and then specialise in second year,” Murphy says.
Students could also consider business apprenticeships. In recent years, Solas, the further education and training authority, have developed a suite of apprenticeships that including accounting technician (level six), insurance practice (level eight), international financial services associate (level six) and international financial services specialist (level eight).
All of these courses give students a chance to earn money while they learn, so could be a great option for those concerned about the cost of college.
Business courses and points 2019
Commerce International (UCD): 509
Commerce (NUI Galway): 422
Commerce with Irish (UCC): 509
Business studies (DBS): 248
Global business USA (DCU): 578
Business and management (TU Dublin city campus): 440
International business (TU Dublin Tallaght): 229
Business (National College of Ireland): 297
Business, economic and social studies (Trinity): 520
Business and law (UCD): 521


theirishtimes--2020-05-25--Will healthcare prove a popular choice?

Will healthcare prove a popular choice?

In 2008 , a massive global recession gave the world a crash course in economics .
Suddenly , credit default swaps , hedge funds and equity ratios ( don ’ t ask ) were part of our day-to-day conversations .
Something similar is happening during the Covid-19 pandemic , as we all become familiar with new terms such as “ flattening the curve ” , “ the R rate ” and “ social distancing ” .
As health moves to the forefront of global consciousness , the average person has a much stronger understanding of virology and pandemics than ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in the number of students on health courses including medicine , nursing , physiotherapy and dentistry ?
“ I think Covid has probably expanded people ’ s interest in healthcare , ” says Prof Arnie Hill , head of the school of medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland .
“ It is such a rewarding career helping others.
” Hill says he chose a career in medicine because he liked working with people and with his hands , so a surgical career was the perfect fit for him .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with every patient having their own personal story .
For many people reading an article like this , they will have known for a long time that they wanted to be a doctor , nurse or dentist .
This year might be a little different , however .
With figures like Prof Mary Horgan , Prof Philip Nolan , Prof Sam McConkey and Dr Kim Roberts becoming household names , students who perhaps never gave medicine a second thought now have the importance of healthcare firmly in their minds .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a priority , but how might that translate into jobs seven or eight years down the line ?
“ The investment in health has massively expanded across the globe , ” says Hill .
“ I have no doubt that public health as a speciality will have a greater prominence in healthcare in the post-Covid future.
” It ’ s worth noting , however , that registrations for the H-Pat – an entrance test that assesses whether students have the right aptitude to be admitted to third-level medicine courses – closed on January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected in Ireland and some time before the first cases were reported in Italy , so it ’ s not expected that applications to study medicine will rise significantly this year .
Nursing and other healthcare-related professions including pharmacy and physiotherapy may see growing interest , however .
Hill expects to see changes in medicine over the coming years .
At the moment , his work has focused on treating symptomatic patients with breast cancer , and elective surgical work has diminished significantly .
“ Many things about how we deliver healthcare will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
“ I think more consultations will be done by phone or video .
As head of the medical school , it has been a significant achievement in graduating our final-year medical students on time for joining the workforce early this May .
The logistics for organising clinical exams for student doctors in the Covid era was challenging.
” These can be challenging courses and the pay can vary : a top consultant can earn about €200,000 a year but a registered and experienced nurse may be on only €40,000 a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that public disquiet – as well as public health needs – will drive nursing salaries to a higher level , but it ’ s hard to predict with any certainty where we will be in four or five years ’ time , or whether a drive towards austerity and budget cuts could hit nurses .
In the meantime , there is no shortage of places to study health sciences .
General nursing courses are available at Trinity College , UL , UCC , UCD , NUI Galway , RCSI , DCU , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s College , GMIT , and Athlone IT .
There ’ s also plenty of options for students who wish to train as mental health nurses with courses at DCU , Dundalk IT and UCD ; as psychiatric nurses at Letterkenny IT , GMIT , Athlone IT and WIT ; as intellectual disability nurses at St Angela ’ s College in Sligo , Trinity College , UCC and UL ; or as children ’ s nurses at DCU , Trinity , UCD and UCC .
Students who don ’ t secure a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taste nursing before they make a commitment , can also apply to a one-year pre-nursing course at a local ETB .
It ’ s worth bearing in mind that nurses work in a variety of settings including hospitals , GPs , nursing homes , hospice and in the community .
Students can also consider midwifery at Trinity College , UCD , NUI Galway , UL and WIT .
UCC and Trinity College are the only places where undergraduates can study dentistry in Ireland , although RCSI offers a postgraduate course .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can study dental nursing including Athlone Institute of Technology and UCC , while students can train for level-seven dental hygienist courses at UCC and Trinity .
Dentists are rarely unemployed and often run their own practices .
Physiotherapy students can study at UL , UCD , RCSI or Trinity College .
Employment prospects for physiotherapists have improved significantly in recent years as they have become more embedded in the health service , and roles can be quite diverse : some work with musculoskeletal conditions ; some with patients who have burns or neurological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the frontline during Covid-19 , working with patients who have respiratory conditions .

In 2008, a massive global recession gave the world a crash course in economics. Suddenly, credit default swaps, hedge funds and equity ratios (don’t ask) were part of our day-to-day conversations.
Something similar is happening during the Covid-19 pandemic, as we all become familiar with new terms such as “flattening the curve”, “the R rate” and “social distancing”. As health moves to the forefront of global consciousness, the average person has a much stronger understanding of virology and pandemics than ever before. Could this lead to an increase in the number of students on health courses including medicine, nursing, physiotherapy and dentistry?
"I think Covid has probably expanded people's interest in healthcare," says Prof Arnie Hill, head of the school of medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. "It is such a rewarding career helping others."
Hill says he chose a career in medicine because he liked working with people and with his hands, so a surgical career was the perfect fit for him. There is variety in the job, too, with every patient having their own personal story.
READ MORE
For many people reading an article like this, they will have known for a long time that they wanted to be a doctor, nurse or dentist.
This year might be a little different, however. With figures like Prof Mary Horgan, Prof Philip Nolan, Prof Sam McConkey and Dr Kim Roberts becoming household names, students who perhaps never gave medicine a second thought now have the importance of healthcare firmly in their minds. In the short to medium term, healthcare is a priority, but how might that translate into jobs seven or eight years down the line?
“The investment in health has massively expanded across the globe,” says Hill. “I have no doubt that public health as a speciality will have a greater prominence in healthcare in the post-Covid future.”
It's worth noting, however, that registrations for the H-Pat – an entrance test that assesses whether students have the right aptitude to be admitted to third-level medicine courses – closed on January, long before Covid-19 restrictions were widely expected in Ireland and some time before the first cases were reported in Italy, so it's not expected that applications to study medicine will rise significantly this year.
Nursing and other healthcare-related professions including pharmacy and physiotherapy may see growing interest, however.
Hill expects to see changes in medicine over the coming years. At the moment, his work has focused on treating symptomatic patients with breast cancer, and elective surgical work has diminished significantly.
“Many things about how we deliver healthcare will change in the future,” he says. “I think more consultations will be done by phone or video. As head of the medical school, it has been a significant achievement in graduating our final-year medical students on time for joining the workforce early this May. The logistics for organising clinical exams for student doctors in the Covid era was challenging.”
These can be challenging courses and the pay can vary: a top consultant can earn about €200,000 a year but a registered and experienced nurse may be on only €40,000 a year. It is possible, of course, that public disquiet – as well as public health needs – will drive nursing salaries to a higher level, but it’s hard to predict with any certainty where we will be in four or five years’ time, or whether a drive towards austerity and budget cuts could hit nurses.
Courses
In the meantime, there is no shortage of places to study health sciences.
General nursing courses are available at Trinity College, UL, UCC, UCD, NUI Galway, RCSI, DCU, WIT, Letterkenny IT, St Angela's College, GMIT, and Athlone IT.
There's also plenty of options for students who wish to train as mental health nurses with courses at DCU, Dundalk IT and UCD; as psychiatric nurses at Letterkenny IT, GMIT, Athlone IT and WIT; as intellectual disability nurses at St Angela's College in Sligo, Trinity College, UCC and UL; or as children's nurses at DCU, Trinity, UCD and UCC.
Students who don’t secure a college place, or who want to taste nursing before they make a commitment, can also apply to a one-year pre-nursing course at a local ETB. It’s worth bearing in mind that nurses work in a variety of settings including hospitals, GPs, nursing homes, hospice and in the community.
Students can also consider midwifery at Trinity College, UCD, NUI Galway, UL and WIT.
UCC and Trinity College are the only places where undergraduates can study dentistry in Ireland, although RCSI offers a postgraduate course. There are also a number of places where students can study dental nursing including Athlone Institute of Technology and UCC, while students can train for level-seven dental hygienist courses at UCC and Trinity. Dentists are rarely unemployed and often run their own practices.
Physiotherapy students can study at UL, UCD, RCSI or Trinity College. Employment prospects for physiotherapists have improved significantly in recent years as they have become more embedded in the health service, and roles can be quite diverse: some work with musculoskeletal conditions; some with patients who have burns or neurological conditions, while others have been on the frontline during Covid-19, working with patients who have respiratory conditions.
Selection of CAO points, 2019
Dentistry (UCC): 590
Physiotherapy (RCSI): 532
Medicine (NUI Galway): 726
Nursing (Athlone IT): 410
Midwifery (UCD): 445


theirishtimes--2020-05-25--Third level gears up for blended learning

As prospective students finalise their CAO choices and social restrictions introduced to disrupt the coronavirus pandemic are eased , what should this year ’ s crop of first year undergraduates expect when they start college in September ?
The first thing worth noting is that the third-level landscape is going to look very different when compared to previous years as the sector has undergone profound change in the space of just a few months .
The arrival of the coronavirus on Irish shores triggered an abrupt move away from the traditional face-to-face style of teaching that most Irish students were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to be rapidly migrated to online teaching platforms as lectures were cancelled , campuses were evacuated , and many examinations were called-off or postponed .
While some restrictions have eased in recent weeks , the expectation is that we are facing into a period of prolonged social distancing and by implication , continued disruption to the traditional university model .
In a sector where you could have up to 500 students attending a single lecture , social distancing restrictions will directly impact how these courses are delivered at our third level institutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be delivered online and students will attend campus in smaller groups for face-to-face sessions , tutorials and lab work .
This combination of online learning and traditional classroom-based elements is referred to as blended learning .
Students should check course specifications with the institution in question to see how their preferred course may be affected .
The majority of third level institutions already had systems in place to facilitate remote working and distance learning before the arrival of Covid-19 .
These systems , sometimes referred to as virtual learning environments , are now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming years as critical tools for the delivery of tertiary education .
Video conferencing tools , online quizzes and specialised simulations might be more reflective of the global digital age than of traditional teaching methods but when used properly they can be effective tools for teaching and learning .
Systems such as Brightspace , Canvas , Moodle and Blackboard have built-in tools that allow instructors to deliver lectures by video or audio , facilitate discussions and even track student performance .
Dr Alison Hood , Dean of Teaching and Learning at Maynooth University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flexibility to work at their own pace .
Learning through technology can also help students “ develop the digital literacies necessary for their future careers.
” The use of technology can enable new opportunities for groupwork and collaborative learning and according to Dr Hood , can generate new opportunities for conducting assessment and providing feedback .
“ If utilised well , technology can improve access and support more inclusive participation for students with disabilities , ” she says .
One strategy that has emerged as a feature of distance learning is ’ classroom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to blended learning that is focused on enhancing engagement within the classroom setting .
Whereas in the past students would attend lectures , take notes and then perhaps then prepare homework or assignments , flipping means the lectures are watched remotely and the work is prepared in advance while the ’ live ’ session is spent analysing the work in the presence of the instructor .
“ We don ’ t need to bring you in to show you how to look something up online .
I can record it remotely and send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it and / [ THEN/ ] we ’ ll discuss it , ” says Kathleen Hughes who is a lecturer in Marketing in the College of Business at the Technological University Dublin .
To facilitate the new dispensation , students in many cases can expect college to start earlier than usual this year in order to facilitate special orientation sessions designed to help them adapt to the new learning environment .
At DCU for example it is expected that first-year students will begin two weeks earlier than usual .
However , as elsewhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be prioritised as the virus is likely to impact how courses are delivered on an ongoing basis .
Protecting the health and wellbeing of students and staff “ is paramount and overrides everything else , ” says DCU President , Professor Brian MacCraith .
He says the approach taken at the university enables flexibility and the ability to “ adapt to any change in circumstances.
” “ We will leverage DCU ’ s experience and capabilities in online and blended learning to offer every student a safe and high quality learning experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campus because of their specific healthcare situation , we will provide the highest standard of remote delivery to overcome these issues.
” Most colleges will have additional supports in place to help guide students .
As the focus continues to shift to blended and online learning , more resources are likely to be allocated to help improve outcomes .
The National Institute for Digital Learning at DCU is developing a free ‘ Learning how to learn online ’ course for students at the start of the next academic year .
The course will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focus on learning online in higher education settings .
Insights gained from the course will help harness the potential of online education and provide improved online learning experiences for students .
The increased use of blended education is likely to have some unforeseen consequences for the education sector and those within it .
There is a danger that the digital divide could increasingly prove to be a barrier to access as technology is increasingly integrated into the learning experience .
To overcome this barrier to learning students will not only need high quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do so but colleges and universities will need to ensure the requisite supports are in place to address the social equity imbalance .
Nuala McGuinn , who is Director at the Centre for Adult Learning & Professional Development at NUI Galway says when it comes to the development of online content best practice should include an “ awareness that there will be differences in terms of access to the internet and digital resources so flexibility in learning will have to be featured into course design.
” It is also important to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Make sure to build in opportunities for pastoral support of students or some “ online coffee-like threads ” to check in and see how students are coping with the online environment ” , she says .
Another unforeseen consequence of the pivot to blended learning is the impact it could have on the student rental market .
The wider rental sector was one of the first to be impacted by the pandemic .
Within days of the shutdown , property websites recorded a surge in rental properties coming onto the market as demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported earlier this month that the number of homes available to rent across the State has jumped by nearly 40 per cent as a result of the crisis .
From a practical point of view students whose presence is no longer required on a full-time basis in college should justifiably ask whether it is worth their while renting accommodation for the year or if other arrangements such as commuting to college on the days they have to be present might be a better option .
Social distancing rules will invariably limit the degree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be present on campus .
However , blended learning could offer greater access to third level education and as colleges work out how they can rotate students in and out of campus there could be an opportunity to open programmes up to more people than would typically register for a traditional course .
There is no doubt but students and colleges are facing into an uncertain year .
No-one knows how long the restrictions will last .
Some colleges are already making preparations to rebalance back towards face-to-face learning in the event of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so as not to be caught off-guard , they are also preparing to react swiftly to any reintroduction of government restrictions .
Students will have to familiarise themselves with using the virtual learning environment to a greater degree this year than they had to in the past .
There will be challenges for some disciplines , as students of fine arts might attest , but there will also be new and innovative ways of tackling problems .
Flexibility is therefore likely to be a key feature of college life in 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncertainty and our university community will undoubtedly be presented with challenges , ” says Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh President , NUI Galway .
“ Recommencing teaching in the autumn will require creative thinking and flexibility to adapt to the continuing restrictions and disruptions to normal life .
”

Students will have to familiarise themselves with using the virtual learning environment this year due to the increasing emphasis on social distancing caused by the Covid-19 virus.
As prospective students finalise their CAO choices and social restrictions introduced to disrupt the coronavirus pandemic are eased, what should this year's crop of first year undergraduates expect when they start college in September?
The first thing worth noting is that the third-level landscape is going to look very different when compared to previous years as the sector has undergone profound change in the space of just a few months.
The arrival of the coronavirus on Irish shores triggered an abrupt move away from the traditional face-to-face style of teaching that most Irish students were familiar with.
Almost all teaching activity had to be rapidly migrated to online teaching platforms as lectures were cancelled, campuses were evacuated, and many examinations were called-off or postponed.
READ MORE
While some restrictions have eased in recent weeks, the expectation is that we are facing into a period of prolonged social distancing and by implication, continued disruption to the traditional university model.
In a sector where you could have up to 500 students attending a single lecture, social distancing restrictions will directly impact how these courses are delivered at our third level institutions.
Blended delivery
In many colleges, lectures will be delivered online and students will attend campus in smaller groups for face-to-face sessions, tutorials and lab work. This combination of online learning and traditional classroom-based elements is referred to as blended learning.
Students should check course specifications with the institution in question to see how their preferred course may be affected.
The majority of third level institutions already had systems in place to facilitate remote working and distance learning before the arrival of Covid-19. These systems, sometimes referred to as virtual learning environments, are now expected to feature more prominently in the coming years as critical tools for the delivery of tertiary education.
Video conferencing tools, online quizzes and specialised simulations might be more reflective of the global digital age than of traditional teaching methods but when used properly they can be effective tools for teaching and learning.
Systems such as Brightspace, Canvas, Moodle and Blackboard have built-in tools that allow instructors to deliver lectures by video or audio, facilitate discussions and even track student performance.
Dr Alison Hood, Dean of Teaching and Learning at Maynooth University says online course delivery gives students the flexibility to work at their own pace.
Learning through technology can also help students “develop the digital literacies necessary for their future careers.”
The use of technology can enable new opportunities for groupwork and collaborative learning and according to Dr Hood, can generate new opportunities for conducting assessment and providing feedback.
“If utilised well, technology can improve access and support more inclusive participation for students with disabilities,” she says.
One strategy that has emerged as a feature of distance learning is ’classroom flipping’. This is an approach to blended learning that is focused on enhancing engagement within the classroom setting. Whereas in the past students would attend lectures, take notes and then perhaps then prepare homework or assignments, flipping means the lectures are watched remotely and the work is prepared in advance while the ’live’ session is spent analysing the work in the presence of the instructor.
"We don't need to bring you in to show you how to look something up online. I can record it remotely and send it to you... you look at it and /[THEN/] we'll discuss it," says Kathleen Hughes who is a lecturer in Marketing in the College of Business at the Technological University Dublin.
Early start
To facilitate the new dispensation, students in many cases can expect college to start earlier than usual this year in order to facilitate special orientation sessions designed to help them adapt to the new learning environment.
At DCU for example it is expected that first-year students will begin two weeks earlier than usual. However, as elsewhere, the health of students and staff will be prioritised as the virus is likely to impact how courses are delivered on an ongoing basis.
Protecting the health and wellbeing of students and staff “is paramount and overrides everything else,” says DCU President, Professor Brian MacCraith.
He says the approach taken at the university enables flexibility and the ability to “adapt to any change in circumstances.”
“We will leverage DCU’s experience and capabilities in online and blended learning to offer every student a safe and high quality learning experience. If any student cannot access campus because of their specific healthcare situation, we will provide the highest standard of remote delivery to overcome these issues.”
Most colleges will have additional supports in place to help guide students . As the focus continues to shift to blended and online learning, more resources are likely to be allocated to help improve outcomes.
The National Institute for Digital Learning at DCU is developing a free ‘Learning how to learn online’ course for students at the start of the next academic year.
The course will support students as they adapt a greater focus on learning online in higher education settings. Insights gained from the course will help harness the potential of online education and provide improved online learning experiences for students.
Unforeseen consequences
The increased use of blended education is likely to have some unforeseen consequences for the education sector and those within it.
There is a danger that the digital divide could increasingly prove to be a barrier to access as technology is increasingly integrated into the learning experience.
To overcome this barrier to learning students will not only need high quality internet access and the technical tools required to do so but colleges and universities will need to ensure the requisite supports are in place to address the social equity imbalance.
Nuala McGuinn, who is Director at the Centre for Adult Learning & Professional Development at NUI Galway says when it comes to the development of online content best practice should include an "awareness that there will be differences in terms of access to the internet and digital resources so flexibility in learning will have to be featured into course design."
It is also important to build in support for remote learners. “Make sure to build in opportunities for pastoral support of students or some “online coffee-like threads” to check in and see how students are coping with the online environment”, she says.
Another unforeseen consequence of the pivot to blended learning is the impact it could have on the student rental market.
The wider rental sector was one of the first to be impacted by the pandemic. Within days of the shutdown, property websites recorded a surge in rental properties coming onto the market as demand for short-term lettings collapsed.
It was reported earlier this month that the number of homes available to rent across the State has jumped by nearly 40 per cent as a result of the crisis.
From a practical point of view students whose presence is no longer required on a full-time basis in college should justifiably ask whether it is worth their while renting accommodation for the year or if other arrangements such as commuting to college on the days they have to be present might be a better option.
Social distancing rules will invariably limit the degree to which colleges can ask students to be present on campus. However, blended learning could offer greater access to third level education and as colleges work out how they can rotate students in and out of campus there could be an opportunity to open programmes up to more people than would typically register for a traditional course.
Flexibility
There is no doubt but students and colleges are facing into an uncertain year. No-one knows how long the restrictions will last.
Some colleges are already making preparations to rebalance back towards face-to-face learning in the event of the virus being fully eradicated.
But, so as not to be caught off-guard, they are also preparing to react swiftly to any reintroduction of government restrictions.
Students will have to familiarise themselves with using the virtual learning environment to a greater degree this year than they had to in the past. There will be challenges for some disciplines, as students of fine arts might attest, but there will also be new and innovative ways of tackling problems.
Flexibility is therefore likely to be a key feature of college life in 2020.
“Now is a period of great uncertainty and our university community will undoubtedly be presented with challenges,” says Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh President, NUI Galway.
“Recommencing teaching in the autumn will require creative thinking and flexibility to adapt to the continuing restrictions and disruptions to normal life.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-25--Why choose a law course? You may not get rich, but it can be rewarding

Life as a lawyer is not like the TV shows Suits or Making a Murderer .
Many law graduates will never see the inside of a courtroom , and barristers and solicitors are not , in general , as rich as people often think .
But it is a varied profession with a lot of career paths and opportunities for those who enjoy research , analysis and problem-solving in a fast-paced environment .
Simon McGarr is a solicitor with McGarr Solicitors , a relatively small firm specialising in litigation and data protection issues .
Before he trained as a solicitor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I found that , in earlier jobs , I could get bored quickly : you learn the job and you ’ ve done a few cycles , it gets samey .
While law can move slower than other fields of business – fax machines are still a thing in solicitors ’ offices – there ’ s no chance you could learn everything about your profession in a whole lifetime ; the law is constantly changing as it reflects an ever-changing society .
As society changes , the law changes too.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Deirdre McGowan , head of law at TU Dublin .
“ Our students do 18 law subjects but only one of them is criminal law .
Litigation is over-egged too : most legal work is regulatory and transactional .
I practiced law in Ireland for 11 years and court trips were rare , while I only did one criminal case .
A lot of work is regulatory and in-house , and commercial law firms do a huge amount of transactional and regulatory work.
” So what do solicitors and barristers actually do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and manages the case file and administration , barristers represent and advocate for people , companies or the State in court .
“ The whole world is tied up in law and the job of a lawyer is to gather the information and put it together , in a meaningful way , for the person in front of you , ” says McGowan .
“ TV and films can give a misleading view of a lawyer ’ s life .
A lot of the work is about managing people and information and giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of legal practices , says McGarr .
“ I ’ ve never worked on mergers and acquisitions and I never will .
If you want to work in family law , for instance , you don ’ t have to do tax as well .
A large corporate firm with hundreds of lawyers has a very different model than a small practice , but from the outside we all carry the same title of solicitor.
” There is huge variety in the legal profession , says McGowan .
“ No two days are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a range of paths .
I know of one student who is a fashion lawyer : working in copyright , contracts , shipping and other sub-specialties .
Another works in sports law , because sports is heavily regulated and they need expertise in areas like drug testing .
Some solicitors are happy to run a small business and helping their community with areas like probate , wills and other legal difficulties.
” There are pitfalls in the job too , says McGarr .
“ There is an astonishing amount of files and records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t see until you ’ re responsible for it .
An average piece of straightforward litigation will result in multiple paper files full of reports and correspondence and you have to stay on top of all this body of knowledge to prepare the right brief and correctly brief the counsel.
” From the outside , law seems – like architecture or medicine – to be a very vocationally oriented degree .
Not so ; in fact , it can be placed alongside arts , science and commerce as a broad degree that trains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain way .
“ Our graduates go on to a wide range of careers , ” says McGowan .
“ A high proportion go on to do a masters .
Around 10 per cent become barristers .
Some become solicitors .
We have graduates working in the Department of Foreign Affairs , the public service , banking , corporate finance and as paralegals .
A lot of companies have in-house legal teams and we have graduates working in pharmaceutical , data , biotechnology , public utilities and insurance - any industry that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some graduates who are working in self-employed property management .
And some do law courses because they ultimately want to work in the Garda and it can open up promotional opportunities for them.
” TV and films can give a misleading view of a lawyer ’ s life , says McGowan .
“ With such variation in the legal profession , average salaries can become meaningless .
A human rights or immigration law specialist can expect to earn less than , for instance , someone working in corporate law or on mergers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firms might face a variety of fixed costs including rents and wage bills .
Contrary to expectations , most lawyers are not rich , says McGowan .
“ Some are .
Most are not .
You don ’ t necessarily go into it for the money , although you do make a decent living.
” “ The level of income varies widely depending on the economy , business model and client base of the firm , ” says McGarr .
“ But law is the second-oldest profession and it meets a long-standing need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals or corporations , binding them to make precise agreements in the form of a contract and giving people advice when they need expert help on matters they may not be familiar with , such as a personal injury or employment problems .
People will always need lawyers.
” Where to study it There are a variety of places to study law in Ireland , and many different ways of going about it .
General law degrees are available at NUI Galway , Maynooth University , TU Dublin , Trinity College , UCD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UCC ’ s Law Pathways programme allows students to tailor their own law programme with placement and study abroad options .
DCU ’ s Law and Society degree explores how law influences – and is influenced by – a diverse range of social forces so , as well as learning about core legal principles , students learn to reflect critically on how they are shaped .
There are a number of popular combinations with law , including law and business , law and arts and law with a language .
At Maynooth University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students to take on law subjects alongside an arts subject such as English , business , German , critical skills or psychological studies .
UL ’ s Law Plus degree offers similar options , with students tackling legal subjects alongside other arts electives .
Business and law – another popular combination – is available at AIT , TU Dublin , UCD , UCC , NUI Galway , IT Carlow and Dublin Business School .
NUI ’ s options include law and human rights and law and criminology with criminal justice .
WIT and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courses which can qualify students for entry into year two of the honours law degree programme .
Law Pathways ( UCC ) : 476 Law ( TU Dublin ) : 429 Law ( Griffith College ) : 251 Law and French ( Trinity College ) : 543 Business and law ( UCD ) : 521 Law and human rights ( NUI Galway ) : 510 Law Options ( Maynooth University ) : 410 ‘ I wanted to help people in specialist areas ’ “ I grew up with solicitors in the family so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I was interested in being able to help people in specialist areas where they don ’ t have the knowledge themselves .
“ I studied law at DIT for three years .
Then I took my eight FE1 exams : they ’ re not easy and have a high fail rate , so I was glad to get through .
After your FE1s , you hope a firm sponsors you for entry into Blackhall Place , where solicitors train , and I ’ ve been lucky enough to be sponsored by Walker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Blackhall is focused on the skills and practicalities of being a solicitor .
“ I ’ d already done a few internships before Walker ’ s .
Going into this career , I thought I ’ d be interested in litigation but I figured out that I liked corporate law : I ’ m good at it and the demand is there .
I learned that constitutional law is the most challenging aspect of the LLB degree and FE1 examinations .
“ For now , my focus is getting qualified and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practices.
” ‘ I ’ ve been asked for my expertise on the Covid tracking app ’ “ Growing up , my mum always said that the tongue is mightier than the sword and , as someone who ’ s not tall , that always appealed to me .
“ It turned out that I liked the concept of being a lawyer more than I liked being a lawyer .
I got a full scholarship to Tilberg University and then went on to do a masters in tech law at UCC where , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on GDPR .
“ Law doesn ’ t mean that you have to become a solicitor in a big firm .
I started a software company with a focus on data and tech law and , in 2017 , I won the Young European Innovator of the Year award which was supported by the European Commissioner for Enterprise .
“ It isn ’ t easy to get funding for a company in Ireland as there are not many venture capitalists .
I travelled the world speaking at events and had an interesting career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an end because you ’ re a different person at 25 than at 32 .
“ I ’ m now leading the European privacy team at Logitech in Cork .
I really enjoy working on privacy and data protection .
Working in-house allows you more flexibility to move around .
In a law firm you are a lawyer but if you join a business you might join the legal team , privacy team , or IP team , and there ’ s room to change your mind .
When I was choosing law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Law & Order and Suits , but I ’ ve learned law is very different than that .
“ It ’ s not unusual for people to learn it ’ s not for them – it either clicks or it doesn ’ t – but I found it gave me thinking , research and arguing skills .
You don ’ t read one piece of legislation in isolation : a lot of the work is tying together various pieces of different information .
“ Because I ’ m well known in the privacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for my expertise on the Covid tracking app including how we keep it anonymous and the standards we use .
On a personal level , I ’ m concerned that when we implement surveillance measures during an extraordinary crisis , we don ’ t know if they will disappear when it is over .
”

Many law graduates will never see the inside of a courtroom, and barristers and solicitors are not, in general, as rich as people often think.
Life as a lawyer is not like the TV shows Suits or Making a Murderer. Many law graduates will never see the inside of a courtroom, and barristers and solicitors are not, in general, as rich as people often think. But it is a varied profession with a lot of career paths and opportunities for those who enjoy research, analysis and problem-solving in a fast-paced environment.
Simon McGarr is a solicitor with McGarr Solicitors, a relatively small firm specialising in litigation and data protection issues. Before he trained as a solicitor, he worked in the civil service.
“I found that, in earlier jobs, I could get bored quickly: you learn the job and you’ve done a few cycles, it gets samey. While law can move slower than other fields of business – fax machines are still a thing in solicitors’ offices – there’s no chance you could learn everything about your profession in a whole lifetime; the law is constantly changing as it reflects an ever-changing society. As society changes, the law changes too.”
Every legal practice is different, says Dr Deirdre McGowan, head of law at TU Dublin. "Our students do 18 law subjects but only one of them is criminal law. Litigation is over-egged too: most legal work is regulatory and transactional. I practiced law in Ireland for 11 years and court trips were rare, while I only did one criminal case. A lot of work is regulatory and in-house, and commercial law firms do a huge amount of transactional and regulatory work."
READ MORE
So what do solicitors and barristers actually do?
While a solicitor works with clients and manages the case file and administration, barristers represent and advocate for people, companies or the State in court.
“The whole world is tied up in law and the job of a lawyer is to gather the information and put it together, in a meaningful way, for the person in front of you,” says McGowan. “TV and films can give a misleading view of a lawyer’s life. A lot of the work is about managing people and information and giving advice.”
There are very different sorts of legal practices, says McGarr. “ I’ve never worked on mergers and acquisitions and I never will. If you want to work in family law, for instance, you don’t have to do tax as well. A large corporate firm with hundreds of lawyers has a very different model than a small practice, but from the outside we all carry the same title of solicitor.”
There is huge variety in the legal profession, says McGowan. “No two days are the same and you can choose from a range of paths. I know of one student who is a fashion lawyer: working in copyright, contracts, shipping and other sub-specialties. Another works in sports law, because sports is heavily regulated and they need expertise in areas like drug testing. Some solicitors are happy to run a small business and helping their community with areas like probate, wills and other legal difficulties.”
Our graduates go on to a wide range of careers. A high proportion go on to do a masters
There are pitfalls in the job too, says McGarr. “There is an astonishing amount of files and records to keep, which you don’t see until you’re responsible for it. An average piece of straightforward litigation will result in multiple paper files full of reports and correspondence and you have to stay on top of all this body of knowledge to prepare the right brief and correctly brief the counsel.”
From the outside, law seems – like architecture or medicine – to be a very vocationally oriented degree. Not so; in fact, it can be placed alongside arts, science and commerce as a broad degree that trains graduates to think and research in a certain way.
“Our graduates go on to a wide range of careers,” says McGowan. “A high proportion go on to do a masters. Around 10 per cent become barristers. Some become solicitors. We have graduates working in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the public service, banking, corporate finance and as paralegals. A lot of companies have in-house legal teams and we have graduates working in pharmaceutical, data, biotechnology, public utilities and insurance - any industry that is regulated needs lawyers. We also have some graduates who are working in self-employed property management. And some do law courses because they ultimately want to work in the Garda and it can open up promotional opportunities for them.”
TV and films can give a misleading view of a lawyer’s life, says McGowan. “With such variation in the legal profession, average salaries can become meaningless. A human rights or immigration law specialist can expect to earn less than, for instance, someone working in corporate law or on mergers and acquisitions. Solicitors running their own small firms might face a variety of fixed costs including rents and wage bills.
Contrary to expectations, most lawyers are not rich, says McGowan. “Some are. Most are not. You don’t necessarily go into it for the money, although you do make a decent living.”
“The level of income varies widely depending on the economy, business model and client base of the firm,” says McGarr. “But law is the second-oldest profession and it meets a long-standing need: a way of solving arguments between individuals or corporations, binding them to make precise agreements in the form of a contract and giving people advice when they need expert help on matters they may not be familiar with, such as a personal injury or employment problems. People will always need lawyers.”
Where to study it
There are a variety of places to study law in Ireland, and many different ways of going about it. General law degrees are available at NUI Galway, Maynooth University, TU Dublin, Trinity College, UCD, WIT, IT Carlow and Letterkenny IT. UCC's Law Pathways programme allows students to tailor their own law programme with placement and study abroad options.
DCU’s Law and Society degree explores how law influences – and is influenced by – a diverse range of social forces so, as well as learning about core legal principles, students learn to reflect critically on how they are shaped.
There are a number of popular combinations with law, including law and business, law and arts and law with a language. At Maynooth University, the law and arts degree allows students to take on law subjects alongside an arts subject such as English, business, German, critical skills or psychological studies. UL’s Law Plus degree offers similar options, with students tackling legal subjects alongside other arts electives.
Business and law – another popular combination – is available at AIT, TU Dublin, UCD, UCC, NUI Galway, IT Carlow and Dublin Business School. NUI's options include law and human rights and law and criminology with criminal justice.
Independent fee-paying colleges Griffith College Dublin and Dublin Business School also run law degrees.
WIT and IT Carlow run level six legal studies courses which can qualify students for entry into year two of the honours law degree programme.
A selection of CAO points 2019
Law Pathways (UCC): 476
Law (TU Dublin): 429
Law (Griffith College): 251
Law and French (Trinity College): 543
Business and law (UCD): 521
Law and human rights (NUI Galway): 510
Law Options (Maynooth University): 410
Andrew Synnott
‘I wanted to help people in specialist areas’
Andrew Synnott, 24
“I grew up with solicitors in the family so it interested me from a young age. I was interested in being able to help people in specialist areas where they don’t have the knowledge themselves.
“I studied law at DIT for three years. Then I took my eight FE1 exams: they’re not easy and have a high fail rate, so I was glad to get through. After your FE1s, you hope a firm sponsors you for entry into Blackhall Place, where solicitors train, and I’ve been lucky enough to be sponsored by Walker’s, where I now work. Blackhall is focused on the skills and practicalities of being a solicitor.
“I’d already done a few internships before Walker’s. Going into this career, I thought I’d be interested in litigation but I figured out that I liked corporate law: I’m good at it and the demand is there. I learned that constitutional law is the most challenging aspect of the LLB degree and FE1 examinations.
“For now, my focus is getting qualified and I really enjoy the areas that my firm practices.”
Emerald de Leeuw
‘I’ve been asked for my expertise on the Covid tracking app’
Emerald de Leeuw, 32
“Growing up, my mum always said that the tongue is mightier than the sword and, as someone who’s not tall, that always appealed to me.
"It turned out that I liked the concept of being a lawyer more than I liked being a lawyer. I got a full scholarship to Tilberg University and then went on to do a masters in tech law at UCC where, in 2012, I wrote my thesis on GDPR.
“Law doesn’t mean that you have to become a solicitor in a big firm. I started a software company with a focus on data and tech law and, in 2017, I won the Young European Innovator of the Year award which was supported by the European Commissioner for Enterprise.
“It isn’t easy to get funding for a company in Ireland as there are not many venture capitalists. I travelled the world speaking at events and had an interesting career doing that, but it came to an end because you’re a different person at 25 than at 32.
"I'm now leading the European privacy team at Logitech in Cork. I really enjoy working on privacy and data protection. Working in-house allows you more flexibility to move around. In a law firm you are a lawyer but if you join a business you might join the legal team, privacy team, or IP team, and there's room to change your mind. When I was choosing law, all I knew was based on Law & Order and Suits, but I've learned law is very different than that.
“It’s not unusual for people to learn it’s not for them – it either clicks or it doesn’t – but I found it gave me thinking, research and arguing skills. You don’t read one piece of legislation in isolation: a lot of the work is tying together various pieces of different information.
“Because I’m well known in the privacy sphere, I’ve been asked for my expertise on the Covid tracking app including how we keep it anonymous and the standards we use. On a personal level, I’m concerned that when we implement surveillance measures during an extraordinary crisis, we don’t know if they will disappear when it is over.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-25--Do we really want children taught by teachers dressed in visors and face masks?

Pandemic .
A word I was aware of but never thought would so become part of our daily discourse .
Social distancing .
A cold term , which as it has turned out , is exactly what it means .
Its effects are many and varied .
As a primary school principal of 13 years , the last nine weeks have been the most bizarre experience .
The three hours notice to close .
The announcement to staff was quick and , luckily , we had a plan in place from earlier that week in the event of closure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ came through on the Thursday at 12pm that we were to close that evening .
Workpacks were put together and books were packed up .
Texts and emails were sent to parents and the website was updated .
And that was that .
Parents at the gate thanking us for all and hoping we would be back soon .
Children leaving in droves , giddy with excitement that school was out but also a nervous anxiety , I ’ m sure , at the rug being pulled from under them .
I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
Ten weeks on and , well , the situation is largely the same .
Google Classroom , Seesaw , Zoom lessons and distance learning are the new buzzwords in Irish education .
Schools all over Ireland are managing , in collaboration with parents , to deliver some form of education for our young .
Not everyone or every thing is being catered for , however .
School is about much more than academia .
Children are missing out on the various social skills they learn by just attending school .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ debating , joking , laughing , getting in trouble and facing the consequences , collaborating , questioning , arguing ... learning .
More worryingly , for those children ( and there are many ) with vulnerablities whether that be , for example , an unstable home life or living with special needs , this has been a monumental disaster .
The familiar face of the dedicated teacher , the caring and thoughtful SNA and the focus of a daily routine in purpose-built and well-resourced classrooms has been struck out .
Zoom lessons are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surroundings .
And , let ’ s not forget about our sixth class pupils deprived their rite of passage and the chance to receive Confirmation , that final school tour , the football competitions and the signing of the t-shirts .
As school managers we are in limbo .
Some certainty was put to us when the Government announced closure until September .
That ’ s all well and good , but what then ?
Appointments of new staff members are going to be on hold .
How do we hold interviews ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ delayed .
At this moment we don ’ t know whether we should be sourcing PPE or not .
Depressing videos from China of children being sprayed , scanned and fitted with masks as they enter school and images from Europe of children sitting in marked out boxes on their own in yard are being touted as examples of where a return to school is workable The ethos of any properly functioning national school is built on empathy , trust , familiarity and togetherness .
A teacher at the top of the class @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face mask will display none of these traits .
A child being sprayed , scanned , checked and cordoned off for the day , two metres from everyone else , is so far removed from the ethos of primary education that it ’ s unrecognisable .
This type of regime would be especially traumatising for children with special needs .
We simply can not allow this to be the new norm .
Social distancing is unworkable in primary schools .
I have children of my own and it depresses me that this could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school in the autumn .
The last couple of weeks has seen an increase in calls to open primary schools before the summer holidays .
This comes hot on the heels of a concerted effort by some commentators to have the Leaving Cert cancelled – square that circle if you can .
I would be delighted if we could open schools before the summer but I am against it as things stand .
The long-term social development and wellbeing of children and staff in primary schools would be shattered by a social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children being formed in such an environment ?
Are we comfortable as adults with that ?
Do we want our children to be cold , distant , suspicious and untrusting people ?
School should be a place of fun and innocence , a place of safety and diversity , a place of togetherness and community .
Social distancing would instantly rob a school of all those traits common to every school the world over .
A return to school in autumn seems to be the most reasonable outcome at the time and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Government .
Stakeholders must immediately begin planning for this return .
The hope must be that further information emerges that children aren ’ t prolific vectors or super spreaders and mortality and infection rates continue to fall .
If that is the case , one could reasonably argue for a relaxing of social distancing in schools .
By all means hand sanitising should be the norm , coughing etiquette added to the code of behaviour and special arrangements made for parents or staff members with underlying health issues .
In order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running , we need to be able to let children be children and teachers be teachers .
Otherwise , another Covid-19 phrase comes to mind : “ Is the cure worse than the disease ?
” Terence Reynolds is principal of Scoil Naomh Bríd in Ballyconnell , Co Cavan

Pandemic. A word I was aware of but never thought would so become part of our daily discourse. Social distancing. A cold term, which as it has turned out, is exactly what it means. Its effects are many and varied.
As a primary school principal of 13 years, the last nine weeks have been the most bizarre experience.
The three hours notice to close. The announcement to staff was quick and, luckily, we had a plan in place from earlier that week in the event of closure. Nevertheless, it felt surreal when word came through on the Thursday at 12pm that we were to close that evening.
Workpacks were put together and books were packed up. Texts and emails were sent to parents and the website was updated. And that was that.
READ MORE
Parents at the gate thanking us for all and hoping we would be back soon. Children leaving in droves, giddy with excitement that school was out but also a nervous anxiety, I’m sure, at the rug being pulled from under them. I am certain this was the scene all over the country.
Ten weeks on and, well, the situation is largely the same. Google Classroom, Seesaw, Zoom lessons and distance learning are the new buzzwords in Irish education.
Schools all over Ireland are managing, in collaboration with parents, to deliver some form of education for our young. Not everyone or every thing is being catered for, however.
School is about much more than academia. Children are missing out on the various social skills they learn by just attending school. Playing, fighting, making up, debating, joking, laughing, getting in trouble and facing the consequences, collaborating, questioning, arguing ... learning.
More worryingly, for those children (and there are many) with vulnerablities whether that be, for example, an unstable home life or living with special needs, this has been a monumental disaster.
The familiar face of the dedicated teacher, the caring and thoughtful SNA and the focus of a daily routine in purpose-built and well-resourced classrooms has been struck out.
Zoom lessons are no substitute for real people and real surroundings. And, let’s not forget about our sixth class pupils deprived their rite of passage and the chance to receive Confirmation, that final school tour, the football competitions and the signing of the t-shirts.
In limbo
As school managers we are in limbo. Some certainty was put to us when the Government announced closure until September. That’s all well and good, but what then?
Appointments of new staff members are going to be on hold. How do we hold interviews? Planning for major capital projects has been delayed. At this moment we don’t know whether we should be sourcing PPE or not.
Depressing videos from China of children being sprayed, scanned and fitted with masks as they enter school and images from Europe of children sitting in marked out boxes on their own in yard are being touted as examples of where a return to school is workable
The ethos of any properly functioning national school is built on empathy, trust, familiarity and togetherness. A teacher at the top of the class dressed in a gown, visor and face mask will display none of these traits. A child being sprayed, scanned, checked and cordoned off for the day, two metres from everyone else, is so far removed from the ethos of primary education that it’s unrecognisable.
This type of regime would be especially traumatising for children with special needs. We simply cannot allow this to be the new norm. Social distancing is unworkable in primary schools. I have children of my own and it depresses me that this could be awaiting them when they return to school in the autumn.
The last couple of weeks has seen an increase in calls to open primary schools before the summer holidays. This comes hot on the heels of a concerted effort by some commentators to have the Leaving Cert cancelled – square that circle if you can.
I would be delighted if we could open schools before the summer but I am against it as things stand. The long-term social development and wellbeing of children and staff in primary schools would be shattered by a social distancing regime.
Do we really want our children being formed in such an environment? Are we comfortable as adults with that? Do we want our children to be cold, distant, suspicious and untrusting people?
School should be a place of fun and innocence, a place of safety and diversity, a place of togetherness and community. Social distancing would instantly rob a school of all those traits common to every school the world over.
A return to school in autumn seems to be the most reasonable outcome at the time and is part of the roadmap set out by the Government. Stakeholders must immediately begin planning for this return. The hope must be that further information emerges that children aren’t prolific vectors or super spreaders and mortality and infection rates continue to fall.
If that is the case, one could reasonably argue for a relaxing of social distancing in schools. By all means hand sanitising should be the norm, coughing etiquette added to the code of behaviour and special arrangements made for parents or staff members with underlying health issues. In order to get our education system back up and running, we need to be able to let children be children and teachers be teachers. Otherwise, another Covid-19 phrase comes to mind: “Is the cure worse than the disease?”
Terence Reynolds is principal of Scoil Naomh Bríd in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan


theirishtimes--2020-05-25--CAO decision time: What should you study at college?

With all the uncertainty that Leaving Cert students have been living with over the past three months it is only now that they can turn their minds to the final list of CAO course choices , which they will have to submit to the CAO by 5.15 pm on 1st July next .
Securing a degree at the end of three or four years of study will be a major achievement , but you ’ ll only manage it if you ’ re determined and focused on its course content from day one .
Unfortunately , thousands of current Leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go to a college purely because their friends plan to attend , while others will have applied for courses without conducting any detailed research .
Many of these students will drop out of their courses before Christmas 2020 , once the reality of what ’ s involved in completing the programme dawns on them .
Would you start a marathon on a whim ?
Absolutely not : such a task requires months of training and planning .
Selecting a college course requires the same level of planning and commitment .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , you have just over a month to rectify the situation .
By now you are no doubt aware of the course options available to you depending on how you perform in the forthcoming grade assessments , undertaken by your teachers .
If not , Qualifax has details of every course on offer , and its advanced search facility will enable you to refine your search to those subjects that genuinely interest you .
The litmus test is what will motivate you to get out of bed on a cold morning next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether you do so or not , to attend lectures , study the topics in the library , write the assignments that such research will generate , and then pass your first-year exams next May .
All of the above is of course contingent on how colleges organise the delivery of their programmes in a post covid19 world .
At this stage choosing a course should have very little to do with what job you will get when you leave college in three to four years ’ time .
If you think you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following your teachers assessment of your performance over the past two years , to get on to your preferred course at your preferred college , look at other options farther afield , where smaller college-age populations result in lower point requirements .
You should also research local further education ( FE ) Post Leaving Certificate options , which may have reserved places on your preferred course , meaning you could secure a place on the programme in September 2021 .
Even if you are perfectly happy with your original course choices , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are discontinued all the time , and colleges often add new courses to the CAO system .
Dozens of courses on offer in May 2020 did not exist when the CAO printed its handbook last summer .
Explore them now .
Between now and July 1st , log on to your account on cao.ie and see what courses you have listed , and in what order .
For the courses you have listed , study the full content of each year ’ s lectures and how they might allow you to progress to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Where will a degree in the subject you select now lead to ?
Technological change is rapidly reshaping the nature of work , and a degree completed in 2025 or 2026 could well open opportunities in the labour market that have not yet been envisaged .
So , don ’ t worry about it now ; just get your course choices right over the next few weeks .
What happens if I make that mistake ?
If you end up in August when the colleges offer their places , accepting a course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be it because you do not like the curriculum , you did not research the content thoroughly or you realise that you have selected a course you have no interest in , you may end up dropping out during the academic year or failing the exams .
If either of these happens and you decide to return to college the following year to study another course , you will have to pay another registration fee of €3,000 in 2021 .
You will also have to fork out the course fee of at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay the college on your behalf this year .
The Higher Education Authority , on behalf of the State , will pay course fees only once for each year of an approved course .
If you end up repeating a year , you ( or more likely your parents ) will be the one paying .
This extra €5,000 would bring your total fee for your first year to at least €8,000 .
This is far beyond the means of many families , especially when you factor in the living costs of attending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course at a private college this year , then leave it to follow one in a State-funded college next year , you still must pay the full fees .
Fees paid to private colleges are tax deductible at 20 per cent on any charges over €3,000 , and so are treated in the same way as State-funded places , even if you do not claim the tax relief .
Make sure you meet all the entry requirements and have taken the required subjects at the appropriate level .
( An example of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8 engineering degrees . )
With this list in hand , put them in an order of preference or priority .
The coming month will be one of the most intensive periods of engagement between colleges and prospective students .
Colleges will facilitate individual interactions with staff , via online communications or virtual open days .
You can use these forums to discuss any programme you are seriously considering .
Contact the course director or programme office .
You will find phone numbers and email addresses in the college prospectus or on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this process list your final course choices on your CAO record in the order you want them , allowing for all possible outcomes from your assessed grades .
You have up to 10 choices at both level 8 higher degrees and level 7 and 6 ordinary degrees and higher-certificate programmes .
Never disregard the level 7 and 6 courses out of academic snobbery : almost all these programmes allow you to progress to the level 8 higher degree with an additional year of study .
Do not finalise your choices without consulting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as your parents and guidance counsellor .
Although you can no longer communicate with your teachers , your Guidance Counsellor will continue to communicate with you online to help you finalise your course choices .
Make sure to use their expertise before you finally submit your course lists .

Selecting a college course requires a considerable level of planning and commitment. Too many students end up dropping out of courses for which they are unsuitable.
With all the uncertainty that Leaving Cert students have been living with over the past three months it is only now that they can turn their minds to the final list of CAO course choices, which they will have to submit to the CAO by 5.15 pm on 1st July next.
Securing a degree at the end of three or four years of study will be a major achievement, but you’ll only manage it if you’re determined and focused on its course content from day one.
Unfortunately, thousands of current Leaving Cert students have applied to the CAO to go to a college purely because their friends plan to attend, while others will have applied for courses without conducting any detailed research.
Many of these students will drop out of their courses before Christmas 2020, once the reality of what’s involved in completing the programme dawns on them.
READ MORE
Would you start a marathon on a whim? Absolutely not: such a task requires months of training and planning. Selecting a college course requires the same level of planning and commitment.
If you think you might be one of these people, you have just over a month to rectify the situation. By now you are no doubt aware of the course options available to you depending on how you perform in the forthcoming grade assessments, undertaken by your teachers.
If not, Qualifax has details of every course on offer, and its advanced search facility will enable you to refine your search to those subjects that genuinely interest you.
Litmus test
The litmus test is what will motivate you to get out of bed on a cold morning next winter, when nobody will be checking whether you do so or not, to attend lectures, study the topics in the library, write the assignments that such research will generate, and then pass your first-year exams next May. All of the above is of course contingent on how colleges organise the delivery of their programmes in a post covid19 world.
At this stage choosing a course should have very little to do with what job you will get when you leave college in three to four years’ time.
Ensure you select a suitable course
If you think you will not have enough CAO points, following your teachers assessment of your performance over the past two years, to get on to your preferred course at your preferred college, look at other options farther afield, where smaller college-age populations result in lower point requirements.
You should also research local further education (FE) Post Leaving Certificate options, which may have reserved places on your preferred course, meaning you could secure a place on the programme in September 2021.
Even if you are perfectly happy with your original course choices, it is wise to review them. Courses are discontinued all the time, and colleges often add new courses to the CAO system. Dozens of courses on offer in May 2020 did not exist when the CAO printed its handbook last summer. Explore them now.
Between now and July 1st, log on to your account on cao.ie and see what courses you have listed, and in what order. For the courses you have listed, study the full content of each year's lectures and how they might allow you to progress to employment or postgraduate opportunities, on qualifax.ie.
Where will a degree in the subject you select now lead to? Technological change is rapidly reshaping the nature of work, and a degree completed in 2025 or 2026 could well open opportunities in the labour market that have not yet been envisaged. So, don’t worry about it now; just get your course choices right over the next few weeks.
What happens if I make that mistake?
If you end up in August when the colleges offer their places, accepting a course that is not right for you, be it because you do not like the curriculum, you did not research the content thoroughly or you realise that you have selected a course you have no interest in, you may end up dropping out during the academic year or failing the exams.
If either of these happens and you decide to return to college the following year to study another course, you will have to pay another registration fee of €3,000 in 2021. You will also have to fork out the course fee of at least €5,000 that the Department of Education will pay the college on your behalf this year.
The Higher Education Authority, on behalf of the State, will pay course fees only once for each year of an approved course. If you end up repeating a year, you (or more likely your parents) will be the one paying. This extra €5,000 would bring your total fee for your first year to at least €8,000. This is far beyond the means of many families, especially when you factor in the living costs of attending college.
Even if you choose a course at a private college this year, then leave it to follow one in a State-funded college next year, you still must pay the full fees. Fees paid to private colleges are tax deductible at 20 per cent on any charges over €3,000, and so are treated in the same way as State-funded places, even if you do not claim the tax relief.
Things to check
Make sure you meet all the entry requirements and have taken the required subjects at the appropriate level. (An example of this is the higher-level maths requirement for level 8 engineering degrees.) With this list in hand, put them in an order of preference or priority.
The coming month will be one of the most intensive periods of engagement between colleges and prospective students. Colleges will facilitate individual interactions with staff, via online communications or virtual open days.
You can use these forums to discuss any programme you are seriously considering. Contact the course director or programme office. You will find phone numbers and email addresses in the college prospectus or on the college website.
When you have completed this process list your final course choices on your CAO record in the order you want them, allowing for all possible outcomes from your assessed grades.
You have up to 10 choices at both level 8 higher degrees and level 7 and 6 ordinary degrees and higher-certificate programmes. Never disregard the level 7 and 6 courses out of academic snobbery: almost all these programmes allow you to progress to the level 8 higher degree with an additional year of study.
Do not finalise your choices without consulting the key adults in your life, such as your parents and guidance counsellor. Although you can no longer communicate with your teachers, your Guidance Counsellor will continue to communicate with you online to help you finalise your course choices. Make sure to use their expertise before you finally submit your course lists.


theirishtimes--2020-05-25--Why choose an arts course? ‘Transferable skills’ and variety

It ’ s a tough time to be making a decision about your future during a pandemic , but arts degrees might just offer the flexibility students need right now .
History and English tend to jump to mind when people think of arts degrees but they ’ re a degree that offers a huge amount of choice .
Arts degrees are as broad as they are varied and , in many cases , students don ’ t choose their subjects until they start off in college.The options include slightly more career-oriented or vocational areas such as languages , archaeology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , drama , information technology and computer science as well as areas that provide broad critical thinking , research and analytical skills including literature , geography , folklore , world religions , philosophy , classics , linguistics , history of art , media studies , economics and maths .
But there ’ s also interesting variations including NUI Galway ’ s BA Connect programme where students combine arts with one of children ’ s studies , creative writing , human rights , performing arts , film studies or journalism .
Arts and humanities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the last recession back in 2008 ; during the same time period , growing numbers of students have been opting science , engineering , technology and maths ( Stem ) courses instead .
Last year , a survey by the Higher Education Authority found that arts graduates have the lowest salaries within nine months of graduation , earning just below €25,000 ; this compares with starting salaries of almost €38,000 for teachers and close to €37,000 for engineering , manufacturing and construction graduates .
There are big caveats here : most arts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than straight into the workforce , and while they may start off on lower salaries , they generally catch up within five years .
Bear in mind , however , that postgraduates generally have to pay fees .
Arts degrees may not have the cache they once had , but arts graduates are still in demand and , indeed , you ’ ll find them in every sector including teaching , journalism and media , public relations , law , ICT , cultural and heritage work , the arts , music , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and public service , business , languages and ICT .
Employers tend to value the cultural awareness , communication skills and flexibility of arts graduates .
Karen Ruddock is director of Post-Primary Languages Ireland , which is responsible for the implementation of the Government strategy for foreign languages in Ireland .
“ Research shows that 46 per cent of Ireland ’ s graduates are in jobs that are unrelated to their original qualification , ” she says .
“ That ’ s not unusual .
You don ’ t go to college just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about lifelong learning and the focus has now moved towards individual skills and life experiences.
” Indeed , the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted not just the need for more doctors and better healthcare systems , but also the need for workers to be adaptable and able to transform how they work , as well as being creative and critical enough to develop and implement new ideas .
Employers will only become more interested in these “ transferable skills ” - creative critical thinking , adaptability , cultural understanding , strong verbal and written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysis - over coming years .
These are also some of the skills that any successful entrepreneur setting up their own business may need .
Ruddock ’ s undergraduate degree was in science , but after graduation , she went on to work in an area more traditionally associated with arts .
After college , she went on to live and work in Japan , where she taught English and also learned Japanese .
“ I went to Uganda to teach and I discovered that I had a flair for languages , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I enjoyed teaching , which is all about collaboration , building relationships , organisation and performance management of your students .
So then I went on to postgraduate studies in applied linguistics , English as a foreign language and Japanese language pedagogy.
” With language skills in short supply , any graduate with Spanish , French , German , Japanese , Mandarin - or indeed many other languages including Irish , Arabic and Portuguese - will stand out in the jobs market .
Tech companies and businesses with an Irish base , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide the majority of employment here , need people with language skills so they can communicate with their global clients .
But Ruddock says that learning a language provides more skills than many of us might expect .
“ When you learn a second language , you are a better listener , you can juggle two competing priorities , you ’ re more open-minded , you can take on challenges , you figure out different ways of communicating and you have a broader cultural understanding of different parts of the world .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning the grammar of a second language involves a lot of analysis.
” There are many places across Ireland to study arts - including languages - across Ireland , including three arts streams at UCD and various programme at Maynooth University , UL , DCU , UCC NUI Galway , Trinity , TU Dublin and many institutes of technology and colleges .

Karen Ruddock, director of Post-Primary Languages Ireland: ‘Research shows that 46 per cent of Ireland’s graduates are in jobs that are unrelated to their original qualification.’
It’s a tough time to be making a decision about your future during a pandemic, but arts degrees might just offer the flexibility students need right now.
History and English tend to jump to mind when people think of arts degrees but they’re a degree that offers a huge amount of choice.
Arts degrees are as broad as they are varied and, in many cases, students don’t choose their subjects until they start off in college.The options include slightly more career-oriented or vocational areas such as languages, archaeology, music, psychology, film studies, drama, information technology and computer science as well as areas that provide broad critical thinking, research and analytical skills including literature, geography, folklore, world religions, philosophy, classics, linguistics, history of art, media studies, economics and maths. But there’s also interesting variations including NUI Galway’s BA Connect programme where students combine arts with one of children’s studies, creative writing, human rights, performing arts, film studies or journalism.
Arts and humanities degrees have been declining in popularity ever since the last recession back in 2008; during the same time period, growing numbers of students have been opting science, engineering, technology and maths (Stem) courses instead.
READ MORE
In demand
Last year, a survey by the Higher Education Authority found that arts graduates have the lowest salaries within nine months of graduation, earning just below €25,000; this compares with starting salaries of almost €38,000 for teachers and close to €37,000 for engineering, manufacturing and construction graduates.
There are big caveats here: most arts graduates go on to postgraduate degrees rather than straight into the workforce, and while they may start off on lower salaries, they generally catch up within five years. Bear in mind, however, that postgraduates generally have to pay fees.
Arts degrees may not have the cache they once had, but arts graduates are still in demand and, indeed, you’ll find them in every sector including teaching, journalism and media, public relations, law, ICT, cultural and heritage work, the arts, music, the charity and NGO sector, the civil and public service, business, languages and ICT. Employers tend to value the cultural awareness, communication skills and flexibility of arts graduates.
Karen Ruddock is director of Post-Primary Languages Ireland, which is responsible for the implementation of the Government strategy for foreign languages in Ireland.
“Research shows that 46 per cent of Ireland’s graduates are in jobs that are unrelated to their original qualification,” she says. “That’s not unusual. You don’t go to college just to get a degree; education is about lifelong learning and the focus has now moved towards individual skills and life experiences.”
‘Transferable skills’
Indeed, the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted not just the need for more doctors and better healthcare systems, but also the need for workers to be adaptable and able to transform how they work, as well as being creative and critical enough to develop and implement new ideas.
Employers will only become more interested in these “transferable skills” - creative critical thinking, adaptability, cultural understanding, strong verbal and written communication skills, empathy, research and analysis - over coming years. These are also some of the skills that any successful entrepreneur setting up their own business may need.
Ruddock's undergraduate degree was in science, but after graduation, she went on to work in an area more traditionally associated with arts. After college, she went on to live and work in Japan, where she taught English and also learned Japanese.
"I went to Uganda to teach and I discovered that I had a flair for languages," she says. "I also learned that I enjoyed teaching, which is all about collaboration, building relationships, organisation and performance management of your students. So then I went on to postgraduate studies in applied linguistics, English as a foreign language and Japanese language pedagogy."
Language shortage
With language skills in short supply, any graduate with Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin - or indeed many other languages including Irish, Arabic and Portuguese - will stand out in the jobs market.
Tech companies and businesses with an Irish base, as well as the smaller enterprises that provide the majority of employment here, need people with language skills so they can communicate with their global clients.
But Ruddock says that learning a language provides more skills than many of us might expect. “When you learn a second language, you are a better listener, you can juggle two competing priorities, you’re more open-minded, you can take on challenges, you figure out different ways of communicating and you have a broader cultural understanding of different parts of the world. You also learn how to analyse, as learning the grammar of a second language involves a lot of analysis.”
There are many places across Ireland to study arts - including languages - across Ireland, including three arts streams at UCD and various programme at Maynooth University, UL, DCU, UCC NUI Galway, Trinity, TU Dublin and many institutes of technology and colleges.
CAO points 2019
Joint honours arts (DCU): 347
Humanities (UCD) - 4 years: 348
Arts with data science (NUI Galway): 434
Arts (WIT): all qualified applicants accepted
Modern languages (TU Dublin): 368