Are you considering going back to education as a mature student this year? Maybe you’ve always wanted to study but life got in the way, or maybe you put off college until the kids were older, or maybe you’ve decided to change career. Regardless of your reasons, going to college as a mature student can be a daunting prospect. Being a mature student is different to coming straight from school, it’s not easier or harder, just different.
REGSA are running two presentations this Thursday 12th January to help mature students to navigate the CAO application, this is a helpful first step on your journey into third level.
Our top tips for going to college as a mature student are:
Make time for study – you have a busy life, all adults do, but you’re here to learn so make sure you block out time and a space in your home to dedicate to your studies
Go to lectures – you don’t get context, discussion or depth from class notes so, where possible, make sure you attend all lectures
Enjoy yourself – you’ve chosen to study, you’ve decided to invest in your education so enjoy every minute of it
Edward Kavanagh and Liam Murphy from Department of Social Protection
Employers from all over the city, large and small, came together last Wednesday 7th December to learn more about the resources and incentives available through employment support agencies in Waterford. The employer event was hosted by Waterford Area Partnership in association with Department of Social Protection, Waterford Chamber Skillnet, WWETB and Waterford Local Employment Service at Parlour Vintage Tearooms. The agencies involved are aiming to create an Employer’s Network, where employers can be informed of the incentives available to them, can use the resources of the network to recruit and train employees and can help to mould the nature of services offered into the future.
Some of the attendees at the Coffee & Connect Event
Speaking at the event, Mags O Connor of Waterford City Local Employment Service said; “We are here to help, we are keenly aware of the fact that many employers do not know what incentives are available to them. We would like to work with employers to ensure we are meeting their needs, while ultimately driving our core aim of reducing unemployment in our city. There is a wealth of resources and incentives available to all employers, large and small, from the €10,000 available through the Department of Social Protection’s Jobs Plus Scheme to the new apprenticeships coming down the line through WWETB such as butchery, ICT and commis chef, and from the two week no risk work trial from Waterford Area Partnership to the generous training subsidies available through Waterford Chamber Skillnet.”
Staff from WAP & WCLES at Coffee & Connect event
The Coffee & Connect event was an introductory employer event, there will be more to follow in the New Year. Waterford Area Partnership funded the event, which raised €250 for WLR FM’s Christmas Appeal in aid of St Vincent de Paul, donating €5 from every cup of tea and coffee that was enjoyed on the morning. “We are delighted to be able to contribute to the Christmas Appeal,” says Gayle Barry of Waterford Area Partnership, “When you hear that 1 in 9 households in Waterford need the help of St Vincent de Paul, you realise that, while the unemployment rate has fallen, there are still those who are less fortunate in our community so we are thrilled to be able to help in some small way.”
Kelly Cummins & Sara Mullally of Waterford Chamber Skillnet
If you are an employer in Waterford and you are interested in hearing about the incentives available please sign up for our Employer Newsletter here and you will be kept informed of upcoming events and workshops.
