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A young Raphoe woman has gained a new job and skills for life after studying Multimedia with Donegal ETB’s Further Education and Training (FET) Service.
Shania Burns always had a creative mind, but when she took on a Multimedia programme during lockdown, she discovered a love for office work too.
She got three job interviews during her year of studying, the last of which was with Optum, where she works now as a Senior Appeals Representative.
“Without the qualifications I received at the ETB, I never would have secured the interviews I did. Doing the course and getting the qualifications I did completely changed my career prospects,” Shania said.
Shania had tried college education, but she wanted to bulk up her digital portfolio. The self-directed learning style offered by Donegal ETB’s FET Service gave her the freedom to do that.
Multimedia is delivered in a blended learning model (online or in-person) and students can pick and choose between almost 100 modules.
From Adobe to PRINCE2 Project Management, from ICDL to coding in a variety of languages, students tailor the course to their goals. The computer skills on offer are suited to people who want to upskill in office productivity, software development, IT maintenance or security and network support. You can get a qualification in as little as five weeks or as many as 54 weeks.
Over nine months, Shania completed qualifications for the entire Adobe suite, as well as Microsoft Office.
“When I enrolled in the course, I had very little in mind for myself beyond getting qualifications and doing something to fill my time. But once I got there, I completed qualifications for the entire Adobe suite, as well as Microsoft Office — and surprisingly, found I really enjoyed office work, which I seriously never expected. You will surprise yourself with what you end up immersing yourself in.”
At first, Shania was nervous about keeping herself motivated through the modules. She set her own pace and gained support from her teachers when needed.
“I quickly saw the benefits of self-directed learning. If there’s something you struggle with, you can take your time combing through it to figure it out. Likewise, if you’re studying something you’re already familiar with or simply find very straightforward, there’s nothing stopping you from skimming through the exam material and going ahead. The timeframe for getting your qualification is entirely in your hands.
That’s not to say you have no help, though! The tuition at the course is excellent. It’s not a teacher-in-classroom environment, so much as a guiding hand purely when you need it. That distinction is really important as an adult learner — no one likes to be patronised like a school student, and the ETB is definitely free of this issue.”
Shania also formed great connections with her fellow students.
“Adult learning is a really varied space, because everyone is coming from different backgrounds,” she said.
“The laidback learning environment lends itself well to socialisation. In my time there, I saw some of the quietest people open up. We became a little team, comparing our experiences as learners, helping each other through modules we struggled with. And it was a lot of fun! Since everyone is there with learning in mind, the shared experience becomes something to bond over and joke about.”
Shania would encourage anyone thinking about starting a course with Donegal ETB to make the effort to mix with classmates.
“You’ll learn so much about other people’s perspectives, and that’s something you can carry forward wherever you go, whether you’re just out of school or returning to education after a couple of decades.”
Unlike many courses, you can apply for this multimedia course at any time of the year and can find out more about it here: http://bit.ly/3gRisIZ. This course is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
Donegal ETB’s FET Service offers a wide range of full and part-time ICT courses from Levels 1-5 which you can find on their website (www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder) or contact their Adult Guidance and Information Service by calling 074 91 78088 or emailing adultguidance@donegaletb.ie.
