Published on: Tuesday, 29 August 2017

Cork Institute of Technology, which incorporates CIT Cork School of Music, CIT Crawford College of Art & Design and the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), will hold its Registration and Open Evenings for Continuing Education Programmes (Weekend & Evening Courses) from September 5th. For CIT, Continuing Education and Continuing Professional Development are vital, and growing areas, of the total education provision and lifelong learners are an integral part of the Institution.

CIT has many opportunities for those wishing to return to education in all disciplines - Business and Accounting, Human Resource Management, Computing, Engineering, Science, Humanities, Art, Music and the Maritime area, as well as Springboard Programmes and customised and in-company, training.

CIT has a varied part-time and evening programme, one of the largest at third level in the country, and provides an extensive range of courses with flexible modes of delivery that will allow the learner to continue the process of lifelong learning. It offers the full range of Higher Education qualifications, including Higher Certificates, Bachelor Degrees and Honours Bachelor Degrees, as well as Masters and PhD Degrees.

CIT provides a comprehensive and relevant suite of courses for the adult learners. The courses are designed to provide greater opportunities to those seeking employment and additional security for those in employment; education and training in order to keep up with the rapid changes in society, the workplace and technology; Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and up- skilling for those with qualifications which need additional learning and new skills.

Speaking at the launch of CIT’s Continuing Education Prospectus last June, CIT President, Dr Brendan Murphy said, "Continuing Education and Continuing Professional Development are a major part of the strategic role that CIT plays in this region. Of our 14,500 plus registrations, almost 8,000 are full-time 3rd and 4th level and over 3,000 are Continuing Education and CPD learners."

According to Don Crowley, Head of Department of Organisation & Professional Development, “CIT's Continuing Education Programme offers every incentive to participants through Recognition of Prior Learning; accumulation of credits (ACCS) which supports flexible learning and the Incremental Approach (Ladder system) which acts as a motivation to progress further on the National Framework of Qualifications”.

Gerard O’Donovan, Head of Faculty of Business and Humanities, says: “Mature students perform very well at CIT because of small class sizes and the support of lecturers and our student-focused approach to learning.  In most areas, students commence a Level 6, Higher Certificate programme and can progress right through to Level 7 Degree, Level 8 Honours Degree, Level 9 Masters and professional qualifications, and Level 10 Doctorate.  Professional Accountancy programmes are also available in CIT for examinations of Chartered Accountants Ireland, CPA, ACCA, CIMA and Accounting Technicians Ireland.”

The Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Management Systems (CAMMS) is part of CIT’s Manufacturing, Mechanical, and Biomedical Engineering Departments and uses the in house expertise in these Departments to offer educational and problem solving services to industry. The Centre has a proven track record in the development and delivery of single subject awards, minor awards, and major awards.

CAMMS has developed themes of programmes in the areas of Control and Automation, Sustainable Energy, Project Management, Quality/Manufacturing/Lean Six Sigma and Biomedical Engineering. The centre uses a combination of external consultants and in-house lecturers to provide a broad scope of industrial and academic expertise. According to manager Michael McGrath, “The synergies from using such an arrangement allows for industrial focused education whilst also retaining an emphasis on the underlying academic theories”.

This year, CIT is offering a number of new part-time programmes including a Certificate in Digital Marketing and Higher Diploma in Business Sales Management; further information on these programmes and others, is available in the Continuing Education Prospectus and at www.cit.ie

CIT’s Continuing Education Prospectus (Weekend & Evening Courses) for 2017/18 covers a whole range of courses and is free and currently available. To receive a copy of the Continuing Education Handbook 2017/18 or to apply for a programme of study, visit www.cit.ie/parttime or call 021 4335900.

CIT staff and representatives of Professional Bodies will be in attendance during each session to offer career guidance and assistance.