These brand new programmes are a Diploma in Bioprocess Engineering and a Diploma in Business in Sales and Marketing.

The Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe TD, on 26th July announced details of funding for 1,500 free part-time undergraduate college places for unemployed persons across the country. These places will be available from this September.

As part of this initiative, Dundalk Institute of Technology has been successful in obtaining funding for two part time programmes. These brand new programmes are a Diploma in Bioprocess Engineering and a Diploma in Business in Sales and Marketing. These college places form part of the Government’s efforts to retrain and upskill the labour force.

Diploma in Bioprocess Engineering

The Diploma in Bioprocess Engineering will assist science and engineering graduates to gain employment in the Bio-Pharmaceutical or related Life Sciences industries.

Dr. Edel Healy, Head of School of Nursing, Midwifery, Health Studies and Applied Sciences said: "DkIT wants to play its part in retaining technically skilled graduates within the local economy. The recent industrial decline has one very valuable legacy - a highly skilled and motivated local workforce. This programme is aimed at upskilling and reskilling graduates for employment in the life sciences sector which is one of the sectors of the economy considered key to tackling the recession and driving economic growth.

"The Programme can be taken on a part time basis over one year. It will enable participants to merge their own technical background with the skills needed for the Biopharmaceutical and Life Sciences Industries. Graduates will be able to progress to a range of full time programmes in the Department of Applied Sciences."

Diploma in Business in Sales and Marketing

The Diploma in Business in Sales and Marketing will enable learners to gain a broad business education, with a focus on sales and marketing, at the foundation level.

Announcing details of the course, Mr.Cathal Kearney, Head of School of Business and Humanities in DkIT said: “This is an ideal opportunity for unemployed individuals to take a one-year part time structured educational course that will provide them with a broad business education. Participants will gain key sales and marketing skills, as well as computing expertise and interview preparation competencies that will enable them to apply for and compete for sales and marketing positions.

"There is evidence to suggest that, within Ireland, there are still employment opportunities for sales and marketing personnel, especially with regard to export marketing. For those who are considering taking a full time course it is an opportunity to assess if a business course is best suited to them. Participants who take this course will be able to progress to a range of full time business degree courses in the School of Business & Humanities at DkIT”.

Unemployed persons who want to apply for a place on one of these courses should contact Dundalk IT’s Lifelong Learning Centre at 042-9370585 or click on www.learn.ie.

Applicants will be asked to confirm that they’ve a claim for a jobseeker’s payment of at least six months or else provide a copy of form RP50 confirming they’re entitled to statutory redundancy from their most recent employment. They’ll be entitled to retain their social welfare payments while on the course and tuition fees will not be charged.