If you are thinking about a career change, going back to college may be a good option.

The country and the world economy are changing - not just because of the scale of the downturn, but thanks to new technology and global links that span continents. Right now more than ever people are considering their next career move and what they hope to be doing in years to come.

The recession and globalisation have already changed the nature of the jobs market irreverisbly: Going forward a high level of education and expert skills will be even more important than they are today. The average 18 - 38-year-old already changes jobs up to ten times, and that number is only set to increase.

This is the ideal time to gain new skills or go back to college and pursue your passion. The colleges featured in this report all offer courses that will help you beat the challenges of the recession and achieve your ultimate career goals.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN TCD: Attain a qualification that’s right for you…

Ireland faces an ongoing shortage of skilled IT staff, Business and government need computing professionals with broad capabilities, including well-developed business and communication skills as well as up-to-date technical expertise.

The Information Systems (IS) Programme at Trinity College Dublin meets that need: a series of two-year part-time/evening courses with flexible entry and exit points, delivered by leading IT practitioners.

Students attend for a variety of reasons, perhaps to change career path, to broaden horizons, get a qualification, or to diversify into the area of computing.

The Information Systems Programme comprises three levels, Diploma, BSc (Hons) and MSc in Management of Information Systems. Join the IS Programme at a stage that suits you and exit when you have attained the qualification that is right for you.

MSc IN HEALTH INFORMATICS AT TRINITY COLLEGE:

Financial institutions may not be flavour of the month, but they do know how to use information and communications technology (ICT) effectively - when you withdraw cash in Spain, your home branch knows about it in secounds. But if you leave hospital today, your GP might get sketchy details of your hospital care and prescriptions…next week! If your overdraft gets out of hand, the bank’s computer system automatically follows you up. But what if your blood pressure gets out of hand?

Our health service urgently needs to make best use of what ICT can offer. Trinity College Dublin’s MSc in Health Informatics Programme aims to produce the people to do it - people who will play a leadership role in the effective use of information and communications technology in the delivery of healthcare.

A key strenght of the course is the student mix: students with IT backgrounds learn from their clinical classmates and vice versa, and all learn to communicate more effectively with each other. A second strength is the contribution by international experts to teaching and assessment.

The course has been running for more than ten years, and its graduates are in key positions throughtout the healthcare system in Ireland. Some are driving hospital IT projects; others are involved in national IT integration initiatives. Some are working with healthcare software suppliers; others are bringing IT to their allied healthcare professional colleagues.

Click here for further information on the courses available with Trinity College

Ben Murnane