When your current role just doesnt cut it any more, why not rejuvenate your skills with further training and earn more bargaining power in the process? Barbara Harding reports

When CAO points, fees, grants and textbooks navigate our airways at this time of year, its not hard to imagine the endless possibilities a third-level education may bring. You can finally raise your profile at work or seek that much-needed wage increase.

What about opting for a career change or simply undertaking a university challenge? The future can look a whole lot brighter with a part-time qualification and anything is possible with some gentle re-shuffling and a quiet word in the bosss ear.

So, if youve been putting the idea of going back to college on the back burner, pay attention this could be the academic year youve been waiting for!

A huge portion of the working nation successfully re-engages with part-time education at some point in their working career. According to figures released by the Higher Education Authority a total of 8,742 students applied for part-time undergraduate courses at designated institutions in 2005/2006, with females outnumbering males in all disciplines except science, engineering, manufacturing and construction.

Degrees in humanities, arts, business and law proved the most popular part-time courses and figures are expected to be relatively similar in the 2007/2008 academic year.

And thanks to the Celtic tiger, were now being actively encouraged to climb higher up the corporate ladder to strengthen our economy through in-house corporate initiatives such as training seminars and college fee-paying schemes.

Its a win/win situation for all upon graduation. Employees enjoy the pay increase and possible promotion that upskills can offer, while companies reap the benefits of a qualified team that continues to generate more business.

But not every company has jumped on the fee-paying bandwagon yet, particularly the smaller ones in the private sector, so in order to sell the idea of part-time education to the boss (in the hope of getting your fees paid), make sure the course will benefit them equally.

If not, you must re-assess your own financial ability to cover the cost, particularly if its not relevant to your position. Remember, part-time study does not come cheap! One of the most popular degrees undertaken last year, for example, was in business management conducted two evenings per week over four years at a total cost of 9,085. Its a huge sum of money and full-time employees are not entitled to state grants to foot this bill.

You can, however, claim tax relief under section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, although it must be an approved course from an approved institution. Once the financial aspect of going back to college is sorted, the next step is to sensibly schedule a realistic plan of action.

Hit the books

Throughout the summer months, universities nationwide begin the part-time application process and if you are one of thousands who have applied or are thinking of applying, the general advice is to strike a healthy balance between a busy career and an academic course without burning the candle at both ends.

According to Maria Betts of Momentum Business Coaching: Employees need to set some goals and put a timetable together, so they can devote adequate time to everything and keep the pace going throughout their course of study.

The average full-time employee in Ireland works 37 hours per week; therefore an extra six hours is required for lectures and the remaining time is assigned for study, household chores, family life and, most importantly, sleep. Its a lot to commit to, so your passion must be justified.

Betts believes one of the biggest difficulties an employee faces throughout this period is the sense of alienation. Home study is often difficult for students because the isolation factor can make it harder to keep going, which in turn affects motivation.

Halting the flow of your career progression while studying is another worrying factor for employees. Kate Quinlan, a consultant occupational psychologist, believes avoiding this depends on the organisation and the amount of time this career development process takes.

In fairness to the company, you are there to work and are being paid to do it so, if you find the study timetable constrictive, take the course in modules over a longer period of time to evenly balance both areas, she explains.

Failing that, you can always bite the bullet and opt for full-time education, as it will take less time to complete but is person specific and depends a great deal on your financial and personal circumstance. Some people may not want to go to college full-time. Its more conducive to study part-time, particularly for mature students in the workforce, says Quinlan.

Most of the business-related programmes these days are online or part-time in the evening. Look at options available to do the course you want and talk to your employer. Maybe you can arrange an extended leave of absence around exam time to ease the pressure?

How to cut a deal thats mutually beneficial for you and your company

Approaching your employer to help out with tuition fees
Maria Betts of Momentum Business Coaching suggests putting yourself in the shoes of your employer. They need to understand the value you will bring to your role when convincing them to pay for it. Highlight how the course will benefit both the company and you in the long run.

Handling debt

According to Hamid Khodabakhshi, Union of Students in Irelands national education officer, colleges dont generally offer financial assistance for part-time courses, except in special circumstances where applicants are on a low-income status.
Some banks, however, will offer student loans but its not a route I recommend, as nobody wants to graduate with a high-level of debt to repay. This will only limit them further. Try to save as much as you can towards the costs of the fees, if your employer wont cover them.

Seeking a salary increase upon graduation

Again, this boils down to your value within the company. Betts suggests, rather than leaving it until the programme is complete, looking for opportunities to introduce something you have learnt into your current role at an earlier stage. As the course is running, put ideas forward and position yourself as a valued employee by volunteering or suggesting additional responsibilities you can take on.

Balance a busy job with an academic course

Consultant occupational psychologist Kate Quinlan believes it all boils down to self-discipline and getting the commitment from the employer in terms of your career development.
Most employers are very positive as long as the course you are interested in can be seen as relevant to your job. Its important to realise that you are still doing a job, so plan ahead in terms of how much time you spend studying. Also, try to squeeze some exercise in.

Keeping the momentum going

Studying is a challenge for most its supposed to be so the course undertaken should be of interest to you both personally and professionally. If the going gets tough and youre not interested in the modules, youll find it really difficult to complete. Set some goals in relation to work, so it does not seem so overwhelming. Having a plan will put everything into perspective, advises Betts.

Whitespace Ltd