Courses Available
1. LTI Programme.
The LTI Programme is a six month long programme, which endeavours to enable individuals to improve their communication skills and employability. The programme is divided into three sections, ECDL Syllabus 5, Communication Skills and Work Experience.
Each individual learner has a programme developed to suit his/her individual needs. As the programme is at present facilitating the needs of people whose nationality is not Irish, there is considerable emphasis on communication skills. The FETAC level offered is for the most part decided by the abilities of the individual learner and other FETAC modules are incorporated depending upon the learners chosen career path.
Clondalkin Training Centre is currently facilitating its sixth LTI Programme. All the previous programmes have been very successful and many of the learners have achieved their goals in their new home country.
Personal Development
"Employers want people who can rapidly 'fit in' to the workplace culture, work in teams, exhibit good interpersonal skills, communicate well, take on responsibility for an area of work, and perform efficiently and effectively to add value to the organisation - they want adaptive recruits".
Harvey, Moon and Geall 1997
"Few students are able to articulate what they have gained from their experience in higher education."
Association of Graduate Recruiters, 1995
Many employers put strong emphasis on skills in graduate recruitment. The following are quotes from major retailers:
"First of all, people skills are essential. Whoever you come into contact with, whether customers, suppliers or members of staff, an understanding of situations and the ability to interact in a calm, confident manner are vitally important."
"We're looking for dynamic hardworking graduating college seniors with vision, initiative, excellent communication skills and a sharp focus."
"With every graduate position comes responsibility and the need for well-rounded management skills. We look for motivated graduates with drive, commercial acumen and a passion for fashion. Individuals who will thrive in an open and creative environment where teamwork is valued."
Taking an audit of your skills at the beginning of your course will help you to define your current status and highlight where you need to develop certain skills. At the end of each year you can complete a new skills audit, based on your experiences. This process allows you to monitor your own development as you progress through University.
"It will help me to evaluate the skills I have learnt in order to recognize what I'm good at."
Over the time of your degree course your skills level should improve.
Your audit will help you identify areas where you can build on your current strengths, as well as areas that need improving.
Realization and identification of skills will be useful when writing my CV."
"Makes you think about the bigger picture, not just the course."
Personal development comprises activities undertaken with a view to:
improving self-knowledge
- improving identity
- developing talents
- developing potential
- human capital
- enhancing employability
- bettering quality of life
- realizing dreams
- achieving aspirations
The concept of personal development covers a wider field than self-development or self-help; it also includes developing other people , and by extension refers to the methods, programs, tools, techniques, and assessment systems used in the process of personal development.
At the level of self-improvement, personal development includes:
1. becoming the person one aspires to become
2. integrating social identity with self-identification
3. increasing awareness or defining of one's priorities, values, chosen way of life or ethics
4. strategizing and realizing dreams, aspirations, career and lifestyle priorities
5. developing professional potential and talents
6. developing individual competencies
7. learning on the job
8. improving the quality of lifestyle in such areas as health, wealth, culture, family, friends and communities
9. learning techniques or methods to expand awareness, gain control of one's life or achieve wisdom
2. Learning a "New" ancient therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Clondalkin Training Centre on the Nangor Road is hosting new courses in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The courses are offered on a part-time weekend basis by Active Health Foundation. The courses range from Tuina (pronounced "twee nah") Chinese Medical Accupressure, Facial Rejuvenisation, Cosmetic Acupuncture, Acupuncture and the college also expect to run courses in Chinese Herbal Therapy in the future. Active Health Foundation was established by James O Sullivan ten years ago, to train interested people in Tuina - Chinese Medical Acupressure to practitioner level. This course became so popular that it is now offered in five colleges around Ireland as part of their day time courses. It is the only traditional Chinese Medicine course offered in VEC colleges.
Tuina Chinese Medical Acupressure is the official medical Chinese Bodywork therapy that was developed in China over 3,000 years ago and is known as needle- less acupuncture. It is an integral part of the health care system in hospitals throughout China today. It works with the energy system in the body known as the Meridian system. Tuina, sometimes called finger acupuncture in China, uses the same principals as acupuncture but instead of needles, fingers are used to stimulate the same acu points to treat the patient.
For further information, visit Active Health Foundation website www.active-health.org or contact James O' Sullivan on 01 504 0789.
3. TTRS COMPUTER TRAINING - NOW AVAILABLE
New service in Clondalkin for children with Dyslexia and other learning difficulties
A new service for children struggling with Dyslexia and other learning difficulties has been launched in Clondalkin. The computer-based course is called Touch-Type, Read and Spell and is being run by Sharon Tobin in Clondalkin Training Centre.
"This course is specifically designed to develop the literacy of children with dyslexia and other learning difficulties. It aims to improve the students' reading, spelling and touch-typing skills. During the course the student will learn a vocabulary of 4,000 words through typing, seeing the words and sentences on screen and hearing them on headphones. This is a unique three-pronged approach designed to teach familiarity and confidence with the vocabulary and its uses. We have received very good reports from parents as to how this course is already helping their children in school."
"Touch-Type, Read and Spell is now running in over thirty centres in Ireland and has proved very successful in developing the literacy as well as the confidence and self-esteem of children with learning difficulties. The course is also being used in many centres by the VEC to help adults with literacy difficulties. It has been running in the UK for over 16 years and in many countries throughout the world. To learn more about the course and its success I would highly recommend a look at the founding company's web-site www.ttrs.co.uk which contains a wealth of information about the course and its success, including testimonies from people who have used the programme. "
Along with developing literacy, TTRS also teaches typing skills. Children who struggle with Dyslexia or with learning difficulties are always advised and encouraged by resource teachers, and indeed by educational psychologists, to develop their typing skills. It makes it easier to produce a volume of work when a child is able type at a brisk speed.
This course will be run in Clondalkin and lasts one hour per week. Courses are run during term time and over the summer (optional).
For more information or to book a place, please can contact Sharon Tobin at shartobin@gmail.com or on 087 2321778 / 01 6106429.
4. CEI Programme. Courses included - Occupation First Aid, Health & Safety, Manual Handling, Fire Training, Basic Food Hygiene.
5. Palmerstown Active Retired Group - Commencing computer training. This course goes on for six weeks and lessons will last for two hourse and transport will be provided.
