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ICT Skills Conversion course
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30-06-2012 11:52am#1Hey guys,
just wondering if there's any news on whether or not there will be another round of ICT skills conversion courses running in September. I see Griffith college have one up on the springboard courses website, but no one else (as of yet) have it advertised. The ictskills.ie website doesn't seem to have been updated in quite a while, and the search function on bluebrick doesn't seem to be working...0
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pineapple*soul wrote: »Hey guys,
just wondering if there's any news on whether or not there will be another round of ICT skills conversion courses running in September. I see Griffith college have one up on the springboard courses website, but no one else (as of yet) have it advertised. The ictskills.ie website doesn't seem to have been updated in quite a while, and the search function on bluebrick doesn't seem to be working...
Avoid them. They are ****. I was told by employers that they would basically not take any of these courses seriously, because learning to program and other nuances of CS take at least 3 years to learn to an acceptable level. You will learn **** all in 1 year. Save your time, choose something else.0 -
Avoid them. They are ****. I was told by employers that they would basically not take any of these courses seriously, because learning to program and other nuances of CS take at least 3 years to learn to an acceptable level. You will learn **** all in 1 year. Save your time, choose something else.
Is it really that much of a waste of time? If so, what avenue would you honestly recommend for someone with a BA and no IT background / experience at all.0 -
I can't judge whether pseudofax is right or not but would say a couple of things - I've had contact with two schools running these courses who say there's little difficulty placing people from these course. Secondly the fact that they're continuing to fund these courses - and in pretty quick succession to each other - must say something about their success.
Lastly and most importantly there is no longer even a requirement to be unemployed to get on the courses - an unlikely scenario if they were not placing people though in fairness to pseudofax I'm not exactly sure what 'placing' involves.
It would be really helpful if some earlier graduates could say something here about their experience since finishing.
"All suitably qualified graduates (or, at the discretion of the higher education provider, individuals with sufficient relevant experiential learning) are eligible to participate in the HEA’s ICT Skills Programme regardless of their employment status and regardless of whether or not they are in receipt of income support. Tuition fees will be waived for all successful applicants."
This is a link to the current scheme:
https://www.ictskills.ie/#JumpToCourses0 -
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So I just completed a Higher Diploma in Computer Science at Griffith College and will be starting a job at Workday in a few weeks. Have to say the whole experience was an unqualified success for me.
If you're interested, this is something that Griffith asked me to write for them:
The Springboard program has really turned my life around.
The recession hit right after I got my degree in English and Philosophy and for five hard years I bounced from part time work to unemployment to more part time work. I was finding it impossible to get reliable, paid, fulfilling work, despite a first class honours in my degree. I did manage to find one job I found exciting, but it didn’t last long. It was a start-up marketing company who let me go after only a month of working as a copywriter, business hadn’t gone as well as they were expecting and they couldn’t afford my wages. Professionally, personally and emotionally I was at my lowest ever point.
I had always been interested in programming, but had been daunted by taking on the task of teaching myself. So when I discovered that Springboard were offering Computer Science courses I jumped at the opportunity and took the first course available to me; a certificate (NFQ Level 6) in Computing Science at Griffith College Dublin. Without doubt this was the best decision I’ve made in my life.
Luckily, I discovered I had an aptitude for the coursework and took to the new world of programming and computers very quickly. However, with Griffith being a smaller school, meaning greater support from academic and administrative staff, those in the class who found the change more difficult got the help they needed to get through the course.
I came out of that course with straight A’s, the award for best academic achievement and my confidence sky-high. I straight away enrolled in the Higher Diploma at Griffith, which I’ve just completed. Now, after 14 months of continuous and intense study, I’ve a job lined up in Dublin with Workday, a very exciting, young software development company recently voted one of the top 20 places to work by Forbes. I can’t wait to get started.0 -
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One of the courses being promoted as an "IT Skills Conversion Course" and funded through Springboard is the TU100 module from the Open University.
Its absolutely and utterly useless. Only reason I had to encounter it was it was forced compulsory as a starter module for an actual degree, but I'd basically consider doing anything other than getting a Distinction in it to show that you were entirely unable to follow basic instructions and/or use a computer.
Can't comment on the rest of the ones being offered.0 -
One of the courses being promoted as an "IT Skills Conversion Course" and funded through Springboard is the TU100 module from the Open University.
Its absolutely and utterly useless. Only reason I had to encounter it was it was forced compulsory as a starter module for an actual degree, but I'd basically consider doing anything other than getting a Distinction in it to show that you were entirely unable to follow basic instructions and/or use a computer.
Can't comment on the rest of the ones being offered.
I completed this course last year and thought it was a great introduction to computing. In fairness, I don't think it is touted as a conversion course, and the course description makes it clear it is an introductory module. I do agree this is probably not a great course for someone with prior knowledge of IT.0 -
It was offered as a funded conversion course last year.0
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It was offered as a funded conversion course last year.
The ICT Skills Courses and Springboard Courses are separate schemes. The ICT conversion courses are all 'Higher Diploma in Science in Computing' postgraduate courses very similar to those offered by DCU, UL and NUIG for up to 15 years. The Springboard Courses are a mix of postgraduate continuation courses, degrees, diplomas, certs and individual modules.0 -
The ICT Skills Courses and Springboard Courses are separate schemes. The ICT conversion courses are all 'Higher Diploma in Science in Computing' postgraduate courses very similar to those offered by DCU, UL and NUIG for up to 15 years. The Springboard Courses are a mix of postgraduate continuation courses, degrees, diplomas, certs and individual modules.
Wasn't aware of that, they really haven't made it particularly easy to tell the difference between them from the originally promoted source of info (Bluebrick).
They were offering TU100 with a "certificate in computing" issued for the course, despite it being near worthless.0 -
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Wasn't aware of that, they really haven't made it particularly easy to tell the difference between them from the originally promoted source of info (Bluebrick).
They were offering TU100 with a "certificate in computing" issued for the course, despite it being near worthless.
The Certificate in Computing is a level 6 HETAC award, and can be used to gain advanced entry to Level 7 Computing courses, as well as show a basic knowledge of IT. It does not really validate any in-depth knowledge of the sector. I had a great tutor on the course and really gained a lot of knowledge and insight from it, and I'm using it as a stepping stone to further my education and hopefully get a job in the industry.
I find with a lot of OU courses a good tutor can really make the difference. The survey of the 2011 class found a large majority of the students were satisfied with the module.
http://www3.open.ac.uk/coursereviews/course.aspx?course=tu100#survey0 -
It being an advanced access course and little more is the entire problem with it. I wouldn't even consider employing (and I do have involvement in the hiring process in my employer) someone with it and no practical experience in the sector, which means that funding it on its own was effectively a major waste of the state's money.
I'd be more interested in knowing the satisfaction with TU100 of people who went on to do other modules, than from the absolutely massive number who did it and nothing else.
It is without a doubt the worst constructed and most contentless module I've had to endure.0 -
pineapple*soul wrote: »So I just completed a Higher Diploma in Computer Science at Griffith College and will be starting a job at Workday in a few weeks. Have to say the whole experience was an unqualified success for me.
If you're interested, this is something that Griffith asked me to write for them:
The Springboard program has really turned my life around.
The recession hit right after I got my degree in English and Philosophy and for five hard years I bounced from part time work to unemployment to more part time work. I was finding it impossible to get reliable, paid, fulfilling work, despite a first class honours in my degree. I did manage to find one job I found exciting, but it didn’t last long. It was a start-up marketing company who let me go after only a month of working as a copywriter, business hadn’t gone as well as they were expecting and they couldn’t afford my wages. Professionally, personally and emotionally I was at my lowest ever point.
I had always been interested in programming, but had been daunted by taking on the task of teaching myself. So when I discovered that Springboard were offering Computer Science courses I jumped at the opportunity and took the first course available to me; a certificate (NFQ Level 6) in Computing Science at Griffith College Dublin. Without doubt this was the best decision I’ve made in my life.
Luckily, I discovered I had an aptitude for the coursework and took to the new world of programming and computers very quickly. However, with Griffith being a smaller school, meaning greater support from academic and administrative staff, those in the class who found the change more difficult got the help they needed to get through the course.
I came out of that course with straight A’s, the award for best academic achievement and my confidence sky-high. I straight away enrolled in the Higher Diploma at Griffith, which I’ve just completed. Now, after 14 months of continuous and intense study, I’ve a job lined up in Dublin with Workday, a very exciting, young software development company recently voted one of the top 20 places to work by Forbes. I can’t wait to get started.
Hi, I'm from a similar enough academic background with a BA from NUIG with not much prospects of advancing my career with my current qualifications, but with a strong interest in all things techy.
You're story has me seriously considering doing this course in Griffith or DIT in September . There's a few things I ask you about the application for the ICT skills programme. ( as there's a paucity of any feedback or info online from any other graduates of the various ICT hdips, so I need someone's assistance!), Was there a high demand for places on your course? And how long did the application process take from applying to getting an offer?
Finally, how did you find computing in Griffith in terms of the lecturers and facilities?
Sorry for all the questions!0 -
NeftDaslari wrote: »Hi, I'm from a similar enough academic background with a BA from NUIG with not much prospects of advancing my career with my current qualifications, but with a strong interest in all things techy.
You're story has me seriously considering doing this course in Griffith or DIT in September . There's a few things I ask you about the application for the ICT skills programme. ( as there's a paucity of any feedback or info online from any other graduates of the various ICT hdips, so I need someone's assistance!), Was there a high demand for places on your course? And how long did the application process take from applying to getting an offer?
Finally, how did you find computing in Griffith in terms of the lecturers and facilities?
Sorry for all the questions!
No problem!
There didn't seem to be that high a demand for my course at Griffith - they filled all the places, but there were some students who didn't sign up until a few weeks after the course had started.
The application process for me took about two days. Filled in the application online (bluebrick.ie I think it was), got a phone call the next day, and I was in. Didn't need to meet anyone and I don't think they needed any documentation.
Griffith is a pretty small college and that has its positives and negatives. Computer facilities are good enough with a 24 hour computer room too. However, I'd really recommend having your own laptop that you can do your work on and carry around. Lectures are just done in standard lecture rooms and sometimes it would be better to have a laptop out so you can follow and replicate the lecturer's examples as they go.
There's great support there too. Since its a small college the lecturers can really spend more time on making sure their students are doing ok - but its important to ask and not be shy about looking for help. I really liked most of the lecturers (except for 2 out of the 10) and they were generally very approachable and easy to talk to.
I'd definitely recommend Griffith - I don't know much about DIT but I'm pretty I'd be much more daunted if I had to study such a new thing in the midst of the thousands of students there.0 -
Hey all,
I'm starting a similar course in DBS in a few weeks (9-5 Mon - Fri). Is it reasonable to suppose I could hold down a 16 hour weekend job along with the intensity of the course or will it require full commitment in order to stay afloat?0 -
Just wondering how people faired out regards gaining employment after completing this conversion course. I have it completed since May 2014, I have found it very difficult gaining employment, sent out loads CV, did couple interviews, applied for the ICT jobs in the public sector did aptitude test, got placed but prob not high enough to get a job. They only interviewed first 61 out a huge amount of applicants that got on a panel after the test. Just wondering how people faired out regards gaining employment after completion.
I found the course tough but stuck at it, and put in a lot of extra hours.0 -
Just wondering how people faired out regards gaining employment after completing this conversion course. I have it completed since May 2014, I have found it very difficult gaining employment, sent out loads CV, did couple interviews, applied for the ICT jobs in the public sector did aptitude test, got placed but prob not high enough to get a job. They only interviewed first 61 out a huge amount of applicants that got on a panel after the test. Just wondering how people faired out regards gaining employment after completion.
I found the course tough but stuck at it, and put in a lot of extra hours.
I'd also like to know how people are getting on (inlcuding yourself Noisin) as i am deciding between a higher diploma direct from the college and via ICT/springboard0 -
I'd also like to know how people are getting on (inlcuding yourself Noisin) as i am deciding between a higher diploma direct from the college and via ICT/springboard
All ICT/springboard conversion course are provided by recognised colleges. What do you mean by 'direct from the college'?0 -
All ICT/springboard conversion course are provided by recognised colleges. What do you mean by 'direct from the college'?
Sorry, by that i was inferring if there was any difference between the 2. Like if the degree has "SPRINGBOARD" stamped on it, or if it is simply paid tuition by the government and basically the same course.
I know there are different courses available, some officailly ran by the college with little to no difference in how it is ran. But i wonder if there is a stigma attached to those who go the Springboard/conversion route vs just going through college as normal.0 -
There are a few points worth noting here.
1. I am in full time employment since finishing my placement on the Higher Diploma in Computer Science course. Yes, work can be hard to find but it's all about getting a foot in the door. The majority of my classmates that completed the course, (graduated 2014), are working in IT. But don't expect movie star wages!
2. I am starting a new role in a few weeks, a civil service (EO ICT Specialist) position.
3. I have a BA and an MA, (not IT related obviously) and a H Dip in Computer Science, (the conversion diploma). I would not have had a look in for the above 2 jobs without the H-Dip.
4. All of my qualifactions are HETAC approved and awarded. The Higher Diploma and BA are Level 8 and the MA is level 9. http://www.qqi.ie/Pages/National-Framework-of-Qualifications-(NFQ).aspx
A level 8 qualification is a level 8 qualification. It isn't stamped, marked or stigmatised with a 'Springboard' brand. In no place on your Diploma are you tagged as springboard.
5. There is a difference between Springboard and ICT Skills Conversion Courses. The ICT conversion courses are all 'Higher Diploma in Science in Computing' postgraduate courses, very similar to those offered by DCU, UL and NUIG for up to 17 years, so the whole ICT conversion course concept is not new. These courses were previously and in some cases still are, subsidised by the EU because of a perceived lack of IT graduates, (both during and after the boom). The ICT Skills Conversion version just gives you the opportunity to participate free of charge.
The Springboard Courses are a mix of postgraduate continuation courses, degrees, diplomas, certs and individual modules and are a different animal altogether.
http://springboardcourses.ie/#JumpToCourses
Select 'Search Courses', then tick the checkbox 'Show Only ICT Conversion courses', then select 'Search'
All of the ICT Skills Conversion Courses are run by the college as normal. They are funded by springboard, run by the colleges and the awards are from HETAC and in the case of the Universities, they normally award their own degrees/diplomas.0 -
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Hi there rostalof do you mind me asking where you came on the panel after doing aptitude test for civil service EO ICT job, I applied, afraid I'm in the 200 so don't think I'll get called, found the aptitude test tough but not too difficult, would you mind telling me what preparation you did for that test.where did you do the higher diploma in computer science?. Very few to none in my class gained employment in my class after completing the higher diploma in computing in Griffith College. A lot seemed to return to what they were doing originally including myself.0
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There are a few points worth noting here.
1. I am in full time employment since finishing my placement on the Higher Diploma in Computer Science course. Yes, work can be hard to find but it's all about getting a foot in the door. The majority of my classmates that completed the course, (graduated 2014), are working in IT. But don't expect movie star wages!
3. I have a BA and an MA, (not IT related obviously) and a H Dip in Computer Science, (the conversion diploma). I would not have had a look in for the above 2 jobs without the H-Dip.
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Thanks! I'm applying for the ICT conversions. Hdip in comp science. Where did you do yours? Any thoughts on DIT vs NCI vs DBS for the ICT? (been accepted for full fees in Maynooth)
I would probably aim to do something beyond the Hdip + work exp in order to give a bit of a an edge. Use the money saved from springboard to do a masters.
In your point 1 you mention hard to find work and not movie star wages, can you go in a bit further? How hard to find work? realistically what kind of work is achievable along with wages? (i would "expect" to go in at 25-26K, then maybe hit 30K with a few years hard work/experience?)
Thanks for clearing that up! It is good to know there is no "stamp/stigma" making it even more worthwhile. I do hear a very mixed review regarding people's success with these types of courses, but i guess it depends on the individual, effort put in, past work experience.0 -
Thanks! I'm applying for the ICT conversions. Hdip in comp science. Where did you do yours? Any thoughts on DIT vs NCI vs DBS for the ICT? (been accepted for full fees in Maynooth)
I would probably aim to do something beyond the Hdip + work exp in order to give a bit of a an edge. Use the money saved from springboard to do a masters.
In your point 1 you mention hard to find work and not movie star wages, can you go in a bit further? How hard to find work? realistically what kind of work is achievable along with wages? (i would "expect" to go in at 25-26K, then maybe hit 30K with a few years hard work/experience?)
Thanks for clearing that up! It is good to know there is no "stamp/stigma" making it even more worthwhile. I do hear a very mixed review regarding people's success with these types of courses, but i guess it depends on the individual, effort put in, past work experience.
I did mine in Sligo so I wouldn't be in a position to comment on the Dublin courses. Check out the Sligo course, it's delivered online, with maybe a handful of days each semester on campus for exams and labs etc.
Bear in mind the courses are fairly intensive, I spent 8 to 10 hours a day 5 or 6 days a week on it, but it seems to have paid off! The online delivery suited me down to the ground. It freed up another 3 hours of my day to study. There were participants from Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, Galway, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon and Leitrim to name a few. Lectures are live at timetabled, standard hours, but they are all recorded in case you miss them.
You're bang on with the starting salary, 25-26k seems to be about average. Most of us have started with smaller companies, some established and some are startups.
Completing a Masters afterwards would probably give you the edge on other graduates. One of our classmates started one in September in UCD. I know another is considering doing one too.
There are options to go straight into Masters too, with little or no IT experience. The Multimedia Masters in DCU for example or the Interactive Media Masters in UL are good options if you want to follow a creative/technical path.0 -
Hi. I've applied and been accepted on to the fulltime ICT Conversion course at I.T Carlow. I have been receiving jobseekers allowance for the last 15 months. I have applied to go on to the bespoke version of BTEA, which I applied for at the end if June am still waiting to hear back. Has anyone been accepted on to the course but been refused BTEA? I'm really worried this might happen.
Thanks0 -
I have too decided to go for ICT conversion course. I have a BA Hons. degree and some IT background but no study background.
I am considering DBS Vs DIT Vs Griffith. Any advise?
p.s. I have studied non-IT course in DBS and found it to be very good; some give Griffith bad name but I believe it has changed - they are also asking me for an interview before course, strange...; DIT is unknown to me but people say it's great. Hard choice...0 -
I did mine in Sligo so I wouldn't be in a position to comment on the Dublin courses. Check out the Sligo course, it's delivered online, with maybe a handful of days each semester on campus for exams and labs etc.
Bear in mind the courses are fairly intensive, I spent 8 to 10 hours a day 5 or 6 days a week on it, but it seems to have paid off! The online delivery suited me down to the ground. It freed up another 3 hours of my day to study. There were participants from Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, Galway, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon and Leitrim to name a few. Lectures are live at timetabled, standard hours, but they are all recorded in case you miss them.
You're bang on with the starting salary, 25-26k seems to be about average. Most of us have started with smaller companies, some established and some are startups.
Completing a Masters afterwards would probably give you the edge on other graduates. One of our classmates started one in September in UCD. I know another is considering doing one too.
There are options to go straight into Masters too, with little or no IT experience. The Multimedia Masters in DCU for example or the Interactive Media Masters in UL are good options if you want to follow a creative/technical path.
Hey Roastalof, thanks for the info. I am actually registered to do the 12 month Higher Diploma in Computer Science in IT Sligo this year and I am very keen to get some information on the workload. Are both semesters pretty full on weeks? Are there any tips you would give for working remotely. Finally, is the work placement included in the 12 months or after the 12 months?0 -
I am considering DBS Vs DIT Vs Griffith. Any advise?
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Hey, i did mine in DIT. Couldn't be happier with it.
Well i could, there were some crappy aspects, mostly facility based complaints (old ass building that won't be done up as they are waiting to move to grangegorman).
BUT, the education and course material was spot on. 1-2 lecturers could be replaced, but the rest were really engaged and the pace/material was perfect if you're willing to put the work in.
Pretty much everyone got jobs before the year finished.0 -
Hey, i did mine in DIT. Couldn't be happier with it.
Well i could, there were some crappy aspects, mostly facility based complaints (old ass building that won't be done up as they are waiting to move to grangegorman).
BUT, the education and course material was spot on. 1-2 lecturers could be replaced, but the rest were really engaged and the pace/material was perfect if you're willing to put the work in.
Pretty much everyone got jobs before the year finished.
Thanks. Got a place in Griffith and going for it. 1 year course with prospect of Masters afterwards. Also, free parking and easier to get to from where I am.
Either way it is a good stepping stone.0 -
I am looking at doing one of these ict conversion courses in either Carlow or Waterford this year was wondering if anyone here knows anything about either of these courses or has completed one already. I just want to know if one of them is regarded any better than the other? If anyone has finished one of these courses how did they find the course in general?
The course in Waterford does not start until January and I would be afraid to wait for it if I got accepted in Carlow incase the Waterford one didnt go ahead0 -
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