Students who have just completed their Leaving Cert, and current third-level students, are to get invaluable insights on what happens next during these Covid-19 times at a free webinar at the end of August.
The webinar entitled ‘Re-opening the doors: what happens now?’ is designed to help all those who face uncertainty as they eye up third-level and further education options in the coming weeks.
The webinar will take place on August 26, hosted by Mayo Local Community Development Committee (LCDC ), and will feature well-known education commentator Brian Mooney; Peter Egan (Director of Further Education and Training at Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education & Training Board (MSLETB ) ); and Dr Orla Flynn, President, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. Attendees to the webinar will be welcomed by Tom Grady, Chief Executive Officer of MSLETB.
Pat Howley, Chairperson, Mayo LCDC Education & Training Working Group said: "This has been a very difficult time for all people leaving secondary school and those who are already in college. The next phase, when colleges and other education and training institutions re-open, is also laden with uncertainty, and in this webinar we will provide some insights and practical advice to students and their families.
"We have lined up excellent speakers who will approach this topic from a number of different angles. They will cover relevant issues of concern to people – for example, a lot of people are struggling to understand what exactly blended learning is and how it might look in our education institutions this coming academic year.
"There are also queries about how assessment will take place on some courses, not to mention work placements. During this webinar, we hope to address as many questions as we can."
Mr Howley added that the webinar is not just for students going onto third-level, stating: "We will also look at apprenticeships and further education. The webinar, which is free of charge, will go out on https://www.facebook.com/MayoDotIE/ at 8pm on Wednesday, August 26. It is not necessary to register beforehand – those who wish to attend need just go on to that page from 7.50pm onwards.
"We are inviting questions from students and their families beforehand, and these can be submitted to the webinar host, Liam Horan, at [email protected], or by private chat during the event. The webinar will automatically archive on the page immediately after it finishes so that it can be viewed by people unable to attend on the night."
The purpose of the webinar is to arm students and families with key information as they embark on the next phase of their education paths.
The event is supported by Mayo County Council/Mayo.ie; MSLETB; the HSE; Mayo Local Employment Services; Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP ); GMIT; Údarás na Gaeltachta; South West Mayo Development Company; and Mayo North East LEADER Partnership.
For further details, contact Liam Horan on (094 ) 9542965. The LCDC host the annual Mayo Careers Fair in GMIT’s Mayo Campus at Castlebar. The organising committee comprises Pat Howley, Michael Gill, Anne Ronayne, Pamela Ní Thaidhg, Orlagh Denneny, Tim Rogers and Liam Horan.
