Castlebar College of Further Education a hive of activity

THE Castlebar College of Further Education (CCFE), Mayo’s premier provider of further education, has just celebrated its 20 anniversary, writes Tom Gillespie.

Strategically located in Newtown, Castlebar, the college was established in 1998 and has led the way in the design and establishment of innovative modules and quality assured QQI full-time programmes that have been replicated throughout the country.

The recently appointed acting director, Bill Flynn, said: “The college is a great place to study, whether you are just after leaving school or are an adult wishing to up-skill, re-skill or get skilled.

“When thinking of the college, an image of a ‘bridge’ immediately comes to mind. That could be the bridge you need to cross to get to a higher education course in Ireland or elsewhere, the qualification/training needed to go directly into employment or choose an alternative career pathway, as well as the chance to learn new skills or up-skill.”

The college offers a wide range of courses, including business and administration, healthcare studies, social studies and childcare, IT/computing and design, exercise, science and music.

The new music teacher at the college is Eamonn Mulderrig from Kilmaine, a member of the highly popular Vickers Vimy group.

Bill explained: “Eamonn is developing the music course. He has gone down the music technology, singer/songwriter route and building on that he has the Bridge of Song gig once a month in Bridge St, Castlebar, where our students play the warm-up to a big name artist.

“The music course offers students access though class recording facilities through the ‘New Technology’ module, a huge aid to progression as a songwriter.”

Several of the music students, including Grainne Fahy, Paul Greenan and Paddy Ward, have made recordings.

Bill continued: “CCFE is one of the few colleges west of the Shannon to offer the music and IT courses.

“The college started out as a very basic facility doing secretarial courses, under the late Joe Langan. Now the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses are becoming more popular where industry now equates PLC nearly on a par with universities.

“We work an awful lot with local industries to try and adapt our courses to suit their needs. All of our students go out on work experience and we work with a wide range of industries, from childcare providers to a cross-section of industries.

“Apprenticeships and traineeships is something we are looking to and there are different levels of apprenticeships now. It is not all building. You can do sales or accounts or network technicians and we map that up to the GMIT where they go into year two of an IT course.

“We have memorandums of understanding with IT colleges as we want to see our students progress either in the workforce or in education.

“Some of our courses would be very much for the workforce, like medical or legal secretaries. Others got on to nursing or social studies.”

Bill went on: “All the 16 staff, two males and 14 females, here are on top of their game, all very professional.

“It is a very friendly and welcoming environment here and there is a great relationship built up over the course of the year between students and college staff. This makes for a positive approach to learning.”

He described the 250 students at the college, from all over the world, as akin to the United Nations.

“Our class sizes are small, no bigger than 24 students, and we get great support from the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Educational and Training Board (ETB) and principal Bernie Rowland of Davitt College, Castlebar.

“We are here for everyone, be it starting out on a career or coming back to re-skill or up-skill. The students range in age from 18 to 55. It is great for people who want a change in career or want to up-skill or re-skill.”

A former business and IT teacher, Billy said they had developed a lot of courses over the years to meet the demand of the local community.

He explained: “Everyone here is interested in seeing the students getting on well, be it further education or in employment.

“We are looking to develop and expand the college. We want people to see it as a place they can to go so that wherever they are in their career we are here to support and develop them.

“The big change I have seen in education is that it is now life-long learning. No one just stops any more. Blended learning, the bricks and clicks - being in college or on the internet - will enable the college to reach a wider audience.

“The college is ideal for people who are starting off and don’t know what they want to do. It is ideal for those who are undecided when filling out the CAO and all you are doing is committing to a year.”

CCFE facilitates women who might be tied up with childcare and can attend office training and technology from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. as well as a morning childcare with disabilities course.

Said Bill: “We are here to support people at whatever stage they are in their career.”

The college facilities include five high-spec computer labs, computer networking workshop, high-speed WiFi, recording studio, dedicated music room, a fully-equipped nursing facility, practical childcare room, art room, multi-media suite, state-of-the-art software applications and a canteen.

 

* An open day will be held at the CCFE on Wednesday, March 6, from 2 to 7 p.m.