Foundation Studies Programme for Mature Students
Duration: One year
Qualification: Foundation Studies Programme for Mature Students
Cost:
Closing Date for Application: 31st May 2010
This course aims to provide a programme of foundational studies for adult students leading to an accredited WIT Certificate in Foundation Studies which will enable them apply through the mature student system for a place in a Third Level college. The programme builds up the necessary self-confidence and study skills in the student to undertake study at Third Level.
The primary aim of the Course is to develop the independence of the student, which will guide the student to greater personal development through self-discovery, empowerment, and ultimately to full potential. In parallel the student will study a choice of elective subjects on a technology, business or arts stream. These electives are intended to expose the student to the rigors of the real world of academia and to impart an appreciation of the expectations industry has of graduates.
Entry Requirements
Students must be over 22 on January 1st of the year of entry.
Applications are particularly welcome from:
- Long-term unemployed persons;
- People returning to education after a long period and;
- Those seeking a career change;
Potential students are required to apply directly to the School of Education, Waterford Institute of Technology in the Spring of the year of entry and complete an application form. A week-long Summer School is organised for applicants in June of the year of entry where potential students can:-
Once suitable candidates have been identified via interview, they are offered a place on the Course and invited to the Institute for an Induction Programme in September. The Induction Programme covers such areas as Study Skills, Returning to Education Fears, and Numeracy Fears.
By the end of the course participants will have:-
- Combatted learning difficulties and developed career and educational life plans;
- Been given opportunities to diagnose their own educational and training needs in relation to the educational and vocational opportunities presented by society;
- Developed skills of confidence and attitudes of self-esteem, both as a means of self-empowerment and to enable them to act as role models for others in their own communities;
- Acquired a set of transferrable core skills which will prepare them to access further education and training opportunities;
- Acquired a set of subject skills which will prepare them for entry into Year 1 of a full-time College course.
Both Streams include the following three Core Subjects:-
- Communications
- Information Technology & Multimedia
- Study Skills & Personal Development
- Business Studies and Accountancy
- Business Mathematics
- Human Behaviour - an introduction to Psychology
- How Society Works - an introduction to Sociology
Science & Technology Stream
- Technology Mathematics
- Physics
- Laboratory Sciences - Biology/Chemistry
- Technology
