Sorcha Byrne graduated from IT Sligo with a degree in Environmental Science in 2000 but found that life took her in a different direction from her original chosen field of study.
Now the mother of two young boys, she went on to earn a pharmacy qualification with the City & Guilds and that led her to working in a pharmacy setting for a number of years until motherhood took her to Waterford to be near family.
Given the current job opportunities in the science sector in Ireland, she wanted to make use of her degree and the Government-funded Springboard initiative provided her with the financial support and the opportunity she needed to return to higher education.
She’s now in her second year of a Postgraduate Diploma of Science in Biopharmaceutical Science which she’s studying online through IT Sligo.
“I have my degree in Environmental Science but, because the qualification was so dated and I haven’t worked in the field, I didn’t feel confident going for jobs,” she said. “There are a lot of opportunities in the biopharmaceutical field at the moment, so it seemed like a perfect way to up-skill and redirect my focus.”
Living in Waterford and studying through IT Sligo couldn’t be easier, she said; “I’m not a ‘tech head’ but it’s very straight forward and easy to use. The material is comprehensive and well laid-out and the lecturers are very accessible when you need them.”
“The reassuring thing about taking up a programme like this with Springboard is that there are options for exit qualifications – should you get a job half way through, you can leave with an exit award rather than all the work going to waste. Or you can continue with the course – because it’s online, it doesn’t matter if you have to relocate, the course goes with you. This is a real benefit.”
She encourages people in her position to look into the opportunities available through Springboard, particularly the online offerings; “It’s a fantastic opportunity. We’re all used to social networking these days and it’s just like an extension of that; a virtual, online learning environment. I’m enjoying the course and I’m very hopeful that I’ll get a job when I graduate.”
Places are available on seven online programmes at IT Sligo through the Springboard initiative this year; Certificate in Electronic Engineering; Certificate in Biopharmaceutical Processing (Level 6 & Level 7); Certificate in Bioprocess Engineering; Certificate in Cleanroom Manufacturing; Postgraduate Certificate in Energy Management; Postgraduate Certificate in Project Management. Together with its Connacht-Ulster Alliance Strategic Alliance partners, GMIT and LYIT, the Institutes are offering more than 540 places on the Government-funded initiative.
Four out of ten jobseekers who complete a Springboard course find employment within six weeks of graduating, according to a survey of participants by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). An additional 24% have taken up further education or training opportunities. The proportion who are continuing to seek work, is 36%. The survey also found that 94% of participants would recommend Springboard to others.
To find out more or to apply for a Springboard programme see https://www.springboardcourses.ie/
