Here to Help
Job fair
Kerry College was part of the Careers Clinic at the Kerry Jobs Fair 2022 this week hosted by NEWKD. We met a range of people looking to upskill, change careers or focus on progression to further or higher education.
Not only was it a fantastic opportunity to meet our prospective learners face to face, but it was also beneficial to meet such a wide variety of Kerry-based employers. Having the chance to spend the day with these employers gave the opportunity to consider demand in certain sectors and to assess local and national skills shortages. This information helps to inform the development of new courses.
We have a large range of innovative courses specific to high-demand sectors such as construction and IT. The Renewable Energy sector is extremely popular with employers and job seekers alike; it is no surprise that we had a great deal of interest in our recently launched Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship!
Employers and applicants were happy to learn that we have eliminated fees for our full-time courses, removing barriers and making further education and training at Kerry College more accessible for everyone.
Kerry College’s Ukrainian Response
In response to the Ukrainian people currently resettled across the county, Kerry College has promoted access and mapped pathways to/from Further Education & Training (FET).
With interpretation assistance from our new team member, Olya Maryntsera, efforts have been made to navigate the Ukrainian education system and align the various qualifications with Irish equivalents. This was one of the initial steps taken to facilitate access to FET. Kerry College has also been working with Kerry ETB’s Adult Literacy and Basic Education (ABE) provision to get the Ukrainian people set up with FETCH accounts to facilitate enrollment in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Language) courses.
Ukrainian applicants who meet the English and educational requirements have registered for upcoming Kerry College courses. Many Ukrainians currently resettled in Kerry are highly educated and hold expansive work experience. However, engaging in Kerry College’s courses will equip them with the skills and knowledge to immerse themselves in the Irish system with confidence.
Our courses are free and many supports are offered to our learners. Barriers still exist to accessing FET provisions, such as accommodation, transport, and childcare. The Kerry College team continues to work with other relevant bodies across the county to improve access to further education and training to support our newest Kerry men and women as best we can.
Kerry College. Life. Changing.