The West to Avail of a New Personnel Management Qualification

A new three-year part time Bachelor of Arts Degree in Personnel Management is available from the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT).

The programme offers a professional qualification in the management of work and people and is designed to prepare professionals for positions in both the public and private sectors. It should prove attractive to those already working within the personnel sector, those who aspire to careers in the area, and those who are active within the trade union movement.

The part time delivery of the programme is particularly suited to those who are returning to education and who have considerable demands on their time. It enables currently employed individuals to acquire a degree while simultaneously advancing their careers and putting what they learn into practice.

The tuition fee for the programme is €1,500. For further information please contact 094 90425700 or gmitcastlebarinfo@gmit.ie


Labour Identify Training as Key to Economic Recovery

Leader of the Labour Pary Eamon Gilmore has warned the Government not to rely on cutbacks in order to improve the economy. Training and education spending formed the basis of two recommendations of a ten point  proposal to be implemented over four years.

The proposal recommends that education be ring-fenced from budgetary cutbacks and for the newly unemployed to be immediately retrained.

\\\'There is a level of fear out there amongst people about their jobs that I have not seen during my time in public life,\\\' said Mr Gilmore, who emphasised the need for a structured plan in order to maintain domestic and international confidence in the Irish economy.


IMI Launch New Masters Programme

A new learning framework for managers, entitled the Master of Business (MoB), has been launched by the Irish Management Institute. The MoB represents a framework of 90 credits (the national standard for a Masters qualification), and can be acquired by completing any two IMI Diploma courses (of 30 masters-level credits each) and an action learning dissertation. The MoB is an internationally recognised and HETAC-accredited award.

Speaking at the launch, Chief Executive of the IMI Dr Tom McCarthy said: \\\'Economic retrenchment is not a time to cut investment in talent management. It would be a short-sighted move that would not serve Irish business well in a time when good decision-making is paramount. Right now a more flexible approach to talent management is crucial and that is what the MoB is about.\\\'

According to the IMI, the MoB is a unique qualification that, unlike traditional MBAs and Business Masters, is driven by an intensely practical and action learning philosophy. Throughout the MoB, classroom learning is applied to real-life business challenges via exercises, group work, case studies and projects that centre on both day-to-day work and the challenges currently facing participants\\\' organisations.

Visit www.imi.ie for further information.


New Training Service for Waterford

The ISIT (Irish Security Industry Training) Skillnet has launched a new training division for the South East Region in Waterford City. Courses already underway at the Enterprise Centre in Waterford Business Park include Professional Security Practices, Occupational First Aid and Manual Handling.

Speaking at the opening, Project Manager of the ISIT Skillnet Rachael Crowley said: \\\'ISIT Skillnet was launched in 2006 by the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) in response to a requirement for training within the security industry in the first instance, but also for the wider market place. Our over-riding objective was to make training both affordable and accessible. We have since developed over 50 accredited courses and through funding from Skillnets Ltd, have made them financially accessible with some ISIA members saving up to 95% on market prices. With this new Division opened, we are making training more geographically accessible to the South East region. Given the dramatic downturn in the economy, there has never been a more crucial need for training and development and I am confident that we can meet any training demands required.\\\'