Personal Development

ALISON – Read about Bernie Mellon’s experience of completing a Diploma in Customer Service through ALISON.

Amateur Drama Council of Ireland (A.D.C.I) – Read about Fiona Tuohy’s experience of treading the boards.

Being digital – Those considering returning to learning especially with the Open University may wish to check out Being Digital – Skills for life online. The Being Digital collection includes short, easy to follow activities which help you develop essential skills for study, work and lifelong learning. While it is particularly relevant to studying with the OU it also useful for anyone considering returning to learning.

Coursera – Coursera is an education platform that partners with top universities and organizations worldwide, to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. There are various courses to choose from. The University of London course Understanding Research Methods starting 2nd June, 6 weeks, 4-6 hours of work per week is expected to appeal to those who require an understanding of research approaches and skills, and importantly an ability to deploy them in their studies or in their professional lives.

Croí Anú Creative Centre – The vision at Croí Anú is to provide a safe nurturing space where creativity is the key to personal, professional and spiritual development.

Dublin Institute of Technology – Continuing Adult Education & Professional Development.

Fit4Life – Fit4Life programme is organised in a network of athletics clubs around the country. Check the website for more details and find your local group (Ireland).

Future Learn – Choose a high quality free course from a range of topics; from Science & Technology to Arts & Humanities, from Body & Mind to Business & Management for top UK and International Universities. The University of Reading course on Obesity: Causes and Consequences starting on 9th June, for 4 weeks, 3 hours per week looks pretty interesting but there is lots more courses to choose from.

Irish Heart Foundation Step Challenge – Details about our experience with the challenge are listed in the step challenge event poster: Step Challenges in the Library at NUI Maynooth presented at the NUI Maynooth Teaching and Learning Showcase 2013.

Local History Groups – Read about Olive Morrin’s experience of her involvement with the Teresa Brayton Heritage Group.

Motivated Joyful Living – Maria’s Work Life Balance and Personal Effectiveness course is particularly good but she has lots of other useful courses you may wish to consider on her website.

National Library of Ireland – provide a wide range of services for primary, post-primary, third level students, lifelong learners and educators.

Department of Adult and Community Education, NUI Maynooth – courses foster dialogue and discussion, with the aim of enabling participants to critically reflect on their role in civil society. Students may participate in courses at undergraduate (certificates, diplomas, degrees) and postgraduate levels (higher diplomas, masters and doctorates).

Open University – offers a wide range of distance education courses.

Oscail – Read about Mary Brien’s experience of studying for a degree with Oscail.

Qualifax – is Ireland’s National Learners’ Database. It is the “one stop shop” for learners. Qualifax can help you to make informed choices about your education, training and career paths.

Queen’s University Belfast – open learning short courses.

Royal Irish Academy – Most of the events are free to attend and a small donation can go some way to cover the costs of the events.

Trinity College Dublin – Evening & Short Courses.

Adult Continuing Education, UCC – offering education programmes to Cork and the greater Munster area of Ireland since 1946.

UCD Adult Education Centre – courses include accredited formal learning programmes and informal open learning courses. They have a new project on flexible learning which offers an opportunity to sample a semester or two of Archaeology at degree level.

Department of Lifelong Learning & Outreach, University of Limerick – for anyone looking to up-skill to enhance career prospects or re-skill to move into a new field.

University of Ulster – Lifelong learning.

The Wheel – This listing has been put together by The Wheel to facilitate easier understanding of the various roles different organisations play in the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. – Read about Val Payne’s experience of her involvement with the Kilcock Community Network (KCN)