Dunboyne College not just an alternative, but the ideal choice

Dunboyne College not just an alternative, but the ideal choice

As Dunboyne College begins its 19th year of offering quality further education courses, it is a real alternative in the uncertain times we live in. Further education and particularly PLC courses like those in Dunboyne are a great option to try a course and learn new skills while in a college environment.

Dunboyne College sends more students to universities and institutes of technology than most secondary schools in the country and hundreds more direct to quality employment. The flexible options in Dunboyne allow students to sample various modules in September to make sure they are pursuing the correct
course choice. Dropout rates for students who do a level 5 QQI course and then progress to third level are less than 3% compared to up to over 10% in universities and up to 33% on some I.T. courses for leaving cert entrants. As students also learn referencing, research and self-directed learning they tend to stay the full third level course afterwards, unlike many who go straight from leaving cert who are often not very sure of their options. At the end of the year our student's continually state: “it has been the best choice that I ever made."

Dunboyne College provides:

• A good learning environment and family atmosphere.
• Student supported from experienced teaching in their field of expertise. Teachers both on and off campus, in person or remote.
• A college with a great track record since 2003 and an outstanding reputation among third level institutions and employers.
• Over 50 courses accredited by QQI, All courses offered at NFQ Level 5 with Level 6 offered in certain disciplines.
• Every course leads to further progression at University or IT’s (levels 6, 7 & 8) with direct links to Universities and Colleges regardless of Leaving Cert points.
• Statistically QQI students are more focused, have excellent retention at third level and perform extremely well academically.
• All courses have a mandatory work experience module and many students progress through direct links to industry and employment.
• DCFE also run a huge range of extracurricular activities from sports to theme weeks to trips to Fundraisers. The college have a very active student council.
• The college also has an Erasmus+ programme where students across disciplines such as Nursing, Business, Tourism, Creative Media and many others have carried out work experience placements in Exeter, Barcelona and Tenerife.
• There is even a scholarship programme where students have the opportunity to receive sponsorship from a local business and have their fees for the year re-imbursed.

Three hundred and seventyfour (374) students received honours degree Level 8 offers in the past year and two hundred and forty-eight 248 received a Level 7 ordinary degree offers. This included 130 offers to Maynooth University, 32 to DCU, 28 to UCD, 14 to Trinity and an amazing 92 level 8, and 166 level 7 offers to the Technical University Dublin. In addition to these students most of the students who studied on the vocational skills courses obtained employment, this is particularly relevant in the service and leisure courses. See our full list of over courses here in this publication or on
www.dunboynecollege.ie

After two years of uncertainty in accessing third level maybe now is the time to take the time to focus on the area students really want to
develop for their career regardless of whether they have the points or not. They can use the full award from further education to progress to most third level course in the country. They spend a year exploring that area in depth and are college-ready when they do progress. Come May of next year they are in a great place to embrace the next step of their educational journey with a diverse set of skills in their arsenal. The Dunboyne College motto has always been “Begin here, go anywhere.”