Mayor of Cork County Cllr. Gillian Coughlan paid a visit to Cork College of FET’s Life Sciences Centre in Carrigaline this week to meet and engage with learners as well as tour the state-of-the art facilities.
The Life Sciences Centre is part of Cork ETB, but more specifically it is part of Cork College of FET’s Bishopstown Campus.
Earlier this year, Cork Education and Training Board rebranded their Further Education and Training services and facilities under one single, integrated entity – Cork College of FET.
This reshaping of its FET services was to increase access opportunities and pathways, while learner supports are enhanced and provide learners with the courses, programmes and experiences they require for personal development, preparation to enter the world of work and/or progression to additional studies.
This ensures that Cork Education and Training Board continues to deliver on its ambition to provide “a pathway for every learner”, and to meet the developing and evolving requirements of learners and national policy for Further Education and Training.
The Life Sciences Campus in Carrigaline is home to the QQI Level 5 Life Sciences Manufacturing course – a programme mostly for those who have no background in manufacturing but are seeking a career change and would like to learn the skills required.
Speaking on her visit to the centre, Mayor of County Cork Cllr. Gillian Coughlan said she was hugely impressed by the facility – which she added would provide invaluable training and insights for those seeking to enter the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.
Mayor Coughlan said:
I am delighted to be here at Cork College of FET’S Life Sciences Campus to get an insight into their facilities and their state-of-the-art resources, the Life Sciences sector is such a significant part of our economy in Cork County and facilities like this are key to the continued development of the industry with more skilled workers.
She added: I am delighted to have had the opportunity to meet with learners, instructors and industry representatives at Cork College of FET’s Life Sciences facility. The Life Sciences sector is a significant part of our economy in Cork County and it is great to see the practical hands on elements behind a course like this which will ensure that learners are well placed to secure employment within the industry upon completion of the programme. I would like to pay tribute to Cork ETB for their constant striving to improve educational experiences for everyone across Cork city and county – no matter what stage they are at in life, and I wish all of the learners I met today every success in the future.
Many learners from previous Life Science Manufacturing courses have progressed to starting work in the sector upon completion.
The course covers modules such as Health and Safety, Quality, Plant Utilities and Bioprocessing to equip learners with the appropriate skills and knowledge to gain employment in the Life Sciences Sector.
Cork College of FET’s Bishopstown Campus have said course co-ordinators work closely with industry and deliver upskilling programs to employees of industry partners as required.
Ms. Valerie Cowman, Bishopstown Campus Manager said the work was “important to ensure the industry has a very-well trained pool of talent for their key process operations roles.”
For further information on Cork College of FET and any Further Education and training programmes, visit https://www.corketb.ie/fet
For updates, visit Cork Education and Training Board or Cork ETB on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.
Issued on behalf of Cork Education and Training Board, 21 Lavitt’s Quay, Cork
by Hopkins Communications, Media House, Crawford Business Park, Crosses Green, Cork.
Notes:
For more information on Cork ETB’s FET offering, visithttps://www.corketb.ie/fet. For updates, visit Cork Education and Training Board or Cork ETB on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter.
About Cork Education and Training Board
Cork Education and Training Board (hereinafter referred to as Cork ETB) was established under the Education and Training Boards Act, 2013 and is responsible and accountable for the proper direction and control of its functions in the Cork City and Cork County Councils’ local authority areas. Cork ETB plans, provides, supports and co-ordinates education, training and youth services in Cork which are recognised internationally as a model of excellence.
Cork ETB is a driving force of education and training in Cork, providing high quality services which are innovative, responsive and inclusive. Through Cork ETB there is a pathway for every learner.
Cork ETB’s target clients are learners in our schools, colleges, training centres and community settings, applicants under the various learner support schemesadministered directly by Cork ETB, Youth Service Providers, Community Education and Training Groups, Voluntary Community Organisations and Communities throughout the City and County.
Cork ETB is the patron and management body for two Community National Schools and 28 recognised Post Primary schools, including four PLC Colleges.
Twelve of the post primary schools are designated Community colleges where there is an agreement with the local Catholic bishop on diocesan involvement in the governance of the college. Cork ETB provides a range of services to all our schools and colleges including financial, human resource, building, ICT, governance support as well as educational planning support. Cork ETB is also a co-trustee/co-patron of 13 Community and Comprehensive Schools
Cork ETB provides several educational settings of a post primary nature in collaboration with the HSE, to support students who are not able to participate in mainstream provision. These settings are in the form of special care, high support and residential care units, including Ard Álainn at St. Stephens Hospital, Glanmire and Éist Linn at Bessboro Blackrock.
Further Education and Training (FET) is the provision of education and training services to a wide range of beneficiaries. The services provided range from full-time courses of varying duration to shorter part-time course options designed to meet a specific learner need, linked either to skills acquisition for employment, or the possibility of progression to further studies.
Cork ETB provides a range of Further Education and Training services, both full-time and part-time, in a variety of centres and settings across the region.
Full-time provision includes:
- Post Leaving Certificate courses
- Apprenticeships
- Traineeships
- Specific Skills Training
- Youthreach
- Community Training Centres
- Local Training Initiatives
- Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme
Cork ETB has four stand-alone Colleges of Further Education (PLC Colleges):
- Cork College of Commerce
- St. John’s College
- CSN College of Further Education
- Mallow College of Further Education
Part-time FET programmes are delivered in a variety of settings and locations under a number of funding headings with specific target learner audiences:
- Back to Education Initiative
- Adult Literacy
- Adult and Community Education
- Skills Training
- Night/Evening courses
- Skills for Work
Youth Services: Under the 2013 Education and Training Board Act, Cork ETB is assigned the following function in respect of Youth – “to Support the provision, coordination, administration and assessment of youth work services in its functional area”.
Cork ETB’s primary source of funding to support youth work is received from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, in respect of targeted out-of-school projects for disadvantaged young people. These schemes are Special Projects for Youth (SPY), Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) and Youth Information (YIC).
Cork ETB supports the provision, development, and assessment of youth work services in Cork through the provision of appropriate targeted resources and continues to develop the role of Cork ETB as the agent for Youth Services operating in collaboration and consultation with the Department of Youth and Child Affairs.
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