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Ahead of Donegal Education and Training Board’s Further Education and Training (FET) Fair on 4 and 5 March in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny, we’re showcasing the learning and progression experiences of current and former FET students.
A woman from Moldova who undertook an e-Business course to get on the career ladder locally was delighted to land a job from the moment she completed it.
Iuliana Vlad, who lives in Moville, came to live in Ireland seven years ago. She holds a Masters degree in economics, IT and maths from her home country, but she struggled to find work without any Irish qualifications.
There was also the Donegal accent, and despite Iuliana having studied English, the local brogue takes some getting used to.
“I decided that I needed to learn English first, instead of looking for a job that suits me,” Iuliana said.
After three years in hospitality improving her conversation skills, Iuliana felt confident enough to begin upskilling again and enrolled with Donegal Education and Training Board’s (ETB’s) Further Education and Training (FET) Service.
She started a bookkeeping programme, which was unfortunately disrupted by the pandemic
Undeterred, Iuliana did English language training twice a week until she started the e-Business course at the FET Centre in Buncrana.
This two-year programme equips students with IT skills for office administration work.
On completion, students are awarded QQI Level 5 awards in modules including communications, payroll, spreadsheet methods, web authoring, internet usage, e-Business studies, and word processing.
Iuliana embraced the opportunity to learn more about the ever-evolving landscape of online business.
“The knowledge that I gained there helped me a lot,” she said.
“With modern IT and AI there are always new things to learn. Back when I was studying in Moldova, Excel was not so developed. Other programmes on Microsoft have improved so much now.”
Beyond the curriculum, Iuliana loved the supportive learning environment at the ETB Centre.
“I liked the relationship between teachers and students. I felt they were very friendly, helpful and professional. I went in every day with happiness, I didn’t go there with fear of studying.
“The attitude and atmosphere in ETB Buncrana was very pleasant.
“Those two years, they were like a family for me.”
Iuliana’s dedication paid off. Her primary aim of doing the course was to get full-time employment, and it didn’t take long for her to be hired as an Account Clerk.
“My goal was achieved. I finished in June 2023 and on 3rd July 2023 I was employed by the North West Gas company in Carndonagh,” she said.
Iuliana Vlad
Iuliana’s skills from the e-Business course come into use in her work every day, from payroll to Revenue.
“I am always improving my skills and my English, which is why I recommend Donegal ETB. If you are coming from a foreign country and want to do something worthwhile, I totally recommend this course.
“I would like to say thank you to Danielle, Alan, Alison and Elaine and all the colleagues for being so helpful.”
Iuliana’s course is just one of the many full and part-time courses offered by Donegal ETB’s FET Service – you’ll find their full range of courses across the county on their website, where you can also apply online at any time: www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder.
Come along to Donegal ETB’s 2025 FET Fair on 04 and 05 March in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny to find out more:
- Tuesday 04 March, 7.00-9.00pm: School leavers, their parents/guardians, Guidance Counsellors and school Principals and Deputies are invited to attend to hear about FET options across the county. Those currently in employment and seeking to upskill are also invited to hear about upskilling opportunities offered by the FET Service.
A panel discussion on FET options (PLCs, traineeships and tertiary degrees), apprenticeships and employee training supports begins at 7.00pm.
- Wednesday 05 March, 10.00am-2.00pm: Those who would like information on the wide range of full and part-time education and training opportunities provided by the ETB’s FET Service are invited to come along to speak to staff to find out more. There will be interactive skills demonstrations throughout the day.
Keep an eye on their social media accounts (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn) for updates and further details or contact the ETB’s Adult Guidance and Information Service – call 074 91 78088, email adultguidance@donegaletb.ie or complete this web form and they’ll get back to you:www.donegaletb.ie/adultguidance.
An dóigh a gcuireann cúrsa ríomhghnó ETB Dhún na nGall deiseanna fostaíochta ar fáil
Roimh Aonach Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall an 4 agus an 5 Márta in Óstán an Radisson Blu i Leitir Ceanainn, tá aird á tarraingt againn ar thaithí foghlama agus dul chun cinn na mac léinn reatha agus na n-iar-mhac léinn de chuid FET.
Bhí lúcháir ar bhean ón Mholdóiv, a thug faoi chúrsa ríomhghnó chun tús a chur lena gairm go háitiúil, post a fháil a luaithe is a bhí an cúrsa curtha i gcrích aici.
Tháinig Iuliana Vlad, atá ina cónaí i mBun an Phobail, chun cónaí in Éirinn seacht mbliana ó shin. Tá céim Mháistreachta aici san eacnamaíocht, TF agus matamaitic óna tír dhúchais, ach bhí sí ag streachailt maidir le hobair a fháil gan aon cháilíochtaí Éireannacha.
Bhí blas Dhún na nGall ann freisin, agus in ainneoin go ndearna Iuliana staidéar ar an Bhéarla, is doiligh an beart é dul i dtaithí ar bhlas na háite.
“Shochraigh mé gur ghá dom Béarla a fhoghlaim ar dtús, in ionad post a lorg a n-oirfeadh domh,” a dúirt Iuliana.
Tar éis trí bliana san earnáil fáilteachais agus feabhas á chur aici ar a scileanna comhrá, mhothaigh Iuliana muiníneach go leor chun tús a chur le breisoiliúint arís agus chláraigh sí le Seirbhís Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall (ETB).
Chuir sí tús le clár leabharchoimeádta, ar chuir an phaindéim isteach air ar an drochuair
Gan scáth gan eagla, rinne Iuliana oiliúint Bhéarla dhá uair sa tseachtain go dtí gur chuir sí tús leis an chúrsa ríomhghnó ag Ionad FET i mBun Cranncha.
Tugann an clár dhá bhliain seo scileanna TF do mhic léinn le haghaidh obair riaracháin oifige.
Bronntar gradaim QQI Leibhéal 5 ar mhic léinn i modúil lena n-áirítear cumarsáid, párolla, modhanna scarbhileoige, ceapadóireacht gréasáin, úsáid idirlín, staidéir ríomhghnó, agus próiseáil focal.
Ghlac Iuliana leis an deis tuilleadh a fhoghlaim faoi thírdhreach síorathraitheach an ghnó ar líne.
“Chuidigh an t-eolas a fuair mé ansin go mór liom,” a dúirt sí.
“Le TF agus IS nua-aimseartha bíonn rudaí nua le foghlaim i dtólamh. Nuair a bhí mé i mbun staidéir sa Mholdóiv, ní raibh Excel chomh forbartha is atá sé anois. Tá an oiread feabhais tagtha ar chláir eile de chuid Microsoft anois.”
Taobh amuigh den churaclam, ba mhór ag Iuliana an timpeallacht foghlama thacúil ag an Ionad ETB.
“Thaitin an caidreamh idir múinteoirí agus daltaí liom. Mhothaigh mé go raibh siad iontach cairdiúil, cuidiúil agus proifisiúnta. Chuaigh mé isteach gach lá agus sonas orm, ní raibh mé ag dul ann agus eagla orm roimh an staidéar.
“Bhí an dearcadh agus an t-atmaisféar in ETB Bhun Cranncha iontach deas.
“Le linn an dá bhliain sin, bhí siad cosúil le teaghlach domhsa.”
Tá toradh a dúthrachta le feiceáil ag Iuliana. Ba é an phríomhaidhm a bhí aici maidir leis an chúrsa a dhéanamh ná fostaíocht lánaimseartha a fháil, agus níor thóg sé i bhfad uirthi a bheith fostaithe mar Chléireach Cuntais.
“Bhain mé mo sprioc amach. Chríochnaigh mé i mí an Mheithimh 2023 agus ar an 3 Iúil 2023 bhí mé fostaithe ag cuideachta Gáis an Iarthuaiscirt i gCarn Domhnach”, a dúirt sí.
Baineann Iuliana úsáid as a cuid scileanna ón chúrsa ríomhghnó ina cuid oibre gach lá, ó phárolla go dtí na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim.
“Bíonn feabhas á chur agam ar mo chuid scileanna agus ar mo chuid Béarla i dtólamh, agus is é sin an fáth a mholaim ETB Dhún na nGall. Má tá tú ag teacht ó thír iasachta agus tú ag iarraidh rud inteacht fiúntach a dhéanamh, molaim an cúrsa seo go láidir.
“Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le Danielle, Alan, Alison agus Elaine agus leis na comhghleacaithe go léir as a bheith iontach cuidiúil.”
Níl i gcúrsa Iuliana ach ceann amháin den iliomad cúrsaí tacaíochta cúraim sláinte lánaimseartha agus páirtaimseartha a thairgtear trí Sheirbhís FET ETB Dhún na nGall – gheobhaidh tú an raon cúrsaí iomlán atá acu ar fud an chontae ar a suíomh gréasáin, áit ar féidir leat iarratas a dhéanamh ar líne am ar bith: www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder.
Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil, bígí linn ag Aonach FET ETB Dhún na nGall 2025 ar an 4 agus an 5 Márta san Óstán Radisson Blu i Leitir Ceanainn:
- Dé Máirt, an 4 Márta, 7.00-9.00pm: Tugtar cuireadh do lucht fágála scoile, a gcuid tuismitheoirí/caomhnóirí, Comhairleoirí Gairmthreorach agus Príomhoidí agus Leas-Phríomhoidí scoile freastal chun cluinstin faoi roghanna FET ar fud an chontae. Tugtar cuireadh fosta dóibh siúd atá fostaithe faoi láthair agus atá ag iarraidh uasoiliúint cluinstin faoi na deiseanna uasoiliúna a thairgtear tríd an tSeirbhís FET.
Cuirfear tús le plé painéil ar roghanna FET (cúrsaí iar-Ardteistiméireachta, cúrsaí oiliúna agus céimeanna tríú leibhéal), printíseachtaí agus tacaíochtaí oiliúna fostaithe ag 7.00pm.
- Dé Céadaoin 5 Márta, 10.00am-2.00pm: Tugtar cuireadh dóibh siúd ar mhaith leo eolas a fháil faoin raon leathan deiseanna oideachais agus oiliúna lánaimseartha agus páirtaimseartha atá á gcur ar fáil ag Seirbhís FET ETB teacht chun labhairt leis an fhoireann chun tuilleadh a fháil amach. Beidh taispeántais scileanna idirghníomhacha ar siúl i rith an lae.
Coinnigh súil ar a gcuntais meán sóisialta (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram agus LinkedIn) faoi choinne nuashonruithe agus sonraí breise, nó téigh i dteagmháil le Seirbhís Treorach agus Eolais d’Aosaigh ETB ar 074 91 78088, ríomhphost adultguidance@donegaletb.ie, nó comhlánaigh an fhoirm ghréasáin seo, agus rachaidh siad i dteagmháil leat:www.donegaletb.ie/adultguidance.
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