Expand+The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed persons which is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund. The Scheme is operated through the Vo...

Hide-The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed persons which is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund. The Scheme is operated through the Vocational Education Committees and provides a special range of courses designed to meet the education and training needs of unemployed people.

The aims of the scheme are:
- to give unemployed people education and training opportunities which will develop their employability

- to prepare people to go into paid employment or on to further opportunities leading to paid employment

Expand+Education: No formal education or qualifications are required although applicants may have participated in primary and secondary education. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate a standard of knowledge, skill and competence equivalent to NFQ Le...

Hide-Education: No formal education or qualifications are required although applicants may have participated in primary and secondary education. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate a standard of knowledge, skill and competence equivalent to NFQ Level 4 when accessing a Level 5 programme.

Aptitude: Applicants must have a motivation to learn, an interest in the subject and the ability to acquire the knowledge, skills and competencies set out in the course.

Previous Experience: Applicants must be able to demonstrate a moderate range of knowledge, skills and competencies relevant to the course, be able to work with responsibility and demonstrate the ability to work on their own initiative.

Expand+Eligibility criteria are determined by the Department of Education and Skills.

To qualify for VTOS a person must:
- be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the course,

- be in receipt of an unemployment payment or signing for c...

Hide-Eligibility criteria are determined by the Department of Education and Skills.

To qualify for VTOS a person must:
- be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the course,

- be in receipt of an unemployment payment or signing for credits for at least 6 months*.

Also, the course must be provided or approved by the local VEC for the purposes of the VTOS scheme.

A limited number of places are available to persons in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, Deserted Wife's Benefit/Allowance, Widow's/Widower's Contributory/Non Contributory Pension and Prisoner's Wife's Allowance and to qualified spouses/partners of persons eligible to participate in VTOS.

Periods spent on VTOS, FS training schemes, Community Employment, Job Initiative, Youthreach or time in prison can count towards the 6 month qualifying period.

Students may avail of a training allowance, meal and travel allowance and child care support dependent upon student eligibility. Students between the ages of 21 and 25 years may qualify for increased training allowance, subject to verification by the Dept. of Social Protection.

Expand+VTOS offers adults a second chance at education by providing a range of courses that are aimed at improving a person's ability to gain employment or to progress into either Further or Higher education. VTOS programmes allow adults to explore the lear...

Hide-VTOS offers adults a second chance at education by providing a range of courses that are aimed at improving a person's ability to gain employment or to progress into either Further or Higher education. VTOS programmes allow adults to explore the learning opportunities open to them in order to raise their general educational level and to develop their vocational skills. Adults return to education in a supported environment, working with teachers who are experts in teaching adults. Such a learning environment aims to develop the whole person, with students becoming more self confident in their own abilities and more informed in their learning choices.

The course offered here is Information Technology (IT) based incorporating a full QQI Level 5 General Studies award and introduces students to the concept of Cloud Computing developing student knowledge on various aspects of cloud technology. The course is focused on progression with past students moving onto higher education courses, particularly with the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, as well as Dundalk I.T., NCI and Maynooth University. Students completing this course have also secured both full-time and part-time employment. This course is suited to anyone with a strong interest in computing who feel they have quite good IT skills that they would like to improve on as a gateway to employment or further study in Computer Science at third level. Students will study modules such as Web Authoring, The Internet, Digital Marketing, Personal and Professional Development, Research and Study Skills and Communications.