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Online FAS Course and BTEA?

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  • 11-05-2013 12:07am
    #1
    ShaShaBear
    Registered Users Posts: 5,528 ✭✭✭


    I'm currently on the Part Time Back To Education Scheme, which is allowing me to repeat a failed module in my degree with hopes to progress into my final year come September. I'm pretty confident I will pass (just barely failed last time and am now much better prepared), but as and from the 14th of May, until the 23rd of September, I'm pretty much doing nothing. I was looking at an online FAS course to do ECDL - I've already done it, but I'm pretty sure it's out of date (I got the cert in 2005). It would be something else to put on the CV if I graduate next year and would keep me busy and not looking like a leech for the Summer while I wait on results. Question is, will they let me do a FAS course if I'm going back to full-time education in September (it will be BTEA, so still on SW) and if they do let me do it, would it affect my entitlement to BTEA itself (I was on it for the last two years before I had to repeat this semester) ?

    Basically I want to double check before I look into applying, as my local FAS officer is definitely not the most stable of minds - he's given me very false information before, sometimes clearly made up and not even relevant, and I don't trust him to lead me right in this one. :confused:


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    #2
    mawk
    Registered Users Posts: 2,738 ✭✭✭mawk


    I have no good answers about the btea, but I don't really think an ecdl is a great use of your time. Especially if you already have basic computer skills and the wherewithal to google any problem you run into.

    I'd do something more focused, and preferably focused on your college course if I had the chance to do a course


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    #3
    ShaShaBear
    Registered Users Posts: 5,528 ✭✭✭ShaShaBear


    mawk wrote: »
    I have no good answers about the btea, but I don't really think an ecdl is a great use of your time. Especially if you already have basic computer skills and the wherewithal to google any problem you run into.

    I'd do something more focused, and preferably focused on your college course if I had the chance to do a course

    Unfortunately they have absolutely nothing of any addition to me in my locality or online as it stands. Even though I'm very competent with computers, I no longer have valid certificates to indicate such, and it would be a damned sight better than twiddling my thumbs until registration .


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    #4
    StillWaters
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,799 ✭✭✭StillWaters


    I second not doing the ECDL. It is not valued by employers. Do the online MOS courses instead.


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    #5
    mawk
    Registered Users Posts: 2,738 ✭✭✭mawk


    yeah, if i was looking through cvs id value http://www.ecollege.ie/site/pages/courses/modules/Excel2010/excel2010Expert.html

    a lot more than an ecdl.
    specialise just a little bit


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    #6
    ShaShaBear
    Registered Users Posts: 5,528 ✭✭✭ShaShaBear


    Fair enough, although things must have changed since I did the ECDL, because when I got my cert I had to do all of that for the Excel component anyway! I'm actually studying Minitab in college at the minute :rolleyes:

    I'm still going to need to find out if doing one will affect me financially - that's my main concern.


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