As the largest education and training provider in the county, each year its FET Service hosts a huge FET Fair to showcase its wide range of education and training opportunities. This event is usually attended by around a thousand adults and young people from across the county. However, COVID-19 restrictions have meant the Fair could not be held in 2020.

The FET Service has now developed an online information event which will take place over two weeks from 23 August-03 September on its YouTube account and other social media platforms.

Starting next week, from 23-27 August, the ETB will premiere a different information video on its YouTube account each night at 8.00pm, with experienced staff discussing the most commonly asked questions relating to its full-time and part-time provision in its most popular subject areas – Apprenticeships, Childcare and Healthcare, Engineering and the Built Environment, Information and Communications Technology and Business, Administration and Finance.

Information will cover what courses are available, entry requirements, available supports and progression opportunities.

The following week, from 30 August-03 September, their information videos will focus on options for school leavers and those wishing to change career, upskill or reskill, again on YouTube at 8.00pm.

With an increasing number of school leavers choosing FET as their first preference, the ETB’s FET staff will provide information on apprenticeships, Post Leaving Certificate (PLC), traineeships and specific skills training courses, and explain first-hand what the benefits of FET are.

Whether young people want to earn while they learn, fast track their way into employment, or need a stepping stone into third level education with nationally and internationally recognised qualifications, this session will cover lots of it.

The session on options for career changers and those wishing to upskill and reskill will also provide information for those who have lost their job over the last year or are currently working but would like to upskill or to change career.

The ETB’s FET Service provides free or part-funded part-time training opportunities from Levels 1-6 to support those thinking about a change of direction. Donegal ETB tutors and advisers will discuss these opportunities.

Throughout the fortnight, the ETB will also showcase the many courses it is currently recruiting for across their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts and will also launch their new FET prospectus for 2021-2022.

If viewers have any further questions, they can register for a live information session taking place at 12.30pm on Friday 03 September, the last day of the FET Fortnight event, which will allow members of the public who register in advance with the Adult Guidance Service through this link https://bit.ly/3ztBr3K (also available on the ETB’s Facebook Events section), to put their questions to the ETB’s team of Adult Guidance Counsellors and FET Recruitment staff.

Alternatively , they can contact Donegal ETB’s Adult Guidance and Information staff during the two week event by telephone (07491 78088), web form (https://www.donegaletb.ie/further-educationtraining/adult-guidance/) or direct message the ETB’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn accounts.

Speaking about this exciting event, Donegal ETB’s Adult Guidance and Information Service Co-ordinator Deirdre McColgan said, “We currently have over 150 full-time and part-time course available this Autumn to suit school leavers, career changers, those who need to upskill and reskill, as well as introductory courses that support adults to take the first step to engage with the field of learning of their choice, or to develop skills required to engage fully with family and community activities.

The information available online during these two weeks and the concluding live information session with our Adult Guidance and Recruitment staff will help you make decisions that are right for you.”

Many of Donegal ETB’s programmes are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. Thousands of students from all walks of life complete courses in the ETB’s seventeen FET centres across the county and 100+ venues each year, making Donegal ETB the largest FET provider in the county, offering opportunities to retrain, upskill, get on the job work experience and progress onto further and higher education in locations that are often closer than you think.

Donegal ETB’s Director of FET, Cróna Gallagher, said, “Members of the public should take the time during our FET Fortnight event from 23 August-03 September to find out about our comprehensive range of full and part-time education and training options available throughout the county.

Qualifications include QQI, City & Guilds and a wide range of industry-specific certification that will allow them to choose their next best step.”
For more information, contact Donegal ETB’s Adult Guidance and Information Service on 074 9178088 or email adultguidance@donegaletb.ie.

A programme of events and further updates on the FET Fortnight event can be found on Donegal ETB’s website (www.donegaletb.ie/news) and Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts (@DonegalETB) between now and the Fair