In an era defined by rapid technological advancements and an ever-evolving job market, the need for upskilling through flexible learning has never been more crucial. As traditional career paths become less predictable, embracing continuous learning is key to maintaining relevance and a competitive advantage.
At Atlantic Technological University, a key focus of the online, flexible, and professional development team is accessibility to third-level study for learners at any stage in their education, whether they have always had an ambition of gaining a third-level qualification or would like to study a postgraduate programme to complement their industry experience.
Nora Gormley, a graduate of the part-time BBus (Hons) in Business says: “I chose to do this course because, really and truly, I’ve always wanted to return to education. I never thought I’d be able to do it, as I never thought I’d be able to find the time and I never realised it was so accessible.”
With over 370 online and flexible courses, at ATU, a variety of study modes have been developed to ensure they have something for every learner. Whether you want to study 100% online, or through a part-time format of both online and in-person classes, there is plenty to choose from.
The accredited programmes at ATU are designed in collaboration with their industry partners ensuring the modules are relevant and applicable to the skills needs of graduates.
“The modules were ideal for someone who is self-employed or someone who is running a business. We supply and fit kitchens across the island, so it’s had a huge beneficial impact for Gormley Kitchens,” Nora Gormley responded when asked what impact her studies have had on her business, Gormleys Kitchens & Interiors, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh.
For Chris Gannon, graduate of their part-time BEng (Hons) in Automation and Digital Manufacturing, he noticed that he had a skills shortage for his role, which was his main motivator for starting a part-time course.
A blended delivery format of both online and on-campus classes suited Gannon’s learning style: “I found it very useful to be on-campus one day a week for in-person learning. That’s when I could sit down with the lecturers and I could ask them questions when I got stuck, and you always get stuck, especially when it’s new content you don’t know.”
ATU’s academic team has the experience and expertise to provide learners with industry-specific insights and experience, in a supportive learning environment. Gannon says, “The lecturers on the programme were people who had come from industry, and they were at the very top of their game, so they knew exactly what they were doing.”
Natasha Kelly, graduate of their online MSc in Health Promotion Practice wanted to study a 100% online programme and found just what she needed at ATU.
“After working for 7 years in the health and fitness industry, I felt that a Masters was the correct next step for my career. I chose ATU as they offered fully online learning, which allowed me to work throughout my studies and the University is well-known for their health science programmes”.
With over 240 accredited online programmes, learners can learn anywhere in the world from the comfort of their own home.
“All lectures are recorded and available for watch-back so if you do miss a lecture, it’s very easy to catch up. Also, a perk of online learning is that that lecture is always available, so if you do have difficulty with a topic, there’s always an opportunity to look back on it. Using all the apps, library and accessing online learning environment can be quite daunting but again there are great tutorials online that helped me massively when accessing online libraries and resources,” Kelly said.
Atlantic Technological University has over 370 online and flexible courses now open for application for a September 2024 start.
As a leader in part-time learning, ATU offers students the opportunity to study part-time through a variety of delivery modes such as online, blended, and on-campus learning. View our full course list here - https://www.atu.ie/study-at-atu/online-blended-atu-part-time-courses