STUDENTS attending a new type of Post Leaving Cert course in St Peter's College, Killester, Dublin, will not be attending lectures. Instead, they will "work" in a practice firm.

"All learning will be skills based. There will be no classroom instruction," explains Nuala O'Higgins, course facilitator.

The practice firm will operate like a real company, with learning as part of the daily work. The firm consists of five departments - sales, purchases, marketing, finance and personnel; participants will spend time in each.

They will also find out how the departments interact with other practice enterprises in Europe and beyond, meeting international visitors and working with trainees from abroad. They will regularly use phone, fax and e mail.

The programme is part of a project designed and submitted by the Central Remedial Clinic to the European Union. Its aim is to integrate able bodied and disabled people and help them to gain employment. There are 20 practice enterprise programmes in Ireland, and 2,000 operating in Europe. The practice enterprise in St Peter's will be the first integrated "PEN" project in Ireland.

There are 16 places on the course - eight for able bodies and eight for disabled students. The course is open to YTOS students as well as students with a Leaving Cert. There are three places left for able bodied student.

For more information, contact Nuala O'Higgins, Quillastre Trading Company, St Peter's College, Collins Avenue, Killester, Dublin 5 (tel: (01) 833 7686).