WHEN students look at the CAS section of book all they see is their CAO/CAS hand-book all they see is a list of two-year certificates and three-year diplomas and nothing more, says Mr Padraic Cuffe, administration officer with Sligo Regional Technical College.
He urges people to look further and to view these certificate and diploma courses as building blocks which can lead to a degree, if desired. The courses in RTCs fall into two-year certificates, three-year ab initio diplomas, four-year ab initio degrees and one and two-year add-on diplomas and degrees.
"People can pass through the system in a number of ways. The vast majority of students, can aspire to a degree, says Mr Cuffe.
To progress from certificate to diploma, students need a merit or a pass with a year's relevant work experience. However, some colleges may be more flexible and accept a high pass alone. To get on to a degree course, students must achieve a merit in their diploma exams.
While most students pursue a certificate, diploma and degree in the same subject, it is possible for students to change direction as they proceed through the system.
"In Sligo RTC, we apply a relevancy factor to a student's score, so certificates might be ranked from highly relevant to not so relevant but appropriate," explains Mr Cuffe.
For instance, Sligo RTC offers a two-year add-on degree in quality assurance which is open to graduates of engineering and science programmes.
Two years may seem a long time, with the degree now taking five years. However. one year is spent in a paid work placement, organised by the college. Mr Cuffe says that the college "has found that graduates of the quality assurance degree are virtually guaranteed jobs".
Mr Brian Bennett, registrar at Carlow RTC, explains that "the systems. while instituted over 20 years ago, were very forward thinking and out of it has developed a very flexible approach to third-level education". Carlow RTC has produced a very useful "Course to Career" chart which guides students through the various possibilities.
For instance, a student beginning with a certificate in applied biology could then study for a diploma in food quality management. She or he could continue with the bachelor of science in industrial biology, a degree which affords excellent job opportunities in process development, management, industrial research and development, laboratory management and the general food and agricultural industry, according to Mr Bennett.
It is possible for students who have sat a national certificate or diploma in one RTC to transfer to another college for a diploma or degree course. However, Dr Dermot Douglas, registrar of Tallaght RTC, notes that the view we take (in Tallaght RTC) is that students should be able. within individual colleges, to progress to the highest level without penalty". By this, he means that programmes may differ between colleges and students may not get full credit for their work. "We have designed our courses with progression from certificate to diploma to degree in mind," he explains.
Of course, not all students want to spend four or five years, in college studying for a degree. The certificate is still a valid stand-alone qualification, says Dr Douglas. Indeed, in certain areas with excellent job opportunities, such as engineering and computing, it can be difficult to retain people to diploma and degree. "What we try to do is to provide opportunities for those who leave to continue with their studies on our part-time programmes," he explains.
Dr Douglas says this ability to leave at an intermediate stage with a recognised qualification is a major advantage that the certificate, diploma, degree route has over an ab initio degree. "It also allows people a chance to focus on their career choice. People get an offer of a college place and they suddenly wonder what the course actually is. The certificate, diploma, degree route allows them to work their way through without a major time penalty.
"It is very important from a student's point of view that a large number of certificate and diploma courses at RTCs lead to a degree within the same (four-year) time frame as an ab initio degree," he adds.
A lot of students turn down a desirable CAS offer in favour of a degree, simply because it is a degree rather then what they actually want to study. Others decide to repeat the Leaving Certificate although they have a good certificate or diploma offer.
It is important to look beyond the CAO/CAS handbook. Study the college prospect uses and determine whether the certificate or diploma could, in fact, lead to a degree. It might be a good idea to telephone the admissions office and discuss it with them.
Mr Cuffe notes that people studying for a certificate, diploma and degree - whether it takes four or five years still qualify for the free fees scheme.
