Q: I'D like to work in the jewellery trade maybe in the creation of new pieces but especially in the watchmaking area. Could I do a course or should I try and get a job in a jeweller's shop and learn as I go? - Offaly student
A: You should think of getting some training beforehand. Your best option is the Irish Swiss Institute of Horology in Blanchardstown, Dublin - phone (01) 821 3352 - which does the diploma in watchmaking, a three-year course under the auspices of Co Dublin VEC. This course covers many areas including horological theory principles, clock study and repair, study of electronic watches, practice of all types of watch movements from the simple to the more complicated watches and chronometers, replacement and making of watch parts.
In addition, about 12 hours per week are spent on electronics, maths/bookkeeping, business studies, French and English. In the final year practical classes are provided in jewellery making and repair.
Diploma graduates are employed by retail watch dealers, wholesale distributors and other service centres both at home and abroad in such countries as Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, Bermuda and Switzerland. The most recent survey shows that 72 per cent are employed or selfemployed in Ireland, 16 per cent are employed abroad and the rest have diversified into electronics, instrumentation and other areas.
Minimum entry requirements are five passes at OD3 level in Leaving Cert to include maths and one applied science/science subject. Good eyesight, manual dexterity and mechanical aptitude are required.
A total of 11 students are recruited annually. Applications close in the first week of June, interviews are held in late August and the course starts in September.
The Crafts Council of Ireland has started a new training course for jewellery design and production skills for 12 trainees, based at the Castle Yard in Kilkenny. There are nine manufacturing jewellers and silversmiths in the immediate area.
This course runs for 46 weeks for two consecutive years, starting in September. There is no fee and tools and all basic materials are supplied. A weekly allowance of £60 will be paid to cover living expenses.
The course is open to school-leavers or young unemployed or those who have had some commercial experience of jewellery production and who wish to develop their skills. It's also open to holders of relevant third-level qualifications.
A small number of jewellers provide short courses at their own studios. Information on all of the courses I've mentioned is available from the Crafts Council of Ireland, Castle Yard, Kilkenny - phone (056) 61804).
Another possibility is the craft course in Grennan Mill Craft School, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny - phone (056) 24514/24557. Run by Kilkenny VEC, it has a jewellery option on offer.
Q: My son is hoping to do the BSc in equine science in UL if he gets the points. If he doesn't get this, are other courses available where equine science is an option? - Tipperary mother
A: He could also apply for the certificate/diploma in equine science LM180 at UL for which the minimum entry requirements are five passes in the Leaving Cert (5 ODs) to include maths, Irish or another language and English. In midNovember, the points for this course were 340 with 30 places whereas points for the degree were 400 with 40 places available.
Another option is the agricultural science degree in UCD and the points were 380* in mid-November. This is a four-year degree course - it has an elective in equine science in final year designed to give a basic understanding of horse production in Ireland. The course entitles the student to four credits and would be the equivalent of 40 hours of lectures. Subjects cover such areas as anatomy, nutrition, grassland management, housing, reproduction and breeding management, artificial insemination and embryo transfer, the sport horse industry and marketing the Irish horse. It's necessary to acquire on or off-farm professional work experience in an approved degree related area and this is assessed and carries credits for the degree.
Your son could then proceed to the one year's master's in equine science or the higher diploma in equine studies also in UCD. It's not necessary to have a degree in agricultural science - any primary degree and adequate experience with horses will suffice. This course consists of lectures, tutorials and practical instruction. It's a one-year academic course followed by a project completion period of at least four months for the master's programme.
A few PLC colleges offer equitation studies and leisure management such as Colaiste Ide in Finglas, Dublin, and the Vocational School in Naas, Co Kildare. Other courses are available at Kildalton College in Kilkenny, the National Stud in Kildare, Thomastown Vocational School, Co Kilkenny. Teagasc (phone 01 668 8188), the National Stud (045 521251) and RACE (045 521678) have good information leaflets.
Q: My granddaughter is 22, has done several courses in interior design but is finding it very difficult to get established. Every company she approaches wants someone with experience. How can she get started? - Co Dublin granny
A: You say she has spent three years in various colleges and has got several certificates and diplomas. So she has some qualifications, assuming she has the talent for this work. In this line of work, qualifications are not as important as talent. However, she will have to get out there and search for herself and bring along a portfolio. Because of the property boom at the moment, she could offer to work at a reduced rate as an apprentice or on contract for specific jobs, for one of the many small companies specialising in either house or apartment interior design so that she can gain experience and contacts.
When she has got enough experience, she could set up on her own. To get the best results, she could place advertisements in the classified ads of the specialist interior design magazines of which there are three or four in Ireland. She should also submit photographs of her work with good descriptions to these magazines but publication would depend on the originality of her work.
Another option would be to approach retail stores which provide in-house consultancy services to customers when buying materials. I'm afraid there's nothing for it but to try hard on all fronts.
Questions can be answered only through this column and not by phone or post. Write to Sile Sheehy, Education & Living, The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 - or by email to education@irish-times.ie
