ONE of the most important factors when studying business and accountancy at PLC level is to ensure that the course you choose gives you exam exemptions for further study. This generally means accountancy students should follow courses that prepare them for the exams of the principal accountancy bodies, and that business students should seek an NCEA accredited course.
At Cavan College of Further Studies (CCFS), for example, accounting technician students follow a one-year foundation course that is certified by the Institute of Accounting Technicians in Ireland (IATI). Those who successfully complete the foundation year can proceed to the Accounting Technician admission year and professional accountancy status from the IATI.
Holders of this IATI qualification can then claim exemptions from certain subject areas in more advanced accountancy training. At CCFS, IATI exam holders receive exemptions from parts of the certified public accounting course.
One of the most established names among the private colleges offering accountancy and business courses is the Accountancy and Business College in Dublin (ABC).
This institution, which has a student body of approximately 3,000, offers a variety of professional programmes that prepare students for the exams of the principal accountancy bodies. These include the IATI, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA).
ABC's course that prepares students for CIMA's exams, which is taken over three/four years on a full- or part-time basis, educates students to become financial specialists that work as part of a management team. The college's BA in Accounting and Finance is currently being re-engineered to maximise exemptions, which will apply from September 1996, from the final stages of ACCA and ClMA programmes.
The National College of Industrial Relations (NClR) offers an interesting course that leads to a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Human Resource Management. This course, which is taken over three years on a full-time basis, suits those seeking a career in human resource management accounting or taxation.
Portobello College offers a wide range of business and accounting options. These include a BA in Accounting and Finance taken over three years, a BA in Business Studies and a BA in European Business Administration taken over four years.
Also available at Portobello College are a BA in Enterprise and Small Business taken over four years, a programme that prepares students for ACCA exams and a certificate/diploma in Business Studies (Accounting and Economics) that is NCEA approved. Portobello Business School's undergraduate degree courses are validated by the University of Glamorgan in Wales.
One of the most popular business qualifications at PLC level is the NCEA National Certificate in Business Studies (General). Students who hold distinctions in this qualification can go on to pursue further studies at diploma and degree level.
At CCFS, students take this course over two years on a full-time basis. Its core subjects include financial accounting, economics, business administration, communications, marketing and business computing. Students who complete the course are suitable for posts as financial administrators, costing assistants, administrative officers and management trainees.
Monaghan Institute of further Education and Training offers a variety of courses in the business field. These include a number of one-year courses, such as business administration, business studies and a secretarial option, that are awarded by the National Council for Vocational Awards (NCVA).
CCFS also offers the NCEA approved National Certificate in Business Studies (Office information systems). This course, which is taken over two years, offers the opportunity of transferring to further studies at RTCs.
Its core subjects include shorthand, text processing, communications, accounting and computer applications. There are also options to study French, business computing and marketing. The course prepares students to become important administrative staff in large public and private sector organisations.
