Professional Skills Courses

Professional Skills Courses at Maynooth University

Our Professional Skills courses are currently closed for applications, but please use this Expression of Interest form to indicate which course(s) you would be interested in applying for in the future.

For 2020/21, Maynooth University is pleased to offer a suite of seven new professional courses offered at Level 8 and Level 9 (NFQ). These short, focused, courses offer professionals, as well as those currently out of work, the opportunity to develop their skills in a number of key areas. These courses are offered in areas such as digital business, design thinking, sustainable business, foundations in law, whistleblowing law and practice, strategic leadership and organizational change.

Our professional skills courses focus on developing skills that prepare participants for the future of work, and assist them in taking the next steps in their career. These short courses are delivered part-time and in a blended format.* Courses are delivered either in the evening over a number of weeks, or over 3-5 days in a shorter period of time.

Please see the below tabs for more information about each of the professional courses on offer this year.

*In light of public health restrictions, it is likely that the courses offered before April 2021 will be offered in a wholly online format. This will be confirmed with students prior to course start. .

If you have any queries about the professional skills courses offered at Maynooth University, please email modularskillsinitiative@mu.ie.

Who can apply?

These courses are open to a wide range of applicants, particularly professionals or the unemployed who wish to upskill in a complementary area to enhance their career trajectory, or who seek to pivot in their career. Students may pay course fees as normal, or may be eligible for a free or subsidized place on the course.

Maynooth University is pleased to offer over 200 FREE and 90% funded places on these courses under the Irish Government’s €47.5m “July Stimulus” programme for higher education skills-related courses. Those eligible for funding under this scheme include the unemployed, those returning to the workforce, those currently in employment who fulfil defined nationality and residency requirements.

Check out the tabs below for information about the courses available, and for the eligibility requirements for HEA funding, if applicable. Apply now here.

For more information about the July Stimulus programme in Higher Education, please see here.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants applying for a non-funded place on a Professional Skills course

Academic Eligibility

English Language Requirements

Course Fees

Applicants are required to meet the academic entry requirements of the Professional Skills course
they are applying to.

See the tabs below for information on the specific academic entry requirements for each Professional Skills course.

Applicants should upload relevant academic documentation to support their application.

Applicants applying via Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) must submit a completed RPEL form, and supporting documentation, with their application.

If English is not your first language, the minimum English language requirements for participation in a course at Maynooth University are:

IELTS: 6.5 minimum overall score
TOEFL (Paper based test): 585
TOEFL (Internet based test): 95
PTE (Pearson): 62

Maynooth University’s TOEFL code is 8850.

Applicants for who English is not their first language should upload proof that
they meet the English language requirements along with their application.

Please visit the tabs below, or our Fees &
Grants web
page,
for information on course fees.

The full fee listed will apply to non-funded applicants.

The same academic eligibility and English language requirements apply to both applicants applying for a non-funded place, and those applying for a funded place on a Professional Skills course. Applicants applying for a funded place must alos meet the following requirements:

Applicants applying for a funded place on a Professional Skills course	Employment Status	Nationality	Proof of Residency	Course Fees
	*Unemployed -* Applicants must hold a valid PPS Number, and provide signed or stamped evidence that they are in receipt of an eligible payment from the Department of Social Protection. The list of eligible payments can be found at here.	Applicants should upload a scanned copy of their passport with their application.	Such applicants are not required to produce evidence of residency, but they are required to be normally resident in Ireland at the time of course commencement.	Eligible unemployed applicants avail of free fees.
	*Formerly self-employed -* Applicant must hold a valid PPS Number, and provide a letter/statement from Revenue confirming that they are no longer trading, or a similar letter from their (former) accountant. Applicants should visit Revenue.ie or contact their (former) accountant.	Applicants should upload a scanned copy of their passport with their application.	Such applicants are not required to produce evidence of residency, but they are required to be normally resident in Ireland at the time of course commencement.	Eligible formerly self-employed applicants avail of free fees.
	*Returners (formerly referred to as Homemakers) -* Applicants must hold a valid PPS Number, and sign a sworn declaration before a Commissioner for Oaths attesting to their status as a Returner.	Applicants should upload a scanned copy of their passport with their application.	The sworn declaration attesting to the applicant’s status as a Returner also covers their residency requirements.	Eligible Returner applicants avail of free fees.
	Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) recipients - Applicants must provide evidence that they are in receipt of the PUP, e.g. payment receipt or copy of bank statement showing payment into their account.	Applicants must be an EU national, or meet the requirements as outlined here. Applicants must upload a scanned copy of their passport with their application.	Such applicants must have been ordinarily resident in an EU/ EEA/ UK/ Swiss state for at least 3 of the 5 years preceding their entry to the programme and be normally resident in Ireland at the time of course commencement. Further information can be found here.	Eligible PUP applicants avail of free fees.
	*Employed/Self-Employed* - Applicants must hold a valid PPS Number, and provide a copy of their most recent Employment Detail Summary or other relevant Revenue documentation or a letter from their current employer or accountant to confirm employment or self-employment. Applicants should visit Revenue.ie or contact their accountant.	Applicants must be an EU national, or meet the requirements as outlined here. Applicants must upload a scanned copy of their passport with their application.	Such applicants must have been ordinarily resident in an EU/ EEA /UK /Swiss state for at least 3 of the 5 years preceding their entry to the programme and be normally resident in Ireland at the time of course commencement. Further information can be found here.	Eligible employed / self-employed applicants pay only 10% of the course fee. See the tabs below, or our Fees & Grants web page, for information on course fees.

Digital Business

Professional Certificate in Digital Business

Course Description: In the current moment, the management of technology has become an increasingly important activity in organisations. Information technology has moved beyond the implementation of functional applications to playing a crucial role across all business activities and levels within the organisation. This ubiquitous nature of information technology means that individual successful instances of IT are not enough to guarantee the achievement of organisational goals. Instead, organisations must integrate a number of rapidly changing technologies with overall strategic goals.. The focus of the module is on the importance of IT-enabled change within the organisation and realizing competitive advantage from the IT portfolio. Many of the ideas are broadly applicable irrespective of context. Further information on the course structure can be found here.

Academic Entry Requirements: Applicants should have a minimum 2.2 grade, honours (level 8) degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent. However, this Certificate is open to experienced professionals who do not hold a primary degree. See form R8, NonStandard Entry/Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) on registry website for further details.

Start Date: This course will be delivered online. The timetable for the course is:

Date	Day	Topic
11 Jan 2021	Mon	Value Proposition &Business Model
14 Jan 2021	Thu	Benefit realisation from IT
18 Jan 2021	Mon	Social Media & Customer Relationships
21 Jan 2021	Thu	Digital Transformations

Apply here: This course is now open for applications. Apply here. Closing date for applications is Monday 4^th January 2021.

Why choose this course: After completing this course the attendee will have:

A clear understanding of technologies and how they are critical to the achieving an organisations strategic goals.
An understanding on how IT is managed within an organisation
An appreciation of how IT can influence innovation and how organisations respond to technological innovation within and outside the organisation.

Course Fees: The fees for this course are €2,000. Applicants who are eligible for a funded place under the July Stimulus Initiative will get free fees if they are unemployed, formerly self-employed or in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), and eligible employed/self-employed applicants will pay only 10% of the course fee; €200.

Foundations of Irish Law

Professional Certificate in Foundations of Irish Law

Course Description: An understanding of legal concepts (such as the elements of a valid contract) is a vital skill for policymakers, administrators and those working in industry. The course is designed to provide this knowledge to participants in a straightforward, relevant way. It focuses on key legal topics, including the sources of law, contract law, and EU law and introduces participants to the foundational concepts within each topic. Through blended learning that employs online and live lectures, self-test questions, and peer feedback, this module will provide participants with a structured learning environment. Following completion of the module, participants will be well placed to apply to study on one of Maynooth University’s postgraduate LLM programmes and will be exempt from the requirement to have a primary law degree. They will also carry forward the 5 ECTS from this module into their LLM studies. Please note that this is not a qualifying law degree. Further information on the course structure can be found here.

Academic Entry Requirements: Applicants should have a minimum 2.2 grade, honours (level 8) degree. However, this course is open to experienced professionals who do not hold a primary degree. See form R8, Non-Standard Entry/Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) on registry website for further details.

Start Date: This course will be commencing the week of the 22 February 2021, and will finish the week of the 3 May 2021.

Apply here: This course is now open for applications until Tuesday 16^th February 2021 at 5 pm. Apply here.

Why choose this course: The course is designed for participants who may not have a background in law, but whose career development would benefit from an understanding of key legal topics. This will provide those participants with an understanding of the foundations of our legal system, something that is increasingly relevant across a range of sectors.

Course Fees: The fees for this course are €2,000. Applicants who are eligible for a funded place under the July Stimulus Initiative will get free fees if they are unemployed, formerly self-employed or in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), and eligible employed/self-employed applicants will pay only 10% of the course fee; €200.
Our Professional Skills courses are currently closed for applications, but please use this Expression of Interest form to indicate which course(s) you would be interested in applying for in the future.

Sustainable Business & Responsible Management

Professional Certificate in Sustainable Business & Responsible Management

Course Description: Sustainability has rapidly become the defining concern of businesses of all sizes. This course will introduce learners to current developments in sustainability science and policy as it applies to business. It will explore how managers and employees can implement and influence change that produces societal and environmental benefits at the same time as helping businesses meet their goals. Key ethical frameworks will be explored in relation to functions and disciplines such as: marketing; accounting and finance; human resource management; organisational behaviour; corporate governance; operations management; logistics & supply chain management, and; strategy. Further information on the course structure can be found here.

Start Date: The course will be delivered through a mixture of pre-recorded lectures and 'live' online sessions over the week of February 22nd - 26th 2021. Pre-recorded sessions (of up to 4 hours) will be available to view each morning from Monday to Thursday and participants will be expected to have viewed these in preparation for the evening online 'live’ sessions which will be at the following times: Monday 22nd (4 to 5pm), Tuesday 23rd (5 to 6pm), Wednesday 24th (4 to 6pm), Thursday 25th (4 to 6pm) and Friday 26th February (4 to 6pm).

Apply here: This course is now open for applications until Tuesday 16^th February 2021 at 5 pm. Apply here.

Why choose this course: The module is primarily introductory and will involve a significant amount of 'live' group learning and will be assessed through an individual project that is relevant to the career and work interests of participants; whether they are simply interested in the field, considering setting up a new enterprise, or want to incorporate principles of sustainability in their workplace.

Course Fees: The fees for this course are €2,000. Applicants who are eligible for a funded place under the July Stimulus Initiative will get free fees if they are unemployed, formerly self-employed or in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), and eligible employed/self-employed applicants will pay only 10% of the course fee; €200.
Our Professional Skills courses are currently closed for applications, but please use this Expression of Interest form to indicate which course(s) you would be interested in applying for in the future.

Whistleblowing Law, Practice & Policy

Professional Certificate in Whistleblowing Law, Practice & Policy

Course Description: Most public sector organisations currently have a designated person who is tasked with dealing with protected disclosures. A professional university course in this area will appeal to these organisations. Further, in light of the ensuing legal obligation under the EU Whistleblowers Directive for regulators and local authorities to have a specifically trained designated person in their organisation, this will be an impetus for those organisations to engage with the course. In addition, the EU Whistleblowers Directive will impose new obligations on the private sector, and it is expected that this sector will also engage with the module. The entrants are expected to be workers tasked with dealing with protected disclosures in public and private organisations, as well as barristers, solicitors, and trade union officials (who are also designated recipients of protected disclosures under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014). Further information on the course structure can be found here.

Start Date: This course will commence on 12 April 2021 and run online for 6 weeks with pre-recorded lectures each week and live workshops from 17.30-19.30 on Thursdays.

Apply here: This course is now open for applications until Wednesday 31^stMarch 2021. Apply here.

Why choose this course: On completion of this course participants will have an understanding of current concepts, policy, legislation, and good practice relating to whistleblowing law.

Course Fees: The fees for this course are €2,500. Applicants who are eligible for a funded place under the July Stimulus Initiative will get free fees if they are unemployed, formerly self-employed or in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), and eligible employed/self-employed applicants will pay only 10% of the course fee; €250.

Our Professional Skills courses are currently closed for applications, but please use this Expression of Interest form to indicate which course(s) you would be interested in applying for in the future.

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