DIFE PRE-UNIVERSITY COURSE HAS PROVED TO BE INCREDIBLE SUCCESS

Established in 2008, Drogheda Institute of Further Education’s Pre-University Arts course has proven itself both popular and rewarding, with many students going on to achieve graduate, and often post-graduate, qualifications at third-level.

One such past-pupil is Eden McLoughlin who in 2013 progressed to UCD where he studied Economics and Politics.

On completing his degree, he began a career in the Civil Service which has ultimately led to the Debates Office of the Oireachtas.

Of his time at DIFE, Eden recalls that “it prepared me for third-level education by opening me up to independent learning, critical analysis and referencing, all of which are essential at university”. Echoing these sentiments, Eden’s former classmate, Jack MacNamee, described how the skills he acquired in DIFE were of immense benefit to him in his first year at Maynooth University, allowing him to focus on the content of his course rather than getting bogged down in the technical requirements of third-level assessment, which are often entirely unfamiliar to freshman students.

Now a fully qualified teacher working in St Joseph’s Secondary School here in Drogheda, Jack recommended that all those hoping to progress to third-level in the future strongly consider completing a PLC first, whether as an alternative route into higher education for those who have not achieved sufficient points in the Leaving Certificate, or as preparation for those school leavers or mature students who may want to complete a foundation year before embarking on their degree.

DIFE is currently inviting online applications for the 2018/2019 course.