Projects, R&D and Consultancy

Student and Tutor talkingThe College is involved in a number of projects, activities and research. Click on the following links to learn more about each:

Cross-border Supported Employment Training Partnership

In 2005, the Open Training College made successful application for funding to the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland 2000-2006. This application was for a ‘CROSS-BORDER SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PARTNERSHIP’, which brings together a consortia comprising of the Open Training College (OTC), Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment (NIUSE), and the Irish Association of Supported Employment (IASE). The main aim of the project is to provide comprehensive, accredited training programmes for staff working as job coaches/employment facilitators, as well as front line staff & managers working in the wider field of training and employment in the Sheltered Occupational Services (Workshops). These accredited programmes were developed by building on the College’s existing Foundation Diploma and Diploma in Training and Education in Supported Employment courses.

The SKILL Project 2006-2009

The SKILL Project (Securing Knowledge Intra Lifelong Learning) is a major health services/union initiative established to oversee the education, training and development of around 28,500 support staff and their supervisors in the Irish health and personal social services. Following a rigorous application and tendering process in 2005, the Open Training College was chosen to deliver two modules of the course. This was a major achievement for the Open Training College, who competed for the tender against a number of larger third level institutions and training bodies. The College was supported in its application by the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies and St. Michael’s House Training Department. The College will continue to deliver the two disability based modules to participants of the course through 2009.

Management Development Programme for the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies

The College successfully delivered this 3-day programme between 2006 and 2007. It was delivered to 150 senior and first line managers on behalf of the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies. The programme delivered nationally, and addressed core management topics and was underpinned by the philosophy and process associated with Person Centred Planning.

Action Plan for People Management (APPM) 2005

In 2005, the College made successful application to the Health Services Executive – Eastern Region (then ERHA) under the Action Plan for People Management Fund for funding for the development and delivery of programmes in essential management skills, conflict resolution and ethnicity and cultural diversity. These 3 programmes were delivered between April and December to circa 50 people (across the 3 programmes). Participants were drawn from a range of agencies in the Eastern Region.

Person Centred Planning Training

The College delivers a one-module stand-alone programme on Person Centred Planning (PCP) to staff in a number of agencies nationally. This course helps agencies to implement a comprehensive PCP process. The programme is one of the most popular of our short courses.

Romanian Project, 2005-2006

In 2005 the College signed a contract with Health Action Overseas to develop and deliver a training programme in Constanta, Romania . This programme will support the establishment of a new service based on the social model of service delivery. It is aimed at people with a learning disability who currently live in an institution. This project is being jointly funded by the Irish and Romanian Governments through Health Action Overseas.

Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning: The VaLEx Project

In 2004, the College was lead agency in a project piloting a model of Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) for staff working in Social Care. The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Department of Social Sciences and the Learning and Teaching Centre (DIT) were also involved in the project. Fourteen participants were asked to compile portfolios based on their experience. This pilot project offered them the opportunity to enter one of two specific degree programmes at advanced standing with possible exemptions in up to two named modules from the first year programme. The project was funded by the ERHA (now the Health Services Executive - Eastern Region) under the Action Plan for People Management fund.

Transition Planning: From Institution to Community

This was an initiative undertaken in 2004 with a large health board that was committed to moving a number of service users from an institutional based residential setting to homes in the community. The Open Training College supported this initiative by providing training in a diverse range of areas including community networking and change management.

Training People with Disabilities as Disability Awareness Presenters

This European-funded project will train 12 people with differing disabilities as disability awareness presenters.

Delivery of Disability Component to Third Level Colleges

The College has delivered the disability component for Applied Social Studies programmes at diploma and degree level to students in other third level colleges.

Personal Outcomes Quality System

Since 2000, the College has delivered a one-module programme on the Personal Outcomes Quality System to staff in St. Michael’s House, Dublin. This module aims to give frontline staff a comprehensive introduction to the system and how it operates in practice.

The Irish Association of Supported Employment

The College has worked in partnership with the IASE on the development of nationally accredited training in the area of Supported Employment. This training is the only nationally accredited training in this area available nationally (NQAI, Level 7).

Consultancy Work with OPTIMA, Norway

The College has worked with the consultancy group, OPTIMA, to develop open learning materials on supported employment for use in Norway .

Finnish Association for Supported Employment

The College has facilitated the Finnish Rehabilitation Foundation in translating and adapting the Diploma in Education and Training in Supported Employment for use in Finland .

German Association for Supported Employment

The College supported the translation of the Diploma in Education and Training in Supported Employment into German, for use in Germany and Austria . This work involved a partnership with the Irish Association for Supported Employment and its German counterpart.

Development of Materials on Productivity and Workplace Adaptation

The College has developed training materials for staff working with people with disabilities in the sheltered employment area. The focus of the learning materials is productivity, ergonomic design of the workstation, technical adaptations and self-management strategies.

Development of New Approaches to Social Skills Training

The College, in partnership with the Western Care Association, developed new approaches to social and personal skills training for people with learning difficulties. This project, called the JobScope Project, was ESF-funded with partners in Britain and Holland .

Socrates Mental Health Project

This project involved working with trans-national partners from Britain, Denmark and Romania in developing open learning training materials for staff working with people who have mental health difficulties.