Waterford City & County Council announces Partnership with Dungarvan – Coláiste Dhún Garbhán
Waterford City & County Council announces Partnership with Dungarvan College – Coláiste Dhún Garbhán With Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) – Schools’ Business Partnership Programme
Waterford City & County Council is pleased to announce a new partnership with Dungarvan College – Coláiste Dhún Garbhán, facilitated by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), which was recently launched in Dungarvan.
Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), through its Schools’ Business Partnership, partners schools with businesses and organisations and is aimed at informing and empowering second level students and introducing them to the world of work. Under this programme second level students from 2nd Year in Dungarvan College – Coláiste Dhún Garbhán will gain insights into the variety of work in Waterford City & County Council by hearing “a day in my working life” stories from a number of staff carrying out some of the many different roles in the Council. Through this engagement the students will see first-hand potential career paths that can be open to them through school completion. Also as part of the programme, the students and their teachers will visit some of the sites and infrastructure managed by the Council so they will see as well as hear about some of the many projects and services delivered by Council staff.
Other sessions with the students will include a session dedicated to skills development which will be linked into Class Based Assessments (CBA) and a presentation on Health & Safety, which is relevant to all roles and careers, whatever the path chosen. In a wrap up session, the students who have been involved will do the talking and will tell the Council about what they have learned and in what way the programme has benefitted them.
Speaking at the launch, Kieran Kehoe, Director of Services, Waterford City and County Council said that the Council is looking forward to partnering with BITCI and giving second level students an insight into the work of the Local Authority. “For students in second level who are considering their further education or career paths, this programme will give them a better understanding and overview of the work of Councils. There is a wide breath of disciplines and skillsets required in the many departments of the Council and by showcasing these, we believe that it will appeal to many students as a potential career. Whether it’s environmental sustainability, community engagement, forward planning, economic development, infrastructural design, or ICT, the range of potential career paths available in the Local Authority is wide-ranging.”
Principal of Dungarvan College, Coláiste Dhún Garbhán, Danny Cunningham said, “We are delighted to be part of the the ‘Skills at Work Programme’ that will give the students an insight into the world of work and to help them to consider various career and study options upon completion of secondary school.”
Leonard Kelly extended his thanks of behalf of BITCI to Waterford City & County Council and Dungarvan College for their enthusiasm and engagement around this programme. He added, “In my role as regional coordinator For BITCI I’m looking forward to supporting the building of a strong and lasting partnership between Dungarvan College and Waterford City and County Council. What is about to begin, has the potential to be transformative in the lives of the young students involved”
Waterford City & County Council has previously worked on successful BITC partnerships with secondary schools in Waterford City as part of Transition Year Programmes. Nationally BITC has developed hundreds of partnerships, involving over 40,000 students across Ireland. In its involvement in this programme, Waterford City & County Council joins a line-up of renown with companies including KPMG, Mazars, State Street, Irish Life, Davy, KBC all involved in school partnerships across the Country.
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Present at the launch were:
Back Row:- Kieran Kehoe, Director of Services, Carmel Hourigan, SEO Human Resources and Karen Hallahan AO Human Resources from Waterford City & County Council along with teachers Helen Hogan and Rachel Ahern and Danny Cunningham, Principal of Dungarvan College – Coláiste Dhún Garbhán, Front Row – Second Year Students Dungarvan College – Coláiste Dhún Garbhán
