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Community Development Practice (Diploma/Certificate)

Diploma in Community Development Practice / Certificate in Community Development Practice


Course overview

The Certificate/Diploma in Community Development Practice are part-time programmes, designed to enable community activists gain a thorough understanding of community development combined with the practical skills necessary to work effectively in development work.

Key facts

Entry requirements

Candidates must have experience of working in a community or voluntary organisation. There are no special educational requirements for entry to Certificate or Diploma programmes. Numbers accepted on these programmes are limited. Students are required to complete the programme application form in addition to attending an informal interview.


All applicants whose first language is not English, or who have not been educated through the medium of English language during their two most recent years of study, must present one of the following qualifications in the English language: IELTS: 6.5 or TOEFL (IBT): 92. Please see this page for further information: http://www.nuigalway.ie/international-students/englishlanguagerequirements/

Duration: 8 months, part-time (Certificate); 1 academic year, part-time (Diploma)

Next start date: Late October 2014

ECTS weighting: 15 (Certificate); 30 (Diploma)

Average intake: 25

Closing date: Applications have closed for 2014-2015

NFQ level: 7

Mode of study: Classroom-based

Course outline

Students completing the Certificate programme study three modules which involve a minimum of 120 hours of instruction and assignments.

Modules:

  • Community Development Theory and Practice
  • Social Analysis 
  • Communication, Group Work and Leadership Skills

 

Students completing the Diploma programme study six modules and complete a project. The Diploma course involves a minimum of 240 hours of instruction and project work.

Modules:

  • Community Development Theory and Practice
  • Communication, Group Work and Leadership Skills
  • Research Techniques
  • Social Analysis
  • Public Policy
  • Project Planning, Development and Evaluation

 

A number of special interest workshops and field trips will be organised during each course throughout the year, reflecting the needs and interests of the course participants. These visits to other community development projects will give participants opportunities to make contact with the practice of community development in other locations.

Applications and selections

Applications have closed for 2014-2015

 

Application by itself does not guarantee participation on the programme. All applicants will be invited to attend a brief and informal interview, at which they will meet with the Community Education Officers, and selection for a place on the programme will be based upon the information submitted on the individual's application form and their interview.

All applicants whose first language is not English, or who have not been educated through the medium of English language during their two most recent years of study, must present one of the following qualifications in the English language: IELTS: 6.5 or TOEFL (IBT): 92. Please see this webpage for further information: http://www.nuigalway.ie/international-students/englishlanguagerequirements/

 

A fees scholarship of up to 30% may be available for students who wish to upskill for the purposes of re-employment. Students must be registered as unemployed and in receipt of one of the following:

- Job Seekers Benefit

- Job Seekers Allowance

- One-Parent Family Allowance

- Disability Allowance

- Social Insurance Contribution Credits

- Community Employment Scheme

- Tús Scheme

Fee Scholarship Application form 2014-2015

Supporting documentation relating to the above eligibility categories will be required as part of your scholarship application (e.g. a letter from the Dept. of Social Protection).

Requirements and assessment

Classes take place once a week for 3 hours (timeline is dependent on location of delivery). There are also two Saturdays per term when attendance at workshops or fieldtrips are required, and a minimum of 75% attendance per term/overall is mandatory in order to successfully complete the programme.

 

In addition to the above mentioned attendance requirement, participants will submit assignments for each module (including a profile and a project) and will be required to reach a pass standard in all relevant coursework. Each aspect of the programme will be monitored by the programme board and will be delivered by course tutors who are based locally.

 

Find out more

Programme Administrator, Community Education

Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development

NUI Galway, Nuns' Island

Galway


T: 091 495241  
E: community.ed@nuigalway.ie
www.nuigalway.ie/adulteducation

Fees for this course

EU (Total): €600, 2014-2015 (Diploma)
Non-EU (Total): €1,100, 2014-2015 (Diploma)

A fees scholarship of up to 30% may be available for students who wish to upskill for the purposes of re-employment - see section titled "Applications and selections" below for further details.

Past students

Tony Hogan

“As I work part-time and also volunteer at a Youth Café, I thought this course would help me in my daily activities. As the course progressed, I realised that I would really like to do community work full time, and that this course suited me ideally. I find the workshops and modules easy to understand, and the tutors more than helpful. As I have never attended Third Level education, this is a great way for me to achieve a level of education that, previously, I could only aspire to. I would highly recommend this course to anybody involved or interested in community development”

Olivia Harrington

"...The reasons I chose the course in Community Development Practice is because I have an interest in working with people and have been volunteering with a few charities and wanted to develop my skills in this area. As it had been over 10 years since I did any formal study, I was apprehensive about going back to college but the learning style of the course suited me and I found the tutors excellent and very supportive. I’m now continuing my studies in the BA Programme in Community and Family Studies. The course gave me great confidence and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in community work..."

Prospectus

‌Adult Learning Prospectus 2014

Adult Learning Prospectus 2014

Brochure

 Diploma in Community Development Practice brochure image

 

Diploma in Community Development Practice brochure