The annual Higher Options conference typically serves as the inauguration of life beyond secondary school for many students. Acting as a comprehensive resource for details on higher and advanced education programmes, it presents an opportunity for individuals to engage with peers and lecturers, as well as to participate in lectures on vocations and academics. Historically, attendees have utilised the event as a sifting mechanism: gathering intel on interesting courses and institutions, determining standout options, and subsequently laying down plans for both physical and digital open days.
Attending the conference can indeed prove beneficial, albeit demands meticulous planning to derive maximum advantage from it. Reflecting on personal experience, I recall commuting to the venue with my companions, casting fleeting looks at several displays, and secretly slipping out with mates to celebrate a day off. At the moment, I felt quite smug about it, but the satisfaction quickly dissipated as the CAO application deadline loomed and I realised the opportunity I had squandered.
My lapse arose from not seeking guidance from learners or faculty members involved in appealing courses, leaving me clueless about which open days to attend, and which British and foreign institutions to consider. Consequently, I found myself attending numerous unnecessarily open days for unsuitable courses and institutions.
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Each session at Higher Options lasts merely three hours, hence chalking out a plan for the stalls you wish to explore and talks you want to attend can aid in optimising the experience.
Despite a noteworthy representation of Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses, apprenticeships and traineeships at Higher Options, World Skills Ireland offers an abundant information source on these alternatives. For two consecutive years, this event is being hosted at the RDS, concurrent with Higher Options.
If you’re planning to visit Higher Options in the afternoon, it’s recommended to join the morning session of World Skills Ireland, and vice versa.
This insight is provided by Liam Ryan, who is in charge of undergraduate admissions at the University of Limerick. This institution often participates in Higher Options and will also set up a booth at this year’s event.
Stands at the event are quite large, typically organized by faculty, and offer a team ready to answer any general enquiries from students. In addition, subject matter experts are present to offer in-depth help for those who need it.
Ryan mentions that students tend to ask fundamental questions about CAO points and admission criteria. While the event staff is prepared to answer these queries, Ryan suggests that students could save time by finding this basic information on the university’s course page online. This will allow them more time to engage in unique conversations that can’t occur online, such as querying a lecturer about their daily routine or learning from a current student about their experiences.
With the significant amount of information available, it might seem daunting. Thus, Ryan advises students to carry a notebook to record crucial details. After attending the event, students should review this information to determine their preferred courses, colleges, or universities.
As explained by Stafford, Higher Options is divided into five primary sectors, including higher education, further education, information and training, Irish language quarter, EU and international, and, lastly, the UK sector.
Stafford adds that representatives from across Ireland’s tertiary institutions, further education and apprenticeship providers, as well as UK and EU colleges, will be in attendance. A range of career talks will be held on various subjects such as law, science, engineering, agriculture, horticulture and sustainability. While it will be impossible for students to attend all the talks, these will be recorded and made accessible later.
As a part of revamping the admission process, Ucas (UK college) applications will no longer use personal statements. The British Council will provide overarching advising for studying in the UK. Given the European Commission’s intention to hire additional interpreters and translators, there will be a presentation on language interpretation career opportunities.
High Options has witnessed increased participation from European colleges over the years, reflecting an increase in students’ desire to study abroad. As Stafford points out, the notion of living away from home, frequently more affordable university fees in Europe, and English-language classes, ignite many students’ willingness to venture out for greater independence.
The Gaeltacht region’s event schedule will include career discussions, networking in a cafe setting, and opportunities to engage in conversations in Irish, you do not need to be proficient to participate. The talks will provide insights into work and learning prospects through Irish in various sectors, both in Ireland and overseas, including the media, sports, education, public sphere, and the European Union, with Irish being one of the official languages.
With the Irish government aiming for 20% of civil servants to be Irish-proficient by 2030, chances of high-quality education and employment for Irish-speaking individuals are very likely. Last year’s event had participation from several organisations and educational institutions such as TG4, Foras na Gaeilge, Conradh na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta.
While the event packed with career talks and five different zones makes for a busy schedule, it is advised to spare some time to explore the various stalls, presenting a chance to discover courses and institutions that might not have been considered initially.
As Stafford notes, attendees can still accumulate a significant amount of information and gain valuable insights into various courses, providing a purposeful starting point for subsequent, in-depth research.
The High Options event is tailored to provide inspiration for goal-setting. Post-event discussions with a guidance counsellor about the information collected from the event is highly recommended.
Perhaps you already have a defined inclination towards a specific subject or college, or maybe you’re still in the dark. St Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School in Dublin 8’s guidance counselor, Trish Harrington, suggests that students consider their strengths and areas for improvement as well as the subjects they enjoy or disdain and their favourite sports or extracurricular activities. Combined with the initial groundwork done under their guidance counsellor, this can establish a compelling starting point for exploration.
Furthermore:
– Take note in a journal of the exhibition stands you have an interest in visiting and prioritise the most significant ones.
While at the event:
– Keep a close eye on the schedule of the day and aim to drop by the speeches and stands that catch your interest. Then, cross them off your list in your journal;
– While at stands, concentrate on gathering information that is not easily accessible online and take detailed notes in your diary;
– Engage with representatives from colleges and potential career paths that grab your attention.
Once the event is over:
– Take a moment to ponder on the overall experience of the day. What aspect did you find the most intriguing?
– Review any collected prospectus, brochures, literature and college contact details. Discuss these findings with parents, peers, teachers, and guidance counsellors;
– Investigate further online, including upcoming open day events. Design a strategy to visit the open days of colleges that intrigue you. Particularly, if any UK or EU colleges are on your list, do consider visiting if possible, or alternatively explore the option of participating in an online seminar.