Accounting and Finance COURSES

Certificate in Financial Services for IT Professionals

Overview

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Awarding Body:	Higher Education & Training Awards Council
Duration:	1 Academic Year (September – May), 2 evenings per week
Course commencing:	September 2012
Award Level:	Level 7 Minor Award
ECTS Credits:	48

Introduction

The Certificate in Financial Services for IT Professionals has been developed in conjunction with companies in the IT and Financial Services Sector including Hansard Europe and CACEIS. The course has been designed specifically to provide participants with the business skills necessary to work successful as Hybrid technologists; thus developing their technical business analysis skills.

Programme Aims and Objectives

The programme will enable participants to develop an understanding and gain an appreciation of the Business and Financial Services environment, in order to be able to more readily understanding and develop IT solutions to work based problems. Participants will develop Business Finance skills; while the Business Information systems module will bridge the gap between IT and Business. The Fund Accounting & Lending module will develop the technical skills of the participants, while the Financial Institutions and Regulatory Environment will ensure that participants have the understanding of the Financial Services Sector.

Programme Content

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Business Information Systems
Financial Institutions & Regulatory Environment
Fund Accounting & Lending
Business Finance

Teaching & Assessment

The proposed teaching, learning and assessment methodologies are intended to facilitate springboard participants to take ownership of, and responsibility for, their own learning in partnership with the academic faculty.

Specific methods adopted will include:

Conventional lectures
Lab practical sessions
E-Learning
Workshops
Tutorials
Projects
Seminars
Assignments
Analysis of case studies
Group research and project work
Guest lectures

Students will be actively encouraged and assisted to manage their own studies outside of lectures. This is facilitated by the teaching styles and methods adopted and by placing greater emphasis on practically focused assessment. A particular focus of this programme will be for students to work in collaborative teams with their tutors on a variety of projects. Through this process they will learn key life skills of good teamwork towards achieving a common goal. In addition, the E-learning platform, Moodle, will also provide lecturers and students with a virtual learning environment to complement and enrich the more traditional learning environment.

Assessment Methods

The programme assessment strategies have been developed in order to provide learners to demonstrate the opportunity to apply transferrable skills relevant to the workplace. These include working as part of a team, report writing, presentation skills etc. These assessment methods will include:

Problem solving exercises
Practical projects incorporating a variety of competencies and skills
Case studies
Research based projects
Individual assignments
Management reports (e.g. Finance, Strategy)
Group projects
Group and individual presentations
Exams and other time constrained assessments (open and closed book)

Dedicated Programme Leader

From the outset, students will be provided with an array of academic and IT supports to ensure that the varied academic and learning needs of participants are being attended to. All students will be informed of the support mechanisms available throughout their induction and will be provided with the relevant contact details of their dedicated programme leader and level manager.

Structure

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The course duration is one Academic Year (September – May). Typically students will attend classes on two evenings per week from 6pm. Course timetables will be available in due course.

Eligibility

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To be eligible for a place on a Springboard 2012 programme a person must be:

Unemployed with a previous history of employment AND satisfy one of the following three criteria:

1. Be in receipt of one of the following payments from the Department of Social Protection:

Jobseeker’s Benefit
Jobseekers Allowance
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
One Parent Family
Disability Allowance
Qualified Adults of Working Age
Carers Allowance
Farm Assist/Fish Assist
Widow(er)s Contributory or Non-contributory Pension
Blind Pension
Deserted Wives Allowance

There is no requirement to be in receipt of a payment for a particular period of time prior to the commencement of the programme. Participants in receipt of an eligible payment at the time the Springboard course commences are eligible to apply for a place on that course. However, providers will be required to give priority to applications from people who are long term unemployed.

OR

2. Be signing for social insurance contribution credits

OR

3. Be previously self-employed AND be actively seeking employment

Entry Requirements

Holders of a Level 5 or 6 NFQ award or equivalent, or
If you are over 23 years of age at time of application and do not meet the minimum course entry requirements you may apply as a Mature Student. Mature students are assessed on the basis of age, work experience, general education standard, motivation and commitment to the programme, or
Applications without the above will also be considered on the basis of previous experience and learning (APEL).

Next Steps

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Apply online via the Springboard portal on www.springboardcourses.ie

Career Opportunites

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DBS have developed clear collaborative partnerships with a range of financial institutions and services providers in respect of the design, implementation and operation of this programme in particular with reference to the provision of internships by suitable industry partners to graduates of this programme. A number of financial institutions including Hughes Weir Financial Services, CACEIS and Hansard Europe have expressed their interest and support in working with DBS on the Springboard programme and in providing placement opportunities to students who successfully complete the course.

DBS have also secured commitment from a number of suitable industry partners within the Financial Services sector to deliver guest presentation to participants. This provides an exciting opportunity for participants to learn more about the sector and to network with potential employers. In addition DBS have met with IBEC, Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Dun Laoghaire Chamber of Commerce, Hireland, Small Firms Association and the Irish Institute of Training and Development who have also expressed interest in working with DBS and the Springboard participants.

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The Admissions Office
Dublin Business School
13/14 Aungier Street
Dublin 2, Ireland
T: + 353 (0) 1 4177500
F: + 353 (0) 1 4177543
E: admissions@dbs.ie

Related Information

MEET OUR STUDENTS

“Having not being able to obtain more than part-time work for any period over the last four years I realised I was stuck in a professional rut and would need to upskill to have any chance of securing a full-time job. I seen a leaflet at the Social Welfare office about the Springboard “Database and Cloud Technology” course at DBS. Since the early 1980’s, I had been interested in computing, so I applied and was delighted to be accepted. My proudest achievements on the course have been creating my own website and passing the Microsoft Technology Associate exam. Taking part in the course has given me a new sense of purpose. I am now applying for jobs that I would not have applied for a year ago. I now have the confidence and belief that I deserve, and will find, a better job.”

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