Ballyfermot CFE Updates
Samaritans provide a pilot workshop for BCFE Social Care Students 
The Samaritans provided a workshop on 12th March to the students who are studying the Advanced Certificate in Social Care. This was a great opportunity for us here at Ballyfermot College of Further Education, as this was a pilot workshop which the Samaritans will be offering to other classes throughout Ireland in the coming months and years. Many thanks for choosing us and our students for this inaugural workshop at this time when mental health care is so essential.
If you’d like more information on this course follow the link; Care - Social Care Studies Level 6 Advanced - BCFE
Dil Wickremasinghe meets Media Production Management Students
Dil Wickremasinghe (pictured above) – broadcaster, psychotherapist and campaigner for equality – came to speak to the Media Production Management Students on 23rd of March. She spoke about overcoming challenges growing up in Sri Lanka and after her arrival in Ireland. She discussed her media experiences working with community radio station Phoenix FM and Newstalk. Throughout, she stressed the importance of advocating for marginalised groups at all levels of media production.
To find more information on this top-up degree course then follow this link;
Media - Media Production Management BA (Hons) Degree Level 8 - BCFE
Dean DeBlois of How to Train your Dragon fame speaks to Animation Students
Dean DeBlois is one of the world’s leading animation screenwriters/directors. He wrote and directed ‘Lilo and Stitch’ and the ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ trilogy. He has been nominated for an Academy Award several times.
On 24th February, Dean kindly spent two hours chatting to animation students via Zoom. It was a very casual affair made up of a Q&A session. In doing so, the students were able to garner a broader understanding of how he writes, creates, directs, gets his inspiration. The students asked Dean the questions themselves rather than them being posted in a ‘chat’ and having them read out. A bit of craic was had by all and finished with Dean requesting that we “do it again some time!”
To learn more about BCFE’s animation courses Level 5, 6 & 8 follow these links;
Animation - Animation Drawing & Illustration Studies Level 5 - BCFE
Animation - Classical & Computer Diploma (HND) Level 6 Higher - BCFE
https://www.bcfe.ie/courses/ba-hons-visual-media-in-animation-game-design-2/
Seye Adelekan, live bassist from Gorrilaz talks to PMCE students in interview with Aaron Kenny
PMCE student Aaron Kenny conducted an excellent interview with Seye Adelekan (above), singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and live bassist for Gorillaz met virtually via Zoom (below). Congratulations to Aaron and a huge Thank You to Seye for being such a gentleman!
Seye was originally to speak with us for 30 – 40 minutes but stayed chatting for well over an hour! Aaron led the interview exploring Seye’s career from playing clubs to sharing the stage with Damon Albarn, Robert Smith, Tony Allen and Paul McCartney. Seye then took questions from the students. The PMC students would normally be organising and playing at a live event for their Event Production and Work Experience modules.
The idea of organising Zoom talks came as we went into full lockdown in January. The students took the idea and ran with it. They are organising a range of talks which will be made available on completion. When given lemons, make lemonade
PMC is a Level 5 course with two stands: 1. Sound Production – 2. Music Performance
