BCFE Graduate Success Stories
Dean Nolan was a student at Ballyfermot College of Further Education from 2020-2021, completing the Travel with Business Level 6 Advanced Certificate.
See below for his comments on the Washington Ireland program, and generally how he felt supported by staff at BCFE during the pandemic:
“During what was a difficult time for everyone and when everyday remote learning was a thing, the college and staff supported me in so many different ways. Teachers would regularly check in to make sure that students didn’t feel under too much pressure or stress and to help us progress in our studies. Through the college scheme I was given access to a laptop which helped me with my assignments and other coursework during the pandemic’s different levels of lockdown. This gave me the opportunity to expand on my IT skills and I learned how to use Microsoft Word, teams, Office 365 and PowerPoint. The college helped motivate and inspire me to work hard on various tasks and assignments.
With the help of my teachers at BCFE I was accepted to the Washington Ireland Program in June 2021 which has opened many new doors for me. The program allowed me to debate and discuss issues of the day with some of the most aspiring young people in law, politics, sustainability and business in Ireland. I am currently working in the Dalata Hotel Group after a college speaker put me in touch and now it’s about working hard to progress in the company and expanding on my skill set. Once again I am so grateful to the faculty at Ballyfermot who have taught me that through hard work and determination opportunities will present themselves and you just have to go for it!
Role of the Washington Ireland Program:
The program was set up in 1995 to bring together young people from Northern Ireland and equip them with a key set of skills so as to become leaders of the future. 21 years later the program has expanded to allow people from all over the island of Ireland to enroll in the hope that dialogue and openness can maintain peace in Ireland. Successful applicants are given the amazing opportunity to speak to and hear from leaders from the worlds of business, politics, sustainability, etc. and gain an insight into their role within their organisation and its operations. Pre COVID-19 students would head to the United States for several weeks where they would intern for different offices within society like trade unions, business headquarters and in government departments. An example of some of the offices WIP interns previously worked in are The White House, World Bank, Habitat for Humanity and the Congressional offices of Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama. The most notable of Alumni is Leo Varadkar from the class of 2000 who went on to become a TD, Minister, Tánaiste and Taoiseach of Ireland. The program is a great opportunity for young people to get involved with shaping the future of Ireland and meeting amazing and influential people from around the world. I would highly recommend applying for the Washington Ireland Program and giving yourself the best start to a future career in a leadership role”.
2 Public Art Installation by former Graphic Design student Mimi Seery
Mimi Seery, who studied Graphic Design at BCFE in 2018, has received her first public art commission from Westmeath County Council and Create Ireland, running from 3-22 September. It was included in this year’s Culture Night programme.
In Praise of Shadows is a typographic shadow installation that uses our most powerful and nurturing natural resource – the sun – to directly communicate the message of focusing on the present moment. Nature is literally speaking to us. Watching the text appear and disappear corresponding to the shadows cast by the above sundial reminds us of how fleeting, and how special each and every moment we have really is.
3 Cartoon Saloon Founder Paul Young speaks of his time studying at BCFE
Multi-award winning Cartoon Saloon production studio (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner and Wolfwalkers) co-founder Paul Young speaks about his time studying in BCFE: this is where he met his other co-founders Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey while studying animation. The interview can be seen on Virgin Media’s Ireland AM feature on Kilkenny(about 1.30 minutes in).
4 Animation graduate Holly Pereira in collaboration with An Post
BCFE would like to congratulate Holly Pereira who has just announced a recent collaboration with An Post’s new sustainability campaign; view the video at this page.
5 Two ICAD Awards for BCFE Graphic Design Graduates
Congratulations to Helen O’Higgins who picked up the ‘Advertising Greenhorn ICAD Award’ and Aisling Brady who picked up the ‘Design Greenhorn ICAD Award’ at this year’s ICAD Awards Ceremony. “The Greenhorn is a special award given to new talent in advertising and design in recognition of exceptional work created over the course of several years.”
Helen graduated from the HND in graphic design at BCFE in 2019. She was selected as an ICAD UPSTART in the Autumn of that year and began work as an Art Director with ‘Folk Wunderman Thompson’ shortly afterwards. Aisling graduated from the HND in graphic design at BCFE in 2016. She is a Graphic Designer & Director at Ais Ais Studio.
ICAD, the Institute of Creative Advertising and Design, is a non-profit membership led organisation made up of the best creatives in Ireland. Their primary aim is to support creative excellence in Irish advertising and design and those working within the industry, fostering, promoting, and rewarding creative excellence. ICAD are best known for their annual awards ceremony.
Apply for the HND in Graphic Design at BCFE (application can be done from the course page)
6 BCFE Radio HND and BAMPM graduates comprise 19 winners at IMRO Radio Industry Awards 2021
Once again our BCFE Radio Course and Media Production Management Degree graduates have scored way above average and won and amazing 19 Radio Industry awards out of 26 nominations.
This year was going to be a difficult competition with many BCFE former radio students competing against other former BCFE radio students. Each category had 5 nominees and in several categories 4 out of 5 of the nominees were all BCFE Radio Graduates.
Our graduates won in a range of categories such as on air as presenters, producers, senior producers, as well as broader content such as Music Station and Speech Broadcasting of the year.
Each year we are achieving similar phenomenal results. We need to reflect on how astounding these results are, given that we have very small classes, especially when compared with others.
Even though the awards were just this weekend, many of the winners have already been in contact saying how much they appreciate Ballyfermot College and will be in soon to do talks, masterclasses, workshops as well as offering work experience and paid work in radio stations.
Many congratulations to all and very well deserved.
Radio – Radio Programming & Production Diploma (HND) Level 6 Higher
Apply for this Radio Media Podcasting HND IN Ballyfermot College:
2 Year Radio Media Podcast Content Higher National Diploma HND Pearson/BTEC
Upon Completion, apply for 2 final years DCU BA Media Production Management completed in BCFE
Entry Requirements for HND Radio:
No portfolio required.
Leaving Certificate / LCVP minimum of two H5 / O1 and three O6 / H7 grades or equivalent.
QQI Level 5 award with a merit profile or BTEC National Diploma with a merit profile. Academic entry requirements may be waived for mature applicants (21+).
Contact Course Coordinator Bernard Evans [email protected]
