From observing trends in the non-profit sector and wishing to keep my skills fresh and relevant for any opportunities that may arise with my own employer (disability service) or elsewhere, I noticed that public engagement, fundraising, corporate partnership, sponsorship and event management were on the up. I researched far and wide before settling with Fitzwilliam Institute's Diploma in Charity, Fundraising & Sponsorship Event Management - my personal circumstances (full time employee, mother of two small children, distance from educational institutions) together with their reputation, course structure and cost were my deciding factors. As the year went on, I found working at my own pace very beneficial as well as getting to apply my learning at work, which I had not expected and had me feeling much more confident in my job. It started turning into the best year ever - I was enjoying the variety at work - in 14 years, it was the best so far. Then a lifelong dream of writing and publishing a book for Jane Austen's bicentenary (2017) came up (which has received international acclaim), together with curating a Jane Austen/Georgian Festival in Limerick. While these are totally separate from my career - the skills I learned re event management and sponsorship have been invaluable and I have no doubt but I may not have ventured into this festival of theatre, screen, regency fashion, afternoon tea and workshops without it. In fact the book launch and the media attention I have received have required excellent project and event management skills. I highly recommend Fitzwilliam Institute - you never know where it may lead you!! - Rose Servitova - Job Coach, Author & Festival Curator
“Alice PR & Events is delighted to offer placements to PR students from the Fitzwilliam Institute. The internship programme is a great way for agencies to identify future talent, as well as giving students practical, real-world experience that really stands to them when it comes to job-hunting” Martina Quinn, Founder and Managing Director – Alice PR
As a PR and marketing professional in the sports industry, the Fitzwilliam Institute's Digital Marketing Diploma has really helped me across the range of communications disciplines. Digital media and advertising are where I'm investing my resources, and the quality of teaching I received over the 10 week course is really beginning to bear fruit for me now in these business areas.
I researched Diploma Events Management Courses, this seemed the best , and it was an online course. I learnt how to put together a plan for organising an event, and how to plan this from budgetary, advertising, registration, sourcing the most cost effective for the event, disability access, registration etc to the actual event taking place and evaluation meeting after the event, providing me with confidence and ability to undertake any event. This course benefitted me enormously with my job, as I am now the event’s organiser for my team. I would recommend the course to others. I was able to complete the course while still working, it fitted into my work schedule, as you complete the modules in your time, it is then sent to be marked and comments are made of how to improve each module, and then finally submit the final portfolio to the examiner for your final grade. I passed with a distinction grade. Natalie Wilmot, National Implementation Service
I completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Marketing at the Fitzwilliam Institute. The lecturers were very well qualified and able to offer some really valuable insights from their experience in the industry. After finishing the course I began full time employment in Digital Marketing so I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking of furthering their career or education.
I recently completed the Diploma in Digital Marketing and Social Media with the Fitzwilliam Institute and found the experience to be very rewarding and beneficial. The classes and study material were comprehensive and well-rounded, providing in-depth knowledge, which is already being applied to my day-to-day work activities. I have gained a very useful qualification, passing on the benefits of the up-skills honed through this course to my client base. Course Director, Tim Smyrk, was particularly engaging and provided excellent guidance throughout. I would highly recommend the Fitzwilliam Institute. - Deirdre Walsh, Avanti PR
I pretty much do everything i love on the internet and I always wanted to create. So I joined the online diploma for iOS application development course and i was worried that i would disappoint but then it was just too cool not to talk about. I mean, I AM MAKING APPLICATIONS! I would highly recommend this course to anyone seeking for a career in app development. Everything top to bottom was flawless explaining bit by bit, leading to the bigger result. I am so happy for making this choice, and I would once again recommend this. It helped me understand various perspectives of coding it taught me patience, and eventually helped me make a reputation out of it and soon hopefully become a coder. Thank you Fitzwilliam Institute Group!
In 2014 I decided to go back to college after a few months of travelling and it was the best decision I ever made. After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from NUIG I wanted to specialise and looked at the PR & Event management course in Fitzwilliam Institute. The lectures were incredible in this course and got me thinking outside the box every day. Zoe Healy, one of the lectures, set us an assignment of setting up a blog and I started http://www.pureirishsugar.com that day. Last year I won Best Beauty Blogger at the Aussie Hair Awards and now write a second blog called 'Where to next darling..?' which is all about travel. Along with having two blogs I work full time as part of the PR & Marketing team for Benefit Cosmetics Ireland. Going back to college and studying with Fitzwilliam Institute was one of the best decisions I have made and has shaped my career. Through that course I made incredible friends who still all work in the PR industry - Kate Kelly, Benefit Cosmetics Ireland.
I recently completed the Diploma in Digital Marketing and Social Media with the Fitzwilliam Institute and found the experience to be very rewarding and beneficial. The classes and study material were comprehensive and well-rounded, providing in-depth knowledge, which is already being applied to my day-to-day work activities. I have gained a very useful qualification, passing on the benefits of the up-skills honed through this course to my client base. Course Director, Tim Smyrk, was particularly engaging and provided excellent guidance throughout. I would highly recommend the Fitzwilliam Institute. - Deirdre Walsh, Avanti PR
Fitzwilliam Institute provided me with the practical skills and knowledge I required to pursue my career in Public Relations and Event Management. I cannot recommend the institute enough to students who wish to come out of the classroom knowing they have been prepared and trained to succeed in their chosen area. I have now returned to complete a Diploma in Digital Marketing. - Emma Walker, Cullen Communications
If anyone is looking to pursue a career in Public Relations, the Fitzwilliam Institute is a brilliant foot in the door into this intensely competitive industry. After completing the PR & Event Management post-grad I went on to become an AE in one of Ireland's biggest PR agencies, PSG. After over a year here I have recently moved to become the Brand Communications Manager of Publicis in Dublin, a worldwide Advertising agency. Before I entered Fitzwilliam I was a fresh-faced recent Bachelor's graduate, ensure of what I wanted to do next. I know now that choosing to undergo the Fitzwilliam postgrad was what opened that all important first door for me into the Marketing Industry. - Rob Kenny, Publicis
The course was very impressive, even for the more mature students, especially the PR in Practice and Stakeholder management sections. It certainly enhances the scope of your career positioning and overall communications understanding. I would recommend it for people in all aspects of Communications and Public Relations as a beneficial part of professional development. - Suzanne Angley, Luas Cross City
The PR and Event Management Course was a great decision for me. My main job is not in PR or Event Management but this is something I had an interest in and has helped me within my own job where I am involved in sports and Social Events and outside work hugely by the skill sets which I picked up while working on my PR Campaign I’ve applied to other areas of my life outside. PR people are experts in communication and through the course you learn from your teachers about presentation skills and gain a broader knowledge in areas such as politics and real life examples of PR in action. I recommended this course to my friend who is attending the evening classes this year and enjoying it also. - Aoife Murphy, Irish Life
I have enjoyed the course thoroughly and I can’t wait to begin my Digital Marketing Career. When you know what you want to study, the next step is to find the college which is the right fit for you. Personally Fitzwilliam Institute felt right for me. Ideal location with highly qualified and skilled lectures making learning fun - Fantastic experience.
The Construction Project Management course that I recently completed is in my opinion very detailed and excellently drafted. I enjoyed every module and found them very broad. I feel that by including and highlighting how project management skills can be utilised in different industries really enhanced the course. Personally I enjoyed the negotiation module and discovered that this aspect of project management to be really intriguing. Overall I learnt a great deal on how project management works and feel it will be of great value to me going forward. The diploma will benefit me in my future career as it along with my practical and previous management experience in construction should help me advance and secure employment that match my skill set. I would certainly recommend this course and Fitzwilliam Institute to others. I will highlight the excellent tuition I received throughout and Fitzwilliams welcoming attitude to any inquiries asked.I believe that people should seriously consider this course as a excellent way to improve their career in project management.
I finished my Diploma in Digital Marketing in October 2016. The course was very practical and engaging with real life examples. I learnt how to create a marketing strategy for our company and identify the best practices to reach the objectives. The great part for me is that I am about being promoted to Marketing Manager! I highly recommend this course to anyone who desire to gain a complex knowledge and skills in digital marketing field. - Lucie Šedivá, Orchestr8
I have enroled in the Event Management Course in Autumn 2015. This course offered more than I expected. For someone like me coming from outside of Event Management field I gained great knowledge about Marketing, PR, Events and all aspects of how to create an event for a client. There is a great array of the lecturers taking part on this course and best thing is that these people have soo much experience in their field that it was fascinating to listen to real life examples. I have gained great knowledge and confidence within the field of Even management and Public relations and I would recommend this course to anyone who works within the industry but also for those who would like to change their career path. - Igor Valigura, Ikea Ireland
I must say I really enjoyed the whole experience of doing the online diploma in Project Management. I got great support from my tutor. So a big Thank You to Zerlina for all the help along with way. I would recommend this online course to anyone who would be interest in project management. - Julie Loftus, Lionbridge
I completed the diploma in Event Management in 2015. I found the course content interesting and relevant, The lecturers are industry professionals and are able to give you a true insight in to the business which is really invaluable. There was good support available and also some opportunities to gain practical experience. Since completing the course I have secured a position as an Event Development Officer with a national charity. The skills and knowledge I gained whilst completing this course definitely helped me further my career and I would recommend it to others that are interested in Event Management. - Louise McCarron, Irish Hospice Foundation
I did the Diploma in Event Management with Public Relations and I honestly can’t recommend it highly enough, I thoroughly enjoyed all of the classes and also the project work. The course was practical and thought by relevant industry professionals who were amazing. I can honestly say that I learnt so much over the 10 week course and I landed a job as a Marketing & Communications Executive the minute I had finished the course! - Lisa Nolan, Dublin Town
I felt the course was very practical and engaging with expert advice and real life examples. All the lecturers have a vast amount of experience which gives the students a great understanding of the industry. The class is the perfect way to network and meet fellow event organizer. I would highly recommend this course. - Aine Holden, Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland
The Postgraduate Diploma in Event Management with Public Relations gives you a good understanding of the Events industry. The most beneficial part of the course for me was planning a real life charity event. This alone gives you great insight into how much time, effort and planning goes into an event. Additionally, the 3 month work placement is a vital part as you are able to get your foot in the door and get some hands on experience. Without completing this course I may not have the job I have today!
I enrolled for this course as I needed to improve my knowledge and skill set around Digital Marketing. I currently work in a marketing position and Digital Marketing is fast becoming an important part of my role. Due to this I needed to educate myself in the area of Digital Marketing to enable me to do my job successfully. The course provided by Fitzwilliam Institute Group was excellent and met my needs 100%. Everything I learnt has been beneficial to me since I finished up the course. The lectures were lovely also and always very open in answering any questions you have. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone interested in Digital Marketing.
Fitzwilliam Institute Postgraduate Diploma is a great gateway to the world of PR. The course is extremely relevant with current industry case studies and topical PR trends at the forefront of every lecture. It’s so reassuring to know that your lecturers are industry professionals, meaning that every course topic is approached with authentic knowledge of the subject and first-hand experience in mind. The standout aspect of the course for me was the arranged work placement. The placement challenges you to put your knowledge to the test whilst growing and learning in a real working environment and is paramount in developing a true understanding of the ins and outs of PR. The experience gained whilst on work experience plays such a pivotal role in your approach to the exams and perhaps even more importantly, the road to future employment. I did my placement at Elevate PR and was lucky enough to be hired once i finished my internship. I'm happily still working away at Elevate PR as an Account Executive.