Posted 06 May 2009
UCD computer scientists offer Java skills to tackle Irish job losses
The first in a series of Java training programmes to help up-skill unemployed IT professionals began at UCD this week.
The move by the UCD School of Computer Science and Informatics, in association with a small UCD campus company called crovan, to assist with the National Recovery Plan, offers a week long Java training programme for €45 rather than the normal cost of approximately €1,000.
A modern programming language, Java is one of the most commercially applicable programming skills. And while many programmers are likely to have received training in company specific or legacy languages, they are unlikely to have received direct training in Java.
“This training programme will help IT programmers to build on their previous skills and knowledge,” says Dr John Murphy from the UCD School of Computer Science and Informatics who set up the targeted Java training course.
“Upon completion of the two one-week intensive courses (Foundations and Advanced), programmers will be trained to a professional level where they should be able to seek SUN certification, which is an industry standard, making them more employable in the broader IT industry.”
Within a week of the announcement, all 100 places were filled on both of the courses piloted in May and to meet the demand, both of the week-long courses will be run again in June and July.
The series of Java courses is part of a bigger initiative by the UCD School of Computer Science and Informatics to assist with national economic recovery. The school is also introducing a Master’s course in negotiated learning, where students can come along and take the modules they choose – a flexible approach to learning over time and duration, and a conversion Diploma for individuals who wish to cross over into the technology industry.
The first “UCD Foundations of Java” course will run from 06 – 12 May 2009, with the examination taking place on 15 May 2009.
