Guidance includes a range of activities designed to assist people to make appropriate learning choices. It can be very useful to meet with a guidance counsellor to talk through your options before making your mature student application. A guidance counsellor can help you to identify the wide range of opportunities which are open to you, and can help you to get a more holistic perspective on your decision to return to third-level education.
UL Careers Advisor for Mature Students
UL has a Careers Adviser who works specifically with mature students. Patsy Ryan works with UL's Cooperative Education and Careers Division and may be available, outside of academic term time, to meet with or advise any prospective mature student who is considering applying to UL. Patsy can be contacted at 061-234227 or patsy.ryan@ul.ie.
Adult Educational Guidance Initiative (AEGI)
The AEGI is a Department of Education and Skills-funded initiative which provides quality educational guidance services for adults. There are 40 adult educational guidance services nationally with one service located in the Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT).
The AEGI offers guidance services to adults which includes impartial adult education information, one-to-one guidance and group guidance, which helps people to make informed educational, career and life choices. Your AEGI service is known locally as the Adult Educational Guidance Service (AEGS). Impartial information on local, regional and national adult education is available to the general public, but only those within the DES target groups are eligible for one-to-one guidance meetings. The service is free.