DCU School of Communications has announced a new certificate/diploma programme in Information Media and Internet for professionals people working in the community and voluntary sector.

The programme aims to provide help administrators, project workers and others in the community and voluntary sector with knowledge and skills that will help them optimisemake the best use of information resources and electronic media for their organisations. Apart from IT and Internet, the programme covers information policy development, media relations and analytical skills.

According to Dr Roddy Flynn, the new programme responds to Government policy to support the voluntary sector and to encourage lifelong learning in order to address reduce social exclusionmarginalisation in society. "DCU has a stated strategy to address the needs of society. We recognised the increasing need for lifelong learning, including professional development and adult education and we believe that programmes such as Information Media and Internet facilitate voluntary and community organisations who are making an important contribution to the fabric of democracy in Ireland."

Generally, professionals in the Ccommunity and voluntary sector organisations are often under-resourced and have to rely on small numbers of people who carry out a multiplicity of functions. "All the more reason to skill up," argues Dr Flynn. "When you only have limited resources - both people and financial - you have to make sure you they are as effective as possible communicators in every sense of the word."

Entry to the Certificate in Information Media and Internet is open and selection is based on interviews and level of computer skills.

The first entry for the certificate programme will commence in September 2001 and the diploma programme will start in September 2002.

Ends.

Programme Lecturing staff include

Dr Roddy Flynn
Miriam Judge
Dr Peadar Kirby
Martin Molony
Pat Montague
Dr Susan O'Donnell
Eoin O'Mahony
Brian Trench

For further information:

Dr Roddy Flynn tel. 7008355; roderick.flynn@dcu.ieFor further information:

See also: www.comms.dcu.ie/cimi/

Or Eilis O'Brien: tel: 7005217