Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) BTEI provides part-time further education courses mainly for people who have not completed the Leaving Certificate or an equivalent qualification. BTEI courses are usually QQI level 3 & 4, but it is possible to obtain QQI level 5 & 6. Post Leaving Cert (PLC) PLC courses are open to school-leavers and adult participants, offering a mixture of practical work, academic work and work experience. The courses are usually full- time and last one to two years and lead to an award on the National Framework of Qualifications at NFQ Level 5 or NFQ level 6 This is one of the main access routes to Universities and Institutes of Technologies for third level education. Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) WPEP is for people who have never had a job or have lost their job to have the opportunity of work experience in a host organisation. You must be aged 18–65, unemployed for at least 6 months and currently getting a qualifying social welfare payment. TÚS The Tús initiative is a community work placement scheme providing short- term working opportunities for unemployed people who have been continuously unemployed for at least 12 months and "signing on" on a full-time basis, people are usually identified and contacted by their Intreo Centre and offered the opportunity to participate in the scheme or you can also sign up to the scheme yourself. Springboard Springboard+ provides free higher education courses for people who are unemployed (or were self-employed) and those looking to return to the workforce. You can also apply for a Springboard+ course if you are working, but you must pay a 10% contribution towards the course fee. There are a range of part-time courses from certificate to master's degree levels. Most of the courses are part-time and last for one year or less, but there are an increasing number of full-time courses. FastTrack to IT (FIT) FIT provides targeted information technology training for people who are getting certain social welfare payments or signing for credits. Courses include office administration, web design and programming, broadband communications and PC maintenance.
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