Plunket College plans expansion of auto aftermarket courses
Plunket College of Further Education continues to deliver QQI Level 5 courses for applicants wishing to pursue careers in the auto aftermarket. The two main automotive courses the college focuses on are the ‘Pre-Apprenticeship Motor Vehicle’ and ‘Motor Vehicle Maintenance’.
Plunket College of Further Education is part of the City of Dublin Education and Training Board, CDETB. Because of this, both the Pre-Apprenticeship – Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Maintenance course are supported and funded by SOLAS. Both courses are similar in content however are aimed at two different cohorts of students.
Pre-Apprenticeship Motor Vehicle Maintenance Course
The Pre-Apprenticeship Motor Vehicle Maintenance course is suited to school leavers and mature students.
On successful completion of the course, graduates are eligible to apply to a QQI Level 6 apprenticeship in any of the following: Light Vehicle Mechanic, Heavy Vehicle Mechanic, Vehicle Body Repair, Agricultural Mechanic, Construction Plant Fitter, or Aviation Technician.
The Motor Vehicle Maintenance Course
The Motor Vehicle Maintenance course is also suited to school leavers and mature students and upon successful completion of this course, graduates may be eligible to apply through the CAO and or the Higher Education Links Scheme for entry to a range of higher certificate and degree programmes at Institutes of Technology and Universities.
Graduates can also progress directly into employment in the automotive industry in areas such as: Parts Advisor, Parts Sales, Service Advisor Assistant, or Service Station Assistant.
New Courses in Development
Plunket College of Further Education also has two new QQI courses in development.
Automotive Service Tech
The first is the: Automotive Service Tech. course. And there are no formal entry requirements for this course, just an aptitude for car maintenance.
This programme is designed for school leavers, mature students or for anyone interested in starting or developing a career in the fast fit industries.
The course content includes: Motor vehicle exhaust system maintenance; wheel, steering and suspension maintenance; plus vehicle brake, oil and battery maintenance. Automotive Service Tech course will be of one year duration and successful candidates will graduate with a QQI Level 4 national qualification.
F-gas in Mobile Air Conditioning Systems Course
The second new QQI courses that Plunket College of Further Education is developing is the F-gas in Mobile Air Conditioning Systems Course. The development of this programme follows current European Union (EU) and national regulations. Successful completion of the course will equip the learner with the relevant knowledge, skill, and competence to carry out many maintenance activities on stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump systems, as well as on the refrigeration units of refrigerated trucks and trailers that use fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases). In compliance with current European Union (EU) and national regulations, this can be without supervision.
Entry requirements for students for this course will mean a minimum level 4 qualification is required. However, this may have been achieved through a formal qualification or through work experience. This will be a part time course with a number of course offerings planned throughout the year. Successful candidates will graduate with a QQI Level 5 national qualification.
