OPTIONS OPEN: third-level conference begins

A three-day conference on third-level options for students starts at the RDS in Dublin today.

The Higher Options conference, now in its 20th year, offers Irish school-leavers and mature students an insight into the opportunities available to them for further study, higher education and training.

More than 200 institutions from Ireland, Britain and Europe are expected to take part in the conference, which is organised by The Irish Times in conjunction with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. Some 25,000 students, guidance counsellors, mature students and parents are expected to attend.

Lecture sessions such as how to apply to courses through the CAO and British Ucas admissions systems will be offered, as well as alternative routes to university and how to choose a career. On Thursday evening there will be lecture sessions of special interest to parents and mature students, looking at the financial implications of going to college.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science Síle de Valera officially opened the conference last night. She said it took a specific forum to allow prospective students or future employees to obtain information about third-level entry requirements and to weigh them against their own educational standard and their interests.

The conference will be open from 9am to 3pm today through to Friday and 5.30pm to 8.30pm tomorrow evening.