Ideas Institute

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Ideas Institute was established to meet a specific strategic need that had been identified by SIPTU members and conveyed to the National Executive Council of SIPTU. Since its inception Ideas has contributed enormously to meeting the needs of workers and employers alike.

What is IDEAS Institute?

The primary focus of the Institute for the Development of Employees Advancement Services (IDEAS) is educational. Its task is to identify ways in which new thinking and new services can be introduced into the workplace for the benefit of employees and the enterprise as a whole.

FREE Computer Training Course

Ideas Institute is delighted to be offered the opportunity by the Department of Communications to offer FREE one day computer trainig courses in basic computer skills and internet.

Please see the calendar below with dates available and register for a place on a course by clicking on a date. Place the cursor over a date to see its location.

Photo taken at the presentation of FETAC certificates to Galco workers who completed computer courses run by Ideas Institute.
Photo includes Pat Coughlan, Tutor and Karl Byrne SIPTU Organiser

Our Courses

Courses are available to SIPTU members, members of other unions, companies and the general public.

Up To 100 Euro Discount For SIPTU Union Members.

Some of the courses we have available are:

Train the Trainer
Computers for Beginners
Information Technology Skills
Customer Service
Teamworking
Start Your Own Business
Job Seeking/Interview Skills

Some of these courses are FETAC Accredited

SIPTU and IDEAS Coach Europe

A delegation consisting of SIPTU Union Learner Representatives and shop Stewards led by Ron Kelly and Pat Coughlan of Ideas Institute made a great impression at a conference of European Learning Mentors in Bad Orb, Germany earlier this month.

The conference, which was part of the EU Learning Mentor Project, brought together representatives from Germany, Belgium, Latvia, Portugal and Switzerland all keen to hear of the experiences of Irish Union Learner Representative. Andersons in Limerick where Ideas Institute has had a big involvement in the provision of training to SIPTU members was represented by Noreen O’Flaherty ULR and the company Managing Director Tom Griffin. The DAA was represented by Mary McCabe while Myles Worth spoke of developments in Aer Lingus. Derrick Casserly (formerly Shearing Plough) spoke of the experience he has had with the ULR Programme.

In a keynote address Ideas General Manager Ron Kelly outlined for delegates the experience of introducing the concept of Union Learner Representatives and identified investment in education and training as a key ingredient in the process.

In a presentation on recent developments in the area Pat Coughlan outlined the content of a Coaching and Mentoring Course he had developed and delivered to SIPTU College Tutors, SIPTU Organisers and Union Learner Representatives.

In Europe the concept of Learning Mentors is relatively new and is taking guidance from developments in Ireland where the concept is well advanced with great success in providing workers with skills to enhance employment prospects and secure jobs.

Below you can see photos taken at the conference.