Ukrainian doctor upskills in Donegal while pursuing dream of practicing medicine

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Ahead of Donegal Education and Training Board’s Further Education and Training (FET) Fair on 28 and 29 February in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny, we’re showcasing the experiences of current and former FET students.


An anesthetist from Ukraine has upskilled with Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) to find a rewarding job during his time in Ireland.

Valerii Iakovchuk, who fled the war in Ukraine and is now living in Dungloe, longs to practice medicine in Ireland. 

But first, he has to pass an English language exam and other medical exams to be recertified to practice.

Valerii decided to improve his English skills through work and education with the support of Donegal ETB’s Further Education and Training (FET) Service. 

He was always interested in finance and policies, so in his determination to get back into employment, he set out to gain the skills to enter the new sector.

Valerii found a full-time administration job soon after completing a Level 2 ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting. This is a blended course taking place online four days, with an in-person workshop one day per week.

Students also undertake QQI Level 5 component awards Manual and Computerised Payroll, Manual and Computerised Bookkeeping and Start Your Own Business. 

“The ETB is full of friendly and helpful staff. I was very happy to attend the Letterkenny Training Centre,” Valerii said.

“I learned PRSI, USC, tax credits, and it helped me find my work.”

Valerii succeeded in his exams and with his newfound skills he was employed locally.

Valerii Iakovchuk

Valerii didn’t stop there, in his drive to gain more qualifications he enrolled in a part-time evening programme to get an ACCA Level 3 qualification in Financial and Management Accounting. This evening course is funded through the Skills to Advance initiative.

“This course is more specific and is very interesting for me to learn more about accounting.

“I see there is a lack of accountants in Ireland and I would recommend this great profession.”

Valerii’s first profession as an anesthetist is still calling him, he says, and he has his sights set on perfecting his English. English language training with Donegal ETB has been a huge part of his training for the upcoming International English Language Testing System (IELTS). 

Valerii is keen to praise his teachers for their support over the past two years. “Marguerite McGee and Claire Curran have been fabulous and Elena Gill in Adult Guidance is just amazing. They explain everything so clearly.

“ETB is brilliant, it has great staff and great courses. I would recommend everyone who wants to find a job to enquire with the team.”

Valerii’s ACCA Diploma was funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

Valerii’s courses are only some of the many full and part-time business and IT courses offered by Donegal ETB’s FET Service – you’ll find their full range of courses across the county on their website, where you can also apply online at any time: www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder

Come along to Donegal ETB’s 2024 FET Fair on 28 and 29 February in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny to find out more:

  • Wednesday 28 February, 7.00-9.00pm: School leavers, their parents/guardians, Guidance Counsellors and school Principals and Deputies are invited to attend to hear about FET options across the county. Those currently in employment and seeking to upskill are also invited to hear about upskilling opportunities offered by the FET Service. 

Panel discussions on FET options (PLCs, traineeships and tertiary degrees), apprenticeships and employee training supports begin at 7.00pm.

  • Thursday 29 February, 10.00am-2.00pm: Those who would like information on the wide range of full and part-time education and training opportunities provided by the ETB’s FET Service are invited to come along to speak to staff to find out more. There will be interactive skills demonstrations throughout the day.

Keep an eye on their social media accounts (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn) for updates and further details or contact the ETB’s Adult Guidance and Information Service on 074 91 78088, email [email protected] or complete this web form and they’ll get back to you: www.donegaletb.ie/adultguidance.


Roimh Aonach Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall ar an 28 agus an 29 Feabhra san óstán Radisson Blu i Leitir Ceanainn, táimid ag cur éispéiris mac léinn reatha agus iarmhac léinn FET os comhair an phobail.


Tá ainéistéisí ón Úcráin tar éis cur lena chuid scileanna le Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall (ETB) chun post tairbheach a bhaint amach le linn a ama in Éirinn.

Tá fonn ollmhór ar Valerii Iakovchuk, a theith ón gcogadh san Úcráin agus a bhfuil cónaí air ar an gClochán Liath, leigheas a chleachtadh in Éirinn. 

Ach ar dtús, caithfidh sé pas a fháil i scrúdú Béarla agus i scrúduithe leighis eile chun a bheith deimhnithe chun cleachtadh arís.

Shocraigh Valerii a scileanna Béarla a fheabhsú trí obair agus oideachas le tacaíocht ó Sheirbhís Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) ETB Dhún na nGall. 

Bhí suim aige i gcónaí in airgeadas agus i bpolasaithe, agus mar gheall ar a dhiongbháilteacht filleadh ar an bhfostaíocht, rinne sé iarracht na scileanna a fháil le dul isteach san earnáil nua.

D’aimsigh Valerii post lánaimseartha riaracháin go luath i ndiaidh dó Dioplóma ACCA Leibhéal 2 i gCuntasaíocht Airgeadais agus Bainistíochta a bhaint amach. Is cúrsa cumaisc é seo a bhíonn ar siúl ar líne ceithre lá in aghaidh na seachtaine, le ceardlann pearsanta lá amháin sa tseachtain.

Tugann daltaí faoi na dámhachtainí seo a leanas atá mar chuid den QQI Leibhéal 5: Párolla Láimhe agus Ríomhairithe, Leabharchoimeád Láimhe agus Ríomhairithe agus Tosaigh do Ghnó Féin. 

“Tá foireann chairdiúil agus chabhrach ag ETB. Bhí mé an-sásta freastal ar an Ionad Oiliúna Leitir Ceanainn,” a dúirt Valerii.

“D’fhoghlaim mé faoi ÁSPC, MSU, chreidmheasanna cánach, agus chabhraigh sé liom mo chuid oibre a aimsiú.”

D’éirigh le Valerii ina chuid scrúduithe agus mar gheall ar a scileanna nua, fuair sé fostaíocht ina cheantar áitiúil.

Níor stop Valerii ansin, agus é ag iarraidh níos mó cáilíochtaí a bhaint amach, chláraigh sé i gclár oíche páirtaimseartha chun cáilíocht ACCA Leibhéal 3 i gCuntasaíocht Airgeadais agus Bainistíochta a bhaint amach. Maoinítear an cúrsa oíche seo tríd an tionscnamh maidir le Scileanna le Dul Chun Cinn.

“Tá an cúrsa seo níos sonraí agus tá sé an-suimiúil dom tuilleadh a fhoghlaim faoi chuntasaíocht.

“Tá sé tugtha faoi deara agam go bhfuil easpa cuntasóirí in Éirinn agus mholfainn an ghairm iontach seo.”

Dúirt Valerii go bhfuil sé fós ag iarraidh tabhairt faoin gcéad ghairm a bhí aige mar ainéistéisí agus tá sé meáite ar snas a chur ar a chuid Béarla. Bhí oiliúint sa Bhéarla le ETB Dhún na nGall ina cuid mhór dá oiliúint don Chóras Tástála Idirnáisiúnta Béarla (IELTS) atá le teacht. 

Ba mhaith le Valerii a chuid múinteoirí a mholadh as an tacaíocht a thug siad dó le dhá bhliain anuas. “Tá Marguerite McGee agus Claire Curran tar éis a bheith iontach agus tá Elena Gill sa rannóg Treoir d’Aosaigh ar fheabhas ar fad. Míníonn siad gach rud ar bhealach atá iontach soiléir.

“Tá ETB iontach ar fad, tá foireann agus cúrsaí iontacha aige. Mholfainn do gach duine ar mian leo post a fháil dul i dteagmháil leis an bhfoireann.”

Mhaoinigh an tAontas Eorpach Dioplóma ACCA Valerii – NextGenerationEU.

Níl i gcúrsaí Valerii ach cuid den iliomad cúrsaí gnó agus TF lánaimseartha agus páirtaimseartha atá á dtairiscint ag Seirbhís FET ETB Dhún na nGall – tá a raon iomlán cúrsaí ar fud an chontae le fáil ar a suíomh gréasáin, áit ar féidir leat iarratas a dhéanamh ar líne am ar bith: www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder.

Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil, bígí linn ag Aonach FET ETB Dhún na nGall 2024 ar an 28 agus an 29 Feabhra san Óstán Radisson Blu i Leitir Ceanainn:

  • Dé Céadaoin an 28 Feabhra, 7.00-9.00pm: Tugtar cuireadh do lucht fágála scoile, a gcuid tuistí/caomhnóirí, Comhairleoirí Gairmthreorach agus Príomhoidí agus Príomhoidí Tánaisteacha scoile freastal chun cloisteáil faoi roghanna FET ar fud an chontae. Tugtar cuireadh fosta dóibh siúd atá fostaithe faoi láthair agus atá ag iarraidh uas-sciliú cloisteáil faoi na deiseanna uas-scilithe a thairgtear tríd an tSeirbhís FET. 

Cuirfear tús le pléití painéil ar roghanna FET (cúrsaí iar-Ardteistiméireachta, cúrsaí oiliúna agus céimeanna triú leibhéal), printíseachtaí agus tacaíochtaí oiliúna fostaithe ag 7.00pm.

  • Déardaoin an 29 Feabhra, 10.00am-2.00pm: Tugtar cuireadh dóibh siúd ar mhaith leo eolas maidir leis an raon leathan deiseanna oideachais agus oiliúna lánaimseartha agus páirtaimseartha atá á gcur ar fáil ag Seirbhís FET ETB teacht chun labhairt leis an bhfoireann chun tuilleadh a fháil amach. Beidh taispeántais scileanna idirghníomhacha ar siúl i rith an lae.

Coinnigh súil ar a gcuntais meán sóisialta (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram agus LinkedIn) faoi choinne nuashonruithe agus sonraí breise, nó téigh i dteagmháil le Seirbhís Treorach agus Eolais d’Aosaigh ETB ar 074 91 78088, ríomhphost [email protected], nó comhlánaigh an fhoirm ghréasáin seo, agus rachaidh siad i dteagmháil leat: www.donegaletb.ie/adultguidance.

 

Ukrainian doctor upskills in Donegal while pursuing dream of practicing medicine was last modified: February 23rd, 2024 by Rachel McLaughlin

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