As business students, you have to keep abreast of current affairs, so the websites which will interest you most are those which provide daily or weekly news coverage of the business world. A number of such sites are listed below, but you should also become adept at consulting the websites of national and regional newspaper from around the world. The best place to go for quick access to most of these is the online newspaper collection of the Internet Public Library (http://www.ipl.org/reading/news/), where the relevant links are sorted by country.
The world of home economics doesn't change with the same speed as business, so, if you are studying this subject, it is relatively easy to find websites with relevant material. A word of caution, however - some of the available websites are American and you need to be careful how you evaluate the material in them. On the social side, the studies will be based on the US experience and may not reflect the position here. On the scientific front, some of the terminology used may differ from what you are used to.
Some of the best websites are reviewed below but, if you want to find more sites, go to the business or home economics pages of www.LeavingCert.net where you will find an extensive range of carefully evaluated links
BUSINESS STUDIES
Finfacts
www.finfacts.ie/
FINFACTS is a useful starting point for the study of all things to do with business in Ireland. It is an Irish finance portal with a most helpful directory-style layout. It also contains many links to international business and provides daily updates on share prices, currency values and other economic information.
Moreover.com
www.moreover.com/
MOREOVER is a business portal with a powerful search program for unearthing the best news items from 1,800 news sources around the world. Select a news channel from the menu on the right (including business, companies, finance and industry) and you will be given a lengthy list of recent articles on your chosen topic. Another great feature is that you can have collections of news headlines emailed to you daily or weekly.
Business 2000
www.ireland.com/education/business2000/
THIS resource site for Leaving Cert students has a wealth of case studies on different parts of the course, plus informative articles of relevance to business students.
Business glossary
http://washingtonpost.com/ wp-srv/business/longterm/glossary/index.htm
A comprehensive list of business terms from the Washington Post, with concise definitions. Be aware, however, that some of the terms used are American.
The Economist
www.economist.com/
THERE are few general readership publications on business and finance which are more respected than The Economist, and its website is in the same league. It is a good site to return to frequently for up-tothe-minute news from the business sector around the world.
Business.com
www.business.com
BUSINESS.COM is a very good business information portal with a directory structure which is easy to navigate. Particularly useful is its "Company Center", as it has profiles, news items and financial details relating to an astonishingly large number of companies worldwide. To access this part of the site, click on "find companies" just below the header area of the home page.
HOME ECONOMICS
(Scientific)
Food science
http://osu.orst.edu/instruct/nfm236/modules.cfm
THIS is a useful, if not particularly exciting, site produced by Oregon State University. There are three main headings: global objectives (terminology, chemistry etc), basic information (energy, safety etc) and other modules (beverages, egg, pastry etc). There is a suggested schedule for revising topics with relevant questions included. Watch out for the American terminology - "shortened cake" (containing fat/margarine) and "cornstarch" (cornflour).
www.fao.org/docrep/T0562E/T0562E00.htm
THE full text of Meat and meat products in human nutrition in developing countries, a book by Arnold Bender and published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. Meat production and quality, the role of meat and meat products in human nutrition, meat and health, toxic compounds and BSE are all covered.
Menu preparation
www.mealsforyou.com/
A very colourful, easy-to-navigate site which includes all sorts of recipes and meal suggestions broken down by ingredient, nutrition andd course - starter, main, dessert. There are recipe hints on special diets, nutrition value, saving time in preparation. In the "Kitchen Helpers" (no, not your sister) section, you can find tips on everything from buying eggs to cleaning cheese graters!
Irish food
www.irishfood.com
A GREEN site, in every sense of the word. It includes the latest food news, a discussion board (how do you like your eggs?) and the home pages of BIM and some prominent restaurants. You must register to access the recipes section, but it's free. Recipes are categorised, e.g. fish, stews, bread, meat, desserts. It is very light on nutritional information, but if you've always wanted to know how to make parsnip cakes, this is the site for you!
Edibilia
www.ibmpcug.co.uk/owls/edibilia.html
A GOOD little portal site for "edibilia" of all kinds, especially for sourcing sites on ethnic foods. The "Lunacy" site is also worth a look - it even has links to sites with insect recipes!
HOME ECONOMICS
(Social)
The family
www.trinity.edu/mkearl/family.html
THIS site covers marriage and family processes, a definition of family - did you know that the word originally meant a band of slaves! Other topics included are the cultural factors which shape family structures and sections on age, gender, violent families and societies. There is an interesting section on relationships including co-habitation, marriage ritual, the changing relations between partners through time and parenting. If you prefer to find out about "singlehood", that's covered too.
Combat Poverty Agency
www.cpa.ie/
THE CPA is a statutory body established by the Combat Poverty Act of 1986. Its aim is to promote a more just and inclusive society by working for the prevention and elimination of poverty and social exclusion in Ireland. This site provides information on the agency's role, responsibilities and activities. There is information on poverty in Ireland in the form of fact sheets in various categories, e.g. unemployment, children, Travellers, disability etc. There is also a library of over 6,000 books and reports, directories, videos, magazines etc.
Buying a house
www.hod.ie/options-of-buying.htm
THIS auctioneer's site illustrates the steps involved in purchasing a house. It points out the differences between buying new and second-hand houses. It covers stamp duty and mortgages and details the various fees involved in the process - solicitors' fees, valuation fees, surveyors' fees and auctioneers' fees. Insurance is another topic covered.
Room design
www.seemydesign.com
THIS is a very useful and colourful site, which covers a great deal of interior design material - and it's fun! Explore your creativity through fun activities and helpful information. You can make your selections, pick your colours for furniture and decor and see them on the screen in seconds. Then change your mind and start all over again!
