Q&A

Your education questions answered by Brian Mooney.

My son has just been offered a place on an ordinary Bachelor of Engineering degree programme in an institute of technology. Does this mean that, if he successfully completes this programme and is awarded the degree, he will qualify as a professional engineer?

The Institution of Engineers of Ireland (IEI) is the body with responsibility for the engineering profession in Ireland. I have checked with them and they say no. The Ordinary Bachelor of Engineering degree, which replaces the National Diploma in Engineering, focuses on engineering technology and will satisfy the educational standard for the title of Associate Engineer of the IEI. The National Diploma in Engineering has international recognition as an engineering technology qualification. The new Ordinary Bachelor of Engineering degree will have the same level of international recognition.

The educational standard required to be a Professional or Chartered Engineer is an IEI-accredited Honours Bachelor of Engineering degree. These degrees normally take at least four years, are offered by all universities and some institutes of technology, and have international recognition as professional engineering degrees. A full list of accredited honours degrees in Engineering, and full information on international recognition, can be found on the IEI website, www.iei.ie.

Your son can, however, transfer into an accredited honours degree in Engineering on successful completion of the Ordinary degree. Depending on his final examination results, he could be admitted to the third year of a four-year programme in a university or institute of technology or the first year of a two-year "add-on" programme in an institute of technology.

I got an excellent Leaving Certificate result, getting 540 points, which has left me totally confused. I always wanted to study Occupational Therapy but never expected to get sufficient points to qualify for a place. I therefore decided not to list it on my CAO application. I applied for Primary teaching as my first choice and I have now been offered a place and have accepted it. Now I am having second thoughts. What should I do?

Your dilemma is a very common one. Many students underestimate the result they may achieve in the Leaving Certificate for a variety of reasons. They may genuinely suffer from a lack of self-confidence in their own ability, or they may take the grades they achieve in mock examinations as a guide to what they may achieve in the real Leaving Certificate. Whatever the reason for your lack of confidence, you now find yourself with sufficient points and without the course you actually want. I would contact the Occupational Therapy department of your preferred college and request a meeting with a member of staff. I would suggest that you explore all aspects of the programme, to ensure that this course is really what you want. If the meeting confirms your choice, I would take my courage in my hands and withdraw from the primary school teaching place. Do something else with your time this year. Take a part-time job to earn money for college, or a PLC course in an area of interest to you. Remember that if you continue with the course you are registered for and drop out after Christmas you will pay fees in the first year of whatever course you take up later. There is also one other consideration you might bear in mind. There is a student out there, who is one place short of achieving their life's ambition to enter teaching. You have that student's destiny in your hands.

• Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. E-mail questions to bmooney@irish- times.ie