Thursday, September 25th marked a special occasion at Collinstown Park Community College as Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee, paid a visit to the college’s Further Education and Training (FET) learners enrolled in the Microsoft Datacenter Academy.
Earlier in the day, Minister McEntee officially opened the college’s new ASD unit by planting a tree and cutting the ceremonial ribbon. Her visit continued with a tour of the state-of-the-art Datacenter Academy, where she met with enthusiastic learners and staff.
The FET students shared their experiences of studying at Collinstown Park, highlighting the hands-on learning and industry-aligned training they receive through the Datacenter Academy. The visit was a proud moment for the college community and a valuable opportunity to showcase the innovative partnership between Collinstown Park and Microsoft.
Minister McEntee praised the college’s role in supporting both second-level and FET learners, noting its strong reputation for educational excellence. She also paid tribute to outgoing principal Ms Pauline Duffy, acknowledging her leadership and dedication to student success.
The Datacenter Academy (DCA) Lab is a fully operational, mini-scale replica of a real-world datacenter, featuring three racks of decommissioned Microsoft equipment. It offers learners practical training in a realistic environment, preparing them for careers in the tech industry.
Students in the program can earn industry-recognized certifications, including:
- Year 1: CompTIA A+, Communications, and Cisco IT Essentials
- Year 2: CompTIA Server+ and CCNAv7 Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials
These certifications open doors to high-demand roles such as:
- IT Support Technician
- Datacenter Technician
- Server Administrator
- Network Administrator
The traineeship is delivered by Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB (DDLETB) in collaboration with Microsoft and other industry partners, ensuring learners are equipped with the skills employers need. The traineeship is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.