Further education in Digital Marketing are being planned for this Fall by two organisations in Ireland I have come across (one of them I already work  with as a member of their faculty).

DCU have launched a Graduate Certificate in Digital Marketing.

The Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) has announced their Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Marketing and follows the success of their 12 week programmes and their Boot Camps that have been running for the last 18 months.

I don't know much about the programme with DCU, but as someone who has worked with the DMI since their first programmes started, let me share a little of what I know about their programme.

The programme commences on September 21 2010 and you need to apply by 15 August 2010.

The programme is a 1 year part time programme with two semesters of course work and requires the completion of two individual digital marketing projects. The programme requires attendance on two evenings a week, three hours per evening and at 2 Saturday tutorial/workshops throughout the year.

Here is a summary of the curriculum:

• Digital Marketing Fundamentals
• Customer as King in Digital Media
• Digital Marketing Channels
• Digital Marketing Strategy
• Digital Marketing Management

To apply for the Postgaduate Diploma in Marketing you must meet the minimum admissions requirements:

• you must hold a recognised third level honours degree (minimum of a lower second class honours degree)  along with at least 2 years working in an appropriate industry sector
• you must  have significant and suitable work experience in a marketing (or associated) role.

Yes one programme is accredited currently by a third level institute and the other isn't - so the choice is yours. I do know from one of the founders of the DMI, Ian Dodson, that they are in discussions about the formal recognition of their programme through a third level institute.

How do you choose which programme to attend?

Well in my personal experience when studying for programmes in other areas I find that taking the time to get to know the orgnanisations, understanding their apporach and getting clear about the outcomes you can expect does help. I also have spoken to people who have attended previous programmes to get a sense of what the organisation of the programme and the capabilities of the faculty are like in terms of their teaching style and experience. Cost, duration, location and timing have also been a factor for me to consider.

At the end of the day though I have focused on my personal motivation to study for the programme and looked at the curriculum that best fits my personal and professional needs.

How do you choose which programmes and training you attend?

Here is a terrific opportunity for people looking to develop their skills in digital marketing and also for small businesses in Ireland who want to get their businesses online.

The programme is called WebActivate.

Listen to my podcast about the programme here:

At the moment the programme is taking registrants from people through to the 16 July 2010 - they mention on their website that applications are particularly welcomed from people who are unemployed with an existing educational attainment of NFQ level 6, 7, or 8. You will receive 6 weeks ‘In-Centre’ training following which you will spend 12 weeks with 3 different SMEs creating websites and coaching the employees of the SME's on how to maximise business through online channels.

During the work placement you will attend their designated training centres one day a week for classes, ongoing mentoring and coaching from the Webactivate trainers. You will be equipped with a Notebook computer, software and 3G broadband, all of which are provided through the WebActivate programme. Find out how to register HERE.

The curriculum includes modules in:

• Internet Publishing
• Marketing
• Social Media Marketing

Certification includes a suite of FETAC component modules with 4 credits at NFQ Level 6.

If you are an SME WITH NO WEB PRESENCE AT THE MOMENT then I also recommedn that you check out the programme and benefit from the skills that people will be learning. You will receive access to support by providing a workplacement to one of the participants of the programme. There are no fees or charges for the SMEs providing work placements in the programme. The programme will serve small to medium businesses in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway and you can register online here.

I was so sorry to hear of the recent death of Tricia Murphy a well known and loved trainer in the field of networking and a former President of Network Dublin.

I first met Tricia around 5 years ago and her warm smile and positive attitude lit up any room she was in. She also did a huge amount to encourage people to network in the 'real world' as part of their business development long before 'networking' became 'fashionable'.

Through her small business TIG Alliance she also hosted a very popular programme called the Simply Networking Salon - an eclectic evening where you didn't know who you might meet! And Tricia generously funded these herself.

And when asked what TIG stood for she simply answered "Well it's Tricia Is Great" - not in an arrogant way but with the confidence that seems to elude many small business owners.

Over the last 2 years  she suffered with cancer - but even then she turned her bad news into something to help others - she shaved her head of her beloved hair and raised over €12,000 for charity.

Her work inspired others, and I wonder how many new business contacts were initially made possible by her teaching or active facilitation.

She has certainly left her footprint on the world.

Did you have the opportunity to meet Tricia? What impact did her work or knowing her have on you?

Last week I met a member of the eircom online team and they mentioned to me that there were three roles that they are recruiting for at the moment in the organisation and if I would be happy to share them with people in my network.

So here they are listed on IrishJobs.ie - and do make sure that you pass on the details to people in your network too if you know people they may be relevant for:

User Experience Specialist

Digital Marketing Specialist

Head of Meteor Online

All roles are based in Dublin.

Did you know that Tony Hseih CEO of Zappos the innovative online retailer has a new book called 'Delivering Happiness' which is being launched on Monday 7 June.

I just came across the book launch but was inspired to decide to host a 'book launch' party for the book in Ireland to co-incide with 123 other book launch parties across the globe.

You see the subtitle of the book is something I think we all strive for as leaders - 'a path to profits, passion and purpose'.

So are you free on Monday 7 June 2010 around 8pm? Would you like to get together for a meetup where we share views on what your ideas are for finding a path to profits, passion and purpose in your business and professional life?

I know it's a holiday weekend but perhaps a few of you might like to join me. I've yet to decide a location - it will be in Dublin - and it would be great if we could get a sponsor because on the evening I'll be suggesting that we make a small donation to be split equally between Livestrong (Lance Armstrong's non profit organisation whose goal it is to eliminate cancer across the globe) and the Irish Cancer Society. (Tony has announced a collaboration to help raise funds for LiveStrong.)

So are you interested in joining me for an hour on Monday evening? You never know you just might leave with some great ideas for how to attract more profit into your business and be inspired to live a life where you deliver happiness to your co-workers and colleagues?

Register below if you plan to join me or over at Plancast, or Meetup.com, at LinkedIn or my Facebook event.

If you are not in Ireland then you can find an event near you at the global list of Meetups for the Delivering Happiness book launch here.

UPDATE 5 JUNE: I will also have FREE copies of 'Delivering Happiness' for attendees of the event so be sure to register to attend so I can organise the books to be delivered to us - this is thanks to Zappos.com

UPDATE 7 JUNE: The venue for the meetup is confirmed as The Fitzwilliam Hotel, St Stephen's Green, Dublin from 8pm (in the bar on the ground floor at the back of the hotel - the hotel is just opposite the Luas)

Here's a video from Tony about 'Delivering Happiness' to get you in the mood.