Friday, 26.09.2008
Classes and courses a big hit with Irish public
Interest in classes and courses has sharply increased amid the recent months of economic uncertainty, according to the most recent survey of internet usage in Ireland.
According to the Joint National Internet Research (JNIR) Report for the twelve month period up to July 2008, 40% of Irish internet users used the Internet to search for information on courses, classes and college research, a figure that has been buoyed by a considerable increase in interest in further education in recent months.
The data also reveals that 3% of internet users have booked a course online in the past 12 months, while 22% have gone on to book a course offline after conducting online research. Meanwhile 21% of Learning Ireland uses have bought a course online while 38% have gone to book a course offline after conducting online research.
According to Learning Ireland, operators of the Nightcourses.com and Daycourses.com websites, the latest statistics reflect a nationwide increase in interest in upskilling in the fact of economic downturn, with many people determined to enhance their skillsbase and level of education in order to make themselves more valuable to employers.
The Learning Network scored particularly well in the research, recording a 6% increase in Irish users, while its Nightcourses.com website increased usage by 13% amongst females and Daycourses.com recording a 20% increase amongst males. The Learning Ireland network is now the 12th most popular website in the country, recording more traffic than Pigsback.com, Breakingnews.com, Irishexaminer.com and Hot Press.com.
In addition, visitors to the Learning Ireland network are amongst the highest educated in the country, with 55% having a third level qualification or higher.
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Key information about the Learning Ireland website network:
· 9% of the Internet population visited Nightcourses.com & Daycourses.com on a regular basis
· 64% of visitors are in the ABC1 category
· 55% of visitors are female
· 65 % of readers visit at least one per month
· 25% of users have a postgraduate qualification
· 78% urban dwellers
· 71% of users have credit cards
· 36% have a mortgage
· 83% of users are in regular employment
· 80% of users have bought online (41% at least once/twice per month)
Key statistics about Internet usage in Ireland
A majority of Irish adults are now online!
The total number of Irish adults 15 yrs plus ever connecting to the internet now stands at 1.798 m, or 51% of all adults.
35% of all adults are connecting to the internet every day or most days – a total potential online daily audience of 1.265m adults.
A majority of internet users (54%) have made at least one online purchase in the past month.
With the most significant past month online purchases being flights (29%); concert/cinema etc tickets (18%); hotels/accommodation (18%); CDs (10%); books/magazines (9%); Government services (8%); mobile phone top-ups (8%)
With the internet now being used to meet a broad range of needs from news & information to banking & commerce; career & education to entertainment & social networking.
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More information: Kevin Branigan - Tel: (01) 2844 738.
Email: kevin@learningireland.ie
Note: Learning Ireland is the leading provider of information about classes and courses in Ireland and operates The National Education Database, the largest searchable database of course options in Ireland, containing listings of over 40,000 courses from over 2000 providers nationwide. It also operates the www.nightcourses.com, www.corporatetraining.ie, www.daycourses.com, www.postgrad.ie and www.learning.ie websites and publishes the leading printed course directories in Ireland.
