IWFM Level 4 Diploma in Facilities Management (Part Time)

Delivered online with webinars, you can work full-time and study this IWFM Level 4 Diploma in Facilities Management. This qualification is ideal for professionals working at an operational management level, responsible for managing day-to-day operations either in-house or outsourced. It is also suitable for those aspiring to work in such a role that currently work within the FM profession.

Resolving non-routine problems that are complex is the everyday role of the FM manager. To be successful, the FM manager needs a broad understanding of facilities management. Over 36 weeks, this IWFM Level 4 Diploma in Facilities Management programme seeks to equip you with the skills and competencies to identify and understand the issues that arise every day in the FM world.

The delivery of this programme is by interactive webinar sessions and online learning allowing you the flexibility to study from a location convenient to you. Webinars are recorded allowing you the opportunity to catch up should you miss a session.

As an academic Institution we recognise, in Portobello Institute, every student has different needs. We allocate additional time at the end of each webinar for Q&A with the module lecturer. This interactive webinar, together with the one to one support available, gives a learning journey unique to your learning style and needs.

Upon completion of this programme, you will be able to;

• Understand facilities management as a broad function
• Understand how to address complex, non-routine problems
• Develop skills required to effectively manage a team

Why should I study this course?

An IWFM qualification, enables career progression and improves your earning potential within the industry. It is a nationally and internationally recognised qualification in the field of facilities management which enhances your credibility in the workplace. This qualification will provide you with knowledge and skills that are aligned to the Professional Standards.

Who will recognise my qualification?

Upon completion of this course, you will be awarded the IWFM Level 4 Diploma in Facilities Management. This is awarded at level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

Qualifications Frameworks in Ireland and the UK

The Irish and UK qualifications authorities have collaborated on initiatives that promote the transparency, recognition and mobility of qualifications between our respective jurisdictions. The qualifications authorities in the UK and Ireland have agreed the qualifications frameworks in operation, Brexit will not impact this agreement. Further guidance on this framework is available here.

The purpose of this course is to equip you with the knowledge, skills and competence to use as a facilities manager in a range off complex FM environments. The IWFM Level 4 Diploma will give you a thorough understanding of facilities management within the context of an organisation. You will develop capability to manage health and safety issues within your own area of FM. You will learn to identify areas of risk and develop an understanding of core elements of risk management. You will gain an understanding financial management in context of FM and develop core skills of people management.

• Overview of Facilities Management
• Managing Health & Safety in Own Area of FM
• Risk Management in FM
• Financial Management
• FM Support Services Operations
• People Management for FM’s
• Property, Fabric & Building Service Maintenance
• FM Strategy
• Procurement and Contract Management in FM
• Management of Information Knowledge in FM

Each student is assigned a personal academic tutor to support you throughout your learning journey. They are available to offer you telephone and email support at any time. You can arrange to meet them for further one to one guidance at a time convenient to you.

Many of our past graduates have found it is the opportunity to ask a simple question, seek direction and submit a draft of their assessment that supported them most to successful completion. Emailing your tutor at any stage during your programme to ask a query or submit a draft of your assessment supports you to achieve your personal best throughout your studies with Portobello.

This level of one to one support is a particular benefit to choosing Portobello as your Institute of choice to complete your studies.

The IWFM Level 4 Diploma has been specifically re-designed for delivery by online learning with live interactive webinar sessions. It is very suited to you if you have a busy work and home life and want to fit study around this. During the induction, you will be given your log-in details to the online portal, “ePortobello”. Here you will find course notes, reading lists, articles of interest and assessment guidelines. The content is structured in an easy to “find and follow” format. You will need basic computer skills such as searching the internet and typing a word document. The webinars are scheduled every 2nd week on the same evening to give structure to your learning journey and encourage you to continue to progress through the programme. The break between webinars allows you time to work on the assessment.

There is one to one tutor support available to you during your learning journey. You can upload your assessments and your support tutor will give you feedback on whether you are on the right track. Online learning allows you to study at your time with support available when you need it. Integrated throughout the programme are webinars, designed to give you the connection between theory and practice in facilities management.

The Difference between Blended and Online with Webinars Delivery Modes

There are two delivery mode options to study facilities management courses in Portobello Institute.

Blended learning offers you the opportunity to study with lectures delivered at the weekends. This condensed scheduling is specifically designed to fit into your life as a working facilities management professional.

All online lectures are recorded for you to catch-up later. You may have the option to attend a lecture delivered onsite – these onsite lectures will simultaneously be delivered online and will also be recorded so you can customise your learning journey – attend on-site, online, or catch-up later.

Online with Webinars – lectures are delivered online and may be schedule during the evening or at weekends. You will not be required to attend on-site lectures if you are enrolled on a course with this delivery mode. All lectures are delivered online and are recorded so you can catch-up later.

Having the flexibility to choose whether you attend a lecture as it is taking place or to catch up later means you can seamlessly access and fit education into your life whilst still continuing with your everyday life.

Course Structure

This IWFM level 4 programme is available to study through webinars and online content. The content is available on “ePortobello” and is structured in an easy to follow “week by week” format.

The webinars are scheduled once per month to give structure to your learning journey and encourage you to continue to progress through the programme. The break between webinars allows you time to work on the assessment. It takes 36 weeks to complete the webinars with a further 6 weeks available for submission of assignments at the end of the course. Webinars are recorded and should you miss a session, you can catch up with the recorded session at a later date. You will only be able to access Webinars of the group you are assigned to.

The programme commences with an induction webinar that gives you the details of what to expect throughout the course, how to access the information on ePortobello, how to contact your programme support team and an overview of the course and assessments you will complete during the 8 months of this programme. The induction session is held usually 3 – 5 days, prior to the start date of the course.

What is a Webinar?

A webinar, in the context of online learning, is a lecturer delivering a presentation or class online to a group of students. We use specifically designed e-learning software so you can participate in the class just as if you were present in the same room. You can ask a question of the lecturer at any stage during the class. The software is designed with “break-out rooms” where you can discuss a topic or complete a group exercise with a smaller group from your class. You will need a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone that has internet connection, an audio facility so you can hear and speak during the class and a camera so your lecturer and fellow class participants can see you. The webinar is a secure online environment and only those permitted entry by the lecturer can gain access to the “classroom”. Webinars are recorded during each session and should you miss a session, you can catch up with the recorded session at a later date. You will only be able to access Webinars of the group you are assigned to.

Tutor Support

You can email your tutor at any stage during the module to ask a simple query or submit a draft of your assessment. Our programme management team are always available to offer you telephone and email support and if you need to, you can arrange to meet them for further one to one guidance.

Many of our past graduates have found it is the opportunity to ask a simple question, seek direction and submit a draft of their assessment that supported them most to successful completion.  This level of one to one support is a particular benefit to choosing this mode of study. Portobello Institute has invested in a team of programme managers and tutors who are experienced sports therapy practitioners as well as qualified and knowledgeable educators. They are available to assist you at every stage of this programme.