How a Leitrim mum will earn a master’s in animation without leaving home

For Kim Reid, a Leitrim-based artist and mum of two, going back to college once seemed impossible. Childcare was expensive, the nearest campus hours away, and life in rural Leitrim felt worlds apart from lecture halls.

“Childcare in rural Leitrim was hard to find,” she says. “So I took a step back, but it meant putting my own work completely on hold.”

Now, Kim has redefined her creative path. She completed a Degree in Ceramic Design from the National College of Art and Design in 2009. After stepping back to care for her two children, she saw the Certificate & Master’s in 2D/3D Animation from Dundalk Institute of Technology as a great way of reigniting her creative spark and working in a more collaborative field.

“I never imagined I’d be doing a postgrad from home,” she says. “But once my youngest started school, I realised it was now or never.”

She had worked for years as a ceramic artist, selling handmade pottery at craft fairs. But after taking time off to raise her children, she began to crave something more collaborative—and more future-focused.

“I wanted to retrain in something that combined creativity with connection,” she says. “Working in animation means I get to be part of a team again, even while living in rural Leitrim.”

Fully online courses have become a lifeline for people outside major cities. From renewable energy to cybersecurity to the arts, more and more degrees are now available remotely, making qualifications more accessible than ever before.

Kim’s story reflects a growing trend: rural learners earning professional qualifications from home while balancing family, work, and everything in between.

“I’ve gained confidence, direction, and a sense of purpose again,” she says. “And I didn’t have to relocate or rearrange my whole life to get there.”

"I am starting a master’s from DKIT in September — all online — which would have been impossible without Springboard+ due to my rural location and family commitments. Being able to learn remotely while still being part of a team has been so rewarding. I’ve rediscovered my creative focus, worked on amazing projects, and gained a new sense of direction. The last few years have shown me what I don’t know, which has ignited a passion for lifelong learning — not just for what it gives you professionally, but for how it increases your self-confidence and opens doors you never thought possible."

According to the Higher Education Authority, two-thirds of learners now take up further education to futureproof their careers, especially in rapidly changing industries. In 2025, over 7,700 places will be available across 249 government-funded courses—many of them entirely online.

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