Students angered as online college dissappears

Hundreds of students have attempted to log into their professional qualification courses to find their college has disappeared.

It claimed to offer full-time, part-time, and online courses—including diplomas and postgraduate diplomas—focused on practical, industry-ready skills in areas like business, project management, public relations, and event management. Awards professional diplomas and postgraduate diplomas certified in partnership with bodies like the Institute of Commercial Management (ICM), rather than traditional university academic credits.

Students and staff logging in this morning found that the company website and social media has dissappeared.

One student who spoke to JOE was midway through a postgraduate qualification for his career said he attempted to log in this morning and could not access the website.

"Everything is gone," he said.

"The submission platform, everything. I tried to email the college and it bounced.

"No one knows what's happening and there's potentially thousands of students left in the lurch.

"Everything was done through the college portal and email addresses for Fitzwilliam are bouncing."

This student paid €1595, which was discounted and €1200 covered by his employer, it takes two years to complete and he has not completed his first year.

Multiple calls to the Fitzwilliam Institute from JOE have gone unanswered and a visit to the address in Dublin's Harcourt Street saw no one in the building. The building is now listed on Google maps as a co-working space.

Online message boards allege some were concerned about the college closing last month.

The Institute of Commercial Management (the awarding body for a lot of the professional diplomas from Fitzwilliam) have let some students know they are making inquiries on their behalf.

The Department of Further and Higher Education have been contacted for comment.