The President of GMIT, Dr Michael Hannon, and the Chief Executive of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, George O’Callaghan, today (10 June) formed a new partnership aimed at enhancing access and new opportunities to higher and further education provision in the West and Mid-West region.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was formally signed by the heads of the two organisations at a reception in the offices of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board in Ennis, County Clare, this morning (10 June).
Equity of access to higher education is a core objective nationally. The vision for the Higher Education Authority’s National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-19 is to ensure that students enter, participate in and complete higher education at all levels, reflecting the diversity and social mix of Ireland’s population. This vision is shared by GMIT and Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board.
George O’Callaghan, Chief Executive, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board with Dr Michael Hannon, President, GMIT
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr George O’Callaghan, Chief Executive of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, says: “Through this MOU with GMIT, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board looks forward to enriching existing co-operation activities and exploring further areas of collaboration for the benefit of both our second level students and further education learners. The alignment of current and future Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board Further Education provision with Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology Higher Education programmes is an area which can now be explored further through this MOU framework.”
Dr Michael Hannon, President of GMIT, says: “In signing this MOU with Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, GMIT continues to fulfil its remit of regional engagement and widening access for all students to progress to higher education. Further education students already have access to GMIT via the CAO with a Level 5 qualification, but this MOU allows advanced entry to year two of all our programmes following a mapping exercise with the subject experts. As this is a Government objective for Higher Education – Further Education collaboration, we look forward to nurturing and supporting this new alliance.”
The new MOU will explore new areas of collaboration and co-operation in the provision of education opportunities and linkages for second-level students and further education learners in Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and enhance preparedness and confidence of second-level students to enter and successfully engage in Higher Education programmes in GMIT.
In recognising these areas of mutual interest, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board intend to work together on:
● Developing smooth and seamless pathways for learners from Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s Further Education provision at level 6 to year 2 of programmes in GMIT where subject mapping is appropriate;
● Mapping the progression and performance of learners from Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board Further Education provision to GMIT;
● Enabling Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s second level students make informed third level programme choices through workshops, reciprocal visits etc.;
● Assisting Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board students in their preparation for the transition to higher education.
Triona Lynch, FET Manager with responsibility for Provision; George O’Callaghan, Chief Executive; Shelagh Graham, Director of Organisation Support and Development; Dr Michael Hannon, President, GMIT; and Aobhán Haverty, FET Manager with responsibility for Active Inclusion
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