The green light has been given to Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board to proceed to the next stage in developing a College of The Future (COTF).
The project envisages the building of a state-of-the-art further education campus built which will increase capacity in Galway city.
Atlantic Technological University has also been given the go ahead to proceed to the next phase for a multidisciplinary teaching and learning facility on the Galway City Campus.
College of The Future
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris said:
“This is a brilliant day for Galway. Galway has been chosen as one of ten locations to proceed to develop a further education College of the Future.
“Galway has become a hub for third level education and it needs a state-of-the art facility to meet the demands of the entire county.
“The College of the Future Major Projects Fund will support the implementation of the vision set out in the Further Education Strategy. This Fund, and the proposed for development in Galway has the potential to deliver on a range of strategic objectives. It is great that the proposal will now proceed to Preliminary Business Case Stage.”
Minister Harris also confirmed ATU has been successful under the Technological Sector Strategic Projects (TSSPF) Fund to proceed to develop the preliminary business case for a multi-disciplinary teaching and learning facility in Galway. It is envisaged that the new building will serve students in the areas of Engineering, Business, Science and Computing.
Minister Harris added:
“At the beginning of the year I set out my vision for a new phase of capital investment in the higher education sector, and specifically the technological sector, that would act as an enabler to achieve and meet the ambitions and needs of this sector.
“Today is a key milestone as we see ATU emerge from the first part of a robust strategic assessment process, and move to the next phase of the project life cycle development, which will see the development of preliminary business case.
“Investment will play an important role in supporting the technological sector as drivers of regional development by allowing them to better meet the needs of learners in their region, to deepen existing and forge new relationships with business and enterprise and to respond in an agile fashion to future developments.
“Advancing these capital proposals is key to ensuring a pipeline of key strategic projects delivers for our learner, economic and societal needs, and we need to keep these objectives at the heart of all our decision making. The outcomes of the preliminary business case stage will inform the development of a pipeline of projects and future capital investment decisions.
“The proposal developments to be advanced under the Technological Strategic Projects Fund and Further Education and Training College of the Future Major Projects fund will complement significant investment right across the technological sector and further education and training sector.”
GRETB’s Chief Executive David Leahy said:
“We are delighted to have been successful in our application for funding to build a state-of-the-art Further Education and Training College in the heart of Galway City.
“This will allow us to develop and expand both our full and part-time courses and to offer the very latest in technology-enabled facilities in the continued delivery of top class education for the West of Ireland.”
Andrew Brownlee, CEO of SOLAS, said:
“Today’s announcement marks an important step forward for learners and communities in the Galway area, but also an important milestone in the evolution of FET facilities and provision nationwide. This College of the Future is part of a larger shift towards distinct, integrated colleges of FET around the country, which will serve as a beacons of community-based learning excellence.
“This is a brilliant and brave proposal from GRETB because it brings together the fantastic provision in GTI & training centre onto one single integrated FET college campus. As we continue to deliver cutting edge campuses that showcase the very best of FET, we will start to change the hearts and minds of Irish society with regard to school-leaver and lifelong education options.
“A warm congratulations to my colleagues in Galway Roscommon Education & Training Board and all of the potential learners in the Galway area on what is an inspiring day for both the region and the sector.”
ATU President Dr Orla Flynn welcomed the announcement:
“The proposed development of this Learner Centre will benefit students and staff across our region, but especially those based at our ATU Galway City campus.
“ATU has ambitions to become a truly great multi-campus technological university, serving the needs of our unique region, and beyond. . To do this, we will require continuing capital investment and today’s announcement is a very welcome step in that process. We can now look forward to ATU growing as a great place to study and work for generations to come.”
The Atlantic Technological University offers Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Lifelong Learning opportunities for aspiring higher education students. Learning is and will be the core activity of the Institute, bringing students, staff and the region together to share, apply, test and create knowledge. Out of GMIT’s five campuses, the Galway Campus is the largest and home of the Institute’s administrative headquarters. Overlooking Galway Bay, the campus remains one of Galway City’s iconic landmarks due to its distinctive architecture and design. The modern building hosts an IT Centre and the Library. Business, Tourism, Engineering, Science a wide range of courses are available on this campus.
Galway City is also home to GMIT’s The Centre for Creative Arts and Media. A stones throw away from the city centre, the campus focuses in courses in art & design, textiles, and film & documentary that cater to aspiring creative students, who are looking to gain on hands experience to prepare them for Art and Multimedia sectors. The building consists of high ceilings, wide windows and spacious room, while the library is constructed with Irish oak using a distinct ecclesiastical theme.
The Mayo Campus of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology opened its doors to students back in 1994 and now offers modern facilities and services for both students and staff. Courses in Nursing, Business, Sciences, Tech among others are the main focus at the Mayo Campus. The National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology is located in North-West Connamara at GMIT’s Letterfrack Campus. The Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology was the first institute in Ireland to house a agricultural college, originally set up by the Franciscan Brothers in 1904. Today students at Mountbellow have the choice between two degrees on the campus – Rural Enterprise & Agribusiness or Agriculture & Environmental Management.
Among the excellent academic services provided by GMIT, there are also great recreational facilities for its students to avail of including GAA, rugby, soccer, athletics, indoor sports and a selection of clubs and societies.
GMIT Campuses
- GMIT Galway Campus
Dublin Road
Galway
H91 T8NW - GMIT Centre for Creative Arts and Media
Monivea Road
Galway
H91 DY9Y - GMIT Mayo Campus
Westport Road
Castlebar
Co. Mayo
F23 X853 - GMIT Letterfrack
National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology
Letterfrack
Co. Galway
H91 AH5K - Mountbellew Agricultural College
Mountbellew
Co. Galway
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