The Design & Crafts Council Ireland has announced an exciting new partnership with Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology that will see the creation of two new degree courses for students.
The redesign and further development of the DCCI courses in ceramics skills and design and jewellery and goldsmithing skills and design will mark a significant milestone for the sector. It will ensure a high level of craftspeople will graduate with enhanced qualifications in Ireland, while keeping the ancient skills of goldsmithing and ceramics ‘throwing’ alive.
GMIT was chosen as DCCI’s higher education partner following consultation meetings with seven third-level institutions across the country.
DCCI has operated its ceramics skills and design course at the Island Mill in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, since 1990. The jewellery and goldsmithing skills and design course, now in its 24th year, will move from the Castle Yard in Kilkenny to the old courthouse in Thomastown as soon as development works are complete.
Both Kilkenny-based courses, with their strong emphasis on hand skills, are currently two-year Level 7 National Diploma accredited programmes. However, both courses will be redesigned and further developed as three-year honours degree status courses as part of the new DCCI-GMIT partnership.
The GMIT School of Design & Creative Arts is based on both the institute's Cluain Mhuire, Galway, and Letterfrack campuses. The school currently has three departments; Centre for Creative Arts & Media; National Centre of Excellence in Furniture Design & Technology; and Department of Creative Education.
GMIT has been delivering higher education programmes related to design, creative and cultural industries for almost 50 years. The School of Design and Creative Arts currently has circa 700 students across both campuses and enrolments are growing in line with the continuing economic growth of career opportunities in the various creative sectors and related areas. The school has deep engagement with its industry partners and regional communities through its highly qualified graduates, work placements, applied skill-based programmes, and research projects.
“This is a very exciting time for our long-established jewellery, goldsmithing and ceramics courses," said DCCI chief executive Rosemary Steen. "There is an ageing population in the crafts sector so training and upskilling young people is vital to keep these ancient skills alive. We look forward to working with GMIT over the coming years. The GMIT School of Design and Creative Arts’ model and ethos, with its intensive focus on applied skills, chimes very closely with our approach and values. DCCI would like to thank all of the other third-level institutions who took part in the consultation process and we look forward to exploring educational opportunities with other institutions across a range of disciplines over the coming months and years.”
GMIT president, Dr Orla Flynn, said: “The partnership between GMIT and DCCI is an important strategic development for the design and making industry. These programmes are unique in the sector and the collaboration and developing relationship between GMIT and DCCI will lead to exciting new opportunities. We are delighted with this hugely positive initiative, and look forward to working with DCCI.”
GMIT head of School of Design & Creative Arts, Dr Paddy Tobin, added: “We are delighted to partner with DCCI in the development and delivery of these wonderful courses as Level 8 degree programmes. The DCCI courses in ceramics skills and design and in jewellery and goldsmithing skills have an outstanding reputation among the creative community in Ireland and internationally.
"The DCCI approach and education model resonates so well with GMIT’s experience in blending theory and practice, thinking and doing, design and making in our furniture, ceramics, and textiles degree programmes. Achieving the right balance of applied education and skills, in a higher education context, in order to help students reach their full creative potential, is so important. This exciting new partnership between GMIT and DCCI is a real meeting of minds and a story of shared passion for design, making, and the creative development of all of our students."
For more information about DCCI’s skills and design courses, visit www.dcci.ie/learners/dccoi-skills-design-courses
