Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT ) and Galway Community College (GCC ) have signed a new collaborative agreement aimed at promoting and improving equity of access to higher education for second level students of the community school and for providing progression routes for PLC students.
GMIT President, Dr Fergal Barry, and the Principal of GCC, Mr Brian Melia, formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU ) in GCC at Moneenageisha, Galway City on Tuesday (20 September 2016 ), attended by David Leahy, Chief Executive, Galway Roscommon Education Training Board (GRETB ), Shane McClearn, Deputy Principal, GCC and Michael Hannon, GMIT Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar.
Dr Fergal Barry said: “Galway Community College’s students originate from the local area and we want to work together to give these students confidence and opportunities to attend higher education in GMIT. We have an extensive range of activities planned with GCC to achieve this.”
The agreement will involve aligning the school’s Level 6 further education programmes with GMIT degrees, to allow GCC students advanced entry directly into the second year of a GMIT programme.
Currently GMIT staff visit GCC to share information on programmes and student life in the third level college, while GCC students visit the college’s campuses and engage in a range of activities and workshops. GMIT aims to further engage GCC students in activities which will prepare and enhance the secondary school pupils’ confidence with a view to continuing their education in GMIT.
Mr Brian Melia, Principal of Galway Community College, says: “Galway Community College is delighted that a Memorandum has been agreed with GMIT. The agreement will strengthen the close relationship between the two centres and further ensure the alignment of courses and as a result the progression opportunities for Further Education students from Galway Community College. Second level students in Galway Community College will benefit from close collaboration and shared expertise to make informed choices regarding their third level education and opportunities. All students and Staff in Galway Community College will benefit from this understanding through the provision of a shared vision”.
In recognising areas of mutual interest, GMIT and GCC intend to work together on the following:
Developing smooth and seamless pathways for students from GCC’s Further Education programmes at level 6 to year 2 of programmes in GMIT where subject mapping is appropriate;
Mapping the progression and performance of students from GCC Further Education programmes level 6 to GMIT;
Engaging GCC’s second level students and level 5 Further Education students in relation to the possibility of undertaking a Higher Education programme, and exposing them to the range of possibilities in GMIT;
Ensuring the GCC’s second level students make informed third level programme choices through workshops, reciprocal visits etc.
Assisting GCC students to be prepared for the transition from second to third level, eg information skills workshops, online academic skills courses
Staff liaising on discipline specific teaching techniques,
Potentially collaborating with regard to physical infrastructure.
