Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board has this week announced the founding of a new Further Education and Training college: Mayo College of Further Education and Training.
Building upon the productive and mutually cooperative working relationship of Castlebar College of Further Education (Castlebar CFE ) and Westport College of Further Education (Westport CFE ), this new college will bring together both entities in a major evolution of further education and training for the region.
Speaking on the announcement, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB Chief Executive, Mr Tom Grady, said: "The new College will be a vibrant, diverse and inclusive college hosting a wide range of Further Education and Training opportunities at Level 5 and Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications.
"The fusion of Castlebar CFE and Westport CFE is a significant milestone in the development of Further Education within Mayo Sligo and Leitrim ETB. Mayo College of Further Education and Training will be the new home to 450 full-time and 500 part-time students across the two campuses in Castlebar and Westport."
The state-of-the-art FET programmes and courses offered by Mayo FET College will enable students and teachers to meet the demands of the modern social and economic environment.
The College will offer exceptional educational opportunities for school leavers, lifelong learners, returning learners, employers, employees, and the wider community. It will serve as a beacon of learning for the region and afford learners the opportunity for academic, employment and social progression.
The development will be in line with the goals of the SOLAS Transforming Future FET: Transforming Learning the National FET Strategy 2020-2024. The college will focus on Building Skills, Fostering Inclusion and Creating Pathways.
Mr Peter Egan, Director of Further Education and Training Mayo, Sligo Leitrim ETB, commented that: "This is a genuine evolution in terms of educational provision in this sector. It is an exciting and encouraging development for the region.
"Over the coming months we will continuously engage and consult with staff and learners to gather their views and agree the best way to deliver the project. The project will accentuate the expertise of our staff and teachers and provide a future-proofed, consistent, integrated and easily accessible approach to further education and training."
Mayo College of Further Education and Training will operate under a new paradigm that will match course creation with national skills requirements and labour market needs.
This will be a major boost for the region and will form a part of an overall realignment of the sector right across the region. The course offerings will build on the rich innovations of Castlebar CFE and Westport CFE and offer learners in the region the opportunity to partake in relevant courses for employment and progression.
Mayo, Sligo Leitrim ETB has appointed Michael Murphy as Principal, with Monica Sweeney and Eilish Power as Deputy Principals, of Mayo College of Further Education and Training.
