The admissions office at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology has received over 600 applications for its new degree programme at the Castlebar campus — the BA in applied social sciences, commencing in September.
There has also been a marked increase in the number of CAO applications for two construction-related programmes in Castlebar — the BSc in construction management and restoration and the BSc in architectural technology.
The increase in applications can be attributed to a number of initiatives undertaken by staff on these programmes, says Dr Barbara Burns, head of centre, GMIT Castlebar. “GMIT staff met with representatives of local government departments and local business to discuss how they could work together to take people off the live register and back into upskilling and education,” explains Dr Burns.
“With regard to the construction courses, staff led by lecturer Mairead Ludden worked with management of the Mayo Social Welfare office to mail information about the relevant programmes to unemployed Mayo residents with experience in the construction industry and who were eligible for the Back to Education allowance. Expressions of interest were initially received from over 350 individuals, of whom over 40 have applied through the CAO. These people will be interviewed in May as part of the annual mature student interviews for programmes.”
Michael Gill, head of department, GMIT Castlebar said the campus management and staff have been proactively working with the local chamber, the Enterprise Development Panel, Mayo Industries Group, Mayo Intercultural Action, and the Mayo Ideas Lab to develop relevant upskilling and re-training programmes.
Planning is also underway to deliver the Higher Certificate in business and enterprise development in Castlebar, a one-year programme aimed at individuals who want to start up or develop their own business. The programme has already been successfully launched in Galway.
