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Education
Editor Niall Gormley
Production Michael Farrell
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Publishers Ard Education Ltd. Tel: 01-8329246 Email: education@clubi.ie www.educationmagazine.ie
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ISSN 0791-6161
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At the time of press information in Education is believed to be accurate and authoritative. However, some information may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Acceptance of advertisements, does not constitute an endorsement of products or services by the publishers. 4 News: Education snapshot shows changes in the system over the past five years
5 News: Mixed reaction to patronage decisions for four new schools; €31m for summer works scheme in 2021
7 News: Numbers using DARE and
HEAR increase
9 Montessori for adults with dementia at St. Nicholas Montessori
10 News: Maths guide for National
School and Junior Cycle Parents;
New council Chair for Griffith
College
11 FEATURE: The Choose Tech
Programme at FIT
15 News: New measures to tackle educational disadvantage;
Universities report €102 million loss in past academic year
16 FEATURE: Army Engineer Graduate
Programme
21 News: UCC appoints its first female
Head of the College of Science,
Engineering and Food Science;
Oral Irish lessons on zoom for primary school children
22 FEATURE: Following an immunologist's dream to use the immune system to cure cancer
24 See your career going places with the ESB Networks Apprenticeship
Programme
27 Study History & Geography in GMIT
28 Part-time Study Options at NUI
Galway
30 FEATURE: A Socio-Economy of
Ireland's Third Level students 33 News: Trinity research suggests that post lockdown transport may change; National Gender Equality
Dashboard for HEIs launched
35 News: DCU expert says Irish is no more difficult than any other language; New pregnancy healthy eating app backed by UCD clinical research
36 The accessible library you have never heard of... at NCBI
38 Launch your beauty career at
Blackrock Further Education
Institute
40 University Learning in the North West at St. Angela's College
42 Record graduate success for
Dunboyne College
45-54 COVER STORY: A Global Success Story - Engineering and Innovation at Munster Technological University
56 Want to go to college? Not enough points? Sorted...come to DFEi
58 A broad range of further education opportunities at Crumlin College
60 The Pathway to YOUR Future at
Liberties College
62 Sallynoggin College students are looking forward to a bright future
65 Inchicore College - your future starts here
66 Training Services at Kilkenny and
Carlow ETB
69 News: Ineffective age controls putting children at risk on social media; Ireland’s first free voluntary tax clinic arrives in NUI Galway
70 Reviews - recently published books
Cathal Merz, Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, Munster Technological University, whose project on “Test Method Development for Evaluation of Process and Design E ect on Reinforced Tube”, carried out under the supervision of Dr. Gareth O’Donnell and Professor Ger Kelly, won Best Presentation Award at the ICBBBS 2020 Barcelona International Conference on Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Biological Solutions
EDUCATION Indicators 2020, a special report which sets out to provide a comprehensive set of educational indicators for the education system in Ireland.
The data in the report cover all levels of education, starting with early years and working through school education, further and higher education through to lifelong learning.
This updated indicators report provides data up to and including the academic year 2019-2020 (where possible) as well as a look back at how our education system has progressed over the five years 2015-2019.
Some notable findings from the report at school level include : • There were 567,716 children in primary school and a further 371,450 in secondary school, between them being
taught by 66,932 teachers. • The average pupils per teacher in primary school stood at 15.0 while in secondary school it was 12.8 • The number of children in special classes in mainstream primary schools continues to rise and stood at 6,822 in 2019, up from 4,355 in 2015 and there were 13,530 special education teachers and 15,799 SNAs. • The number of multi-denominational primary schools continues to rise and stood at 153 in 2019, up from 120 five years earlier. • The percentage of pupils taking the
Leaving Certificate established programme continues to rise and stood at 70.0% in 2019, up from 66.9% in 2015. • The retention rate to the Leaving
Certificate for the 2013 entry cohort (sat LC in 2018 or 2019) stood at 91.2 per cent, compared with 91.5 per cent for the 2012 cohort.
For further and higher education, some key statistics contained in the report include: ■ There were 211,274 graduates across all levels of the National Framework of Qualifications levels in 2018. ■ 69,726 graduates received an award at Honours Degree level (NFQ Level 8) or higher in 2018. ■ Part-time and remote study is rising steadily with part-time rising from 37,000 in 2015 to 43,000 in 2018. ■ The number of students studying on a part-time or flexible basis, including remote learning, has increased from 48,068 in 2017 to 52,236 in 2018. ■ Numbers taking up apprenticeships rising strongly, up from 8,317 in 2015 to 17,829 in 2019. ■ Number of post-grad researchers has risen from 9,773 in 2015 to 10,065 in 2018 and women account for just over half of full-time PhD students.
DoDo youyou havehave youryour vaccinevaccine records?records?
Did you know some college courses or employers will ask for a copy of your vaccination records before you start your course or employment?
The office will let you know what details they need to process your request. It can take up to 6 weeks to process your request. Ask for a copy of your records now and keep them in a safe place.
Vaccines given as part of the national immunisation programmes will be held in HSE local immunisation offices. Their contact details can be found here http://bit.ly/VaccRecds
www.immunisation.iewww.immunisation.ie
THE Government recently announced the patronage of the four new post-primary schools to be established in 2021 in Meath, Dublin, Cork and Wexford.
Two schools, in Booterstown_Blackrock and Dún Laoghaire, and Gorey, patronage was awarded to Educate Together. In Dunshaughlin patronage went to the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board. Finally, in Carrigaline patronage was awarded to the Le Chéile Schools Trust which is a Catholic trust.
Welcoming the announcement Educate Together, CEO, Dr Emer Nowlan said: “The results of these two patronage selection processes have again demonstrated the huge demand for equality-based education that exists in communities all over the country. We are pleased that these announcements enable us to respond to this demand in Dublin and Wexford.
All four new schools will be English language, with the option of an Aonad Irish speaking unit to be included at Dunshaughlin.
Bláthnaid ní Ghréacháin, CEO of Gaeloideachas said:“We are very disappointed on behalf of the pupils who won’t have the opportunity to continue their Irish-medium education from primary to post-primary level. This is a great disappointment. "Furthermore, included in the announcement was the suggestion that the Aonad model (Irish unit in an English-medium school) may be considered in the future in one or two of the schools. This is not a satisfactory solution to a request for Irishmedium education."
Minister for Education Norma Foley pointed out that the decisions followed the recommendations of the New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG), an independent advisory group. The NSEG issued a report based on the requirements for each area and on parental surveys.
The four new schools will have capacity to cater for more than 2,700 post-primary students when fully developed and are due to open in September 2021.
€31m for summer works scheme in 2021
THE government has announced the approval of 275 projects to be delivered under the 2021 Summer Works Scheme at a cost of just over €31 million.
The upgrade of toilet and other sanitary facilities is being brought forward for delivery as part of the 2021 Summer Works Scheme. These 122 projects are in Category 6 of the multi-annual scheme and are being approved for delivery along with Category 2 roof upgrade/replacement projects for 153 primary schools.
Education Minister Norma Foley said: “Projects approved under the Summer Works Scheme are in addition to the €160m minor works funding already provided, which is particularly important in helping schools to manage and operate in a Covid environment." All schools approved for the 2021 Summer Works Scheme are being notified by the Department of the next steps involved in the delivery of their projects.
Numbers using DARE and HEAR increase Figure 1: DARE Applications 2010-2020
THE DARE and HEAR Annual Report for 2020 shows that almost 6000 DARE Applications 2010-2020 one in five students who applied to the CAO were assessed for DARE and/or HEAR eligibility with 11,576 Higher Educations 4000 places offered made to these applicants.
Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) and Higher 2000 Education Access Route (HEAR) are higher education admissions schemes which aim to achieve equality of access by providing 0 reduced points places to school leavers. 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
When compared to figures in 2019, the following key findings emerged in the 2020 report: 28% increase in offers to applicants eligible for DARE; 14% increase in offers to applicants eligible for Eligible Ineligible Total applications assessed Figure 2: HEAR Applications 2010-2020 HEAR; 22% increase in DARE eligible applicants accepting offers; 8000 HEAR Applications 2010-2020 15% increase In 2020, in HEAR eligible applicants accepting offers. 4012 individual applicants to DARE received an offer of a place in higher education (representing a 6000 27.6% increase on the number of offers made in 2019) with 3146 accepting their offer.Commenting on the report, its author, Colm Downes, Access Manager at the Irish Universities Association said: “Considering 4000 Like other CAO applicants, 2000the impact that COVID-19 had on Leaving Cert students in 2020, those applying to DARE can receive two offers (one at Level 8 and one at Level 6/7). In 2020, the total number of offers to DARE eligible students we are delighted to have been able to increase the number of was 6132. 1738 reduced points offers were made 0 to DARE applicants, while an additional 4394 eligible DARE applicants already achieved on or above the points required for their preferred course. For those applicants receiving a reduced points CAO offer, this offer was either for a course higher on their list of CAO preferences than their points would normally permit, or where 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Eligible Ineligible Total applications assessed DARE and HEAR applicants accepting reduced points offers for Higher Education this year. With these schemes now available at 25 HEIs we are seeing a positive impact across the country”. they would not have received any offer at all.
In 2020, 3548 individual applicants to HEAR received an offer of a place in higher education (representing a HEAR13.6% increase on the number of offers made in 2019), with 2933 accepting their offer. It is important to note that applicants to HEAR (like other CAO applicants) can receive an offer at both Level 8 and Level 6/7. In 2020, the total number of these offers to HEAR eligible applicants was 5444. 1579 reducedpoints offers were made to HEAR eligible applicants who had not met the normal points requirements for their preferred course, while 3865 additional offers were made to those HEAR eligible applicants who achieved on or above the points required). Applicants receiving a reduced points CAO offer either received an offer for a course which was higher in their CAO choices or would not otherwise have received any offer.
The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a third level admissions scheme which offers places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. In order to be eligible for HEAR applicants must fulfil the following criteria:
Prioritisation
Our research has identified that two particular groups of students face the greatest obstacles when it comes to Eligibility Indicators progression to higher education:
1. Income
2. Medical Cards a) students with disabilities who are also from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds; =3. Means-Tested Social Welfare Payment 4. Socio-Economic Group b) students with physical disabilities and sensory (blind/vision impaired or deaf/hard of hearing) disabilities 5. School In order to increase the opportunities for these students in higher education, colleges participating in DARE
6. Area
and HEAR have agreed to prioritise these groups under the schemes. In 2020, the number of applicants eligible for both DARE and HEAR increased to 384 which represents a 28.4% increase from 2019.
HEAR Applications, Offer and Acceptances 2020 Key DARE and HEAR Statistics 2020
In 2020, 61% of HEAR applicants met the eligibility criteria, compared to 54% in 2010. This higher eligibility • 28% increase in the number of offers to applicants who were eligible for DARE, compared to 2019 rate is the result of improved communications to students, parents/guardians and schools as well as user • 14% increase in the number of offers to applicants who were eligible for HEAR, compared to 2019 friendly developments in the HEAR application processes.• 22% increase in the number of DARE eligible applicants accepting offers, compared to 2019 (3146 in 2020, compared to 2578 in 2019) HEAR is the only higher education admissions route that seeks to offer students in the care of the state the • 15% increase in the number of HEAR eligible applicants accepting offers, compared to 2019 (2933 in 2020, opportunity to gain access to third compared to 2557 in 2019) -level. In 2020, 190 such applicants were eligible for the scheme constituting a • 34% increase on 2019. 9.2% of all offers to CAO applicants (under 23 with a current Leaving Certificate) were to DARE eligible applicants (compared to 7.8% in 2019) • 8.2% of all offers to CAO applicants (under 23 with a current Leaving Certificate) were to HEAR eligible applicants (compared to 7.8% in 2019) • 9% of all CAO offers accepted (under 23 with a current Leaving Certificate) were to DARE eligible applicants (compared to 7.9% in 2019) 2 • 8.4% of all CAO offers accepted (under 23 with a current Leaving Certificate) were to HEAR eligible applicants (compared to 7.9% in 2019)
