Fourteen new courses unveiled outside of CAO points race – The Irish Times
New details on “groundbreaking” degree programs outside of the CAO points race in areas such as nursing, computer science, engineering and business are due to be announced on Wednesday.
The move is part of an effort to create alternative routes to the third level without having to secure highlights.
In addition, the colleges and universities are to be more closely interlinked and the dropout rates are to be reduced.
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Minister for Further Education and Higher Education Simon Harris, who is due to speak at the Teachers’ Union of Ireland conference on Tuesday, is expected to confirm details of 14 new courses outside the CAO system.
These courses start at a higher teacher training college before moving on to a university or technical university.
It includes a new nursing program to be offered at further education colleges in the North West before moving to one of Atlantic Technological University’s campuses at St Angela’s in Sligo, Letterkenny or Castlebar.
Courses start in September and students can apply in July.
A second series of courses is scheduled to begin in September 2024 in areas such as culinary arts, music technology, sustainability, performing arts and supply chain management.
The route to access these courses will be determined shortly. However, it is expected to reflect the existing application process for further education and training, which requires completion of the Leaving Cert or Leaving Cert Applied rather than CAO credits.
Mr. Harris will also outline new plans to introduce disability benefits for students, trainees and trainees in further education.
Currently, support is limited to students completing a Post-Leaving Cert (PLC) course.
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Under the new plan, every part of the training system can now access support, including personal assistants and dedicated learner support. This begins in 2024.
As part of this new plan, each Education and Training Board (ETB) must spend a minimum percentage of its budget supporting the disabled.
Mr. Harris will present his view that higher education needs to address this issue in the same way as primary and secondary education in order to expand inclusion and access to higher education and increase diversity in participation in apprenticeships and internships.
New finishes outside of the CAO points race:
Future media production: First year of further education (at the Kildare-Wicklow ETB or City of Dublin ETB) and second year at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire
Business Administration: The first year takes place at an ETB college in Laois-Offaly and then leads to a variety of study opportunities at Setu (South East Technological University).
Science & Informatics: The first year takes place at an ETB college in Laois-Offaly and then leads to a variety of study options in Setu.
Mechanical engineering: The first year takes place at a further education college in Galway and Roscommon ETB or Sligo and then leads to the Atlantic Technological University.
Business: The first year takes place at a further education college in Galway and Roscommon ETB or Sligo and then leads to the Atlantic Technological University.
Science: The first year takes place at a further education college in Galway and Roscommon ETB or Sligo and then leads to the Atlantic Technological University.
Care: The first year will be at a further education college in the North West and then move on to Atlantic Technological University at one of its campuses in Letterkenny, Castlebar and St Angela’s.
Site management: Year one in a further education college in Limerick Claire ETB. The following years will be at TUS (Technological University of the Shannon).
Mobile Computing: Year one in a further education college in Limerick Claire ETB. The following years will be in TUS.
Business Administration: Year one in a further education college in Limerick Claire ETB. The following years will be in TUS.
