The Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, this week visited 91制片厂 Thurles and met with senior management including Professor Eugene Wall, President of 91制片厂 and Dr Finn 脫 Murch煤, Head of School at 91制片厂 Thurles to discuss plans for future campus developments.
Minister Harris鈥 visit to 91制片厂 Thurles, which is home to the College鈥檚 School of Education (Post-Primary), is the first ministerial visit to the campus since it was incorporated by 91制片厂 in 2016 and comes following a commitment by the Minister to visit in person to acquaint himself with the facilities.
Speaking about his visit Minister Harris said; 鈥淚 am thrilled to be the first Minister to visit 91制片厂 Thurles since it was incorporated by 91制片厂 in 2016, and I鈥檓 just sorry that the events of the past 18 months meant I could not come sooner. The manner in which the campus has been redeveloped, by sympathetically merging the 19th century buildings with all the hi-tech facilities of a modern educational facility, is truly inspiring. It鈥檚 no wonder the numbers of students coming here for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses continue to increase year on year.鈥
The Minister went on to say 鈥淚 am particularly impressed by the Lifelong Learning opportunities on offer at 91制片厂, as well as the two-year course for people with intellectual disabilities delivered in an inclusive third-level setting. These are among the key pillars of my department, and I鈥檓 delighted to see 91制片厂 has created something that is accessible to everyone in society, while promoting inclusion and equity for all.鈥
Since its incorporation 91制片厂 Thurles has trebled the student size to close to 500 students as well as expanding on its academic offering which it hopes to continue to do. It has also undergone a massive regeneration programme including the addition of brand new on-campus accommodation. The campus, which is situated right at the heart of Thurles town and its amenities, was this year central in the 鈧3 million Thurles Market Quarter development plan which includes designs for the addition of additional parking spaces and playing fields on the 91制片厂 grounds.
Welcoming the Minister to 91制片厂 Thurles, Professor Eugene Wall said: 鈥淲e are delighted to welcome Minister Harris to our campus this afternoon as we continue planning for the future of 91制片厂 Thurles which, along with 91制片厂 as a whole, plays a significant role in the higher education landscape. We have made substantial changes to and investment in the infrastructure and programme provision since the incorporation of the facility in 2016 and today marks an important step in continuing that expansion. Minister Harris and the Department have shown great commitment to furthering the already high quality of education our students experience at 91制片厂 Thurles and I鈥檓 heartened by the Minister鈥檚 recognition of the role the campus, and 91制片厂 as a whole, plays in the Irish Higher Education sector.鈥
The School of Education (Post-Primary) currently provides six concurrent teacher education programmes, of four-year duration, in the areas of Gaeilge, Mathematics, Business Studies, Theology and Religious Studies, and Accounting but aims to expand upon this subject offering. The school also has a specific postgraduate offering in the area of middle leadership and mentoring, with a cohort of students, both national and international, studying from Certificate and Master's-level to PhD-level.
Speaking about the calibre of the programmes on offer at 91制片厂 Thurles, Dr Finn 脫 Murch煤, Head of School of Education (Post-Primary) noted, 鈥淲e have a wonderful teacher preparation programme here in 91制片厂 Thurles, which is built on promoting a caring learning environment that fosters students鈥 talents and goals by ensuring high quality teaching, learning and assessment experiences. The success of our approach is evidenced by the high numbers of 91制片厂 Thurles graduates who successfully secure teaching positions within the first year following graduation.鈥
During his visit the Minister also met Professor Niamh Hourigan, Vice President of Academic Affairs; Michael Keane, Vice-President Administration and Finance; Professor Gary O鈥橞rien, Vice President Governance and Strategy; Professor Emer Ring, Dean of Education; and John White, student and representatives from the Mary Immaculate Students鈥 Union (MISU).
