Letterkenny Institute of Technology
Phone: 074 9186000
Website: www.lyit.ie
Full-time undergraduates: 2,100
Full-time academic staff: 150
Famous graduates: Patricia McKenna, MEP; Niall Blaney, TD; Vivienne Doyle, former Miss Ireland
WHY CHOOSE LYIT?
Let's face it, the vast majority of higher education programmes have "clones" (or near relatives) in multiple colleges. So why choose Letterkenny IT (LYIT)? The institute has developed a number of exciting new course offerings including watersports, coaching and development, fire technology, computer games, digital media and quantity surveying.
LYIT's programmes are designed to give you the skills you need to get a job, and this is supported by the employment record of our graduates. It is a relatively small college and, as a result, staff/student relations are friendly and informal.
A recent independent survey showed that LYIT exceeded students' expectations and that one of the most positive aspects of the college was the "sound lecturers".
Anything new or exciting?
For the academic year 2006/2007 the Tourism College Killybegs will be designated as a school of Letterkenny IT and this is a very exciting development for both institutions and will lead to an expansion of existing activity. In addition, the institute is introducing a fully modularised and semesterised course structure from September 2007 and this will offer greater course choice and flexibility to students.
The institute's soccer team will represent Ireland in the European Cup competition to be held in Dublin in October 2006.
Letterkenny as a town continues to grow at an exceptional pace. This vibrancy contributes to student life within the town and the students are made to feel very welcome by the local community.
THE STUDENT VIEW
David Leonard, president
Best bits about your college
Welcoming atmosphere created through the established sports clubs and societies and an entertainment scene that ranks among the top in Ireland. A brand new multi-purpose centre composing of a state-of-the-art gym equipped with a 500-seat entertainment venue and basketball and indoor courts.
What are the drawbacks?
The LYIT can be seen as isolated and secluded to prospective students. Letterkenny can be seen as too much of a hindrance when it comes to commuting between home and the institute. Although a cliché "it's definitely worth a visit".
How is the academic side?
LYIT is now offering its own awards and offering master courses to students. In the previous two years each department has excelled and produced students that have gone to illustrious careers in media, computing, teaching to name but a few.
Last year also saw the LYIT host the Law Debating competition attended by many universities and institutions
What's the craic like?
To try and narrow it down to a few words would be tough. There is a dedicated entertainments officer in the student union who excels in bringing entertainment that caters to a wide array of tastes, these include DJs Felix the Housecat and Above and Beyond, singer-songwriters Damien Dempsey and Declan O'Rourke and top comedians such as Des Bishop.
Sum up your college in five words; friendly, exciting, dynamic, inclusive, recognisable.
LYIT students on the web (www.boards.ie)
I live in Sligo but go to college in Letterkenny!!
The nite life in Letterkenny is brilliant, a lot better than Sligo - better pubs and clubs. Pretty similar in terms of shopping. No trains in Letterkenny so that's a downer.
Limerick Institute of Technology
Phone: (061) 208208
Website: www.lit.ie
Full-time undergraduates: 3,861 Full time academic staff: 250
WHY CHOOSE LIT?
LIT prepares learners for fulfilling and challenging futures, fostering the professional, intellectual, social, cultural development of the individual.
Our active learning strategy, learning support and mentoring services have resulted in a dramatic increase in completion rates being experienced, with LIT's completion rate across all courses over five per cent points higher than the national average of 75 per cent in the institutes of technology.
Graduates of the LIT continue to be snapped up and the institute enjoys a near 100 per cent employment rate/participation in further study.
Balanced theoretical and practical learning is complemented by a good study and leisure balance with students taking the time to enjoy themselves through the students' union facilities or by participating in a wide range of sport.
Anything new or exciting?
A total of € 9.5 million will be spent on the refurbishment of the Limerick School of Art and Design, LIT, keeping it at the cutting edge of design where it enjoys a leading global position, with students continuing to win prizes all round, most notably the coveted Nokia Young Fashion Designers Award.
The Moylish campus will have a new € 13.5 million learning and information resource centre (LIRC) built.
The institute has launched a number of new courses in fine art, design, engineering, science, finance and technology
THE STUDENT VIEW
Katie Mc Dermott and Declan Mac Nally; students union president and vice-president
Best bits about your college
The range of courses: there is something for everyone.
The dedication of all the staff.
Enthusiastic students.
The college teams and their successes.
Wired FM: the radio station.
Events organised throughout the year.
The bungee jump during rag week.
The opportunity to travel.
Every year it just keeps getting better!
What are the drawbacks?
If only we could get the cash to do everything we want. Unfortunately, that is not always possible as, alas, the funding is restricted! Saying that, we work with what we get and stretch it as far as it will go. We find that a bit of stretching can go a long way, and, with what we have, we do a damn good job!
How's the academic side?
From forensics to mechanical engineering, and music technology to event management, there is something for everyone. The shared enthusiasm between the dedicated staff and students and the collective drive to succeed can be seen in all aspects of the college.
What's the craic like?
Limerick is a very student friendly city. From pubs to clubs, and theatres to cinemas, there is always something happening. Throw in the events organised by students and the union and you will be hard pressed to find time to sleep. But sure who needs sleep when there is craic to be had?
Sum up your college in five words: five wouldn't do it justice.
LIT students on the worldwide web (www.boards.ie)
Defending the college from the gripers.
UL is too big and way too impersonal. You could meet someone one day and never see them again.
LIT is like a big family and way friendlier. If you think the SU building is a tip, do something about it - complain to the union or get involved in it.
Well what do you want here? the only thing we are missing is a pub and that's not going to happen. UL mightn't even have one for that much longer.
Institute of Technology Tallaght
Phone: 01-404 2000
Website: www.ittdublin.ie
Full-time undergraduates: 2,400
Full time academic staff: 250
WHY CHOOSE ITT?
Institute of Technology Tallaght (ITT Dublin) provides learners with flexible higher education opportunities which are of the highest quality. This includes thehigher certificate, bachelor degree, honours bachelor degree, masters and post doctorates in the faculties of business science and computing and engineering. We offer accessible programmes, delivered in a professional manner in a friendly and supportive environment.
We foster graduates who are ready to undertake the roles, responsibilities and challenges available in business, industry, the professions, public service and society.
ITT Dublin is the regional higher education institution of South Dublin County. We aspire to be a major contributor to the social, cultural and economic life of the county, and its surrounding region.
We realise this aspiration by teaching and learning, research and development and providing support for innovation and enterprise.
Anything new or exciting?
Approved for delegated authority - now able to make awards within the National Qualifications framework at higher certificate, ordinary degree, honours degree and at masters level.
THE STUDENT VIEW
Darren Carey, Ronan O'Sullivan and Alan Mulcahy; student union president, welfare officer and education officer
Best bits about your college
The working atmosphere within the college is extremely good between lecturers and students. Students that have left the college have been very successful with their chosen careers. The friendly way in which the students interact with both other students and lecturers.
What are the drawbacks?
Lack of facilities on campus. We have tremendous clubs and societies that have been very successful over the years. Not enough car parking spaces for students and lecturers. The facilities are not the greatest especially for a college that is growing as fast as Tallaght.
How is the academic side?
Very professional approach taken from senior management and staff and are there for students on a daily basis.
What's the craic like?
The craic in Tallaght IT in my opinion is better than most colleges as the college is smaller than a lot of other institutes and everybody gets to know each other.
The craic is created by the relaxed working environment within the college.
Sum up your college in five words: fun, relaxed, friendly, supportive, adventure.
IT Tallaght students on the web (www.boards.ie)
I'm going into my fourth year in Tallaght. Social life is fairly good but it depends on you whether you get the most from it or not.
There are college-wide socials every few weeks, which are usually quite good and are in decent venues in town.
However these events are always over sold and the venues are never big enough. If you want to make the most of the social scence in college you need to organise nights out with people in your class, like going to the pub or heading into town every now and again.
There are only 20 students in my class and we have a great social life within the college. Everyone is up for going out, playing a game of football or whatever. So I suppose to get the best from the college social life you should try organise things with your class every now and again.
Institute of Technology Tralee
Phone: 066 7145638
Web: www.ittralee.ie
Full-time undergraduates: 3,500
Full-time academic staff: 250
WHY CHOOSE IT TRALEE?
We offer a wide range of courses with flexible entry routes from craft to postgraduate level with the opportunity to progress from the higher certificate to bachelor degree to honours bachelor degree and postgraduate study.
All undergraduate courses at the IT Tralee lead to an honours degree qualification.
We have an excellent staff-to-student ratio which ensures that all students receive personal attention.
IT Tralee has invested over €50million in new state-of-the-art teaching facilities providing students with an excellent learning experience.
The institute offers a comprehensive range of student services including careers advice, medical, counselling and pastoral care.
Mature students and those with special needs are welcome at the institute. For details contact: Valerie Moore, Access Officer. Tel: 066 7191682, e-mail: valerie.moore@ittralee.ie
Anything new or exciting?
In May 2004 Noel Dempsey, TD and Minister for Education and Science opened the IT Tralee North Campus, Phase 1. The IT Tralee north campus is shared with Kerry Technology Park (KTP).
The campus was designed to link education to the world of work in a seamless way by offering a shared space for education, research and enterprise.
Facilities in operation on north campus include the Business and Information Technology Building and the Hotel, Catering and Tourism Building (which includes five state-of-the-art kitchens, a restaurant, bar, demonstration theatre, class and resource rooms) is also operational.
New undergraduate programmes for September 2006 are: Bachelor of Business in Bar Management; Bachelor of Arts in Information Systems Management; Bachelor of Business (Honours).
THE STUDENT VIEW
Peter 'Bella' Doyle , president of IT Tralee students union.
Best bits about your college
With approximately 3,000 students here, we are not the biggest college in Ireland but we are very united and everybody within the college becomes very friendly, very quickly.
Accommodation is excellent and very cheap with five brand new state-of-the-art student villages been recently built.
What are the drawbacks?
Very few! I suppose the fact that development is taking place within the college, we mightn't have everything available to us at the moment but we will have very soon.
How is the academic side?
Excellent. The staff and students develop an excellent rapport together.
Each lecturer does their level best for each student and this shows in the results the students get.
There are excellent facilities for all students to prosper in their area of excellence.
What's the craic like?
We have great fun on nights out together and we try and organise many non-alcohol events throughout the year for which we have massive involvement from all students.
We have a huge entertainment programme drawn up already for the coming which promises to be a huge success!
Sum up your college in five words: friendly, entertaining, successful, sporting, innovative.
Waterford Institute of Technology
Phone: 051 302000
Website: http://www.wit.ie
Undergraduates: 6,000 full time, 4,500 part time
Academic staff: 1,444
Famous graduates: Louise Heraghty, AA Roadwatch and radio presenter; Karen Shinkins, European indoor 400m bronze medallist 2002; Derek Creevey, Chief of Staff, Edelman PR, New York; Professor David T. Croke, professor of Genetics Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
WHY CHOOSE WIT?
It is one of the largest of the country's institutes of technology.
Complementing its excellent academic reputation, the institute has an impressive infrastructure in the shape of its award-winning Luke Wadding Library; state-of-the-art Walton ICT Building; a new Gallery Restaurant.
Student support services are a priority and these range from pastoral care, counselling and mentoring to disability support, career guidance and medical services.
There is also a diverse range of clubs and societies, ranging from the academic and cultural to sporting fields in WIT.
The quality of accommodation available to WIT students is exceptional with bright, modern apartments providing private study facilities and a large number of en-suite rooms.
Anything new or exciting?
Exciting new undergraduate courses commencing September 2006: BA in Criminal Justice Studies (WD150); BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Studies (WD149); BSc (Honours) in Applied Computing (Computer Forensics); BSc (Honours) in Pharmaceutical Science (WD147).
THE STUDENT VIEW
Shane Kelly; president of students' union.
Best bits about your college
Waterford Institute of Technology is situated in the south east of the country and as such provides an excellent alternative to the universities in the large cities of Cork and Dublin.
What are the drawbacks?
Being located in the south east can put off many prospective students from the north of the country due to the distance from home. However being from Donegal myself I understand how you feel and I can assure you that before long the friendly staff of WIT and us in the students union will have you feeling right at home.
How is the academic side at WIT?
WIT offers a wide range of academic courses to suit all interests and future careers.
WIT as an institute is respected throughout the country and with the current push for university status, WIT is certainly moving in the right direction.
What's the craic like?
Ah the part that most students care about. The social scene in Waterford is excellent, with more pubs and clubs than you can shake a stick at.
The institute also has a wide range of clubs and societies to suit the needs and interests of all students so check it out and get involved.
Sum up your college in five words: a great place to learn!
WIT students on the web (www.boards.ie)
Waterford aint that bad...
I spent four years in college there... also from the place as it happens.
Granted there are certain areas that wouldn't appeal to the devil himself... but the night life is good, there's very little hassle about town and it's a damn sight cheaper to drink there than it is in Dublin.