THE President of LYIT is encouraging people to continue their higher education in Letterkenny as the Institute of Technology finalises its plans to deliver the 2020/21 academic year.
LYIT students returning and prospective have been told that the new academic year will commence on September 28.
In order to comply with the need for social distancing in the Covid-19 world, LYIT is proposing a blended delivery as opposed to a strictly online model – with a key target of having more than a fifty per cent face to face contact, particularly for first years and lecturers.
The balance of hours will include a mix of online classes, on site tutorials and practicals for the 3,500 full-time and 1,000 part-time students who are expected to enrol in courses at the Port Road campus this year.
Mr Paul Hannigan, President, said that they were looking forward to welcoming all the new first years for what, even in the current pandemic, will still be the start of an exciting new chapter.
Last month, the Technological Higher Education Association outlined the measures being taken to ensure a safe return to campus at IoTs.
“We’re already doing a lot of work behind the scenes making sure our campus will be safe; through social distancing, face coverings and careful timetabling but these guidelines give us a clear roadmap.
“I will be encouraging students to take up college offers this year as there’s very few other options available to them. Everyone is doing their best to make sure that the on-campus experience is a good one and the best option, in my opinion, this year is to take the course that you’re offered,” Mr Hannigan said.
There will not be a wholesale shift to online teaching at LYIT, with the President acknowledging the clear message from students that they are committed to preserving the on-campus student experience.
“The quality of the student experience is very important to students and staff alike in Letterkenny and we aim to protect that experience as much as possible while delivering academic programmes in a way that is safe, inclusive, supportive, and effective,” the President said.
FIRST PREFERENCES UP 7%
Fears had been expressed that many students will find it difficult to return to third level education in the new academic year due to the financial consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is estimated that the College is worth in excess of €100 million to the local economy each year. More than 1,100 full-time students are expected to start courses in Letterkenny IT come late September.
However, Mr Billy Bennett, VP for Academic Affairs and Registrar at LYIT, said that early indicators were positive.
“The first preferences on CAO Level Eight Honours Degree Programmes are up seven per cent. That’s applications rather than acceptances but that’s a really positive indication, even at this early stage,” he said.
A new Health Science programme together with a new Computer Science degree, which has been specifically targetted at those who studied computer science to Leaving Cert level for the first time, are both proving popular.
“Our blended delivery approach, as opposed to a strictly online model, is also working in our favour. We’re trying to get students into the college for as much as we can. Our target is that at least half of normal contact hours will be face to face and we’ll combine that will some remote online delivery,” Mr Bennett said.
LYIT is looking at blocking students for two to three days within each week as opposed to blocking one or two weeks within a month.
“Our approach is to have all of the students in for some of the time each week throughout the academic year,” he said.
How will that work for students planning to come to LYIT and accommodation providers in the town?
“It’s not easy whatever way you look at it. Having the students on site one week in three or four (the preferred model in the University of Limerick) presents very different challenges when it comes to accommodation. The feedback were got from a student survey is that they really value the on-campus experience. That is their preferred model and it’s probably the model that will be used by most Higher Education institutions,” Mr Bennett said.
Agreeing, Mr Hannigan said that the Students Union had already approached accommodation providers locally to look for flexible arrangements.
“The accommodation list was released on Monday (August 10) and it will be interesting to see what type of engagement they’re getting. Everyone has to recognise that this year is very different. Hopefully, we’ll be back to normal – if not during this academic year then for the start of next year. The college is growing year of year and we’re asking everyone to be aware of the circumstances in which they now find themselves,” Mr Hannigan said.
The Covid-19 pandemic means that the new school year will start two weeks later than originally planned. One of the challenges will be attracting Non EU International students to Letterkenny.
“It’s a problem nationwide and it’s an important market for us too. We had 300 International students last year made up of non EU (fee-paying) and Erasmus (European Exchange Programme) students.
“This year we’re scaling right back on the Erasmus Programme while there will also be an impact on Non EU student numbers. A group of those students, who chose to stay in Ireland, will be returning and there will be additional students but there’s still some uncertainty over visas,” he explained.
While there is likely to be a reduction in the number of International students, LYIT expects to see a surge in the numbers undertaking Springboard courses in Letterkenny.
“It’s good news for those who are looking for a change of career or those who, unfortunately, who may have lost their jobs and want to go back in education to up skill or reskill into a new area. We have received €2.2m for places which are either free or where students pay a maximum of ten per cent of the cost of the programme they undertake.
“We’re just shy of 4,500 students (full-time and part-time) at the moment. Our objective is to hit the 5,000 mark over the next few years,” he said.
“For students, the big issue in recent times was the uncertainty. At least now there’s a greater degree of clarity. The calculated grade system is in place and now there’s a clear date from the CAO with regard to offers and a start date. There’s a clear picture as to what the model of delivery will look like,” he added.
The Registrar also reminded prospective students that there is still time to enrol in LYIT.
“We have opened up a number of Level 7 programmes where students who, even if they had not applied before the July 1 deadline, can still change their mind and apply for those programmes through Available Place Courses.
“Maybe if you had considered taking a year out or were travelling abroad and may now want to revisit those plans all is not lost. We still have places available,” he said.
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