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Waterford
Institute Of Technology |
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Welcome |
WATERFORD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
The third level education system in Ireland is broad in scope
and encompasses:
the university sector
the technological sector
the colleges of education
and private independent colleges.
The first three groupings, which comprise 34 institutions, are
autonomous and self governing, but are substantially state
funded.
The Universities in Ireland and the Institutes of Technology in
Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Galway and Sligo confer academic awards
on successful students in their own colleges. Most
non-university colleges receive academic qualifications from the
Higher Education and Training Awards Council which was
established by the Government in June 2001, under the
Qualifications (Education and Training)Act 1999. HETAC awards
qualifications and sets and monitors standards at all levels of
higher education and training up to PhD level. The quality and
standard of Irish educational awards is fully recognised
globally. All Irish awards are included in the national
framework of qualifications maintained by the National
Qualifications Authority of Ireland.
Waterford Institute of Technology is the largest of the
Institutes of Technology outside Dublin. It was established as Waterford Regional Technical College in 1970. Its
designation was changed in 1998 to Waterford Institute of
Technology (WIT). At this time WIT applied for and, after an
international quality review, was granted delegated authority by
the National Council for Educational Awards (now NQAI) to award
its own Certificates and Diplomas.
Being the sole provider of higher education in the South East
region of Ireland, WIT has developed differently from many of
the other Institutes of Technology. Firstly the number of third
level students is the highest in the sector (excluding DIT). The
current full-time student cohort numbers 6,400 and the part-time
cohort number 4,550. The range of academic programmes is very
wide covering Humanities, Health and Nursing, Science and
Informatics, Engineering, Business and Education. The majority
of courses are at degree level and the Certificates and
Diplomas, with a small number of exceptions, provide for
progression to degree level.
WIT has been a leader in the Irish higher education sector with
regard to the provision of lifelong learning opportunities and
access for disadvantaged groups. Many of WIT's successful
initiatives in this area have been copied by other colleges.
Because of the needs of non-standard groups, WIT has responded
by developing expertise in the areas of flexible accreditation,
outreach and flexible delivery modes.
Providing a caring and supportive learning environment for its
students is central to WIT's ethos. The range and quality of
student support services is excellent. Examples include the
CHART Centre and the Medical Centre which provide care,
counselling, guidance and support for any student encountering
personal, social or health difficulties. Good housing for
students is also one of WIT's priorities and the Institute
currently owns and/or manages sufficient high quality
student's apartments to meet the demand.
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There is a thriving research and postgraduate community in WIT.
Many of the researchers have a high profile in both the national
and EU community of academics. This is shown by the fact that
WIT researchers have competed successfully against University
researchers for prestigious national and EU research funding
e.g. PRTLI, SFI and EU Frameworks 4-5.
WIT has formal academic exchange and research partnerships with
over 40 universities worldwide. These range from the old
established Universities such as Oxford, Trinity College Dublin
and University College London to newer technological
universities such as Budapest University of Technology and
Nanjing University of Science and Technology. In addition WIT
has very close relationships with industry & commerce, the
professions and the public service for research, consultancy,
student and graduate placements etc. A culture of
entrepreneurship and innovation is fostered at all levels in the
organisation. This can be illustrated by one year enterprise
platform programme offered to graduates by the School of
Business. Through its School of Humanities it plays a very
significant role in the social and cultural life of its region.
With regard to physical resources to support its learners, WIT
has developed on four campuses in the city. The main campus on
the Cork Road was established in 1970 and other buildings and
facilities were added over the years. The latest of these is a
state of the art Library and Information technology Centre which
was referred to in a recent issue of the Irish Times as "one of
the best in Ireland". The second largest campus is at College
street and comprises some very historical buildings purchased
from the Good Shepherd Order of nuns and a beautiful Pugin-designed
chapel, which is used for concerts and ceremonies. The latest
acquisition by WIT is an estate in County Waterford at
Carriganore which will be its corporate headquarters and will
house Research and Innovation, a student village and provide
extensive sports and recreation facilities.
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