A 'College of The Future' revealed for Limerick town

LIMERICK and Clare Education and Training Board has been granted approval to move to the next stage in developing a College of The Future (COTF) in Newcastle West.

Minister Simon Harris and Minister for State Niall Collins made the announcement in the town this Monday afternoon.

The project envisages a new Further Education and Training campus in Newcastle West. This proposal will transform learning in Limerick with an expansion of further education courses in the county and deliver full-time programmes in Newcastle West for the first time.

The proposed project will have a digital focus ensuring students have access to the skillsets they need for the modern workforce. The proposal would facilitate the consolidation and integration of existing programmes including Youthreach and VTOS, and enhance progress pathways within FET and from FET.

Mr Collins said: "As a minister at the Department of Further Education, but especially as a local representative of Limerick County, it’s brilliant to be able to confirm that the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board has been granted approval to move to the next stage in developing a new further education campus in Newcastle West. 

"The new campus will expand the number of people who can attend further education and full time programmes in Limerick. It’s important that we continue to improve our further and higher education facilities, and this is proof of the Government's commitment to this."

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The proposed campus will be suitably equipped to ensure students have the appropriate skills to ensure they are ready to enter the modern and digital workforce. 

"The College of the Future Major Projects Fund from my Department will ensure that FET’s across the country can implement strategic goals the department has set for further education. Across the country, we are working to increase the number of apprenticeships, further education programmes and lifelong learners. 

"Education is the great leveller in Irish society and I’ll continue working to ensure that better educational opportunities are available for people across Limerick,” added Minister Collins.

Welcoming today’s announcement, George O’Callaghan, chief executive, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, said: "Building skills is a key theme within our FET Strategic Framework. This is focused on offering modern and up-to-date FET teaching and learning environments that reflect quality and industry standards, and promote innovation and sustainability. 

"While significant FET delivery currently takes place in Newcastle West, adequate learning facilities are required to accommodate different types of learners – including specialist training rooms, classrooms, libraries and study facilities. These facilities need to be accessible to their target groups, both for vocational and non-vocational learning, and new teaching methods may require specialist equipment – including access to on-line opportunities. The development of a FET College of the Future in the town will deliver on this vision."

Minister Harris said it is a "brilliant day for Limerick and for Newcastle West".

"It has been chosen as one of ten locations to proceed to develop their proposal for a further education College of the Future.

"Newcastle West is the largest county town, and the principal service town for a range of townlands and villages within a small radius. An integrated FET College of the Future will facilitate the growing population of the town and the wider catchment area.

"This will increase the number of learners who can study in Limerick and crucially, improve links with higher education institutions across Ireland.

"This College of the Future Major Projects Fund will support the implementation of the vision set out in the Further Education Strategy. This Fund and the proposed development in Limerick has the potential to deliver on a range of strategic objectives. It is great that the proposal will now proceed to Preliminary Business Case Stage."