A new agreement between Mary Immaculate College (MIC) and Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (the ETB) commits to supporting community-based learning across the Mid-West and recognises the importance of making education accessible to all.
Born of an already fruitful and longstanding partnership, the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reaffirms the positive and mutual benefits of the collaboration for learners in primary, post-primary and tertiary education in the region.
MIC and the ETB already collaborate on the delivery of a number of programmes and projects, including the Teacher Education Access Programme (TEAP) offered at MIC, a programme designed for mature learners who wish to gain entry to the Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) degree at the College, and the Certificate in General Learning & Personal Development (CGLPD), a two-year programme for those with intellectual disabilities and devoted to the academic learning, personal growth and career development prospects of the student.
The MoU identifies a number of mutual interests, including collaboration on the co-design and co-delivery of existing and new programmes; enhanced progression opportunities to Higher Education courses from Further Education & Training provision; and collaboration on the new development of co-located facilities in Limerick and Clare with closer integration of real estate and strategic objectives for the region.
According to Professor Eugene Wall, President of MIC: “Through the signing of this new agreement, Mary Immaculate College is delighted to build on an already prosperous relationship with Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board. Our commitment therein emphasises the importance of making education accessible to all and will lead to the expansion of the programme offering in the region. The ETB Community National Schools and Community Colleges are the biggest provider of established Special Classes in the Mid-West, providing for these respective communities, and offering placement and employment for the expanding numbers of graduates from MIC in special needs. I look forward to witnessing the fruits of this partnership and to leading MIC’s undertaking in this regard.”
George O’Callaghan, Chief Executive, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, said: “With a shared tradition and history of collaboration with Mary Immaculate College, the ETB looks forward through this MoU to now further strengthen this collaboration across a range of areas including the primary, post-primary and tertiary education sectors. Examples of existing linkages between our institutions include MIC student placement opportunities across our network of Community National Schools and Community Colleges; ETB Schools Division and MIC Faculty of Education collaboration on the European Commission’s new Erasmus+ Teacher Academies initiative; alignment and progression agreements of ETB College of FET programmes with MIC undergraduate programmes; the co-delivery of the Teacher Education Access Programme (TEAP) and the provision by the ETB of Quality Assurance governance to MIC’s Certificate in General Learning & Personal Development (CGLPD).”
The agreement further commits to the establishment of a Steering Group, led by the President of MIC and Chief Executive of the ETB, which will lead a strategic process of substantive progress and collaboration in education and training provision across the region. An additional Working Group will also be established and will consist of three members from each institution who will operationalise strategic aims and objectives via a working plan and audit of activities.
The MoU will be reviewed bi-annually by both parties to report and identify additional opportunities for agreement and collaboration.
