Open Morning (Sat 23 April) to feature go-kart demo and range of interactive events

A go-kart demonstration, featuring electric cars built from scratch by third year Mechanical and Energy Engineering students in GMIT, is expected to be a major draw for secondary school pupils attending the Institute’s Open Morning on Saturday 23 April from 10am – 12.30pm.

The Go-Kart Demo will take place in the visitor car park to the right of the IT Learning Resource Centre at the Dublin Road campus. The demo is one of a whole host of exciting interactive events and activities taking place in the two city-based campuses; the GMIT Centre for Creative Arts & Media (CCAM) and the Dublin Road campus. 

The Open Morning is expected to attract secondary school pupils and their parents from schools across the region and other provinces. It is also open to mature learners considering higher education options. The event will feature a number of presentations and talks on the various degree programmes and higher certificates offered by GMIT, an expo space comprised of a Games Zone, CAO programme and Student Life zone, Career Clinics, and workshops such as Interactive Mocktail Demo, DIY Yourself, Real or Photoshop, Spaghetti Structures and more, with some great raffle and competition prizes.

The talks include introductions to courses in Business, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering; Computing, Science, Tourism & Arts, Agriculture, and on courses in GMIT campuses at Letterfrack (Furniture Design, Technology and Education); the Centre for Creative Arts & Media at Wellpark Road (Art & Design, Film & Documentary); the Mayo campus in Castlebar (Nursing & Health Sciences, Business & Technology, Heritage and Outdoor Education) and the campus in Mountbellew (Agriculture with Business and/or Science). These talks will take place in rooms 994, 995 and Theatre 1000.

A special talk will talk place at 10.30 in Theatre 1000 on the brand new Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science which commences in September (CAO course code GA790). For further details, see:

http://www.gmit.ie/life-and-physical-sciences/bachelor-science-hons-spo…

Dr Paul Fahy, lecturer from the Dept of Mechanical Engineering, says "The go-kart event will be a very exciting feature. Each Kart is unique. Some groups have designed karts to incorporate a regenerative braking feature (recharge the batteries of the kart when braking), while others have cruise control, forward and reverse, and hand/foot throttle. Drivers will be wearing a go-Pro camera on their helmets with a live feed which will allow spectators to monitor and view progress around the track via a special app that can be downloaded from GMIT’s Moodle website and watched on smartphones or tablets while on site."

GMIT Schools Liaison Officer, Dr Carina Ginty, says, "This Open Morning is a great experience for prospective students and their parents to learn about the college, be better informed about CAO choices and experience student life. At the Open Morning there will be stands offering information on 80 CAO courses, Students Services - First Six Weeks of College programme, college finance with SUSI and a Get Back on Course Careers Clinic for anyone wishing to return to a programme of study or who may have made the wrong CAO choices in the last few years."

A bus will be available to transfer visitors between the CCAM and Dublin Road campus. The programme and exhibition plan is available to view at www.gmit.ie/openday