Statement on GMIT Mayo Campus Sustainability
The GMIT Mayo Campus is a respected and valued campus of GMIT and its reputation as a quality provider of higher education programmes will not be diminished. The Mayo Campus is an integral part of GMIT. The Institute’s vision is for a dynamic, sustainable and responsive GMIT Mayo Campus. The Higher Education Authority (HEA), the GMIT Governing Body, President, Executive Board and Management Group of GMIT are committed to the sustainable development of the Mayo Campus and to its students, staff and stakeholders. There are no plans to close the Mayo Campus.
The GMIT Governing Body, at its most recent meeting, noted that the approved academic plan for the Mayo Campus reflects growth of registered student numbers, but recognizes the difficulty arising from the changing student demand. CAO applications for courses in general nursing, psychiatric nursing, applied social care, and some business courses increased this year on last; others maintained numbers while some courses saw application numbers fall. The Institute will continue to offer a multidisciplinary range of courses including business and technology offerings at the Mayo Campus supported by our ongoing marketing activities.
Last year the Institute developed a New Level 7 Bachelor of Arts programme in Early Childhood Education and Care and took advanced entry into second year of this programme requiring the recruitment of new staff. This programme has attracted a very significant number of total applications and first preference applications this year. Consequently the Institute will again be employing staff at our Mayo Campus to meet this societal need and student led demand. Due to the continuing low student demand for some CAO courses there will not be a first year intake in 2017/18, as in 2016/2017, on a number of courses on the GMIT Mayo Campus. Any applicants affected will be notified of this so that they can fully avail of the CAO change of mind and other opportunities.
GMIT will continue to empower its staff on the GMIT Mayo Campus to engage in programme development, taking into consideration the Strategic Plan for the Mayo Campus (2012/13) and its Review in 2016 which incorporates three pillars – Enterprise, Health and Environment. GMIT is engaging in an agreed process with academic staff representative(s) from the Mayo Campus and Galway Campuses to fully consider the GMIT Mayo Campus programme provision, programme development and future programme needs within the overall strategic vision and mission of the Institute.
GMIT has made a detailed submission to the HEA seeking capital funding over the next decade including repairs to the roof and existing external fabric of the Mayo Campus building, parts of which date back to the 1840s, and further renovation, upgrade and improvement of the internal campus. GMIT is also completing the masterplan for all campuses which provides for the refurbishment of existing buildings at the Mayo Campus as student numbers grow to sufficient scale. GMIT is also compiling an application to the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport for a grant to assist GMIT in improving the sporting amenity at the Mayo Campus. The Institute is also pursuing ring fenced funding to support the Mayo Campus.