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Waterford Institute Of Technology
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.
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.