Hundreds of secondary pupils to attend Open Day on 24 & 25 January

Monday, January 20, 2014 Press Office
Press Release

Last chance CAO advice on GMIT courses, SUSI grant applications clinics and more…

Hundreds of secondary school students from around the country are to attend Open Days in GMIT this week, on Friday 24 January in Letterffrack (1pm) and Saturday 25 January in the Dublin Road campus and the Centre for the Creative Arts & Media (10am – 1pm).

 

The January Open Days are designed to help students make important final decisions about their course choice in the run up to the CAO application deadline on 1 February. Students will be given demonstrations and short presentations on GMIT’s degree programmes in Business, Computing &  IT, Creative Arts & Media, Engineering, Furniture Design, Manufacture and Teaching Training, Nursing & Social Care, Outdoor Education, Science, and Tourism, Hospitality and Heritage.

 

Letterfrack’s Open Day, commencing at 1pm on Friday (24 January) will be an interactive event where students will be taken on a tour of the campus to view CNC technology, robotics, lazer cutters, workshops and student facilities. Group bookings are through Samantha Flaherty, Telephone 091 742653 or email:  samantha.flaherty@gmit.ie

 

As part of the Open Day in the main Galway campus (Dublin Road) on Saturday (25 January), specialist talks will take place on the SUSI grant application process. Information will also be available on the full range of excellent student supports available to all students especially to first years as they adapt to third level college life.

 

GMIT has a great reputation for its range of student supports, evidenced in graduation day questionnaires. Monica Megraw, Student Services Officer, says: “Starting college is an exciting time that will bring new experiences as well as new challenges. We, GMIT Student Services, are here to help. We provide excellent support to all our students such as Counselling, Chaplaincy, Careers, Access Office and the Health Unit, and more.”

 

“We also focus in particular on supporting our first years through ‘Peer Assisted Study Sessions’ which are run by trained students on the same programme. By supporting our students in this way we enable them to focus on their studies and personal growth resulting in a superior student experience.”

 

In addition to learning about programmes, student supports and the range of student facilities, GMIT Open Days provide opportunities for secondary school (and mature) students to view the facilities. A shuttle bus will operate between the two city campuses taking in the range of laboratories, studios, workshops, kitchens, demonstrations theatres and student facilities.

The College of Tourism and Arts will be holding a live cookery demonstration in one of the training kitchens. The demonstration will be undertaken by two culinary technicians, Eamonn Hoult and Ulrich Hoeche and will  focus on local foraged foods and preserved ingredients.
 

The demonstration will run for approximately two hours starting at 10am and people will be able to come and go as they please and sample some products throughout the event. Menu items include Green Pea and Nettle Soup, Beetroot and Foraged Herb Platter, Duck with Variations of Elderberry Preserve, Wild Mushroom Risotto & Gorse Flower Panna Cotta.
 

"This is an ideal opportunity for prospective students, parents and anybody interested in local foods and cooking to visit the Department of Culinary Arts. Staff will be available to answer queries." says Cait Noone, head of the College of Tourism & Arts.
 

Michael Hannon, GMIT Registrar, says: “GMIT’s degree programme have a practical, creative and applied approach to learning. They are designed to meet employers’ and industry needs, and they also give students options to study abroad on exchange programmes , and on work placement which enhance their employability and skills.”

 

“Our Open Days are opportunities to talk to lecturers and current students about the courses they are interested in and have yet to make a final decision on for their CAO applications. “ adds Mr Hannon.

 

For further information on the range of courses, facilities, supports and the schedule for the Open Days, please visits: www.gmit.ie/slo or contact carina.ginty@gmit.ie or slo@gmit.ie