90% of graduates get jobs after leaving GMIT

The Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) has jumped five places, making the biggest improvement in the ranks of a national university ranking table.

Yesterday staff and students of GMIT celebrated their new ranking in the Sunday Times University Guide 2015 … and the award of ‘IT of the Year’ from the newspaper.

The college climbed five places in the league table to stand at 12th this year off the back of a strong academic performance. No third-level institution has moved further in this year’s rankings.

GMIT ranks joint ninth nationally in terms of graduate employment, with just 8% of students looking for a job nine months after leaving, a marked improvement on last year’s 18%.

The work placement element of GMIT programmes contributed to their graduate employment rate – the Institute had more than 1,200 students on work placement last year.

Around 65% of students achieved a first grade or 2:1 qualification, compared with 48% the previous year. This puts GMIT at the top of the IT sector in this respect, and joint 4th nationally.

Work to retain students is paying off, with the completion rate improved by five percentage points on the previous year to stand at 85%, ranking GMIT joint second on this measure.

GMIT President Michael Carmody said: “I am very pleased with the awarding of the Sunday Times Institute of Technology of the Year accolade to GMIT this year.

“This positive development recognises the contribution of staff across the Institute in enhancing our teaching, research and student services activities.

“The award builds upon the very successful CAO campaign this year with over 2,000 net acceptances to GMIT.

“These outcomes are a result of the continuing achievement of the objectives of the Institute Strategic Plan 2010-2016, particularly in the areas of new programme development; research and innovation; and enhancing teaching and learning and student support services.

“This achievement is a further step in achieving our objective to be designated a Technological University with our partners in the region in due course,” adds Mr Carmody.

Now in its 13th year, the Sunday Times Good University Guide saw NUI Galway in fourth place in the overall league table, the same as last year. It came in at number four in the ‘Best for Jobs’ category and fifth in most money spent on research (almost €87,000 research income per academic).

NUI Galway came in at number 6 for Highest Entry Points (422 being the average) and fourth in the Staying the Course table with 84% completing their degrees.