Minister Simon Harris outlines alternative further education routes to Galway students

Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris outlined alternative pathways to learning when he spoke to a group of second-level students on a visit to Galway last week.

Meeting with some of the Senior Cycle and Further Education and Training students at Galway Community College, the Minister spoke of the pathways available to them after their current education – and of the inclusion of further education and training courses on the CAO website for the first time this year.

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science noted that the direct route into university is not for all.

But he said that further education courses may be viewed as similar to a transition year – where students can sample a vocational area for one year to see if they are suited to it – before committing to a longer period of study in that career area.

Minister Harris was accompanied by Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, and Senator Sean Kyne on his visit to GCC on Monday – as he came to Galway to reveal that GMIT had purchased the ten-acre site of Crowley Park, current home of Galwegians RFC.

He also announced that €430m will be made available for capital expenditure in higher and further education, 40% of which will be directly allocated to further education.

Minister Harris took time to answer questions from senior cycle students in areas of student finances and his own career pathway to date.

He spoke with Biomedical Students in our state-of-the-art laboratory, listening attentively to the students and questioning them about their future career pathways and course preferences.

Galway Community College Principal Brian Melia thanked Minister Harris for taking time out to address the students on the welcome changes to the CAO.

“These changes to the CAO will help to promote progression opportunities that await them in Further Education and Training Centres and Higher Education Colleges,” he said.

“We applaud the efforts being made to change the conversation from ‘what college you would like to attend?’ to ‘what is it you want to do later in life?’

“Having all of the opportunities that are offered through Higher Education, Further Education and Training and Apprenticeships feature on the CAO website for all of our students will help them further to make a more informed decision regarding their futures,” he added.

GCC is currently accepting applications for all courses, see www.galwaycc.ie or attend the on-campus Open Day on Tuesday, March 1.