*Aobhan Haverty – Further Education and Training, Shelagh Graham, Director of Organisation Support and Development, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, George O’Callaghan, Chief Executive, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, Dr Michael Hannon, President – GMIT, Triona Lynch- Further Education and Training, and Lorraine Cunningham, Schools Liaison Officer, GMIT. Photograph: Brian Arthur

GMIT and the LCETB have formed a new partnership designed at enhancing access and new opportunities to higher and further education provision in the West and Mid-West region.

Earlier this month, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was formally signed by the heads of the two organisations. The new MOU will explore new areas of collaboration and co-operation in the provision of education opportunities and linkages for second-level students and further education learners in Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and enhance preparedness and confidence of second-level students to enter and successfully engage in Higher Education programmes in GMIT.

In recognising these areas of mutual interest, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board intend to work together on developing smooth pathways from LCETB’s further education provision to GMIT programmes, mapping the progression of learners, enabling LCETB second level students make informed third level programme choices and assisting in the transition to higher education.

Chief Executive of the Limerick Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB), George O’Callaghan outlined the aim of the MOU was enrich “existing co-operation activities and exploring further areas of collaboration for the benefit of both our second level students and further education learners”.

President of GMIT, Dr. Michael Hannon maintained the MOU was part of the institute’s remit to “regional engagement and widening access for all students to progress to higher education. Further education students already have access to GMIT via the CAO with a Level 5 qualification, but this MOU allows advanced entry to year two of all our programmes following a mapping exercise with the subject experts. As this is a Government objective for Higher Education – Further Education collaboration, we look forward to nurturing and supporting this new alliance.”