Vol. 421 No. 6
66 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education if he will outline the degree to which status is being applied to the Dublin Institute of Technology advanced diploma course in marketing administration being carried out at the College of Marketing and Design, Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1; if this degree status will apply to students participating in this course at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The course to which the Deputy refers was first offered in the 1991-92 academic year as an extension to an existing diploma course and leads to an Advanced Diploma of the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT).
The college authorities went ahead with the course without the necessary departmental approval or validation by the Dublin Institute of Technology. When the Dublin Institute of Technology decided to validate the course the necessary departmental approval was given retrospectively. Students who successfully complete the course will accordingly be awarded an Advanced Diploma of the Dublin Institute of Technology.
In certain cases recipients of such Advanced Diplomas are, through an arrangement with the University of Dublin (Trinity College), also entitled to the award of a degree by that university.
In relation to the course in question my understanding is that while there have been informal contacts no formal submission has been made to the University of Dublin for the recognition of the course for the award of a degree. Any such submission would be a matter for the college and for the Dublin Institute of Technology and the decision on the matter would be one exclusively for the appropriate authorities in the University of Dublin.
