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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 24 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 2

Written Answers - Institutes of Technology.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

414 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the controversy surrounding a decision by the Limerick Institute of Technology to change its architectural technology course which has provoked considerable criticism within the profession; if he has briefed himself on the merits of the changes; and if there is some arbiter which can assess the desirability of implementing this change. [24796/98]

I am aware of the controversy surrounding a decision by Limerick Institute of Technology to change its architectural technology course as the matter has been raised several times by parliamentary questions and representations from Deputies.

Under the Regional Technical College Act, 1992, and the Dublin Institute of Technology Act, 1992, it is a function of an institute of technology to provide such courses of study as its governing body considers appropriate, subject to the annual programme and budget approval process laid down in the Acts.

My Department has made further inquiries regarding the course with Limerick Institute of Technology and has been advised by the institute as follows:

The changes to the course in Limerick Institute of Technology leading to the College Professional Diploma in Architectural Technology were the outcome of a prolonged and detailed revision within the institute and in response to the views expressed by external advisers and examiners and approved by the governing body.
The industrial review process, which included a practising architectural technician and other appropriate building industry professionals, also endorsed these changes. As this course has a link to the B.Sc. degree from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, the board of studies of the university has reviewed the new structure and the changes to date were approved.
The first year students on this course are fully aware of the nature, structure and content of this course and the institute has a contractual obligation to them. The second and third year students who enrolled under the old syllabus will complete their course in accordance with that syllabus.
With regard to the views of the profession in the matter, it is understood that at a meeting between the institute and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland on 29 September 1998, agreement was reached and confirmed by the RIAI in the following terms:
1. The RIAI regarded Limerick Institute of Technology's pre-existing course in architectural technology as the model for the education of architectural technicians.
2. The RIAI fully accepts the right of Limerick Institute of Technology to change the structure and/or content of its course.
3. The RIAI would wish the new four-year course to produce an output at least as good as the graduates of the pre-existing course.
4. The RIAI would be concerned that the views of architectural practices be taken into account in the redesign of the architectural technology stream of the new course.
5. The RIAI wishes to maintain effective communications with LIT.
To this end, it was agreed at our meeting that:
LIT will send course details of the new programme to the RIAI by December 1998;
LIT will keep the RIAI informed of developments as appropriate;
The RIAI will visit the school for a review of the programme in the year 2000, when the first entrants to the new programme will have completed the first two years of the new course;
The RIAI will send an RIAI Visiting Board to LIT in the year 2002, when the first cycle of the new programme has been completed.
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