Written Answers - Third Level Courses.
Deirdre Clune
Ceist:
349
Ms Clune
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
his views on whether students who started to study architectural technology in Limerick Institute of Technology will have a recognised qualification at the end of their studies in view of the alterations made to the course; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25675/98]
Deirdre Clune
Ceist:
350
Ms Clune
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the discussions, if any, he has had with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland prior to changes to the architectural technology course at the Limerick Institute of Technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25676/98]
Deirdre Clune
Ceist:
351
Ms Clune
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the discussions, if any, he has had with Limerick Institute of Technology prior to changes to the architectural technology course; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25677/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 349, 350 and 351 together.
The decision by Limerick Institute of Technology to change its architectural technology course has been raised several times by parliamentary question and representations from Deputies.
I have been informed by the Limerick Institute of Technology that the students who successfully complete the course in the institute will qualify for the college professional Diploma in Architectural Technology and can proceed to pursue the Bachelor of Science Degree in Architectural Technology from Heriot—Watt University.
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. Under the Acts the responsibility for course design, review and modifications is a matter for the institute. I have no function therefore in this process. Accordingly I have had no discussions with either the Limerick Institute of Technology or the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland regarding the changes to the architectural technology course in question.
However, my Department has made 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 Technican 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 re-design 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 the LIT in the year 2002, when the first cycle of the new programme has been completed.
