Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 (Section 31(5)) (Recognition of the Charter of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology) Order, 2008

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Citation: IR SI 262/2008
• Year: 2008

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 18th July, 2008.

I, BATT O’KEEFFE, TD, Minister for Education and Science, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 31(5) of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 (No. 26 of 1999) hereby order as follows:

Citation

1. This Order may be cited as the “Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 (Section 31(5)) (Recognition of the Charter of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology) Order 2008”.

Definition

2. In this Order, “Act of 1999” means the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 .

Recognition of GMIT Charter

3. The draft of a charter as submitted by the Governing Body of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology to the Minister for Education and Science for the purposes of recognition under section 31(5) of the Act of 1999 (and as set out in the Appendix hereto) is hereby recognised.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

10 July 2008

BATT O’KEEFFE.

Minister for Education and Science.

APPENDIX

CHARTER OF GALWAY- MAYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 31 OF THE

QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION AND TRAINING) ACT 1999

Table of Contents

1.1 Introduction .. .. .. .. .. .. 1.2 Mission, Vision and Core Values .. .. .. .. 1.3 Functions of the Institute .. .. .. .. .. 1.4 Academic Freedom .. .. .. .. .. .. 1.5 Governing Body .. .. .. .. .. .. 1.6 President .. .. .. .. .. .. 1.7 Strategic Development Plan .. .. .. .. .. 1.8 Academic Council .. .. .. .. .. .. 1.9 Research .. .. .. .. .. .. 1.10 Delegated Authority .. .. .. .. .. .. 1.11 Equality of Opportunity .. .. .. .. .. 1.12 Promotion of the Irish Language .. .. .. .. 1.13 Members of the Institute .. .. .. .. .. 2.0 Contribution to the Tertiary Education System .. .. .. 2.1 Approach to Meeting the Needs of Students .. .. .. 2.2 Support Services Provided .. .. .. .. .. 2.3 Approach to Collaboration with Other National and International Education Institutions 2.4 Research Ethos .. .. .. .. .. .. 3.0 Institute Arrangements for Consultation and Co-operation .. .. 3.1 Within the Institute .. .. .. .. .. 3.2 With the Community (including commercial and industrial interests) in the region served by the Institute 4.0 Criteria for Determining Demand for Particular Programmes of Education and Training. 4.1 Demand for Particular Programmes .. .. .. .. .. 4.2 Evaluation Process .. .. .. .. .. .. 4.3 List of Details of Programmes .. .. .. .. .. 4.4 Teaching and Research Facilities .. .. .. .. .. 4.5 Lifelong Learning. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5.0 Statement on Quality Assurance .. .. .. .. .. 6.0 Access, Transfer and Progression .. .. .. .. 7.0 Irish Language .. .. .. .. .. .. 8.0 Consultation Process .. .. .. .. .. ..

1.1 Introduction

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) was legally designated as an Institute of Technology on 28 January 1998 when the Minister for Education and Science changed the name the Regional Technical College, Galway, by order. The College was originally established in 1972 under Section 38 of the Vocational Education Act 1930 . With the enactment of the Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992 on 1 January 1993, the Regional Technical College, Galway became an autonomous institution of higher education, subject to the policies, operational programmes and budgets approved by the Minister for Education and Science, with a legal framework to engage in activities such as research, consultancy and commercial partnership. The relevant legislation is now contained in the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology is a multi-campus institution with operations on the Dublin Road in Galway City, Cluain Mhuire in Galway, Castlebar, Letterfrack, and joint courses with the Agricultural College, Mountbellew, Co. Galway.

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology was granted delegated authority to confer its own awards at Higher Certificate (Level 6), Ordinary Degree (Level 7), Honours Degree (Level 8), Masters Degree (Level 9) by Taught mode and also Master Degree and Doctoral Degree (Level 10) in Aquatic Science and Mechanical Engineering by Research mode.

1.2 Mission, Vision and Core Values

a) GMIT Mission Statement

At GMIT we will develop life-long learning opportunities through our teaching and research and by supporting regional development.

b) GMIT Vision

• Learning is and will be the core activity of the Institute, bringing students, staff and the region together to share, apply, test and create knowledge,

• GMIT will continue to develop as a regional organisation with an international focus committed to the personal and professional enrichment of its students, the needs of the region, national priorities and global opportunities.

• GMIT will both shape and respond to the perspectives and expectations of its stakeholders and will work in collaboration with them to meet their needs;

• As a publicly-funded organisation GMIT will be accountable for its implementation of national policy and funded on its ability and capacity to meet national targets. It will augment its public funding through its entrepreneurial activities and all income generated will be used to enhance services to our students.

c) GMIT Core Values

GMIT is proud of its identity and role as an Institute of Technology. It is proud of its people and achievements and has a confidence in its ability to meet the challenge of the future.

The core values, which underpin our mission, are:

• Developing a learning community working to challenging and clear standards of achievement and accountability,

• Promoting the professional orientation of all our programmes of study so that they give our students a passport to the workplace,

• Facilitating access and progression through our multicampus, multidisciplinary and multilevel award structures,

• Supporting the development of an organisation embracing and promoting change, challenge, innovation and entrepreneurship,

• Sustaining openness, flexibility and collaboration through the promotion of team-based working and partnership,

• Enhancing the climate of mutual and reciprocal respect in the organisation;

• A commitment to ethical and responsible behaviour.

1.3 Functions of the Institute

The functions of the Institute are specified in Section 5 of the Regional Technical Colleges’ Act as amended by the Institutes of Technology Act 2006 and other Acts.

The principal function of a college shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be to provide vocational and technical education and training for the economic, technological, scientific, commercial, industrial, social and cultural development of the State with particular reference to the region served by the college (Section 5).

1.4 Academic Freedom

The college, in performing its functions, has:

the right and responsibility to preserve and promote the traditional principles of academic freedom in the conduct of its internal and external affairs.

A member of the academic staff of a college shall have the freedom, within the law, in his or her teaching, research and any other activities either in or outside the college, to question and test received wisdom, to put forward new ideas and to state controversial or unpopular opinions and shall not be disadvantaged, or subject to less favourable treatment by the college, for the exercise of that freedom (Section (5)(a) of the Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992 and insisted by section 7 of the Institutes of Technology Act 2006 ,

1.5 Governing Body

The Institute has a Governing Body appointed in accordance with section 4 of the Regional Technical Colleges’ (Amendment) Act 1994 as amended.

The functions of the Governing Body are as specified in section 5 of the Regional Technical Colleges’Act 1992 as amended by the Institutes of Technology Act 2006 but within the constraints of the college’s budget:

(a) to manage and control the affairs of the college, and control and administer land and property of the college,

(b) to appoint the President and such other staff as it thinks necessary for the purposes of the college, and

(c) to perform such other functions as are conferred on it by this or any other Act.

In performing its functions a Governing Body shall:

(i) comply with such policy directions as may be issued by the Minister for Education and Science from time to time, including directions relating to the levels and range of programmes offered by the college,

(ii) have regard to the promotion and use of the Irish language as a language of general communication and promote the cultivation of the Irish language and its associated literary and cultural traditions,

(iii) have regard to the attainment of gender balance and equality of opportunity among the students and staff of the college and shall, in particular, promote access to education in the college by economically or socially...