AIT extends with Learning Gate

Athlone Institute of Technology and Westmeath County Council officially opened the ‘Athlone IT Learning Gate’ at the Mullingar e-Working Centre on Friday.

The new Learning Gate centre will ensure that higher education opportunities are available to those living and working in Mullingar and its surrounds.

Dr Michael Tobin, Dean of Faculty of Continuing, Professional, Online and Distance Learning at AIT, said the concept arose from both student and lecturer feedback.

“What we actually identified was some of our students were going to hotel lobbies and each other’s houses to try to study,” said Dr Tobin. “We asked ourselves what we could do to support those students. We also found that lecturers are travelling many miles to come and deliver classes.”

Calling the new Learning Gate facility and E-Working Centre a “natural marriage” Dr Tobin said AIT works collaboratively with industry to provide relevant courses, and are engaging industry in Mullingar all the time.

“A second objective is that industry recognise that we are here to support them. And if we do that, we will then apply for various funding programmes, the Springboard Plus Initiative, ICT Skills Initiative, R&D and other research initiatives, lecture support, and MNC’s within this Mullingar market.”

Pat Gallagher, chief executive of Westmeath County Council, congratulated Athlone IT in this its golden anniversary year, and in forming a consortium last autumn with Limerick IT to develop a new technological university for the midlands and mid-west.

“Building on AITs 50-year track record as the only higher educational institution based in this region, a new technological university will be a crucial enabler of further economic and educational development in the centre of Ireland,” he said.

“Athlone IT serves a extensive regional population both urban and rural and the opening of this Learning Gate in Mullingar will further increase access for students in the county and across the region.

“AIT has built a reputation for excellence in higher education and puts its students at the heart of its thinking and today we can see tangible evidence of that here in Mullingar,” he continued.

“I acknowledge the work undertaken by Dr Michael Tobin, Dean of Faculty in AIT, and Christine Charlton, head of the Enterprise Office in Westmeath County Council, who worked hard to put this venture in place.”

Mr Gallagher added that the new Learning Gate will provide a centrally located learning space for the important tasks of upskilling and reskilling which will help ensure local business and industrial communities have access to staff critical skills.

“It is fitting the that the AIT Learning Gate will be located at the same site as the Mullingar e-working centre – the centre is already organised as a remote working hub, providing facilities for individuals who require a quiet, convenient and connected workplace.

“The centre brings significant benefits to both individuals and the wider community, keeping skilled people in the town and saving them considerable time that would otherwise be spent commuting.

“Innovative collaborative initiatives, whether between higher and further education, local authorities, public bodies, or industry and business, are essential to the economic and social development of this county and this region.

“Working together, I am confident that projects like this learning gate will assist the students, employees and businesses of Westmeath,” he said.

Dr Niall Seery, vice-president of Academic Affairs and Registrar in the Athlone IT, said the launch of Learning Gate means that AIT has a reach way beyond the traditional boundaries of education and travelling to and from a higher education institution.

“It’s a significant part of our strategy going forward that we can extend our reach of the excellence of our staff and the research endeavours can be shared to a broader community,” said Dr Seery.

“At present we have secured funding for over 1,000 additional students who are part-time on a flexible basis, either through the lecture halls in Athlone or the learning gates, and that’s why this initiative is so important to us.

“It is also important to recognise that locally in Mullingar last year we delivered two programmes, a certificate in fundamentals of biopharma, and a certificate in operations, quality, and management at both at NFQ Level 6.

“So we are acutely aware of the supports that we can have for local industry for upskilling staff, but at the same time acquiring qualifications for the national framework that can be fully recognised and translated into additional qualifications or recognitions of further awards.

“In this academic year we have extended our provision and we have done that through a significant online blended learning strategy. This will allow us to pinpoint upskilling and access reskilling opportunities for people locally.”

Officially launching the Learning Gate, the cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Paddy Hill, said the facility will bring further flexible higher education opportunities to those living and working in Mullingar and surrounding areas.

“Learning Gate students will be able to complete their studies through face-to-face online and blended learning programmes. In our fast changing economy, developing our skills through lifelong learning is becoming ever more important,” said Cllr Hill.

“The flexible and part-time course available from Athlone IT will help a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds will help develop essential skills, further their careers and support their communities.”

Moreover, Cllr Hill said Athlone IT Learning Gate was a fantastic development for the town of Mullingar, and for the entire county.

“The opening of this educational facility compliments the recently opened research and training facility in Mullingar, that is the Irish Manufacturing Research Centre and Robotics Solution and Training Centre.

“Together they serve as a reminder that Mullingar is a modern vibrant and connected place to live and work,” Cllr Hill said.