Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown

Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown
Institiúid Teicneolaíochta, Baile Bhlainséir
Type Institute of Technology
Established 1999
President Dr. Diarmuid O’Callaghan
Chairperson of Governing Body Professor Tom Collins
Administrative staff
 200
Students 5000
Address Blanchardstown Road North,
Dublin 15, Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland
Website http://www.itb.ie

Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown (ITB) (Irish: Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Baile Bhlainséir) established in 1999, is a third-level institution, and a future constituent institute of Technological University Dublin.[1] It was the last-founded Institute of Technology in Ireland and is located within the Business and Technology Park on Blanchardstown Road North, about 15 km from Dublin City and close to the N3 (Navan Road).

ITB provides full-time and part-time higher education courses in a wide range of subjects, making awards at levels from higher certificate, to PhD.

Statutes and governance

Statutory basis

The Regional Technical Colleges (Amendment) Act 1999 was enacted by the Oireachtas in July 1999. This Act puts the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown on the same statutory footing as the twelve other Institutes of Technologies in Ireland already operating under the Regional Technical Colleges Acts 1992 and 1994. The institute also operates under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act,1999 and the Institutes of Technology Act 2006.

Governance

The Institute is overseen by a statutory Governing Body, appointed by the Minister for Education and Science, with representation from the college community, broader local community, business interests and the State. Academic affairs and standards are controlled by the Academic Council.[2]

Delegated Authority

ITB achieved delegated authority in 2006 and has the authority to award qualifications (on behalf of HETAC)) to those completing courses up to Level 9 of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

Management

Management of the Institute is led by the President (previously Director), who leads a management team also comprising the Registrar, Secretary and Financial Controller, and Heads of Schools, Departments and other functions (such as the Estates Manager, IT Manager, HR Manager).

Academic structure and courses

Schools and Departments of the Institute

  • School of Business & Humanities
    • Department of Business
    • Department of Humanities
  • School of Informatics & Engineering
    • Department of Computing and Creative Digital Media
    • Department of Engineering

Courses

Full-time and part-time courses are offered in Applied Social Studies, Business, Computing, Digital Media, Engineering, Horticulture, Languages, Social and Community Development, Sports Management and Early Childhood Care & Education, with awards made at higher certificate, ordinary degree, honours degree, Master's Degree and PhD (doctoral research) levels.

Research at ITB

The research community at ITB is involved collaboratively with research projects with industry, community organisations and different agencies in the locality. Some of these include National Road Authority, IBM, Intel, Havoc, Wavebob, ESB, Health Service Executive, SMEs on the Innovation Voucher Scheme. As part of ITB's strategic plan 2006-2011 "Making Education Accessible" ITB recognises that one of its core activities is research and has established itself as a significant member of the research community within the third level education sector in Ireland since it opened in 1999. The LINC Centre (Learning and Innovation Centre) at ITB is the centre which supports the research activities taking place in the Institute supporting technology transfer activities, applied research links with industry and links to the funding agencies for the research activities in the Institute.

Since it opened in 1999 funding has been secured from:

  • The Technological Sector Postgraduate R&D Skills Training Programme
  • Enterprise Ireland's Innovation Partnership scheme where the Institute has teamed up with local companies to conduct R&D to improve processes and procedures
  • Enterprise Ireland’s Proof Of Concept funding which allows the development of a possible commercial activity
  • Enterprise Ireland’s Research Equipment grant
  • The Embark Initiative
  • The Higher Education Authority including the Research Funding Enhancement Scheme
  • Leonardo da Vinci programs

Campus

The college has a 22 hectares (54 acres) campus within Fingal County Council's College Business and Technology Park, on Blanchardstown Road North. The component buildings, with a total area of over 22,000 square metres, and capital cost exceeding €50 million, are:

  • A Block: ITB's first building, opened September 1999, contains computing and engineering laboratories, three large lecture theatres and offices for Academic Administration, Finance and Human Resources. It also has the counsellor's office.
  • Learning and Innovation Centre (LINC Building / B Block): Built May–October 2001, initially for workshops, and now hosting small business ventures and supporting college-industry links. Also Post-Grad research facilities.
  • Multipurpose Building (C Block): Canteen, medical centre, Students' Union, chaplains' offices, sports hall and gym.
  • D Block: Apprentice workshops, including electrical, masonry, carpentry and plumbing, as well as maintenance and goods receiving.
  • E Block: A two-wing building containing classrooms, science laboratories, language laboratories, two large lecture theatres, most academic staff offices and the student helpdesk.
  • F Block: The current official entry point, this holds the reception, Marketing and senior management offices, and the largest lecture theatre.

Library

The Institute's Library has a wide range of books (primarily related to course work), and a selection of DVDs and videos, along with access to online information in the form of scientific journals, newspapers and databases. Every student in the Institute can through a self-service checkout system rent any of the items on offer. A short loan is one week, a long loan being two, with the option to renew each term online.

Student life

Sports in ITB

The first sporting club was founded in ITB in 1999. Prominent ITB Sports clubs include GAA, Ultimate, Soccer, Futsal, Pool, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Martial Arts, Rugby, Badminton, Boxing, Golf, Ski and Olympic Handball. Many of these clubs compete at the inter varsity level and have won numerous awards. ITB also has a number of Societies like Computer Society, Golf, Poker and Music Societies in place.

Sports Scholarships ITB offers Sports Scholarships to all full-time students to assist them in reaching their potential, both academically and in their chosen sport.

Leinster Bursaries In association with the Leinster GAA there are a limited number of bursaries awarded to outstanding GAA players from Leinster who are registered students of ITB.

Students Union

The Students Union ITBSU has four student board members,[3] elected every year. Every student who registers at the Institute is automatically a member,[4] with a portion of their registration fee going to the upkeep of the Union. In return every student gets a vote in a first past the post system. The Student Union office is located upstairs in the C Block, beside the Common Room. It runs seminars on Student health issues, college outings, information campaigns, and oversees the management of student clubs and societies.

See also

References and Footnotes

  1. ↑ O'Brien, Carl (17 July 2018). "Dublin colleges to merge into technological university in January". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  2. ↑ "About ITB - ITB Overview". Institute of Technology Blanchardstown. ITB. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  3. ↑ http://itbsu.ie/meet-the-union
  4. ↑ http://itbsu.ie/about

Coordinates: 53°24′21″N 6°22′41″W / 53.405702°N 6.378074°W / 53.405702; -6.378074

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.