Graduation 2007/Bronnadh na gCéimeanna

 

The St Patrick’s College/DCU Graduation ceremonies were held in the College on 9th and 10th November. This year’s graduation was one of the largest in the 132 year history of the College, both in terms of student numbers and the range of programmes. In four ceremonies, over two days, 874 students graduated from 17 different programmes. Some details of these programmes are provided below.

The Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin, DD, Archbishop of Dublin addressed the BEd graduands on Friday morning.  He spoke about the importance of the teacher in the lives of children, and in the future development of this country.

Ms Mary Hanafin, TD, Minister for Education and Science addressed the Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching) and the Special Education graduands on Saturday afternoon, speaking on the role of the teacher in the multi-cultural society of today.

In his graduation address, the College President spoke about the integration of the growing numbers of new Irish and its impact on schools.  He stressed the need for foresight and planning.  He endorsed the recommendation of a recent report on intercultural education in West Dublin, which recommended that the Government produce a green paper (followed by a white paper) on the subject with appropriate attention to planning for diversity and social cohesion.

• The B.Ed degree is far and away the largest College programme: the graduates from this course teach the children of today and tomorrow. Cumulatively, over an average teaching career, the lives of more than half a million children will be touched by the B.Ed class of 2007.

• The BA in Humanities draws on the traditions of the College in the area of Humanities and has in turn contributed a great deal to the cultural, social and intellectual enrichment of the College in the last decade. A welcome feature of the programme is that 25% of the places on the programme are reserved for mature and second chance learners, a group whose presence we value and from whose life experience we benefit enormously.

• The Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching) provides an important route in teaching for graduates from other disciplines. These graduates bring a range of experiences and skills which enrich the College and greatly benefit Irish schools, Irish children and the teaching profession. The College is committed to the ongoing development of this programme in a flexible and responsive manner.

• The Certificate in Religious Studies is a requirement for teaching in Catholic schools.   The College now provides part-time delivery of this programme and this is particularly attractive to teachers who have earned their primary teaching qualification in the UK and elsewhere.
  
• The Graduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs provides substantial theoretical and practical continuous professional development for teachers working with pupils with special educational needs and for teachers working with those pupils requiring learning support teaching. The programme caters for teachers in mainstream primary as well as special schools. It offers specialist pathways for teachers of children with high and low incidence special educational needs and those on the autistic spectrum.
• The Graduate Certificate in the Education of Pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) caters for teachers working with pupils with ASD in special schools, special classes, or resource teachers in mainstream primary and post-primary schools. The course provides teachers with an opportunity to specialise in teaching children with autistic spectrum disorders.
• The Masters in Special Educational Needs (MSEN) is a one-year, fulltime programme for both primary and post-primary teachers which is fully funded by the DES. The course aims to make a substantial contribution to the Irish educational system by developing teachers who are skilled in both the research and practice of special education. To this end, there is a strong focus on teachers engaging in empirical research and on analysing and critiquing current issues relevant to the field of special education.

• The College sees its role in the continuing professional development of teachers as an important one that manifests its view of teacher education as comprising a spectrum which includes initial, induction and inservice. The Certificate and Diploma in Education is part of a flexible, modular structure. Graduands have pursued studies in a range of areas of significant need in the wider education system including science, digital learning, visual arts, mathematics and mentoring. These programmes which are supported by the DES combined College based delivery and distance learning and involved partnerships which are representative of some of the many partnerships and collaborations that the College has established with various institutions in recent years.

• The graduates of the taught and research masters in Arts and Education and the doctoral programme are part of a growing community of postgraduate scholars in the College. Significant expansion of post-graduate research is a national priority need. The College is committed to making an enhanced contribution in meeting these needs in the area of education and humanities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated: Wednesday November 14 2007