Damian Duggan, Secretary of the Association of Fine Jewellers joined Brian to share his views on delays to a new Design and Crafts Council Degree course.
Orla Kelly, who raised the initial questions last week, was also in studio this morning and says she was contacted by concerned parents and student’s over the weekend.
Listen back here:
Meanwhile, here’s the statement from the ATU sent to KCLR:
“ATU DCCI Collaboration
A 3-year MOU between GMIT & DCCI was agreed in Dec 2020.
Press release in March 2021 to announce the commencement of development of new degree programmes.
The following programmes are approved for delivery as validated awards by GMIT in February 2022
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Ceramics Skills and Design
• Diploma in Ceramics Skills and Design (Exit Award)
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Jewellery and Goldsmithing
• Diploma in Jewellery and Goldsmithing (Exit Award)
GMIT, IT Sligo and LYIT merge in April 2022 to become ATU. In parallel with the continued delivery of existing approved programmes across the new university in 2022, a process of review, integration and harmonisation of quality assurance processes began and is continuing.
As part of the new ATU processes related to Collaborative Delivery of programmes with external partners, a new form of collaborative delivery agreement was developed during 2023, and in addition a new requirement for a due diligence review was included.
The draft collaborative delivery agreement was developed between ATU & DCCI and finalised in Dec 2023, subject to the completion of the ATU due diligence review (expected in May 2024).
A new 3-year MOU between ATU & DCCI was agreed in Dec 2023.
On completion of the ATU due diligence review, the programmes can proceed in tandem in the two new facilities in Thomastown when the facilities are complete.”