This year, additions to the CAO handbook include three colleges - the Institute of Technology at Blanchardstown, the Burren College of Art and Shannon College of Hotel Management. Blanchardstown IT offered courses through the CAO last year but they were announced late and were not included in the handbook.
The college's 240 students are in a temporary building which is spacious and well equipped. Unfortunately, the on-site sports and social facilities come down to a pool table in the corner of the canteen, but students use the facilities of local clubs and schools. It is hoped that the futuristic-looking permanent college, which will accommodate 900 full-time students, will be completed by September 2001.
Four full-time courses began last September. Some 5,268 students mentioned Blanchardstown IT on their CAO form, with 2,447 placing it as their first, second or third preference.
The college's aim is to increase levels of participation in third-level education in northwest Dublin. It also encourages non-standard applicants, with a target of 30 per cent. This year, mature students make up 6 per cent of the student body, with NCVA level 2 applicants accounting for more than 10 per cent of students.
Mr Larry McNutt, head of the school of informatics and engineering, says the school offers two national certificates - engineering (electronics and computer engineering) and computing (information technology).
The computing course will produce IT technicians who may work in a support role or a network management capacity. The course has modules on the Internet and multimedia.
Mr Pat McGarty, head of the school of business and languages, says the school will be offering four full-time courses next September. The two-year national certificate in business studies has a strong emphasis on IT, including e-commerce and Internet applications.
There are three national diplomas in business studies with a language (French, German or Spanish). Applicants for the French and German options must have a minimum of a higher D3 or an ordinary-level B3 in the relevant language. Spanish is offered ab-initio, with no requirement for a continental language at Leaving Cert.
Mr McGarty says the course comprises one-third (eight hours a week) business, one-third IT and one-third languages. "The course will produce a very flexible graduate," he says. The college plans to introduce add-on diplomas and degrees so that there is a pathway to degree from all entry-level programmes.
Shannon College of Hotel Management
FOUNDED in 1951, this private college, run by Aer Rianta, is in the CAO system for the first time this year. It offers two four-year courses - a diploma and a degree.
Ms Anna Cunningham, head of admissions, says all graduates receive two qualifications - the Shannon diploma in international hotel management and either an NCEA national diploma in business studies or a B.Comm from NUI Galway.
The college has 60 first-year places: 40 for Irish students and 20 for international students.
Applicants are called for an aptitude test and group and individual interviews. Up to 300 points are available for these, which are communicated to the CAO, which will add them to Leaving Cert points, and places are allocated to students with the highest score.
The first year of the diploma is spent in the college in Shannon and has a heavy emphasis on practical training (service, kitchen, IT). In second year, there is a 12-month placement in Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg or Belgium. Students work at operative level, with time spent in the kitchen, bar, service, accommodation and front office.
This is followed by a threemonth supervisory placement in Ireland, then it's back to Shannon for year three. Fourth year is spent in a trainee management placement for 12 months.
Degree students also spend their first year in Shannon, where they do the first year of the B.Comm plus hotel management subjects. They also spend second year on an operative-level placement. In third year, they do the second year of the B.Comm. A summer placement is then followed by year four in NUI Galway, with third-year B.Comm students.
Fees of £3,045 per annum include accommodation and a main meal. Students are paid on placement in years two and four (year two: minimum £6,500 per annum; year four: average £10,000). In an industry crying out for staff, employment prospects are excellent.
The Burren College of Art
This is a private art school in Ballyvaughan, Co Clare. "It was set up to take advantage of the location," says director Ms Mary Hawkes-Greene, who notes that other art schools are all urban-based. Established five years ago, the Burren College of Art is a fine-art school which does not offer design.
Subjects include painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, literature, Irish studies and art history. "The ethos is to treat students as emerging artists and they are given their own studio space," she says. This year, there are about 15 places available on the two-year national certificate in visual arts through the CAO. Entry requirements include a portfolio assessment and interview. The fees of £3,100 include faculty-led trips to visit museums and art galleries in Dublin, London and Paris.
The college has an arrangement with a number of art schools in the US where students can spend two years completing a Bachelor of Fine Art degree.
Mathematical science at UCD
Jointly offered by the departments of maths, mathematical physics and statistics, this new four-year degree will have 16 first-year places this autumn. The first two years present core material, with first-year students taking computer science, mathematical physics, maths and experimental physics or geology or chemistry. In subsequent years, students take the honours courses in maths, mathematical physics and statistics.
Prof David Lewis says the programme takes a flexible approach, with students choosing various topics in which they can specialise in later years.
There is a growing demand for people with maths, he adds, particularly in financial services. Students must have a minimum of a B1 in higher-level maths. If you are taking higher-level maths and would like to continue your studies to third level, there is a mathematical science open afternoon in UCD tomorrow, from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. in theatre Q of the John Henry New man building. Further information: (01) 706 8265/ 706 8373.