Written answer
Education Policy
Following St Angela’s incorporation into ATU, its graduates lost a specific Galway PME pathway but remain eligible to apply to relevant programmes meeting requirements.
1504. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of concerns regarding the removal or alteration of progression pathways from the BA home economics programme at St. Angela's College to professional master of education programmes. [64928/26]
Comment on this
My officials have engaged with ATU on the matter of your question, and I understand that it relates to an arrangement that St. Angela's College had in place with the University of Galway prior to its incorporation into ATU. Prior to its incorporation, students of St. Angela's were registered students at the University of Galway. I understand for a time, University of Galway-registered students/graduates had direct entry pathway onto the University of Galway, Professional Master of Education programme. St. Angela's is now part of ATU and is no longer specifically linked to this particular PME programme.
However, I wish to reassure the Deputy that this does not prevent qualified students from applying to the University of Galway PME programme, or any other PME programme, provided they meet the requirements for entry to that specific programme of study. In all cases, including direct entry programmes, that is a fundamental requirement for eligibility.
I understand that there are several Professional Master of Education programmes, with Home Economics specific streams currently available in Ireland / Northern Ireland. All such programmes are offered by separate Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including the University of Galway, and entry requirements and applications to such programmes are independently managed and governed by the individual institution concerned.
I would strongly encourage any concerned student to engage with ATU directly to identify the most suitable pathway for their progression to a chosen course of study, including applications PME programmes.
I would like to clarify that students who register onto the Bachelor of Arts Home Economics programme at the St Angela’s campus of Atlantic Technological University (ATU) are registered as an ATU student and upon successful completion of the Level 8 honours degree programme they receive an ATU degree award. Once they reach this qualification standard they may apply for PME programmes in all relevant higher education institutions.