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What our Students and Staff say
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State-of-the-art Facilities
Gavin McLaughlin, Letterkenny Campus, LYIT, BSc in Bioanalytical Science
The facilities are state-of-the-art. LYIT have built several new laboratories for teaching and research, including a modern instrumentation suite with some of the best and latest technologies around. Each discipline now has its dedicated lab. This means you get hands-on experience in the lab you can’t get in the traditional university setting. Each student has time to develop their laboratory skills and become competent with scientific instruments.
After graduation, Gavin moved to Ulster University at Coleraine to study for a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Thanks to a collaboration between the two institutions, he conducted his research in the science laboratories at LYIT.
Digital Capacities
Audrey Colreavy, IT Sligo, MSc Health Promotion, Physiotherapist, HSE
Having worked with the HSE for over 20 years as a physiotherapist, I choose to do the online two year master’s in Health Promotion in IT Sligo. The course allows me to continue working full-time. I can attend the lectures online from my home. If I can’t attend live, they are recorded so I can work around family, work and life commitments. The online library access and Moodle platform are fantastic. There is no time lost traveling to lectures or reduced working hours needed. The modules are all applicable to my learning needs and the continuous professional development requirements of CORU, as a health and social care professional.
Staff Development Opportunities
Dr Martin Taggart,
Lecturer, GMIT
I am hoping that the new TU will open more opportunities for collaborative research work as the three construction departments certainly have many common interests, particularly in sustainability, process improvement and digitalisation.
Tell us about your career to date
I started my career over 40 years ago in the construction industry working as a construction project manager for an international company. I joined the Building and Estates (B&E) Department in GMIT in 2000 to help with the increased workload from major capital projects like the Library/IT building. I applied for a lecturing post and joined the Department of Building and Civil Engineering in 2007. I have taught on various programmes including the MSc in Environmental Systems and the Higher Diploma in Building Information Modelling (BIM).
How were you supported in your career path?
There has always been a good culture in GMIT of supporting all staff in pursuing their career paths, especially concerning support for formal study. There is also great support for lecturers in Teaching and Learning practice
What are you currently working on?
I retain a leadership role in the GMIT Construction Management programmes and coordinate and chair the annual Department of Building and Civil Engineering International Construction Management Day Conference. My doctoral work ignited a deep interest in action-orientated research methodologies. I now teach research methodology and supervise student research work at master’s level on various School of Engineering programmes.
What are you looking forward to most about working in the new TU?
I already know the construction Heads of Department, Trevor McSharry at Sligo and Anne Boner at Letterkenny well and many of their staff from projects and activities we have been involved in over the years. So that should make for an excellent and easy start to the new relationship. I hope that the new TU will open more opportunities for collaborative research work as the three departments certainly have many common interests, particularly in sustainability, process improvement and digitalisation.
