2010 press releases
Posted 16 March 2010
15% Increase in Demand for AIT Courses
Demand for full-time undergraduate courses offered by Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) has increased significantly on last year. There has been a 15 per cent rise in the number of mentions for higher certificate, ordinary degree and honours degree courses offered by the institute.
The largest increase in demand is for two-year higher certificate (level 6) and three-year ordinary degree (level 7) programmes. First preference mention across these courses rose by more than 16 per cent. Demand for honours degrees (level 8) has also risen substantially, with a 9 per cent increase in first preference mentions.
AIT President, Prof. Ciarán Ó Catháin, said that “the growth in demand for college places in Athlone reflects the growing importance attached to having a third level qualification. AIT has placed a premium on offering courses which meet the needs of employers and society, now and into the future. The success of our gradutes in continuing to secure employment, despite the economic downturn, is a powerful endorsement of the value of a qualification from AIT,” he said.
At level 6/7, there was an 18 per cent growth in demand for enginering courses in Athlone, with the most significant increase exhibited for green tech programmes. The BEng in Mechanical Engineering and Renewable Energy saw a 50 per cent increase in mentions; while a new three-year degree in sustainable construction has attracted 125 applicants to date. Electronics and computer engineering is also performing strongly with a one-third increase in first preference mentions for the higher certificate course. At honours degree level, AIT’s software engineering degree in game development continues to grow in popularity, with a 13 per cent rise in overall mentions.
In science, too, there was a one-tenth rise in mentions at level 6/7, fuelled by a steady increase in demand for all programmes. Veterinary nursing continues to be the most popular science programme offered by AIT with nearly 400 first preference mentions; however, programmes in biotechnology and bioscience exhibited a 12 and 16 per cent rise in mentions. At honours degree level, the interest in nursing qualifications continues to rise, most notably amongst mature applicants. First preference mentions for the general nursing programme for mature students rose by 63 per cent.
Demand for business at level 6/7 was broadly in line with 2009, although specialist programmes in music and instrument technology and equine studies exhibited increases in demand. First prefernce mentions for both higher certificates rose by 9 and 33 per cent respectively. Two new joint honours degrees programmes in business and law and accounting and law also proved to be popular with CAO applicants, with both attracting significant number of mentions.
A range of new courses in the area of hospitality and tourism also proved to be popular in the School of Humanities. Overall mentions for level 6/7 offerings increased by more than one-quarter. One of the big successes was AIT’s three-year degree in spa management, which is delivered in partnership with the Sheraton and Hodson Bay Hotels. There was a 70 per cent increase in first preference mentions for the course, which commenced last Sepember. Demand continued to grow for social and child care programmes at all levels, with the Higher Certificate in Applied Social Studies the most popular course offered in Athlone, with nearly 1,200 mentions. AIT’s two design degrees also performed strongly, most notably the BA in Design (Communications), exhibiting a 20 per cent increase in mentions.
Nationally, the number of people applying to third level colleges through the Central Application Ofice (CAO) increased by 6.22 per cent to 71,842 people. Applicant can choose from some 862 honours degrees and 444 higher certificate and ordinary degrees through the CAO.
