Building on the past, preparing for the future
The face of education in Cork is changing! This year Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB) announced a new, consolidated and integrated identity for their further education and training colleges, centres and services called Cork College of FET.
The coming together of Cork ETB’s further education and training (FET) provision under this overarching umbrella is a progressive move and an integral part of SOLAS’s FET Strategy 2020-2024 – Future FET – Transforming Learning. It continues, supports and enhances the work commenced in 2013 on the establishment of Cork ETB to provide FET options across the region to meet the needs of learners and employers.
This restructuring and development builds on the proud traditions of the existing colleges, centres, and services, and ensures that Cork, through its distinct, learner focussed integrated College of Further Education and Training, rooted in the communities and the region, is well placed to grow and develop over the years ahead.
Cork College of FET has at its core the principle of ensuring that all learners are provided with the opportunities and supports necessary for their personal and educational development and growth, that the options available support the economic development of the region, and that the pathways for learning and development provided by Cork College of FET support a truly lifelong learning experience.
The colleges, centres and services that fall under the Cork College of FET umbrella are an integral part of the collective education community that is Cork College of FET, sharing the same values and motivations, as they unite to not only provide, but widen the pathways for every learner.
In addition, future plans for Cork College of FET incorporate a significant emphasis on the provision of flexible and technology-enabled learning opportunities and a range of new apprenticeships, as well as implementing a ‘green campus’ approach and philosophy across all constituent elements of the college with a focus on embedding sustainable development principles.
Each college is now a campus and will have the prefix, Cork College of FET, followed by the name of their campus:
· Cork Training Centre is now - Bishopstown Campus
· St John’s Central College is now - Douglas Street Campus
· Kinsale College of Further Education is now - Kinsale Campus
· Mallow College of Further Education is now - Mallow Campus
· Cork College of Commerce is now - Morrison's Island Campus
· Cork College of Commerce West Cork Campus is now – West Cork Campus
· CSN College of Further Education is now - Tramore Road Campus.
As Cork ETB redefine their FET offering, it serves as a reminder of the many opportunities that can be availed of within any one of their campuses and services.
Commenting on the new overarching umbrella, Denis Leamy, Chief Executive of Cork ETB said: “I would highly encourage those embarking on the next step in their educational journey to consider any one of the Cork College of FET campuses as a valued and viable choice. The collective prospectus that incorporates each of these fantastic campuses is filled with options – not only for school leavers, but for adults alike – that provide clear pathways to further educational and career-based progression.”
Director of Further Education and Training at Cork ETB, John Fitzgibbons, said: “We take our responsibility as champions of further education in Cork extremely seriously. In 2019 alone, we catered to almost 20,000 learners across more than 60 centres throughout the region. While this figure was impacted over the past couple of years due to Covid-related restrictions, we’re thrilled and hopeful to be emerging stronger than ever in 2022, for many people in undertaking their further education journeys with CETB.”