Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown
| Institiúid Teicneolaíochta, Baile Bhlainséir | |
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| Type | Institute of Technology |
|---|---|
| Established | 1999 |
| President | Dr. Mary Meaney |
| Chairperson of Governing Body | Donal Connell |
Administrative staff | 200 |
| Students | 2500 |
| Location | Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland |
| Website | http://www.itb.ie |
The Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown (ITB),(Irish: Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Baile Bhlainséir) established in 1999, is (as of 2010), the last-founded Institute of Technology in Ireland. It is located within the Business & Technology Park on Blanchardstown Road North, about 15 km from Dublin City and close to the N3 (Navan Road).
ITB provides full-time and part-time higher education courses in Applied Social Studies, Business, Computing, Digital Media, Engineering, Horticulture, Languages, Social and Community Development, Sports Management and Early Childhood Care & Education at higher certificate, ordinary degree, honours degree and Master's Degree levels.
Governance
The Regional Technical Colleges (Amendment) Act 1999 and the Institute of Technology Act 2006 was enacted by the Oireachtas in July 1999. This Act puts the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown on the same statutory footing as the twelve other Institutes of Technologies in Ireland already operating under the Regional Technical Colleges Acts 1992 and 1994. The institute also operates under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act,1999 and the Institutes of Technology Act 2006.
Delegated Authority
ITB achieved delegated authority in 2006 and has the authority to award qualifications (on behalf of HETAC)) to those completing courses up to Level 9 of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
Schools and Departments of the Institute
- School of Business & Humanities
- Department of Business
- Department of Humanities
- School of Informatics & Engineering
- Department of Computing and Creative Digital Media
- Department of Engineering
Management
Management of the Institute is led by a President (previously "Director") (incumbent in 2009: Dr. Mary Meaney), and the Heads of Schools and Departments, and of operational functions (Estates Manager, Finance Manager, IT Manager, HR Manager).
Campus
The college has a 22 hectares (54 acres) campus within Fingal County Council's College Business and Technology Park, on Blanchardstown Road North. The component buildings, with a total area of over 22,000 square metres, and capital cost exceeding €50 million, are:
- A Block: ITB's first building, opened September 1999, contains computing and engineering laboratories, three large lecture theatres and offices for Academic Administration, Finance and Human Resources. It also has the counsellor's office.
- Learning and Innovation Centre (LINC Building / B Block): Built May–October 2001, initially for workshops, and now hosting small business ventures and supporting college-industry links. Also Post-Grad research facilities.
- Multipurpose Building (C Block): Canteen, medical centre, Students' Union, chaplains' offices, sports hall and gym.
- D Block: Apprentice workshops, including electrical, masonry, carpentry and plumbing, as well as maintenance and goods receiving.
- E Block: A two-wing building containing classrooms, science laboratories, language laboratories, two large lecture theatres, most academic staff offices and the student helpdesk.
- F Block: The current official entry point, this holds the reception, Marketing and senior management offices, and the largest lecture theatre.
Library
The Institute's Library has a wide range of books (primarily related to course work), and a selection of DVDs and videos, along with access to online information in the form of scientific journals, newspapers and databases. Every student in the Institute can through a self-service checkout system rent any of the items on offer. A short loan is one week, a long loan being two, with the option to renew each term online.
Student life
Sports in ITB
The first sporting club was founded in ITB in 1999. Prominent ITB Sports clubs include GAA,Ultimate, Soccer,Futsal, Pool, Basketball, Swimming, Athletics, Martial Arts, Rugby, Badminton, Boxing, Golf, Ski and Olympic Handball. Many of these clubs compete at the inter varsity level and have won numerous awards. ITB also has a number of Societies like Computer Society, Golf, Poker and Music Societies in place.
Sports Scholarships
ITB offers Sports Scholarships to all full-time students to assist them in reaching their potential, both academically and in their chosen sport. Students, selected for the scholarships benefit from an excellent financial package as well as the excellent support services.
Leinster Bursaries
In association with the Leinster GAA Council there are a limited number of bursaries awarded to outstanding GAA players from Leinster who are registered students of ITB.
Students Union
The Students Union ITBSU has four student board members,[1] elected every year. Every student who registers at the Institute is automatically a member,[2] with a portion of their registration fee going to the upkeep of the Union. In return every student gets a vote in a first past the post system. The Student Union office is located upstairs in the C Block, beside the Common Room. It runs seminars on Student health issues, college outings, information campaigns, and oversees the management of student clubs and societies.
Research at ITB
The research community at ITB is involved collaboratively with research projects with industry, community organisations and different agencies in the locality. Some of these include National Road Authority, IBM, Intel, Havoc, Wavebob, ESB, Health Service Executive, SMEs on the Innovation Voucher Scheme. As part of ITB's strategic plan 2006-2011 "Making Education Accessible" ITB recognises that one of its core activities is research and has established itself as a significant member of the research community within the third level education sector in Ireland since it opened in 1999. The LINC Centre (Learning and Innovation Centre) at ITB is the centre which supports the research activities taking place in the Institute supporting technology transfer activities, applied research links with industry and links to the funding agencies for the research activities in the Institute.
Since it opened in 1999 funding has been secured from:
- The Technological Sector Postgraduate R&D Skills Training Programme
- Enterprise Ireland's Innovation Partnership scheme where the Institute has teamed up with local companies to conduct R&D to improve processes and procedures
- Enterprise Ireland’s Proof Of Concept funding which allows the development of a possible commercial activity
- Enterprise Ireland’s Research Equipment grant
- The Embark Initiative
- The Higher Education Authority including the Research Funding Enhancement Scheme
- Leonardo da Vinci programs
Learning & Innovation Centre (LINC)
The LINC (Learning and Innovation Centre) is ITB's tangible link between the Institute and the Business Community making accessible the skills and expertise of the Institute to the business community in a professional and cost effective manner. As such it is a forum of excellence for innovation, creativity, research and enterprise focused on developing high-technology knowledge based companies. The LINC Centre provides industry standard office facilities to start-up businesses. Entrepreneurs looking to locate in the LINC are offered a range of business development supports including access to R& D facilities, business training, consultancy and mentoring and a high level of ICT Infrastructure as well as the incubation facilities and access to the enterprise support programs.
Current & Former Campus Companies
- Companies on site include:
Íompar Logistics, BPM Media, Allas Sports Devices, Research Facts, BH Consulting.
- Companies graduated from the LINC include:
See also
- Education in the Republic of Ireland
- List of higher education institutions in the Republic of Ireland
External links
- Official Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown Website
- Official Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown Students' Union Website
- Google Maps View of the ITB Campus
References and Footnotes
Coordinates: 53°24′21″N 6°22′41″W / 53.405702°N 6.378074°W