It’s the beginning of a brand new academic year.

But this year’s new Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) students will have more to get used to than lectures and coursework.

The general start date for Semester 1 teaching, learning and assessment will be Monday, September 21st, 2020 for continuing and part-time students in CIT Bishopstown, CIT CSM, CIT CCAD and NMCI. First-year classes are scheduled to commence on Monday, October 5th, 2020.

In general, lectures will be delivered through remote learning for the first semester, as will laboratory sessions and tutorials for disciplines such as Business, Marketing, Computer Science and Data Science & Analytics.

For very practical and hands-on disciplines such as Engineering, Science, Music and Art, a higher proportion of these learning activities will be delivered to small groups on-campus in line with social distancing and relevant health and safety protocols.

According to an update from CIT: 

• Face coverings will be mandatory for all students
• Class sizes will be restricted in line with public health guidelines
• Blended delivery will be used for all courses
• For courses which feature a higher proportion of practical learning activities, on-campus time for students will be greater
• Specific arrangements will be put in place to support the induction and integration of first-year students

As the year progresses, CIT “may be in a position to move more teaching and learning activities back on-campus”, assuming that national health and safety advice indicates that it is safe to proceed in this manner.

“We have prepared intensively to provide the best student experience that we possibly can in current circumstances,” said Dr Barry O’Connor, President of CIT.

“We have invested in our online delivery platforms, boosted our student support services, and reconfigured our classrooms, laboratories, studios and workshops to ensure that the welfare of our students and staff is prioritised, while also ensuring that learning outcomes are achieved and learning standards maintained.

“We know that the coming year will throw new challenges at us and we are prepared to adapt as required by changing circumstances. We will work in a spirit of shared purpose with our students, staff and external stakeholders during this period of uncertainty and change.”

Detailed timetables for individual students will be communicated by the relevant academic departments over the coming days. In the meantime, updates will be posted here on a regular basis.