The main Cork IT campus could not be described as attractive, even with the winter sun streaming down, but there is a welcoming human buzz.
Students' union president Philip O'Reilly says: "there's a sense of family between students and staff. Unlike universities, where there could be 200 people in a class, we have 20 to 30 people. And we have a very strong class rep system." Of course, it's not all rosy and the SU will be campaigning on a number of issues this year, including the canteen service and food quality.
Having sampled both (the queues jostle, bewilder and cause the head to ache while the food could best, at best, be described as filling), EL can only wish him and his fellow students good luck with that campaign. Then there's the issue of women's toilets (bathrooms, as O'Reilly delicately describes them), or dearth thereof, in the engineering blocks. Apparently, large bladder capacity as well as high points would be an advantage for intending women engineers.
However, the issue of facilities, with overcrowding, lack of space, and a lot of prefabs is being tackled under a major building programme. A glance at student enrolment shows a phenomenal growth in numbers over the past few decades. In 1979, there were 900 full-time students in Cork IT (then a regional technical college); by 1990 this had grown to 2,385 while this year, the 6,000 barrier was broken.
Then there are the apprentices and continuing-education students. College director Dr Patrick Kelleher says there are four arms to the college - full-time students, continuing-education students, apprentices and research and development. The full-time students study at certificate, diploma and degree level, with the college offering 20 degrees. This year, Cork IT, along with Sligo, Waterford and Galway-Mayo ITs, awarded its own certificates and diplomas. It seems likely that some or all of these colleges will eventually achieve their own degree-awarding powers.
Continuing education is a huge business in Cork IT and the carparks are only briefly empty in the evening as departing full-time students and staff are replaced by mainly adult learners. At 10 p.m., it can take up to 20 minutes to negotiate your car out of the college.
Apprentice numbers have grown rapidly at Cork IT and, last year, the college team won a gold and bronze medal as four diplomas and two certificates of excellence in the International Youth Skills Olympics in Seoul, Korea. At the opposite end of the academic spectrum, the college has a small but expanding core of postgraduate students.
Michael Delaney, head of development at Cork IT, says the college's research and development strategy has been to concentrate on key strengths. "We have identified ecotoxicology, environmental research, molecular biology and genetics, mobile communications, bio-engineering, and software. We are also trying to grow research in the humanities. As with all ITs, teaching load is an issue for lecturers who wish to engage in research. "I think we are coming to the point where the system will have to examine whether it is appropriate to have a different type of contract for lecturers," he says.
ITs are relative newcomers to research, and the applied nature of that research can often preclude them from attracting funding from State sources.
Cork IT's main business is mass education and it offers courses in science, business, engineering, art and music. True to the mission of its forerunner, the Royal Cork Institute - "the application of science to the common purposes of life" - it is particularly known for the strength of its engineering and science programmes. UCD and Cork IT are the only two colleges in the State to offer chemical engineering while Cork IT is one of three colleges to offer medical laboratory sciences.
Unfortunately, engineering and science are among the least popular courses with second-level students, so there is a tension between industry and student needs, and the college must maintain a delicate balance if it is to satisfy both. Registrar Brendan Goggin says Cork IT is top of the league table of ITs for retention of students. "But, that's no reason for complacency. We have initiated action, particularly in areas of most difficulty, such as electronics and computing, where students often made course choices based on economic developments rather than their interests and aptitudes.
"This year, we have a very innovative orientation programme for first-year electronic certificate students. They spend a week in team-building exercises such as building robots, electronics for fun, playing soccer, getting to know each other and the staff." Cork IT has a full-time officer, Deirdre Creedon, who deals with retention issues.
In terms of access, the college is also very active, with its own educational opportunities centre. Interaction begins at designated disadvantaged primary schools, where children explore education through art.
In May and June, sixth class students are brought into the college for taster programmes.
For those currently attending Cork IT, there is little option but to "grin and bear" the overcrowding on campus, according to the union president. The new library and the IT building, with its open-access policy, provide some relief both visually, and in terms of space.
But the future should hold a new 3,500 square metre student centre, a 4,500 square metre catering and tourism studies building, an 8,000 square metre apprentice skills building, a 6,000 square metre advanced technology skills building and a 2,000 square metre administration building. The Cork School of Music is also to undergo a £46 million redevelopment.
When the building programme is completed, the original 1970s campus will have been transformed, with the new buildings dwarfing the old.
