Figures released by Maynooth University today show students are engaging with the range of options available to them as part of the University’s new undergraduate curriculum, which gives them the ability to choose whether to specialise immediately or pursue a broad range of study. In its first year of operation 42% of first year Arts students chose to specialise in one particular field, while 58% chose to pursue a wider range of study.
Maynooth University’s new undergraduate curriculum, a radical new approach to third level in Ireland, was designed with the needs and requirements of today’s students firmly in mind. The proposition received significant endorsement from students this year, as the University saw its largest ever intake of high achieving students (obtaining 450+ points in their Leaving Certificate) with 16% year-on-year growth recorded.
Discussing the new curriculum, Maynooth University President, Professor Philip Nolan, said: “This is a great vindication of our decision to respond to the needs of today’s students and provide greater choice and flexibility within our undergraduate curriculum. All students are on a learning journey. Some of them are extremely clear about their ultimate destination while others are taking time to evaluate their options. We think it is important that both these groups are catered for, and the split we have seen in the first year of our new curriculum demonstrates that we were correct in our evaluation of students’ needs.”
Beginning this year, every first year undergraduate student also has the option to take Critical Skills as a core module. This course gives students the opportunity to develop the analytical and communication skills that are central to success in university and in their working lives, as they become independent thinkers and problem solvers. More than 25% of first year students are now taking this module.
Discussing critical skills at Maynooth, Professor Nolan said: “It is terrific to build on the success of last year’s Critical Skills pilot programme. This module gives students the opportunity to work with their peers from different fields to address complex problems from a number of distinct perspectives. One of the guiding principles of the new curriculum is that we must ensure our students graduate with the skills and qualities they need to thrive in a world where change is a given and adaptability is essential. Industry will always look for flexible people and critical thinkers who can respond to an ever-changing workplace.”
Students also are availing of the option to study a foreign language, either as part of their core degree or as an elective module in second year. Professor Nolan said: “Not only does a modern language make a graduate more attractive to potential employers, but it also opens up other opportunities within a degree. A student who has taken on a foreign language is better prepared for studying abroad. We are putting a heavy emphasis on experiential learning opportunities such as study abroad, internships, and service learning, because it better prepares graduates for the world after university.”
To coincide with these changes, the new curriculum also provides a fresh approach to teaching and assessment across all subject areas, explicitly reinforcing skills like critical analysis, oral and written communication, and the evaluation of evidence.
Mic léinn ag dul i dtaithí ar an tsolúbthacht agus ar na roghanna atá ar fáil mar chuid den churaclam fochéime
Léiríonn figiúirí a d’eisigh Ollscoil Mhá Nuad inniu go bhfuil mic léinn ag dul i dtaithí ar an réimse roghanna atá ar fáil dóibh mar chuid de churaclam fochéime nua na hOllscoile. Tugann an curaclam nua seo an rogha dóibh speisialtóireacht a dhéanamh ar ábhar amháin ón tús nó dul sa tóir ar réimse leathan staidéir. Sa chéad bhliain den chóras nua seo, chinn 42 faoin gcéad de mhic léinn na chéad bhliana a bhfuil céim sna hEalaíona ar bun acu sainstaidéar a dhéanamh ar réimse amháin. Chinn 58 faoin gcéad de na mic léinn dul sa tóir ar réimse staidéir níos leithne.
Dearadh curaclam fochéime nua Ollscoil Mhá Nuad le freastal ar riachtanais mhic léinn an lae inniu. Athrú ó bhun ar oideachas ollscoile in Éirinn atá ann. Thug mic léinn tacaíocht shuntasach don togra i mbliana agus ghlac an ollscoil leis an líon is mó riamh de mhic léinn ardghnóthachtála (mic léinn a bhain 450 pointe nó níos mó amach san Ardteistiméireacht), ardú 16 faoin gcéad ar fhigiúirí na bliana seo caite.
Agus é ag labhairt faoin gcuraclam nua, dúirt Uachtarán Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, an tOllamh Pilib Ó Nualláin: “Tacaíonn an méid seo leis an gcinneadh freastal a dhéanamh ar riachtanais na mac léinn sa lá atá inniu ann agus rogha níos leithne agus tuilleadh solúbthachta a chur ar fáil sa churaclam fochéime. Tá na mic léinn go léir ar aistear foghlama. Tá cuid acu lánchinnte faoina gceann scríbe agus tá am á thógáil ag mic léinn eile le hathbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar na roghanna atá ar fáil dóibh. Sílimid go bhfuil sé tábhachtach go ndéantar freastal ar an dá ghrúpa. Léiríonn an scoilt seo atá feicthe againn sa chéad bhliain den churaclam nua go raibh an measúnú a rinneamar ar riachtanas mac léinn i gceart.”
Ón mbliain seo ar aghaidh, beidh an deis ag gach uile mhac léinn fochéime tabhairt faoi chúrsa i Scileanna Criticiúla mar mhodúl lárnach. Tugann an cúrsa seo an deis do mhic léinn forbairt a dhéanamh ar scileanna anailíseacha agus cumarsáide, scileanna atá lárnach dá rathúlacht san ollscoil agus ina saol oibre agus iad ag forbairt le bheith ina smaointeoirí neamhspleácha agus le fadhbanna a réiteach. Faoi láthair, tá breis agus 25 faoin gcéad de mhic léinn na chéad bhliana ag tabhairt faoin modúl sin.
Ag labhairt faoi scileanna criticiúla i Má Nuad, dúirt an tOllamh Ó Nualláin: “Is iontach an rud é go bhfuilimid ag cur leis an rath a bhí ar scéim phíolótach na bliana seo caite ar Scileanna Criticiúla. Tugann an modúl seo an deis do mhic léinn oibriú le mic léinn ó réimsí staidéir éagsúla agus aghaidh a thabhairt ar fhadhbanna casta ó líon dearcthaí éagsúla. Ceann de na bunphrionsabail a bhaineann leis an gcuraclam nua ná nach mór dúinn a chinntiú go mbeidh na scileanna agus na tréithe ag ár mic léinn is gá chun dul chun cinn i ndomhan atá ag athrú i gcónaí agus ina bhfuil béim mhór ar an inoiriúnaitheacht. Beidh éileamh i gcónaí in earnáil na tionsclaíochta ar dhaoine atá solúbtha agus ar smaointeoirí criticiúla, daoine atá in ann dul i ngleic le hionad oibre a bhíonn ag athrú de shíor.”
Chomh maith leis sin, tá an deis á tapú ag mic léinn staidéar a dhéanamh ar theanga iasachta mar chuid den phríomhchéim nó mar mhodúl roghnach sa dara bliain. Dúirt an tOllamh Ó Nualláin: “Ní hamháin go mbíonn tuilleadh spéise ag fostóirí i gcéimithe a bhfuil teanga iasachta ar a dtoil acu ach cruthaíonn teanga iasachta deiseanna laistigh den chéim. Bíonn an mac léinn a théann i ngleic le teanga iasachta níos ullmhaithe le staidéar a dhéanamh thar lear. Tá an-bhéim á cur againn ar fhoghlaim ó thaithí, mar shampla staidéar a dhéanamh thar lear, intéirneachtaí agus oiliúint sa láthair oibre, toisc go dtugann siad an deis do mhic léinn a bheith ullmhaithe níos fearr don saol tar éis na hOllscoile.”
Ag teacht leis na hathruithe seo, cuireann an curaclam nua cur chuige úr i leith teagaisc agus measúnaithe ar fáil thar na réimsí ábhair go léir agus déanann sé treisiú sainráite ar scileanna ar nós anailís chriticiúil, cumarsáid bhéil agus scríofa, agus meastóireacht a dhéanamh ar fhianaise.