Maynooth University has seen its highest level of first preference applications with record numbers of students applying for the first year of its re-imagined undergraduate curriculum. More than 3,710 students applied to the University this year, which represents a three percent increase on applications from last year, a significant achievement and an endorsement of the University’s new curriculum, designed in response to the needs of today’s students and providing greater choice and flexibility within its degrees.
As part of Maynooth University’s new curriculum, students now have the choice of specialising immediately or exploring options across a range of disciplines in first year and specialising later. The students’ response to this offering backs up research carried out by Maynooth University, whose survey of 1,500 senior cycle students showed that the majority (59%) of Leaving Certificate cycle students believe a broad education is useful for their long term career with a similarly high proportion (62%) as yet not sure what career they would like to pursue.
Discussing the results, Professor Philip Nolan, Maynooth University President, said: “What we see when we talk to students—even among the highest achievers— is that they are on a learning journey, and their precise course and their ultimate destination are not fixed or clear. A third of those targeting 550 points still didn’t know what course they wanted to take at third level when surveyed at the beginning of the academic year. Even among students who had a definitive career plan and were making their course choice to achieve this, 43% were unsure about the subjects they wanted to study.”
“These students are right: what we really need are adaptable, critical thinkers who will be ready to tackle a variety of challenges in their long working lives. For those who are sure what they want to do, our new curriculum offers them the option to develop the diverse skillset they will need to thrive in their chosen fields. For those yet to decide what career path they wish to take, our new curriculum will give them the opportunity to explore their options, rather than demanding they make the decision too early.”
Another important element of the new curriculum is the emphasis it places on critical skills. All First Year Modules have been changed to incorporate innovative teaching and assessment models that challenge students to engage with their courses in an analytical, reflective, and critical manner, as well as developing their communication and teamwork skills. Beginning this year, every first year undergraduate student will now also have the option to devote additional time to 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. Over 200 students signed up for the pilot programme that ran last year. These students took the module in addition to their core subjects and came from 31 different programmes, including Science, Law, Psychology, International Finance and Economics, Equine Studies, and Music.
Discussing critical skills at Maynooth, Professor Nolan observed: “Following on from our successful pilot programme last year, I’m very excited to see critical skills become an option for every undergraduate student. It represents a unique proposition where students are encouraged to develop their reasoning, analytical, presentation, and team work skills in a space adjacent to their more traditionally content driven classes. We’ve had fantastic feedback from students on the initial pilot programme with 90% of them saying that the skills they developed helped them progress in their other modules. One of the great things about this course is that students have an opportunity to work with their peers from different fields to address complex problems from a number of distinct perspectives.”
The emphasis on flexibility and choice extends beyond first year, and, in second year, the new curriculum allows students to take up an elective module that makes up a sixth of the total credit for the year. Students have the opportunity to learn a foreign language, approach their current studies from a different angle, or discover a completely new subject. Options for electives include Global Environmental Change; Law and Society; and, Entrepreneurship, Design and Creativity. The elective courses also received a very positive reaction from its initial cohort with 88% of students saying they would recommend their course to anyone coming into second year next term.
The level of first preference applications the University received this year demonstrates the appeal of the new curriculum across every field. Arts has seen growth in applications of 20%, while Business and Science have also seen significant increases. Individual courses with exceptional growth include: Psychology (+35%), Law (+30%), Finance (+25%) and Music (+22%).
One of the most important decisions that Maynooth University made as part of the new curriculum was to significantly reduce its number of entry-routes – from more than 50 to approximately 35. These broader entry routes give students more time to make the best decisions for their future, while also addressing the pressure students feel from the points race, and the rote learning and ‘studying to the exam’ which results.
Professor Nolan noted that the current system has helped to create a fallacy of prestige around high point courses which further exacerbates exam-time pressure. “It is completely untrue to say that high points automatically mean a course is of a higher quality or that lower points courses are less worthwhile. This myth has been allowed to perpetuate. If all universities adopt a broad entry approach, the beneficial impact on Leaving Certificate students will be immense.”
“As educators, our advice to students is not to feel that they need to have their entire lives mapped out for them by the time they fill out their CAO form. A high quality, more flexible university education should open a world of opportunities to students who follow their interests. We have listened to students and presented a fresh proposition to them through our new curriculum. The number of first preference applications we have received is a resounding endorsement of this decision,” added Professor Nolan.
Tugann an curaclam nua spreagadh do níos mó iarratas céad rogha ná riamh
Tá níos mó iarratas céad rogha faighte ag Ollscoil Mhá Nuad ná riamh agus iarratas déanta ag líon an mhór mac léinn ar an gcéad bhliain den churaclam fochéime athbhreithnithe. Rinne breis agus 3,710 mac léinn iarratas ar áit san Ollscoil i mbliana, ardú trí faoin gcéad ar líon na n-iarratas a fuair an Ollscoil anuraidh. Éacht suntasach atá ann agus léiríonn sé go bhfuil muinín ag iarratasóirí as curaclam nua na hOllscoile, curaclam a dearadh le freastal ar riachtanais na mac léinn sa lá atá inniu ann agus a chuireann roghanna agus solúbthacht bhreise ar fáil laistigh dá cuid céimeanna.
Mar chuid de churaclam nua na hOllscoile, bíonn an deis anois ag mic léinn speisialtóireacht a dhéanamh láithreach nó blaiseadh a fháil de réimse disciplíní sa chéad bhliain agus speisialtóireacht a dhéanamh ina dhiaidh sin. Tacaíonn freagairt na mac léinn ar an tairiscint seo le taighde atá déanta ag Ollscoil Mhá Nuad. Léirigh suirbhé a rinneadh ar 1,500 dalta sa tsraith shinsearach go gcreideann formhór na ndaltaí i sraith na Ardteistiméireachta (caoga a naoi faoin gcéad) go mbeidh oideachas leathan úsáideach ina ngairm bheatha go fadtéarmach. Chomh maith leis sin, léiríodh nach raibh céatadán ard acu (seasca a dó faoin gcéad) cinnte faoin ngairm bheatha atá uathu.
Agus é ag labhairt faoi na torthaí, dúirt an tOllamh Pilib Ó Nualláin, Uachtarán Ollscoil Mhá Nuad:
“Nuair a labhraímid le mic léinn – leis na hardghnóthachtálaithe fiú – feictear dúinn go bhfuil siad ar thuras foghlama agus nach bhfuil an bealach féin nó an ceann scríbe socraithe ná soiléir. Nuair a rinneadh suirbhé ag tús na bliana acadúla, léiríodh nach raibh aon trian díobh siúd a bhfuil sé mar aidhm acu 550 pointe a bhaint amach, cinnte faoin gcúrsa tríú leibhéal atá uathu. Fiú i measc na mac léinn a bhfuil plean ar leith acu maidir le gairm bheatha agus a bhfuil cinneadh déanta acu maidir leis an gcúrsa atá uathu, bhí daichead a trí faoin gcéad acu éiginnte faoi na hábhair a bhfuil spéis acu staidéar a dhéanamh orthu.”
“Tá an ceart ag na mic léinn seo: is éard atá uainn i ndáiríre ná smaointeoirí criticiúla atá inoiriúnaithe agus a bheidh réidh le dul i ngleic leis na dúshláin a thiocfaidh rompu sa saol oibre fada a bheidh amach rompu. Dóibh siúd atá cinnte faoin gcúrsa atá uathu, cuireann ár gcuraclam nua an rogha ar fáil dóibh tacar sainscileanna ilchineálach a fhorbairt, rud a theastóidh uathu ionas go mbeidh rath orthu sna réimsí a roghnaíonn siad. Dóibh siúd a dteastaíonn uathu conair ghairme a roghnú fós, tabharfaidh an curaclam nua seo deis dóibh breathnú ar na roghanna go léir seachas brú a chur orthu cinneadh a dhéanamh róluath.”
Gné thábhachtach eile den churaclam nua seo ná an bhéim a chuireann sé ar scileanna criticiúla. Tá leasú déanta ar mhodúil na Chéad Bhliana go léir le múnlaí teagaisc agus measúnaithe atá nuálach a chur san áireamh, múnlaí a chuirfidh dúshláin roimh mhic léinn a bheith rannpháirteach ina gcúrsaí ar bhealach atá anailíseach, machnamhach agus criticiúil chomh maith le forbairt a dhéanamh ar a scileanna i dtaca le cumarsáid agus obair foirne. Ón mbliain seo ar aghaidh, beidh sé de rogha ag gach mac léinn fochéime sa chéad bhliain am breise a thabhairt do Scileanna Criticiúla mar chroímhodúl. Tugann an cúrsa seo deis do mhic léinn forbairt a dhéanamh ar scileanna anailíseacha agus ar na scileanna cumarsáide a theastaíonn le rath a bhaint amach san ollscoil agus ina saol oibre. Chláraigh breis agus 200 mac léinn don chlár píolótach a chuireamar ar bun an bhliain seo caite. Thóg na mic léinn seo an modúl mar aon lena gcroí-ábhair agus tháinig siad ó thríocha a haon clár difriúil lena n-áirítear Eolaíocht, Dlí, Síceolaíocht, Airgeadas agus Eacnamaíocht Idirnáisiúnta, Staidéar Eachaí, agus Ceol.
Agus é ag labhairt faoi scileanna criticiúla i Má Nuad, dúirt an tOllamh Ó Nualláin: “Ag bogadh ar aghaidh ó chlár píolótach na bliana seo caite, is geal liom go mbeidh scileanna criticiúla ina rogha do gach mac léinn fochéime. Deis uathúil atá ann; tugtar spreagadh do mhic léinn forbairt a dhéanamh ar réasúnú, ar scileanna anailíseacha, ar scileanna cur i láthair agus ar obair foirne i spás ar leith taobh le taobh leis na ranganna traidisiúnta ina mbíonn an bhéim ar an ábhar. Tá aiseolas den scoth faighte againn ó mhic léinn a bhí ar an gclár píolótach. Deir nócha faoin gcéad de na rannpháirtithe gur chabhraigh na scileanna a d’fhorbair siad leo sna modúil eile a bhí á ndéanamh acu. Ceann de na rudaí is fearr faoin gcúrsa seo ná go mbeidh an deis ag mic léinn oibriú lena bpiaraí ó réimsí éagsúla agus aghaidh a thabhairt ar fhadhbanna casta ó dhearcthaí éagsúla.”
Tá an bhéim atá ar an tsolúbthacht agus ar roghanna a thabhairt le feiceáil tar éis na chéad bhliana, agus, sa dara bliain, cuireann an curaclam nua an deis ar fáil do mhic léinn modúl toghthach a thógáil ar fiú aon séú de chreidiúintí iomlána na bliana é. Bíonn deis ag mic léinn teanga iasachta a fhoghlaim, cur chuige nua a chur i bhfeidhm maidir lena gcuid staidéir, nó ábhar iomlán nua a aimsiú. Tá Athrú Comhshaoil Domhanda, an Dlí agus an tSochaí; agus; Fiontraíocht, Dearadh agus Cruthaitheacht i measc na roghanna atá ar fáil ó thaobh cúrsaí toghthacha de. Tá aiseolas an-dearfach faighte ón gcéad chohórt i leith na gcúrsaí toghthacha – deir ochtú a hocht faoin gcéad de na mic léinn go molfaidís an cúrsa do dhuine ar bith atá ag dul isteach sa dara bliain an téarma seo chugainn.
Léiríonn líon na n-iarratas céad rogha atá faighte ag an Ollscoil i mbliana an mhealltacht a bhaineann leis an gcuraclam nua i ngach réimse. Tá ardú fiche faoin gcéad tagtha ar líon na n-iarratas ar Ealaíona agus tá ardú suntasach feicthe ar an éileamh ar Ghnó agus ar Eolaíocht chomh maith. Tá fás suntasach tagtha ar chúrsaí aonair chomh maith, lena n-áirítear Síceolaíocht (ardú tríocha a cúig faoin gcéad), Dlí (ardú tríocha faoin gcéad), Airgeadas (ardú fiche a cúig faoin gcéad) agus Ceol (ardú fiche a dó faoin gcéad).
Ceann de na cinntí is tábhachtaí a rinne Ollscoil Mhá Nuad mar chuid den churaclam nua is ea líon na mbealaí iontrála a laghdú go suntasach – laghdaíodh iad ó bhreis agus caoga bealach go tríocha a cúig bealach. Tugann na bealaí iontrála níos leithne breis ama do mhic léinn na cinntí is fearr dá dtodhchaí féin a dhéanamh agus tugann sé aghaidh ar an mbrú a bhíonn ar mhic léinn maidir le rás na bpointí agus ón bhfoghlaim de ghlanmheabhair agus an ‘staidéar don scrúdú’ a eascraíonn as an rás sin.
Dúirt an tOllamh Ó Nualláin gur chabhraigh an córas reatha leis an míthuiscint go bhfuil gradam ag baint le cúrsa a bhfuil pointí arda ag baint leis, rud a chuireann go mór leis an mbrú a bhaineann le tréimhse na scrúduithe. “Ní sé ceart ná cóir a rá go bhfuil cúrsaí a bhfuil pointí arda ag baint leo níos fearr nó nach bhfuil cúrsaí a bhfuil pointí níos ísle ag baint leo chomh fiúntach céanna. Ceadaíodh fad saoil don mhiotas sin. Dá nglacfadh gach ollscoil le cur chuige níos leithne maidir le bealaí iontrála, bheadh tionchar iontach dearfach aige sin ar mhic léinn na hArdteistiméireachta.
“Mar oideoirí, is í an chomhairle atá againn do mhic léinn ná gan a bheith ag aireachtáil go gcaithfidh siad cinneadh a dhéanamh a leagfaidh a saol ar fad amach dóibh nuair a líonann siad amach an fhoirm CAO. Ba cheart go gcuirfeadh oideachas ollscoile atá níos solúbtha go leor deiseanna ar fáil do mhic léinn a rogha spéise a leanúint. D’éisteamar le mic léinn agus chuireamar tairiscint úr ar fáil dóibh trínár gcuraclam nua. Tacaíonn líon na n-iarratas céad rogha atá faighte againn go mór leis an gcinneadh seo,” arsa an tOllamh Ó Nualláin.