MTU & UCC join forces to become the newest provider of Home Economics initial teacher education in Ireland since 1952

MTU & UCC join forces to become the newest provider

of Home Economics initial teacher education in Ireland since 1952

 

 

Ireland is facing a critical shortage of home economics teachers, and today, April 22^nd,  Munster Technological University (MTU) & University College Cork (UCC) announce a new joint programme to prepare teachers – a five year course in Home Economics & Business.

 

Students will study at MTU for 3 years and UCC for 2 years in this partnership that makes MTU/UCC the first new provider of Home Economics initial teacher education in Ireland since 1952. The Department of Education & Skills (DES) and the Teaching Council have categorised the subject of Home Economics as experiencing an ongoing critical shortage of teachers. This new programme will help address this shortage, whilst also making a positive contribution to building deeper knowledge, understanding, and expertise in other key disciplinary areas for contemporary society including food education and environmental sustainability, where healthy eating and environmental responsibility pose considerable challenges for future generations. Professor Maggie Cusack, President of MTU said “the multidisciplinary nature of this programme, which is strategically aligned to the United Nations sustainable development goals, is an exciting new educational offering, and aligns with MTU’s core values of developing innovative programmes, to prepare students for professional roles. The collaborative approach between colleagues in MTU and UCC, has resulted in a truly unique offering for students.”

 

Currently St Angela’s College in Sligo is the only provider of Home Economics teacher education programmes in the State. This new MTU & UCC collaboration will be a very welcome alternative option for students nationwide.

 

Rory O'Connell cookery demo at the then CIT a few years ago.

Speaking at the launch of the programme, Dr Noel Murray, Head of Department of Tourism & Hospitality at MTU said, “this is a major new development for students wishing to pursue a career as teaching professionals in Home Economics and Business. It is the most diverse, multidisciplinary programme in the University as it includes modules from 10 different departments in MTU, as well as from the School of Education in UCC. We have designed a really innovative programme of study, so as to attract both male and female students, and I know there will be strong demand.”

 

Through the CAO, using Code CR930, students can now apply for the BA (Hons) in Home Economics & Business, which commences in September 2021, with 32 places available. The first three years will focus on developing discipline expertise in the areas of Home Economics, across the areas of food studies, textiles fashion and design, family resource management, home design, and social studies. In Business, students will study modules in core areas such as entrepreneurship, international business, management, accounting, economics, and human resource management. All these areas of study are closely aligned with the requirements of the Teaching Council of Ireland for graduates who wish to become post-primary teachers of both Home Economics and Business. The programme also introduces students to the teaching experience so as to develop fundamental pedagogical skills through the design, delivery and critique of authentic teaching, learning and assessment via micro-teaching sessions and observation of Home Economics teaching in the classroom whilst on a short placement.

 

Graduates who achieve a minimum of Second-Class Honours Grade 2 award in their MTU BA (Hons) in Home Economics and Business will automatically be offered a place on the Professional Master of Education (PME) post-primary in UCC through a ‘protected places pathway’ agreement between both universities. Completion of both programmes over 5 years, will allow graduates to meet all Teaching Council requirements to teach both Home Economics and Business to Leaving Certificate level in Irish post-primary schools.

 

Dr Brian Murphy, Director of the Professional Master of Education (PME) in UCC outlined that “this innovative and exciting collaboration between UCC and MTU offers students a unique opportunity to become Home Economics teachers both in a full university environment and outside of Sligo for the first time. We on the PME programme team in the School of Education in UCC are really excited to extend our renowned expertise in preparing post-primary teachers of the highest quality to the subject area of Home Economics. Future Home Economics and Business PME students in UCC will be truly part of a very special development in the history of teacher education and Home Economics teaching in Ireland.”

 

On progression to the Professional Master of Education (PME) programme in UCC, students will complete their initial teacher education in the UCC School of Education, an internationally and nationally celebrated centre of excellence with over 115 years experience of, and expertise in, teacher education. This, coupled with the School of Education’s dynamic School Placement partnership with over 80 second-level schools, makes this an exciting new opportunity for all current and future students interested in a career as a teacher of Home Economics and Business at post-primary level.

A live webinar sharing specific details of the new and exciting programme and opportunity, will take place on Thursday 29^th April at 7p.m. www.mtu.ie/homeeconomics