GMIT Mayo Campus adds Workplacement Element and New Modules to its Heritage Studies Degree Programme

New opportunities will be available to students studying the Bachelor of Arts degree in Heritage Studies at the Mayo campus from September (2013), with the addition of a new work placement element and new modules to the programme.

Modules such as Local History, Genealogy and Introduction to Digital Media have been added to the programme syllabus, along with choosing either a language module (Spanish, German, French or Irish) or a business & entrepreneurship stream. The degree programme will continue its modules in cultural, natural and built heritage through a combination of lectures, tutorials and field study.

Heritage lecturer Yvonne McDermott, says these modules are regarded by employers and stakeholders as vital growth areas for heritage and tourism while the work placement element gives students the opportunity to appreciate the work of the heritage sector first hand.

“The language elective will provide key skills for those progressing to employment in the tourism sector, for example. The business and entrepreneurship stream emphasises the skills required for small business management. It will be of particular value to those wishing to start their own business after they graduate.”

“This year students on the programme undertook a variety of fieldtrips to locations including Berlin, Dublin, Clonmacnoise and Connemara, in addition to local sites in Mayo. The trip to Berlin involved a range of cultural activities, including a special tour of the Reichstag building, seat of the German Bundestag. Another recent trip saw a group of students and their lecturers undertake a tour of the cultural and built heritage of the city of Rome,” explains Ms McDermott.

GMIT Mayo campus Heritage students are actively involved in green activities as part of their studies. The Mayo campus was the first Institute of Technology campus to be awarded a Green Flag by An Taisce. This year’s activities have included designing and planting the Green Campus Sanctuary Garden, planting a native hedgerow and an innovative swift nest-box project. All of these are part of the biodiversity theme which is closely linked with the environmental components of the Heritage Programme.

For more information on the BA in Heritage Studies, please contact Fiona.white@gmit.ie Programme Chair Fiona White (Fiona.white@gmit.ie) or Dr Yvonne McDermott (Yvonne.mcdermott@gmit.ie) or call 094 90 25700.