New add-on L8 degree in sustainable building technology (Mayo)

A new honours degree in Sustainable Building Technology is now offered in the GMIT Castlebar campus. The new level 8 add-on degree is delivered on a part-time basis and full-time basis and complements the existing suite of level 8 (hons) programmes in GMIT Castlebar.

There are 24 full time places available on the programme which is recognised by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). Graduates will be eligible to become Incorporated Members of the CIOB and with appropriate professional experience can become full chartered members. GMIT honours qualifications are recognised world-wide and graduates may continue on to further studies at level 9 or level 10.

Lecturer and programme co-ordinator John Scahill says GMIT is one of only a few third-level colleges to offer this honours add-on degree specialising in the technology and practices of sustainable building. “An ever increasing emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability makes the economic procurement and delivery of high-quality construction projects an essential task that must be carried out as part of the national carbon emissions reduction targets.”

“This programme addresses this requirement in the construction management sector by providing graduates who are technically adept and professionally competent in the areas of project management and the newly emerging sustainable building technologies.” adds Mr Scahill.

Mayo County manager, Mr Peter Hynes, says "Mayo County Council warmly welcome the introduction of this programme which supports many of our strategic objectives in the renewable energy and energy conservation areas."

The programme focuses on the core areas of sustainable building technology and construction project management and is centred around the completion of a cross modular year-long retrofit project. Other project modules include;

• Sustainable Building Technology (low energy and passive house building standards, environmental assessment methodologies, construction materials analysis).

• Building Energy Systems (energy usage and auditing, Building energy rating (BER), renewable energy systems)

• Construction informatics (Computer aided design (CAD), Building information Modelling (BIM), quantity measuring software and image manipulation)

• Project Management (principles, practice and case studies.)

Graduates may pursue careers in a wide range of construction related fields including construction management, specialist retrofit contracting, construction consultants and technical staff in local authority or design consultants offices./p>

For entry to the programme, applicants must have a degree in a cognate construction area such as Construction Technology or Construction Management. GMIT also recognises prior learning experience for candidates who may not meet normal entry requirements (for entry into early years of the ordinary (L7) degree programme).

For further details on the new B.Sc (Hons) in Sustainable Building Technology, contact the programme coordinator, lecturer, John.Scahill@gmit.ie, tel. 094 9043298.