IT Sligo currently has three capital projects underway on campus, worth an estimated €10 million that have created over 100 construction jobs locally over the 20 week construction period. These projects include: an extension and an entire new floor added to the library; an extension to the technology building and new sports facilities are also under construction. This is an ambitious project in the current climate, but it is business as usual at the 70 acre campus, with the Sports Centre becoming the study and exam hub for final examinations.
The President, Professor Terri Scott said “these capital projects will enhance IT Sligo’s learning environment to enable us to increase student population to 7000. While the changes will mean superb facilities for IT Sligo, this refurbishment is about more than practical improvements. It is about looking at what students and staff need, adapting to new technologies and providing the best facilities possible”.
“The traditional idea of study as a quiet, solitary activity is giving way in part to the notion of a more social type of learning and team working. In many courses we provide at IT Sligo, learning activity requires spaces to meet, to brainstorm, to discuss, to plan and create presentations. The Librarian at the College, Mr Jim Foran commented, “a new Social Zone of the library has been created, based on Best Practice in Higher Education, the exciting new development will be a focal point on campus, where students will come to meet, access learning resources and exchange ideas”.
“The new addition to the campus will also give us the capacity to grow online learning.” said Terri Scott. “IT Sligo is a leader in online and distance education, with over 1500 students enrolled in part-time programmes. This investment will also provide both new and enhanced facilities to support online delivery. The present expansion of the campus is both a creative response to change and a prologue to the next decade, where it is our ambition to place IT Sligo and the North West Region in the forefront of progress”.
