This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 66.245.221.110 (talk) at 07:07, 6 December 2004. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 07:07, 6 December 2004 by 66.245.221.110 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| University of Limerick | |
|---|---|
| Logo: University of Limerick | |
| Established | 1972 |
| Location | Limerick, Republic of Ireland |
| Students | 13,000 |
| Alumni | 31,000 |
| President | Prof Roger G H Downer |
| Chancellor | Mr Seán Donlon |
| Address | Plassey Limerick Ireland |
| Phone | +353-61-20 2700 |
| Homepage | http://www.ul.ie |
| Member of | EUA |
The University of Limerick (UL) was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989. The university was the first university established since the foundation of the State in 1922.
The six colleges (i.e. faculties) of the university are:
- Kemmy Business School
- College of Education
- College of Engineering
- College of Humanities
- College of Informatics and Electronics
- College of Science
The one linked college of the university is:
The university, and previously as an institution, is unique in Ireland in that it has synthesized many American ideas in education and introduced them into Ireland; for instance the university introduced a cooperative education programme and grade point average marking, whilst the presidential style of its founding director and previous president until 1998, Dr Edward M Walsh, is somewhat legendary and greatly assisted its raising to university status.
Speaking as an ex student, who attended this place before it became a university, I have to say it was a sweat shop, focused on manufacturing graduates for the 'market'. It was far from a university or an education in the broad sense of the word. It is not a place to be recommended.
The College of Education was created in 1991 from Thomond College of Education, which itself evolved from the National College of Physical Education established in 1973. Thomond College of Education, which now forms the Department of Educational and Professional Studies focuses on secondary education programmes. Mary Immaculate College, Limerick currently functions under the College of Education and focuses on primary education programmes.
The university is located on a 200 acre (0.8 km²) site in the 600 acre (2.4 km²) National Technological Park at Plassey three miles from Limerick City. The university has currently in excess of 9,000 full-time students and 1,000 part-time students. There are also over 800 research postgraduates and 1300 taught postgraduate students at the college. Each year over 2,000 students are allocated work placement, the Cooperative Education programme, one of the first such programmes in the State.
Over the past decade or more, the campus has expanded greatly. For instance the University Concert Hall and Library & Information Services Building. The past 4 years have seen the addition of the Computer Science Building, the Plassey Student Village (pop. 500), Materials Science Building, Students Union Building and the first national 50 meter swimming pool along with the adjacent sports area.
The university is constantly expanding, an Engineering Research Building is due for completion in September 2004. Another student village is under construction, this time on the orth bank of the River Shannon, in County Clare. The Health Sciences Building is being added in this location also. To link what is the start of a planned north bank campus, a bridge is being built. Yet another student village, and an Arts building are planned for the north bank. Eventually it is hoped to expand the north bank campus to the size of the original south bank campus.
Much of this work is due to the contributions of the UL Foundation - a group of corporate, graduate and individual patrons to the university. The remaining funds are usually from the Irish Government or the European Union.