RTE Galway moves into GMIT under new costcutting partnership
By Declan Varley
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) has entered into a new partnership with RTÉ involving the GMIT Centre for the Creative Arts & Media (Cluain Mhuire campus).
The new agreement will see RTÉ locating its regional studio facility in the city campus during 2013. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organisations is to be formally approved by the GMIT Governing Body next week.
The agreement will provide opportunities for GMIT media students to undertake work placements and graduate internships in RTÉ; support and advice from RTÉ in relation to the development and review of programmes; potential for RTÉ staff as adjunct staff or external examiners; the possibility of creating an ideas Laboratory in the centre; and access to new technologies in RTÉ.
GMIT President Michael Carmody says this collaboration is an important step in establishing the Centre for Creative Arts and Media as a focal point for media-related higher education in Galway”
“The association with RTÉ and its expertise in modern media technologies will add a new dimension to our B.A. (Hons) in Film & Documentary degree programme, along with providing work experience and employment opportunities for our students and graduates".
GMIT is one of four Institutes of Technology partnering with RTÉ. Over the next few weeks, joint working groups will be established between each IT and RTÉ to look at the range and potential of these new relationships. The new plan will begin from January 2013.
In a statement last week, RTÉ said its operations in Sligo, Dundalk, Galway, Athlone, and Waterford will move to the local Institutes of Technology.
All regional correspondents will continue to provide extensive coverage from their existing regions and while some other staff roles will be reviewed, there will be no job losses as a result of these changes.
