GMIT to receive €1,780,855 in capital works and equipment funding
DEPUTY Alan Dillon has welcomed the announcement of funding of €1,780,855 for GMIT by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris.
The devolved capital grant allocation will facilitate higher institutions to address a number of key capital investment priorities, including:
• Minor works and equipment needs to support safe campus reopening
• Procurement of additional ICT devices - including laptops - to support disadvantaged students who have difficulty in accessing a suitable device for their studies
• Investments in equipment and infrastructure that are required to support the creation of additional student places, given the exceptional circumstances facing the Leaving Cert class of 2021
• General ICT and equipment-related upgrades
• Health and safety works, and other building upgrades
• Investments to support universal access
• Energy efficiency and decarbonisation-related upgrades
The funding forms part of ongoing investment in the higher education sector under Project Ireland 2040. Funding will be provided through the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
Said Minister Harris: “Today, students across the country will begin to return to colleges for the first time in 19 months. It is an incredibly exciting but I am sure nervous time for many.
“I am very pleased to announce a significant devolved capital grant for the higher education sector to support a range of capital priorities."
Added Deputy Dillon: “The grant funding will also help facilitate the safe and very welcome return of students to GMIT campus-based learning, and will allow the institutions to carry out necessary minor works and equipment upgrades across their estates over the coming year."
The Covid-19 pandemic shone a spotlight on issue of digital inequity. In response to this, the minister announced funding last year for the procurement of laptops to lend to students who did not have the resources to acquire a device themselves. This initiative will continue into the coming academic year, and higher education institutions will be able to use the devolved capital grant to procure additional laptops where they are required.
As was the case last year, laptops procured to support disadvantaged students will be distributed through targeted lending schemes run by higher education institutions. This will be overseen by access offices in individual institutions. Any students who consider they might be eligible to receive a device should contact their access office for application details.
The scheme will be primarily aimed at first year students but it is open to anyone to seek support. Last year, over 8,000 laptops were distributed to higher education students.
Previous allocations under the devolved capital grant have had a significant positive impact on campus development, facilitating initiatives such as upgrading of laboratories, replacement of obsolete ICT equipment, installation of energy efficient lighting, and repurposing of existing spaces in line with the needs of students and staff.