CIT president on learning to deal with challenges of a pandemic

The coming academic year will be even more challenging given that the uncertainties of the pandemic will likely characterise the full year ahead

President of CIT Dr Barry O'Connor.Picture: Darragh Kane

With the academic year 2020/21 about to begin in just a few weeks, the coming months present a challenge for college authorities unlike anything ever previously encountered. “As we plan for 2020/21, we do so in a climate of uncertainty but fully committed to these two guiding principles: the health and safety of CIT students and staff and the effective and consistent delivery of academic programmes maintaining the integrity and high academic and professional standing of our CIT awards,” says Dr Barry O’Connor. 

The progress of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent public health guidelines will dictate activities for 2020/21. “While we welcome the Higher Education guidelines published last week, we are aware, like all other sectors of society, that these may be subject to change over the year. Numbers of students and staff on-campus activities at any given time will clearly be limited due to social-distancing rules.” Programme delivery will follow a blended model for semester one, and, as far as can be predicted at this point, similarly for semester two.