Maynooth on course for big changes

The chance to study subjects from different disciplines, and as few as 20 course choices for Leaving Certificate students, are among reforms planned by a rebranded Maynooth University.

From Monday, the Kildare college will change its public identity, while keeping its legal name of National University of Ireland Maynooth.

The changes in curriculum are aimed at first-year students, recognising that students are better off making choices in stages, but university president Philip Nolan said “more so, it is about the fact that many of the jobs and many of the problems of the future are going to require inter-disciplinary skills”.

From September 2016, entrants will have the choice of subject combinations across arts and sciences, which Prof Nolan said are not available in other universities. For example, computer science and philosophy, biology and geography, chemistry and economics, or physics and electronics can be taken as modules with timetable changes that he said might not be possible in other colleges because of their structures and sizes.

Also from 2016, assessment of first-year students will move from reliance on final exams towards oral presentations and group work to reflect a new focus on critical thinking, analysis skills and clear communication. From next year, for some students, and for all first-years from 2016, there will be an option to study a modern language, including Chinese, regardless of the discipline of their degree.

As chair of an Irish University Association group finalising proposals on easing the transition from second-level to third-level, Prof Nolan is also committing Maynooth University to take a lead on offering fewer but broader entry routes for those applying through the Central Applications Office. While courses for school-leavers at Maynooth rose from 42 to 50, mainly due to new law and business schools being created, he said the plan is to reduce that to 20 by 2017 — when all seven universities are expected to do likewise — but Prof Nolan said “a big step in that direction” will take place in 2016.

Only UCD, which now has 46 CAO entry routes compared to 56 in 2011, has made significant changes like this to date. The aim is allow students to choose subjects after their first year of college instead of before leaving school, while also easing points pressure on courses with limited spaces.