Griffith College Dublin

Infobox_University
name =Griffith College Dublin
native_name =Coláiste Uí Ghríofa, Baile Átha Cliath


established =1974
type =private
students =8,500
campus = Urban, convert|7|acre|m2
calendar =Semester
affiliations =HETAC, HECA
president =Diarmuid Hegarty
website =http://www.gcd.ie
address =South Circular Road
Dublin 8
city = Dublin
country = flagicon|Ireland Ireland
telephone =[phone]

History and General Information

Griffith College in Dublin (GCD), ( _ga. Coláiste Uí Ghríofa) is a private college located on the former Griffith Barracks on the South Circular Road in Dublin, Ireland. The college was established in 1974 by Diarmuid Hegarty and incorporated in 1978 as the Business and Accounting Training (BAT), as of 2008 Griffith College has 8,500 students studying on a full and part-time basis.

Originally located on morehamption road, in 1991 the The Business and Accounting College moved from Milltown Pak, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, to the Griffith Barracks site changed its name to Griffith College Dublin. [http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2004/10/17/story124460139.asp An Educating Business by Kieron Wood - Sunday Business Post, 17th October 2004 ] ]

ACA Courses were delivered since 1974 and CPA courses shortly after that. In 1983 BAT commenced delivering ACCA courses and has done so ever since, delivering courses not only in Dublin but in Cork, Drogheda, Moscow and as of 2008 in Naas.Griffith have run CPA courses in Dublin, Cork and Ennis, ACA courses in Dublin, Limerick and Waterford, in the past courses have been run in Belfast.

In the late 1990s Newman College in Dublin became part of Griffith College.

The first degree course offered by Griffith College was in computer science, validated by the University of Ulster, it was followed by a business studies degree [http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2004/10/17/story124460139.asp An Educating Business by Kieron Wood - Sunday Business Post, 17th October 2004 ] ] , this arrangement ceased in 1996 and the degrees were validated by Irish National Council for Educational Awards(NCEA) the predecessor of HETAC.

In Griffith College, designated as being an institution to which the Irish Governments National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA) Act, 1979, NCEA validated courses students became entitled to receive tax relief under the Irish Governments 1997 Act [ [http://www.revenue.ie/publications/lists/ListA06R.pdf Courses Eligible For Tax Relief Academic Year 2005-2006 www.revenue.ie] ] its successor from 2001 onward the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC). [ [http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/0533/D.0533.200104030312.htm Written Answers - Third Level Fees, Dáil Éireann - Volume 533 - 03 April, 2001.] ]

Since 1996 Griffith has had a number of its Business Studies and Law degrees validated by Nottingham Trent University [ [http://www.qaa.ac.uk/reviews/reports/overseas/nottingham_trentgriffith00.asp The Nottingham Trent University and Griffith College Dublin - Overseas Partnership Audit Report - The partnership between the University and the College, (19), April 2000] ] .

Griffith College Dublin was approved as a delegated centre of the Nottingham Trent University in September 1998. Since validation, the LLB and BA in Business and Law have been recognised by the Law Society of Ireland as qualifying degrees for the purposes of Final Examinations (Part One). [ [http://www.ntu.ac.uk/CASQ/delegated_centres/partner_inst/43864gp.html Nottingham Trent University - Delegated Centres] ]

In 2004, Griffith became the first independent college in the country to have its degrees (LLB and BA in Business & Law) accredited by the Honorable Society of King’s Inns [ [http://www.kingsinns.ie/website/prospective_students/degree/schedule.htm List of King's Inns' Approved Degrees] - King's Inns' website] .

The college runs full time courses in design, business, journalism, law, computing and has a range of part time courses available. The college offers professional accountancy programmes for ACCA, ACA, CPA and IATI [ [http://www.iati.ie/Prospective_Students/College_Details/ Griffith College Dublin - Institute of Accounting Technicians Ireland(IATI) Recognised College] ] , Griffith College is a "goldStar CPA approved Educator" [ [http://www.cpaireland.ie/print.aspx?groupid=121&headerid=234 CPA - Approved Educators] ] . The ACCA has awarded Griffith College Dublin the "Platinum" accreditation - the highest recognition by the ACCA [ [http://www.accaglobal.com/learningproviders/tuitionproviders/alp/prog/ ACCA Platinum Status] ] , and is also a ACCA CPD registered course provider. [ [http://www.accaglobal.com/databases/cpd_providers/2323775 ACCA CPD registered course provider] ]

Many of the undergraduate degrees require application via the Central Applications Office application system. Most of the college's undergraduate and postgraduate courses are accredited by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, some of its professional law courses are accredited by Nottingham Trent University, England and these are recognised by the King's Inns for entry to its "Degree of Barrister-at-Law" [ [http://www.kingsinns.ie/website/prospective_students/degree/pdfs/educationrules.pdf King's Inns Education Rules - Schedule of Approved Degrees, page 33, January 2006 ] ] which is a professional qualification for practice at the bar.

The Griffith College Campus is also the home of the Leinster School of Music & Drama, established in 1904. The Leinster School offer theory classes in Music & Drama to groups and individuals subject to availability. The Leinster School is also an examining body and have a Theory Examinations Syllabus with levels from Preparatory to Grade 8.

The Professional Law School at Griffith College also run Legal Continuing Professional Development(CPD) seminars etc. [ [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0905/1220544893089.html 'Massive loophole' in alcohol licensing law by Olivia Kelly] Irish Times 2008]

Griffith College is a active promoter of the Bologna Process for a European wide Higher Education Network. [ [http://www.bologna.ie/node/5 Bologna Process - Irish Bologna Promoters] ]

Academic

Griffith College operates a semesterized academic year, with two semesters from September to January and January to June.The College is divided into a number of faculties:

* The School of Professional Accountancy
* Business
* Law
* Computing Science
* Journalism & Media Communications
* Design
* Graduate Business School
* The Professional Law School

Griffith College also provides a number of training courses in Marketing, Management Studies, Psychology validated by The Institute of Commercial Management(ICM), CAD(City & guilds), Supply Chain Management(IIPMM) and other courses in Administration and Office Skills, JEB Teachers Diploma and ECDL/EUCIP. Griffith's Corporate training run parttime, morning, evening, day courses in a variety of disciplines such as Microsoft products, Microsoft Certification Courses - MSCE, MSCA, MCDST, MCTS, Accounts packages, Desktop Publishing and softskills.

The Professional Law School runs courses for the examinations for entry to the Law Society of Ireland, King's Inns, New York State Board of Law Examiners and the California State Bar Association. The college also runs the IILEX Diploma in Legal Studies [ [http://www.irishinstituteoflegalexecutives.com/aboutus.html Irish Institute of Legal Executives - Education] ] . The IILEX and FE1 courses are available via distance learning and at regional locations in Limerick, Waterford and Galway as well as in the Cork in Griffith College Cork.In 2006 Griffith College, [http://www.gcd.ie/fe1 FE1] course students, won eight of the Law Society’s nine entrance examination first-place prizes, and in the past 6 years Griffith Students have won 30 of the Law Society FE1 prizes.

Griffith had in the past run NCEA Certificates in Computing, runs Certificates, Degrees, Higher Diploma and Masters in Computing Science validated by HETAC. The BSc (Hons) in Computing Science is partially funded under the Department of Education skills initiative.

Computing Science first year degree students participate in the Robocode Competition, Griffith College won the 2008 Robocode Ireland Championship at the annual Games Fleadh. [ [http://www.robocode.ie/ Robocode - Griffith College Dublin win Robocode Ireland Championship 2008] ]

At the end of each academic year the Media and Journalism Photography graduates organise an end of year Student Photography Exhibition ( [http://www.gcdexpo2008.com/ GCD Graduate Photography Exhibition 2008] ), also the TV and Video graduates also organise a Graduate Video Exhibition to showcase their work.

New Courses Starting 2008

The Leinster School of Music & Drama at Griffith College launch the Higher Diploma in Arts in Music Education(HETAC) there is also a new HETAC level 7 BA in Business Studies at both the Dublin and Cork campuses in conjunction with Globe Business College, Munich. [ [http://www.globe-college.com/programmes/ba-munich.php BA in Business Studies in conjunction with Globe College, Munich] ] Also the Graduate Business School begins its new M.Sc. in Accounting and Finance in 2008.

In 2009 Griffith will launch it's Law Masters programme, LLM in International Commercial Law.

International University Collaborations

Griffith College, is partnered with a number of International Universities, in Norway, Germany, Italy, Spain, USA, Mexico, Brazil, India, Korea and China. Also a number of students participate in the EU educational exchange Erasmus programme/Socrates programme.

tudent activities

The Students' Union

The Students' Union is the representative body for all full time Griffith College students. Comprising of Students Union President elected annually by the college students, assisted by a Sports, Welfare and Societies officer and a welfare officer. There is also a Students Liaison Officer who assists students settling into college.

abbatical Officers

Clubs & Societies

There are a variety of clubs and societies in the college including:- Drama, Rugby, Chess, Soccer, Gaelic Football, Debating, Poker, Pool, Paintball, Basketball, Visual Communication & Art, and Toastmasters.

GriffFM

During the spring students from the Journalism & Media Faculty operate a radio station from the campus, [http://www.gcd.ie/index.jsp?1nID=108&2nID=305&pID=305&nID=282 "GriffFm"] . The radio station is licenced by the BCI to broadcast for a couple of weeks. This year GriffFM broadcasted on 99.5 FM from the 4th - 17th of February [ [http://www.bci.ie/licensing/radio/temporary_services_apps.html BCI - Successful Temporary Services Applications 2008, Griff FM] ] , and will be relayed online on [http://streams.gcd.ie "GriffFM(Online)"] .

College & Student Publications

There are a number of college publications in GCD, the most prominent of which is the student union magazine [http://www.gcd.ie/griffiti "Griffiti"] . It is published every month of the academic year, and contains articles and stories which focus on general news, opinion and goings-on around the campus. Students of all disciplines are free to submit articles. The magazine's management dictates that the editor changes every academic year. It was launched in 2004 as of May 2008 there has been 26 issues.

[http://www.gcd.ie/index.jsp?1nID=108&pID=305&nID=279"The Circular"] is the newspaper published by Journalism students, where examples of student work get published. The paper won the award for "Small College Publication of the Year" at the annual Oxygen Student Media (sMedia) Awards in 2005 and 2006, while Griffiti won in 2007. [ [http://www.oxygen.ie/page/264 Oxygen Student Media (sMedia) Awards - Small College publication] ] "The Griff", "The Griffin", "90 Degrees" and "Maverick" are other student publications which have been produced by degree, higher diploma and Print journalism students.

"Glór uí Ghríofa" (The Voice of Griffith) is the official college newsletter outlining college news, developments and campus life.

Facilities & Services

The college facilities include, Library, Common room, Computer Laboratories (248 workstations across 10 labs), CAD Lab, Photography Lab, Fitness Room, Sound Studios, Shop and Bar & Restaurant. The college also offers students a career advice service there is also a professional counsellor off campus providing an advice and counseling for personal and non academic issues.Wireless (WiFi 802.11g) access to the college network is also available for laptop users. For some of the courses (such as FE1 Course ) students can view archives of lectures on DVD in a designated DVD viewing room.

Library & Information Services

The College Library provides research and study facilities to students, the library holds an extensive range of set course texts and background reading material for all college programmes. Library texts are easily accessed via the online Library catalogue. As well as the large range of up to date texts we have online books. Online books are a quick way to access the most up to date computing references. Texts not held on site can be ordered through our inter-library loans service. Students also have access to over 15,000 journals, a growing catalogue of multi-media information resources, including CDs, CD-ROMS, VHS, DVD and music scores, and a comprehensive array of on-line databases including BSP, ABI-Inform, Westlaw.uk, Lexis-Nexis, Hein Online, Westlaw.ie, Emerald, Research for Libraries, Access Asia, Datamonitor, ERIC (fulltext), Communication and Mass Media Complete, Sage Communications, Avery Architectural Index, Design and Applied Arts Index, the ACM.Digital Library (plus SIGs), and Safari Books Online (technical e-books). Online material is available through moodle, to use moodle students must be fully registered students of the college.

Buildings

* Daniel O'Connell Building - North Wing, International Office, Accounts, DIFC, Admissions, Journalism & Media faculty, Business Faculty.
* Arthur Griffith Building - West Wing, Reception, Lecture Rooms, Library, Fashion Design, Law Faculty, Graduate Business School.
* Meagher Building - houses the Griffith College Students Union
* James Stephens Building - Computer Labs, CAD Labs.
* Richmond Building - Photography Studios, Radio & Sound Engineering Studios.
* Wellington Building - Houses the Faculty of Computing Science, IT Department & Computer Labs.
* Cavalry Buildings - Photography Dark Rooms.
* Stables - Video Editing Studios.
* Academic Facilities Building - Restaurant, Auditorium, Conference Centre, School of Professional Accountancy (Opened in 2006)
* Design Studio (Opened in 2007)

Halls of Residence

[http://www.gcd-accommodation.ie Griffith Halls of Residence] is student accommodation, in the form of two buildings located on the grounds of Griffith College Dublin, overlooking the Grand Canal. The two accommodation blocks were completed in 2005.

Griffith Halls of residence offer a range of one, two and three bedroom apartments equipped with study area, Cable TV, Laundry Facilities, Cooking facilities and Internet connectivity. The Colleges underground car park for 400 cars, beneath the halls of residence as well as secure bike storage. A number of apartments are reserved for students with special needs.

Apartments are available to students of all colleges in the Dublin area and bookable for a Semester, Academic Year, or during the summer time for summer English language schools and study abroad programmes.

Conference Centre

[http://www.conferencecentre.ie Griffith Conference Center] is located on the college campus and provides modern conference facilities for a variety of uses such as Seminars, AGMs, Meetings, Examinations, TV Studio, Lectures, Training, Product Launches, Corporate events, Summer Schools, Concerts, Recitals, etc. The facilities include a 575 seat Auditorium, as well as smaller Suites and Rooms for hire. The Buildings were officially opened by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in September 2006. [ [http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/index.asp?locID=200&docID=2896 Speech by the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D., at the official opening of the Griffith Conference Centre and Student Residences at Griffith College on Monday, 25th September, 2006 at 2.15 p.m.] ]

Graduation

The college graduation ceremonies take place each November in the Conference Center. In previous years the ceremony took place in Royal Hospital Kilmainham, and St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. In attendance are graduands their families, and friends, representatives of Validation Bodies, as well as political and diplomatic dignitaries.

Professional Excellence Award

The College awards its Professional Excellence Award to those who have achieved excellence in their careers, at the annual graduation ceremony and the recipient is invited to address the graduation. Recipients include Richard Roche, Dr. Veronica Dunne and in 2007 journalist, broadcaster and historian, John Bowman.

Distinguished Fellowship Award

The college awards its Distinguished Fellowship award during the ceremony, to recognise individuals who have made a significant business or public service contribution on an international scale, past recipients include Edward Haughey (Lord Ballyedmond), Gillian Bowler, Dr. Martin Naughton and Nobel Laurette John Hume. At the 2007 ceremony President of Ireland, Mary McAleese was awarded the Distinguished fellowship award where on acceptance she addressed the graduation ceremony. [ [http://www.gcd.ie/index.jsp?1nID=93&2nID=102&pID=618&nID=620 President McAleese's address at Griffith College Graduation Ceremony 2008] ]

People

Journalist and Broadcaster Vincent Browne lectured in Journalism and Media at Griffith College Dublin. Author Cecelia Ahern studies Journalism at Griffith College. Mark Butler and Neville O’Boyle founders of [http://www.babyskip.ie "BabySkip"] studied Computing Science at Griffith College. [ [http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2006/08/06/story16159.asp Novel approach to waste collection - By Tina-Marie O’Neill, Sunday Business Post, August 06, 2006] ] Newstalk reporter Henry McKean [ [http://www.bci.ie/documents/newstalk_ownership.pdf From Work Experience to Dublin’s most Famous (or should we say Infamous!!) Roving Reporter Henry McKean – Researcher / Reporter Moncrieff] (www.bci.ie newstalk profile) ] is a journalism graduate from Griffith College.Controversial former Government press secretary Frank Dunlop studied for an LLB in Irish Law, graduating in 2007. [ [http://www.independent.ie/national-news/dunlop-officially-told-that-hes-a-lawyer-unto-himself-1218795.html Dunlop officially told that he's a lawyer unto himself - By Nicola Anderson, Irish Independent, Wednesday November 14th 2007] ]

Expansion

Griffith College has expanded beyond its base in Dublin.

Having previously established its Professional Accountancy Programmes in Cork in 2000 offering training in ACCA, CIMA, CPA and IATI, Griffith College acquired Skerry’s College Cork in 2005, the college runs a variety of full and part time courses in Business, Law, Media & Communications, Design, Secretarial and Office skills.

In 2006 Griffith College opens in Limerick with the acquisition of the Mid West Business Institute creating Griffith College Limerick.

There are also two campuses outside Ireland, in Karachi and Moscow respectively, the Moscow campus provides accountancy training.

Picture gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.gcd.ie Griffith College Dublin - official website]
* [http://www.gcc.ie Griffith College Cork - official website]
* [http://www.gcl.ie Griffith College Limerick - official website]
* [http://www.nightcourses.com/griffith/ Griffith College's College Profile on Nightcourses.com]
* [http://www.gc-m.ru Griffith College in Moscow - official website]
* [http://www.gcd.edu.pk Griffith College Karachi - official website]
* [http://www.gcd-accommodation.ie Griffith Halls of Residence - official website]
* [http://www.conferencecentre.ie Griffith Conference Centre - official website]
* [http://www.hetac.ie Higher Education and Training Awards Council - official website]
* [http://www.nqai.ie/ National Qualification Authority of Ireland - official website]
* [http://www.ntu.ac.uk/ Nottingham Trent University - official website]
* [http://www.bologna.ie Bologna Process - official website]
* [http://www.revenue.ie/index.htm?/leaflets/it31.htm List of Approved Colleges for Tax Relief]