Pictured at the signing of a revised partnership between Trinity College and associated colleges, Marino Institute of Education and Church of Ireland College of Education (l to r): Dr Anne O'Gara. President Marino Institute of Education; Dr John Hegarty, Provost Trinity College Dublin; Dr Anne Lodge, Principal Church of Ireland College of Education.

Marino Institute of Education has issued a statement anoouncing that from September 2010 it will deliver its 4-year B.Ed degree and its H.Dip in Education (Primary) on the Marino campus.

Previously, Marino students attended courses in the foundation disciplines at Trinity College one day each week, while the fourth year of the B.Ed programme was delivered by the staff of Trinity College School of Education on the Trinity campus.

Trinity College Dublin will continue to accredit the degree and diploma programmes and award University of Dublin qualifications, and will oversee the quality assurance processes. The School of Education at Trinity will also work more closely with Marino Institute of Education to develop postgraduate teacher education and research.

A similar arrangement has been put in place between Trinity College and its other constituent teacher education college, the Church of Ireland College of Education.

Marino Institute of Education said the move would:

• Eliminate duplication of services, such as students having to register twice, both at Trinity and Marino;
• Allow Marino Institute to make  better overall use of its services and resources, including the library, the lecture rooms, the newly developed dining facilities, the modern student accommodation, the gym and sports pitches;
• Enable the Institute to focus and strengthen its position as a centre of excellence in primary education, dedicated to the practice and theory of teaching.

Dr Anne O’Gara, president of Marino Institute of Education, welcomed the new phase of partnership with Trinity: 

“This move acknowledges the experience and expertise in educational theory and practice that exist among the staff in Coláiste Mhuire Marino Institute of Education. Courses in Marino have long been linked to excellence in classroom practice and we look forward to consolidating this reputation in the coming years”.

According to Jonathan Mc Kenna, president of Marino Students’ Union, “the announcement of the new arrangements has been well received by the student body of Marino”.

“The change has proved especially popular with third year students who will now have the opportunity to undertake their fourth year at Marino. It has made thoughts of their first year teaching less daunting due to the excellent support system in place at Marino from tutors and lecturing staff,” Jonathan said. 

Graduates of Marino Institute of Education find work in a variety of settings, including schools in disadvantaged areas and special needs schools. In addition, some students elect to work in Northern Ireland, in the Gaeltacht, in gaelscoileanna, in multi-denominational schools, and in the new community national schools.

Marino is proud of its reputation as a Coláiste an-Ghaelach and each year many its graduates opt to work in gaelscoileanna.

The Institute is under the trusteeship of the Congregation of Christian Brothers. A process is at an advanced stage to place the Institute under the joint trusteeship of the Congregation of Christian Brothers and Trinity College.