WIT Press Release
Title: WIT attracts 93 students aged 60 or over as numbers continue to grow
Release date: Tue, Jun 03, 2008
Waterford Institute of Technology has over 90 registered students aged 60 or over, new data from the Institute shows. Among them are an 82 year-old; a 73 year-old; two 72 year-olds, a 71 year-old and no fewer than four 70 year-olds.
Of these, 15 are full-time students while the remaining 78 study part time. And almost two third of students aged 60 or over are female, the registration information from WIT shows.
Prof Kieran R. Byrne, Director, Waterford Institute of Technology said the Institute has always been keen to support life-long learning and added that the growing numbers of retirees in particular going back to college bodes well for the future.
"Data from the Higher Education Authority shows that a growing number of retired people are taking up third level courses and this is certainly reflected here in Waterford and the southeast.
"The Institute is proud to have 93 students aged 60 or over. Their commitment to lifelong learning is second to none. The mix of age profiles on several of our programmes benefits everyone. Mature students add greatly to college life and younger students coming to higher education directly from school learn a great deal from those with greater life and work experience.
"The experiences they have accumulated help our mature students act as mentors for younger students. We are proud of our older student cohort and are anxious to see that number grow into the future. Supports for adults wishing to return to education have greatly facilitated such a move," Prof Byrne said.
The mature students study over a variety of disciplines -28 are on Personal Development Courses; 15 are registered on the Higher Certificate in Arts in Literacy Development; others are on the Certificate in Tourism Business Practice programme and others are on the Continuing Professional Development Courses.
The HEA has developed a dedicated website that outlines all funding possibilities for those interested in going to third level. Further information is available on www.studentfinance.ie .
