St Angela’s part of institute promoting teacher education

ST ANGELA’S College has announced the foundation of the Western Institute for Studies in Education (WISE).

This is a collaboration with NUI Galway and GMIT to enhance and promote teacher education in the west of Ireland.

WISE, which formally launches in September, will significantly help to consolidate and raise the profile of teacher education in the region and will include the development of an innovative virtual platform to support collaboration and nurture engagement with a range of stakeholders involved in teacher education in the region.

In the last decade, two major reviews of the structure of teacher education in Ireland were undertaken, authored by the leading Finnish educationist, Professor Pasi Sahlberg. This new WISE development reinvigorates and consolidates the Sahlberg policy recommendations by recognising formally the commitment of each of the three partners to come together under the platform of WISE on the basis of equality and reciprocity. WISE is underpinned by a strong commitment to become a collaborative, complimentary and creative force in teacher education regionally, nationally and internationally.

Founding director of WISE and Head of the School of Education, NUI Galway, Professor Gerry Mac Ruairc said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of WISE, which represents the culmination of several years of partnership and collaboration between the three main providers of teacher education in the West and Northwest: St Angela’s College (Sligo), Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and NUI Galway.

“Each of the three institutions has established reputations, nationally and internationally, in teacher education. WISE will facilitate a co-operative strategic alignment to promote and enhance our research, our teaching, and our engagement with the community, and our partner schools.” Amanda McCloat, pictured left, president of St Angela’s College, welcoming the establishment of WISE, said: “This institute builds on the excellent national and international reputation and close working relationship of NUI Galway, St Angela’s College and GMIT and collectively will serve to enhance teacher education provision and research.”