A Cavan student is featuring in a new communications campaign.
Niall McKiernan who is a third-year Bachelor of Science student from Ballyhaise is featured in a new communications campaign by Marino Institute of Education (MIE) in Dublin.
Niall is among a small cohort of students who have been selected to feature in the campaign.
With a keen interest in sports, he is heavily involved in MIE's GAA community.
Entitled 'This is MIE', the campaign offers an insight into student life at MIE, including student societies and clubs focused on sports, traditional music, and drama and musicals, and showcases different course options at the Institute.
More than 100 students responded to the survey and key findings include: The majority of students (59%) would like to teach outside of Dublin, with 44% indicating they would like to teach in a town or rural area. Conversely, 39%
said they would like to teach in Dublin. Making a difference and having a positive impact on the lives of their students emerged as the primary motivation for becoming a teacher. This was followed by the desire to work with children. Almost two-thirds of students would like to work in a denominational school, while 31% indicated they want to work in a multi-denominational school. Of those who study primary teaching through the English language, 69% want to teach through English and 8% through Irish after they graduate, while 23% want to teach through both English and Irish. Of those who study primary teaching through the medium of Irish, a courseoption unique to MIE, 87% want to teach through Irish after they graduate, while the remaining 13% want to teach through both English and Irish.
Commenting on the survey findings, President of MIE, Professor Teresa O'Doherty said: "At MIE, we prepare students for all eventualities and equip them with the skills they need in any type of teaching context. As an Institute that offers an inclusive and sustainable learning environment and promotes social justice through education, we are particularly pleased to see this mindset reflected in our students, who are strongly motivated by a desire to make a difference and to have a positive impact on the lives of their students."
