Teagasc is looking at a combination of online learning and face-to-face lectures for the coming academic year in order to retain numbers.

Third-level institutions are calling this a “blended learning” model.

As of now, Green Cert application numbers are in line with where they were in 2019 and Teagasc said it had good interaction with the virtual open days held at each college.

“It is early days yet. Our final enrolment numbers will not be clear until all CAO first-/second-round offers are complete which may be in early to mid-September,” Teagasc’s head of education Tony Pettit said. “Because of exceptional circumstances this year ,we will keep the application process open over the summer. Colleges will be opening as normal in mid-September.”

We are awaiting national reopening guidelines for schools and education institutions

Teagasc is aiming to enrol at normal capacity but says that the COVID-19 social distancing requirements will present challenges.

“We are aiming to enrol our normal capacity but will have to work around the challenges and logistics of social-distancing requirements.

“We are awaiting national reopening guidelines for schools and education institutions,” Pettit said.

“These will give insight into the social distancing we will have to work around. The aim, as said, will be to work around issues rather than reduce intake.”

He added that if a distance of 2m apart is still required, then the “balance will tip towards remote delivery but we will maintain a level of contact delivery – as much as is feasible. If social distancing is 1m or less, the balance will tip to contact delivery”.

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