One-to-one Virtual Drop-ins with WIT
One-to-one Virtual Drop-ins and 24 online live talks launched at part of ‘Ask WIT’ CAO supports
One-to-one Virtual Drop-ins with WIT; Following the success of its week of virtual open days in April, Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), which one in three higher education-going school leavers in the southeast attended last autumn, has announced further supports for the CAO applicants of 2020 at a dedicated website www.wit.ie/cao.
Last year over 1,600 of the 5,000 plus new higher education-going students in the region in 2019, or almost 1 in 3 (30%) chose WIT. When it comes to individual counties, well over 50% of higher education-going students from Waterford choose WIT. The data shows something similar in Wexford where 30% of higher education going students go to WIT. In Kilkenny and South Tipperary, 1 in 4 students go to WIT.
One of the highlights of ‘Ask WIT’ is the facility for individual consultations with members of WIT’s outreach team. Pre-booked virtual drop-in slots are available from 25 May to 1 July, the CAO Change of Mind deadline.
Lecturers from across the institute’s 70 CAO courses have come onboard to support their future students with 24 discipline-specific WIT Talks scheduled over a five-week period.
In addition, web chat and virtual tours are also available.
Dr Derek O’Byrne, Registrar and Vice President for Academic Affairs at WIT said that while we may have a very different Leaving Certificate, students still have to make career choices.
“Indeed, more than ever, applicants should be reflecting on their true interests and abilities in making those important career choices, and our supports will help people find out what they are best suited to.”
“The CAO change of mind facility opened on 5 May and many prospective students and their parents will need to start thinking about confirming their CAO choices, before the 1 July deadline,” Dr O’Byrne added.
John Power, an outreach officer at the institute explained that following on from the success of the Virtual open days it was clear that there was an appetite for one-to-one chats and virtual talks around wider discipline areas.
“Our WIT Talks will be hosted on Zoom and are designed to give CAO applicants interested in studying a WIT course a forum to ask course questions. They will be hosted by lecturing staff in that area. They are ideal for anybody who wants to understand the differences between courses or who have a few questions before they confirm their choices. Participants can get involved, ask questions and have the chance to meet and see other prospective students.”
Two members of the institute’s outreach team John Power and Claire Holden will be on hand for more detailed queries via the Virtual Drop-In. These pre-booked session will give applicants or their parents the opportunity to have a private discussion about individual scenarios.
For full details see www.wit.ie/cao and follow Waterford Institute of Technology for updates on social media.
FAQs
Virtual Drop-In: These are 1-to-1 virtual (Zoom or Google Meets) meetings with prospective students and parents. These are pre-booked at a time that suits.
Web Chat: A series of live web chat between now and 1 July deadline focusing on CAO choices and college life
WIT Talks: A series of virtual talks (via Zoom) focusing on specific courses and discipline areas hosted by academic staff and outreach team.
Virtual Campus Tours: Hosted on the website www.wit.ie/cao.
