Cork College of FET – Morrison’s Island Campus welcomed Andrew Brownlee, CEO of SOLAS to officially open a state-of-the-art healthcare simulation suite, designed to address the increasing demand for healthcare courses in Cork.
The new facility, developed with an investment of €180,000, provides hands-on learning spaces for healthcare and pre-nursing students. It also supports a new degree pathway to Nursing in collaboration with Munster Technological University (MTU), allowing students to complete the first year of their degree at the Further Education campus. This investment forms part of the Cork College of FET.
The healthcare suite is equipped with the latest collaborative teaching technology, enabling meetings, talks, and lectures to be live-streamed, and allowing students to engage actively across multiple campuses. The new facility is already being utilised by nursing students, enhancing their learning experience through practical skills training and virtual connectivity.
Denis Leamy, Chief Executive, commented: “As part of the FET College of the Future project, we are investing strategically to meet the needs of Cork and the wider South of Ireland, particularly in healthcare, where there is a high demand for skilled staff with practical experience. The new healthcare suite is a significant step forward in providing top-quality facilities for our students and community, especially with the innovative nursing degree pathway at Morrison’s Island Campus.”
Principal Helen Ryan added: “Further Education has always offered a practical approach to learning, equipping students with industry-relevant skills while providing clear progression routes to higher education. The cutting-edge technology and equipment in our classrooms are crucial in preparing our learners for the workplace and beyond. We want our graduates to be ready to succeed, whether in employment or at university.”
The new healthcare suite is part of a series of ongoing investments at the campus, which has recently expanded its offerings in Childcare, ICT, and AI learning. The Morrison’s Island Campus now provides a wide range of programmes, including full-time study options, professional apprenticeships in Accounting and Auctioneering, and degree courses in partnership with UCC and MTU.