Applied cultural studies appears three times in the CAO handbook - and that's just for Dundalk Institute of Technology. Some 40 places are divided between three specialist options, each with their own separate codes: applied cultural studies with film, applied cultural studies with French and applied cultural studies with German. However, the take-up is far from equal between the three options. In the last two years, there has been a fall in the demand for the language options, particularly in German, Eileen Murphy, head of section, humanities, in Dundalk Institute of Technology, says. "We tend to take more into the film course as a result." Falling interest in languages is a State-wide trend, which seems to be related to the booming economy, she says.
"The arguments that were given to school-leavers a number of years ago that they absolutely needed a foreign language for working abroad and doing business seems to be falling on more fallow ground in recent times." However, students who choose the language options, she says, oblige themselves to go abroad for a semester in third year. As a result, some are now working abroad. At the moment the institute is loath to drop the language options, in case they pick up again. Apart from the options, the students are together for all of their core courses. These are divided into three broad strands: arts, theatre and communication; landscape and heritage; and event organisation. The latter strand distinguishes the course from traditional arts courses in the universities.
"Students would study business and event organisation modules right throughout the three years, but they are geared towards the cultural sector," explains Murphy. The applied project in third year is the staging of an event. Students come up with the concept, plan the logistics, seek sponsorship and stage the event. Because of the nature of the course, students need to be outgoing, says Murphy. "With theatre performance and event organisation we need people who are innovative and creative, but we've had quite shy people coming in who have developed over the three years." The function of theatre in the course is to promote personal development, teamwork, and event organisation. Although not designed to produce performers, producers or directors, a professional standard of theatre production is achieved. Applied cultural studies started in Dundalk Institute of Technology in 1996 and was the first heritage course in the institute. So far there have been two groups that have graduated with a diploma. As an add-on degree (BA in cultural resource studies) started last September, this summer will see the first group graduating with degrees.
The diploma and add-on degree model in operation in Dundalk IT differs from an ab initio degree model, says Murphy. The former begins at a more practical level and becomes more theoretical and is entirely theoretical by degree year. "The diploma is designed to qualify them professionally to go out and work in the heritage and cultural sectors. So about 50 per cent on average will choose to go immediately onto degree studies," she says. Some graduates have found jobs in the civil service in the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands; some are working abroad. So far everybody has stayed within the sector.
