Some 160 students from the Advanced Technology College in Dublin, which collapsed last February with debts of more than £150,000, were awarded certificates and diplomas at Griffith College last night.
Griffith College took on the students in computer programming, electronics and photography in May and June to finish their City and Guilds-validated courses. More than 500 full-time and part-time students found themselves in the middle of courses costing between £1,200 and £5,500 when the private college went into examinership.
After a liquidator was appointed to ATC on May 12th, 160 students moved to Griffith College on the South Circular Road to finish their courses with five of their ATC lecturers. They paid £250-£350 to complete the courses.
Griffith College, unlike ATC, runs both degree and sub-degree courses validated by the National Council for Educational Awards.
One of the former ATC students, Ms Mary McCarthy, who studied computer programming, said she was extremely grateful for Griffith's "rescue job".
"Last February we were completely at a loss about what to do. People were talking about giving up completely since other courses were going to cost one hell of a lot of money."