Don't miss out on the chance to attend all these open days

College applicants are faced with another busy period of open days in the coming week, which will fill today's column.

Today, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) hosts its annual Open Day, from 9.30am-4pm, in its Dublin Road and Cluain Mhuire campuses.

This is the first of three November open days in GMIT. The second is on Friday in GMIT's Castlebar campus from 10am-1pm, while the third is the following Friday, November 25, in GMIT Letterfrack, with two separate sessions at 11am and 2pm.

Also today, Griffith College Dublin hosts an Information Evening from 5.30pm-8pm.

This evening, UCD Agriculture, Food and Nutrition hosts an Information Evening at 7.30pm in the Radisson Hotel, Galway.

Tomorrow, the Institute of Technology, Tallaght, Dublin 24, hosts an open day from 1.30pm-7pm.

Also tomorrow, Carlow College, Carlow (also known as St Patrick's College) hosts two open sessions, from 10am-1pm, and from 3pm-7pm.

Dublin City University (DCU), the originator of the open day in the Irish third-level sector, offers two consecutive open days, on Friday next from 10am-3pm, and on Saturday from 11am-2pm.

Several colleges host open days to coincide with DCU's upcoming Open Saturday.

Students interested in careers in teaching in particular will find a lot to interest them that day.

Two of DCU's degree programmes lead to a secondary teaching qualification, a Science Education degree and a Physical Education with Biology degree.

St Patrick's College of Education, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, a recognised college of DCU, and Marino College of Education, Griffith Ave, Dublin 9, whose degree is accredited by TCD, co-operate together to offer the same open day, Saturday November 19. Both colleges offer Bachelor of Education degree courses, qualifying graduates to teach in primary schools. St Patrick's College also offers a BA in Arts/Humanities.

Mater Dei Institute of Education, on Clonliffe Road, Dublin 9, also hosts its open day on November 19 from 10am-4pm. A recognised college of DCU, it offers four-year degree programmes in religion, education and an elective subject, qualifying graduates as recognised second-level teachers of religion and their elective subject.

Froebel College of Education, across the city in Blackrock, Co Dublin holds its open day on November 19 from 10am-4pm, to coincide with all these other colleges of education. Froebel College's primary teaching (B.Ed.) degree programmes have been accredited by TCD.

However, last year Froebel College and NUI Maynooth announced a partnership. From September 2010, all students entering Froebel programmes are registered as NUI Maynooth students. In September 2013, it is planned that Froebel College will move to a brand-new, purpose-built Froebel centre on the Maynooth campus.

Next Saturday's open day takes place in the Froebel College campus in Blackrock.

Also this coming weekend, Cork Institute of Technology's Annual Open Days will take place this Friday from 1pm-5pm and Saturday from 10am-2pm.

The event will take place in Bishopstown Campus and CIT Crawford College of Art and Design, while the Open Day in CIT Cork School of Music will take place this Saturday only.

Aspiring applicants to art colleges will be interested in the National College of Art and Design (NCAD)'s portfolio briefing sessions, today from 6.30pm-8.30pm and on Saturday from 2pm-4pm. Booking is essential.

Irish Independent