SU Executive – Welcome

HomeSU Executive – Welcome
HomeSU Executive – Welcome

To all our students who are returning, welcome back. We hope are looking forward to another year here in MTU Cork.

It’s a privilege to be part of the 2020/21 Students’ Union Executive that you, the students, elected. It is our role in the Students’ Union to fully and actively represent every single one of its members and strive towards developing and strengthening the student experience here. YOUR Students’ Union Executive will continually work for you, the students, throughout our year in office.

We’re really looking forward to this year and have no doubt it’s going to be a brilliant and rewarding one for everyone.

Welcome

To all our new students, welcome to MTU Cork SU! The team and I wish you all the best of luck as you start your third level education, a huge achievement in your lives.

Getting
the balance right

Life here in MTU is all about getting the balance right. You’re here first and foremost to get a top-class education. At the same time, why not get involved in everything our college has to offer. Get involved in a society (maybe even hold a committee position), become a Class Rep and check out all the Sports Office has to offers.

Enjoy the social side of college which is important too. Make the most of your time here, it flies! Remember though, last-minute cramming the night before an exam never works, trust us we’ve tried it! Keeping on top of things is a skill that will serve you well here.

Communicating
with you

Throughout the course of the year we will use a range of media to interact with YOU, our members. The main ones will be:

  • Social Media: Be sure to like our Facebook page: @MTUCorkSU and follow us on Twitter: @MTU_CorkSU
  • Website: www.MTUCorkSU.ie – The SU Website contains useful information galore and will continue to be updated on a regular basis.
  • Snapchat & Instagram: @MTUCorkSU – They say a picture tells a 1000 words, why not send us a snap or Insta?
  • General Meetings – All students as members of the SU are invited and encouraged to attend General Meetings, a great way of finding out what’s happening around the place and the ins and outs of how the Institute is managed etc. All of these meeting will be advertised throughout the campus, so be sure to keep an eye out for details. All students can submit an agenda item for General Meeting by contacting the SU. (Email: fiona.leddy@cit.ie)

As a Union we believe communication is key, we need and want to hear from our members.

GETTING HERE (BISHOPSTOWN)

We would urge all students to give themselves plenty of time to get to MTU when commuting via public transport or driving, in particular, early in the morning, the reality of the situation is that the location in Bishopstown is an extremely busy one. Also, be sure to consider all possible routes in terms of getting close by to MTU, to beat the traffic etc. e.g. the 208 bus service is an alternative to the 205, with less than a 10 minute walk from Curraheen Road to MTU. The 220 offers a viable alternative to the 219 for those commuting in from Douglas, with the drop off point for this service being Model Farm Rd…less than a 5 minute walk through.

Finally at the start of the summer, the long awaited bus shelter was installed at the end of the Berkeley building by Open Access – now the 205 bus operates directly on campus.

Remember that all buses have CCTV installed…Bus Éireann is watching you! Students of MTU at all times are representative of the student body of MTU and as such we as a Union want that to be a glowing one. There’s an old saying and a very true one, don’t do the you know what on your own doorstep! The Union has built up a strong working relationship with Bus Éireann in recent years, to ultimately benefit our students. This is one we will strive to uphold and to do this we need all students’ assistance and cooperation.

CLASS REPS

It is super important that each class elects a Class Representative at the beginning of the academic year. This person acts as a representative for their class and is their class’s chief spokesperson, very much the voice of the class. One of their main duties is reporting back to the SU Executive at Union Council Meetings in relation to particular issues which are of concern to the group or suggestions for improvements.

It is important that the person who is elected is committed to the position, not only will they speak for the class but they may also organise class parties and social events. College is not just about studying, it is important that you have an active social life and the Class Rep is there to organise such events so that classmates can form close friendships. The SU Officers will visit as many classes as possible at the beginning of the first semester, in order to facilitate the elections of Class Reps. This will be done in partnership with a member of academic staff.

Some benefits of becoming a Class Rep:

• Opportunity to initiate positive change

• Opportunity to voice the opinions, concerns and ideas of your classmates so that they may be addressed

• Opportunities to attend various training events and forums throughout the year

• Receiving first-hand information from the lecturers and the Students’ Union regarding their activities and services

• Build and improve on your communication and public speaking skills etc.

• Enhance your CV

• Learn how to organise successful events

During the Class Rep training day, elected Class Reps will be shown the ropes and will acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to actively represent their class from the get-go.

At the end of the year each student will have the opportunity to nominate their Class Rep for a Union Council Award. The Union Council Awards recognise outstanding Class Reps for their contribution to their class and the Union as a whole. Each Class Rep will also receive a Certificate of Merit.

Class Reps play a huge role in the work of the Students’ Union and aid our progression and success in actively representing all the students of MTU. It is a big responsibility, but brings with it an education in itself!! Can you be the voice of your class? Go for it, it’s a decision you’ll never regret.

WELFARE CAMPAIGNS

Our VP Welfare, Cian O’Driscoll, will run a series of welfare campaigns throughout the year. These campaigns will help you to manage personal issues which you may be faced with such as sexual health, mental health, physical health, accommodation, safety, finance, bullying, addictions and so many other welfare issues which may arise for you as a student. The campaigns will take place in the main corridor of the main building by the canteen.

 

Welfare Crew – Do you have what it takes to become a Welfare Warrier?

The Welfare Crew help out in all campaigns and have so much fun, while learning new skills when doing so. If you are interested in being part of the Welfare Crew, please email  suwelfarecork@su.mtu.ie or text 086-3842977. #HonTheWelfareWarriers

 

Don’t walk home alone!

We are encouraging everyone on a night out to NOT walk home alone. Please look after your friends #mindyourmates. Make sure to either walk in a group or get a taxi. Put aside money for your taxi home. You can also organise to meet your friends at the end of a night out and all go home together. Plan your trip home as much as you plan your night out. Have a taxi number on speed dial, pre book it or Hailo. Make sure your phone is fully charged before you go out too. Don’t walk around the city on your own – tag along with a friend. Drink responsibly and know your limits when it comes to alcohol. Don’t be the one to leave home for a night out and not return home.

IS THERE A WANNABE CHARLES DICKENS OUT THERE…?

Do you have a story to tell, that will be of interest to the students and staff of MTU? If so, we want to hear it. Send it onto Keith at: CorkSUpublications@MTU.ie and if we can we’ll publish it within future editions of our MTU Student Magazine, ExpliCIT.

RESPECT FOR YOUR ENVIRONMENT

When you’re passing by an elderly resident’s garden, think to yourself, would I like someone doing unmentionables there if that was my Grandmother’s? The Students’ Union Executive have worked extremely hard over the past number of years to foster good relations between students and the local residents and we hope this may long continue, after all we want the students we represent to have the best possible reputation, and our job in many ways to ensure and protect this.

If You Bought It Bin It!

Last preach we promise, please be conscious that all catering outlets are self-catering and as such rely on students to dispose of their rubbish, and to put cutlery in the designated areas etc. We urge all students to do so. The staff in these areas work extremely hard, so your help and cooperation in regards to this would be much appreciated by them and us.

If students don’t treat the Common Room with the respect that it deserves and dispose of their rubbish in the bins provided, a food ban will be enforced and ultimately, the Common Room may be closed – nobody wants to see this happen, so just be smart!

We are mindful that MTU has strong links with external organisations many of these potential employers, so when they walk through the front door, we want them to see that MTU students respect their surroundings.

 

Best Wishes,

YOUR SU Executive
Aisling, Cian, Sinead