Our Ethos and Mission as a College

College Mission

The current Mission Statement of the College is ‘working and learning together to create a better life in rural Ireland’ and this well summarises the ethos of the College. The word ‘working’ is a reminder that practical education is never neglected at the expense of theory in Gurteen. ‘Learning together’ is a reminder that no one has all the answers and everybody has a part to play in the learning environment of the College. ‘Better life in rural Ireland’ harks back to the constant conviction of Methodism that the Christian Gospel should be good news for every aspect of a person’s life.

In a practical environment, our mission is to provide education and training which meets the highest international standards in order to empower all students to fulfil their potential, achieve their goals, implement sustainability & social responsibility concepts, and develop an enthusiasm for lifelong learning.

The motto on our coat of arms which can be translated as ‘for God and the land/field’ reminds us of the ongoing commitment of the College to sustainability. Not only must we enable young people to learn how to secure their livelihood on the land we must also do so in such a way that God’s creation is preserved and secured for future generations.

College Ethos

Consequent on the above the ethos of the college can be described as follows;

• The College exists first and foremost to serve the needs of its students.

• ·The education of each student will be considered to be of equal value, and each student will, therefore, be treated equitably in terms of the resources applied to his or her education irrespective of class, race, creed, gender or sexual orientation

• Students will be encouraged to develop their individual talents and strengths and to develop those gifts to the best of their ability

• Each student will be encouraged to recognise their unique value as a person, to develop characteristics of personal responsibility and to forge a positive attitude to life-long learning

• The college will be a place that is open and welcoming to all, it will aim to provide a cheerful and enthusiastic environment for students, staff and all who visit the college

• The College will promote and reflect in its teaching a strong moral and ethical code, based on Christian principles, which will enable graduates to make wise choices in their lives and work and thereby positively affect themselves and others

• While Christian principles will be reflected in the life and activities of the College, a philosophy of social, intellectual and religious inclusiveness will be promoted and demonstrated through the use of appropriate language, images and practices