As part of its ethos, Limerick College of Further Education believes that learners should experience their learning and training in facilities that match those of industry.
Computer Facilities
LCFE is constantly investing in upgrading its computer facilities and it currently has 9 state-of-the-art computer rooms, including a dedicated Apple iMac lab. All of these facilities are networked by means of high-speed CAT-6 cables and a fibre-optic network backbone.
High-speed internet access is available on all computers, with learners having open access to facilities in the Learning Resource Centre Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 9:30pm and Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm. Open access is also available in a number of computer rooms during and after college hours. Most of the college is also WiFi enabled, making it possible for learners to utilise their own laptops or smartphones to access the web in public areas and many theory delivery rooms.
Hairdressing Department
The college has a state-of-the-art Hairdressing Salon. It caters for a large client base during the academic year.
The updated facility was opened in February 2008 and a refit of the second salon/theory room was completed in Summer 2010. Marion Higgins, Head of the Dept of Beauty & Hairdressing, said that "the salon is of the highest specification, matching top salons in the Mid-West region".
Fashion Department
The Fashion Department has two dedicated studio rooms for fashion and textile design, knitting design and print.
Art Department
The Art Department has four dedicated art studios, a ceramics studio and a print studio.
Interior Design Department
The Interior Design Department has two dedicated studios.
Photography Department
The Photography Department has two dedicated studio rooms, a dark room and an image processing room.
It is widely accepted that in order to work commercially as a photographer presently and into the future, our learners will need to work predominately, if not fully, through the digital process. However, through ongoing surveys and consultation with our past and present day and night learners, the Photography Department have made the decision to also maintain our traditional processes/facilities.
The majority of our learners see the ongoing educational and historical value of retaining these, while embracing fully the rapidly changing digital photography evolution. The objective of both our photography courses is to enable learners to develop careers as professional photographers and/or pursue further studies in the photography field.
Business and IT Departments
The Business and IT Departments share nine high-spec computer labs, a computer maintenance lab and lecture/theory rooms, all equipped with multimedia projectors, reflecting LCFE's ongoing investment in the most effective content delivery methods for our learners.
Media Department
The Media Department broadcast media suite is utilised by LCFE media learners for Radio broadcasting & production and for TV/Video production.
Its resources include two high-spec video editing suites running Adobe Premiere Pro and an Apple Mac Pro with Final Cut Pro. Our TV/Video production learners also mainly engage with Final Cut Pro in our Apple iMac lab.
The facility, boasting two fully-equipped radio studios, underwent a major upgrade in Summer 2011 to enable the introduction of a campus online radio station ' iMix'. The station is operated by learners undertaking our Advanced Media Production/Radio FETAC Level 6 Programme. The on-air studio utilises RCS Master Control and Selector, enabling learners to engage with products being used in most Irish commercial radio stations and thousands of other stations across the globe.
Childcare Department
The Childcare Department has two dedicated teaching rooms.
These rooms are equipped with a play area, kitchen facilities and montessori equipment.
Learning Resource Centre
The college houses a small, but very comprehensive, library of books and journals relevant to all courses on offer.
Adjacent to the Library is a Reading Room, with computer facilities, which is available to learners for study purposes.
Canteen
The college Canteen offers hot and cold snacks between 8.00am and 3.30pm daily. The facility serves a larger number of learners at peak demand times.
An adjoining covered outdoor student dining & meeting area is also extremely busy during breaks, The Canteen is available for student use outside of the above hours.