GMIT is one of the leading 3rd level technology colleges in Ireland. Spread out over five campus locations, it provides a range of innovative courseware to 9000 students (undergraduate, apprentice and post-graduate) across a range of disciplines: science, business, engineering, technology and humanities. The college is involved in a range of research activities involving high-level collaborations with other higher educational centres, as well as industry. Furthermore, the institute provides a range of consultancy services to businesses in the region. In September 2009, the Mechanical Engineering department launched its successful Masters in Environmental Systems programme. The research group involved in this project, have been involved in a significant number of research and development projects, which have had a particular emphasis on distance learning, life cycle engineering, energy and renewable energy sources.