A Technological University is a designation of a type of third-level institution in Ireland. The potential for such universities was established through legislation in 2018.[1] Since then, various groups of institutes of technology began a merger process to create five technological universities:
- Technological University Dublin was established in January 2019 as the result of a merger of the three Institutes of Technology in the County Dublin area.[2][3] Its foundation was announced in July 2018.[2]
- Munster Technological University was established in January 2021 following the merger of IT Tralee and Cork IT.[4][5] A formal application for the TU for the south west, comprising Cork IT and IT Tralee, was lodged in February 2019,[6] but it was initially unsuccessful.[7] A second, successful, application was made in 2020.[8]
- The Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest[9] was formed from a merger of Athlone IT and Limerick IT. It was announced in October 2019 forming a TU for the mid-west and midlands regions, centred on the River Shannon.[10][11] Athlone IT had investigated the possibility of becoming a university in its own right.[12] A formal application for TU status was made by the consortium in November 2020, with approval granted in May 2021.[13][14] It opened in October 2021, with campuses distributed amongst Limerick City, Athlone, Clonmel, Ennis, and Thurles.[15]
- Atlantic Technological University was formed following the merger of Galway-Mayo IT (GMIT) and IT Sligo, both in Connacht in the west of Ireland, with Letterkenny IT (LYIT), located in the north of Ireland.[16][17] The Connacht-Ulster Alliance (CUA) submitted a formal application to the Department of Further and Higher Education in May 2021.[18] Formal approval was granted by Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, in October 2021,[19] with a launch date in early 2022.
- South East Technological University is the merger of IT Carlow and Waterford IT.[20][21] A vision document was published in 2015, and a memorandum of understanding was signed in 2017.[22] At the launch of TU Dublin in July 2018, the Taoiseach expressed regret that this TUSE bid had not progressed sufficiently following the "Technological Universities Act 2018".[2][23] Staff of IT Carlow, rejected the current plan for the TU in June 2019.[24] A formal application was made in May 2021,[25][26] and it was formally established in May 2022.[27]
In May 2021[update], Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) announced plans to join an existing TU.[28] It had previously investigated the possibility of becoming a TU in its own right.[29] By May 2022[update], DkIT was looking at a merger with an existing TU.[30][31]
References edit
- ^ "Technological Universities". Higher Education Authority. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ a b c "Announcement by An Taoiseach". Dublin Institute of Technology. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018 – via facebook.com.
- ^ "Application for designation as Ireland's first Technological University has been successful!". Dublin Institute of Technology. 17 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 17 July 2018 – via facebook.com.
- ^ Burke, Elaine (18 January 2021). "Munster Technological University to lead €7m project to monitor air pollution". Silicon Republic.
- ^ Casey, Jess (2020-05-26). "New technological university for Munster this week as greenlight expected for IT merger". IrishExaminer.ie. Archived from the original on 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- ^ "CIT and IT Tralee apply to become Munster Technological University". IrishExaminer.com. 13 February 2019. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019.
- ^ O'Brien, Carl (23 July 2019). "Munster technological university bid fails to get green light". IrishTimes.com. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- ^ O'Brien, Carl (7 October 2019). "Cork IT will not have to take on IT Tralee debt if merged, Minister pledge". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Welcome to Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest". TUS.ie. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ "Limerick and Athlone ITs to form Technological University". RTÉ.ie. 15 October 2019. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "LIT and AIT want to join up to create a River Shannon-linked technological university". TheJournal.ie. 15 October 2019. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "AIT remains committed to Technological University status". Athlone Advertiser. 10 May 2018. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018.
- ^ Collins, Niall (23 February 2021). response to committee question (Speech). Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science debate - Tuesday, 23 Feb 2021. Oireachtas.ie. Leinster House (remote meeting): Houses of the Oireachtas.
- ^ "Limerick IT and Athlone IT to merge to form new technological university". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
- ^ "BREAKING: Name of Limerick's new University confirmed". Limerick's Live 95.
- ^ "Funding announced for LYIT's Killybegs campus". HighlandRadio.com. 11 August 2019. Archived from the original on 11 August 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- ^ Kelly, Briain (28 April 2019). "GMIT launches €60 million five-year strategic plan". Galway Daily. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- ^ Simon Harris TD [@SimonHarrisTD] (May 21, 2021). "Massive & historic day for the west and north west of our country with an application being submitted to me to create a new Technological University for the west and north west to our country. Great news & a huge amount of work by many to get here" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 May 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Minister Harris announces Technological University for the West and North West". gov.ie. Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ "Technological University for the South East". Waterford IT. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- ^ "South East Technological University moves Closer to Becoming a Reality". Waterford IT. 3 October 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- ^ "Timeline". Technological University for the South East. 2018. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
- ^ "Technological Universities Act 2018". Office of the Attorney General. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
- ^ Dalton, Eoghan; O'Brien, Carl (21 June 2019). "Plan to create technological university for southeast hits setback". IrishTimes.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Application for TUSE lodged". Munster Express. 4 May 2021.
- ^ "Minister Harris reaffirms commitment to deliver Technological University for the South East as new regional advisory group meets". Gov.ie. Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- ^ "A new era for the south east of Ireland". South East Technological University. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ Ryan, Olivia (1 May 2021). "DkIT outline vision to achieve Technological University status". Independent.ie. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ Wall, Martin (15 November 2019). "Strike at Dundalk Institute of Technology called off". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ Donnelly, Katherine (25 May 2022). "Dundalk IT looks west to Atlantic TU link-up". Independent.ie. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ Roddy, Margaret (3 May 2022). "Minister Simon Harris fully committed to delivering university status for DkIT". The Argus – via Independent.ie.