It’s the third technological university created since 2019.
A new technological university has been announced for the midlands and midwest as Technological University (TU) status has been given to Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris announced on Wednesday the third technological university had been approved.
“This is another hugely important day for higher education in Ireland and in particular for the Midlands and Mid-West regions,” Harris said.
“The higher education landscape is rapidly evolving and the people of the Midlands and Mid-West will be at the heart, both geographically and practically, of that evolution.
“This new technological university designate will increase higher education access, drive enhanced regional development and increase opportunities for students, staff, business and enterprise, and local communities.
“This new TU – our third since 2019 – will now take its rightful place in the higher education landscape in the country’s heartlands. The new higher education institution of increased scale and reach will benefit the students and communities of Westmeath, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare and Offaly to name but some of the counties which will be served by the new university.”
Ireland’s first dedicated technological university was announced in 2018 in Dublin and saw Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), IT Tallaght and IT Blanchardstown merge to become TU Dublin.
The second was created in May 2020 when Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee merged to received technological university status as Munster Technological University.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
