Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2013
243. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the commitment in the Programme for Government on the establishment of a technological university in the south east; if the Higher Education Authority is taking this commitment into consideration while developing a new structure for the third level sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2657/13]
View answer253. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views that the delivery of a technological university for the south east will positively impact on the region as a whole economically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2861/13]
View answer254. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm if the joint application from Carlow Institute of Technology and Waterford Institute of Technology to develop into the technological university for the south east will meet the benchmarks as outlined in the report on the criteria for technological university designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2862/13]
View answer255. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the third phase for designation of technological universities will be complete in February 2013 as initially outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2863/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 253 to 255, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware, I endorsed the framework for system development laid out in the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 which outlines a developmental pathway towards designation as a Technological University for merged institutes of technology who seek to apply. The roll-out of the approved process now provides an opportunity to meet the commitment set out in the Programme for Government to "explore the establishment of a multi-campus Technical University in the South East". In relation to the evolutionary pathway laid out in the National Strategy for institutes of technology, the implementation process is well under way. The Landscape document published in February 2012 lays out a clear four stage process and criteria for institutes of technology who wish to apply for designation as a technological university. The process for designation is designed to ensure educational quality, objectivity, international expertise, fairness and transparency. The process will consist of four stages overseen by HEA, with an independent international panel of experts to advise the Authority in the final stages. The first stage requires institutes of technology to submit a formal expression of interest in merging and seeking designation. I understand from HEA that three such expressions of interest have been received. One of these is a proposal that Waterford Institute of Technology and Carlow Institute of Technology to seek designation. The Higher Education Authority is considering all proposals and its advice on system configuration in March 2013 will include advice on the progress of institutes of technology interested in seeking designation to the second stage of the designation process. Having regard to the process that has been put in place to assess proposals for designation as technological universities, I do not propose to comment specifically on any potential applications for designation by any group of Institutes of Technology.
