Marian Harkin
Question:47. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the Connacht, Ulster Alliance Technological University application. [22643/20]
View answerWednesday, 9 September 2020
Questions (47)
Written answers
The establishment of technological universities (TUs), including a TU in the Connacht Ulster region, is an important part of the Government’s higher education policy as underscored in the Programme for Government 2020.
TUs will provide increased choices for students, an enhanced student experience and greater access for students in tackling educational disadvantage with TUs offering a broad range of higher education provision from apprenticeship to doctoral degrees. TUs will also support an increased intensity of research-informed teaching and learning and research activity which will provide increased opportunities for collaboration with industry, attraction of Foreign Direct Investment, retention and expansion of skills and delivery of regional development and socio-economic benefits.
Under the statutory framework detailed in the Technological Universities Act 2018, it is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant Institutes of Technology participating in a TU development consortium to progress their plans and, when ready, to make an application to the Minister seeking an order establishing a TU subject to their meeting the eligibility criteria prescribed in the 2018 Act.
The Connacht Ulster Alliance of GMIT, LYIT and IT Sligo, has to date made significant progress towards meeting the relevant TU criteria and the Department understands that the Alliance plans to submit an application under the relevant legislative procedure by the end of this year.