University status for IT Tralee
ON an historic day for the county, Institute of Technology Tralee and Cork Institute of Technology were, on Tuesday, given the green light to merge and form Ireland’s newest Technological University.
The creation of the Munster Technological University follows 11 years of work on the part of the two colleges.
Making the announcement on Tuesday, Minister for Education Joe McHugh said both institutes had “worked hard and overcome challenges” to meet the conditions needed to secure university status.
The new unified MTU will be formally established on January 1, 2021, with an enrolment of almost 23,000 students.
Mayor of Kerry Niall Kelleher said the announcement was an enormous boost for the county and would lead to new and exciting opportunities for education, research, business and economic development.
“The conferring of university status on the new Munster Technological University will greatly enhance Kerry’s reputation for top-class education facilities and greatly assist in attracting high-level research and investment in many areas,” he said.
President of ITT Dr Brendan O’Donnell said the university will be a driver of growth and economic recovery across the region
“This is a time of unprecedented challenge for the region, Ireland and the world. MTU will play a leadership role in the strategic development of the South-West region as we work towards national and global recovery,” said Dr O’Donnell.
ON an historic day for education in Kerry, the Institute of Technology in Tralee and Cork Institute of Technology have been given the green light to merge and form Ireland’s newest Technological University.
With a decision not due until Friday, the first hint of the impending good news came from Cork on Tuesday morning, when Tánaiste Simon Coveney revealed that the Government would soon “confirm the creation” of the Munster Technological University (MTU).
That confirmation came on Tuesday afternoon when Education Minster Joe McHugh and Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor announced the decision to grant Technological University Status to the MTU Consortium.
The bid to merge the two colleges – a move first mooted in 2009 – had suffered a significant setback last year when an International Advisory Panel set up to examine the joint merger bid found significant issues with the proposal and how it was to be implemented.
Management at IT Tralee and CIT were given six months to address the panels’ concerns and compile a report, which they submitted to Minister McHugh at the end of March.
Making the announcement on Tuesday, Minister McHugh said both institutes had “worked hard and overcome challenges” to meet the conditions needed to secure university status.
The Minister said it’s important that both institutes “maintain a continued focus on the ongoing engagement with staff representatives in relation to certain industrial relations issues currently under negotiation and in stabilising the financial situation in Tralee in line with the sustainability plan which has been developed”.
The new unified MTU – which will be formally established on January 1, 2021 – will boast six campus facilities across Kerry and Cork, with an enrolment of almost 23,000 students.
Chair of IT Tralee’s Governing Body Lionel Alexander said the announcement was a momentous day for IT Tralee.
“The two institutes share an ethos of excellence, an ambition to serve the needs of our communities, and a vision of higher education provision that is innovative, responsive, entrepreneurial and forward-looking,” he said.
“The new Technological University will grow from the foundations laid down by CIT and ITT. MTU will be the first regionally based Technological University in Ireland. Our ambition is to have a lasting positive impact economically, socially and culturally on the South-West region and beyond; and our values will guide our relationships with students, with staff, our partners and the wider community of stakeholders,” said Mr Alexander.
Newly appointed President of ITT Dr Brendan O’Donnel said the MTU will become a driver of economic growth across the region
“This is a time of unprecedented challenge for the region, Ireland and the world. MTU will play a leadership role in the strategic development of the South-West region as we work towards national and global recovery,” said Dr O’Donnell.
Mayor of Tralee Cllr Jim Finucane hailed the news on what he described as an historic day for Tralee and Kerry.
“This is huge news for Tralee and Kerry,” said Mayor Finucane.
“With a university, Tralee can now complete with Cork and Limerick when it comes to attracting investment. This levels the playing field and it adds to our infrastructure in a crucial way,” he said.
Kerry County Council Chief Executive Moira Murrell congratulated both colleges on the work they did over many years to achieve university status: ‘ This is wonderful news for Kerry and will provide a wider economic boost to the county at what is a very challenging time. This decision is an endorsement of the tremendous effort of the staff and management of ITT and CIT over many years to bring this project to fruition”, Ms Murrell said.