AIT chief won't rule out possible merger

AIT head Prof Ciarán †Catháin has not ruled out a possible merger this week with another institute or university to bring the institute up to a newly-proposed Technological University status in the years ahead. He was reacting to the publication by the government yesterday (Tuesday) of the National Strategy for Higher Education, a strategic review of the sector which Tanaiste and Minister for Education Mary Coughlan said would transform Ireland's third level sector over the next two decades. “I think the broad thrust of the report is good in terms of things like equal access, working in the community and working with industry, something the institute has been doing for years,†he commented. “From an AIT perspective, we'll have to look now at what's best for the student body, do we look West with Sligo IT or Galway or East with Carlow and Maynooth,†he said of any discussions about a possible merger to get Technological University status, but he cautioned it would only happen if it served stakeholders, industry, and the region better. Whatever is put in place cannot inhibit students, the Professor said, especially those from the lower socio-economic sectors or put barriers in their way. “From IT sector we have to look at the benefits of a merger. Athlone IT and GMIT work together in a lot of areas but we have to ask would it make any difference if there was one institution,†Prof †Catháin remarked. He cautioned though that some mergers like the HSE in recent times, haven't brought meant any savings or many benefits. The board would have to reflect on this report and any possible consolidation in detail in the months ahead before making any decision, he said. “I don't think a forced merger is for the betterment of the region but we will have to look at that. We cannot afford to put our students at a disadvantage in any way,†the AIT head noted, adding that many of world's top educational institutions are ITs, naming MIT, Caltech and Georgia Tech in this category, and they were not trying to be a university. The future blueprint recommends a number of significant structural changes in the higher education sphere, including a smaller number of institutions of bigger size and strength, provision for the establishment of Technological Universities by merging institutes, the restructuring and strengthening of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), and providing a sustainable system of funding to allow for growth and development in the sector. A means test for families of students applying for higher education grants to be extended to include assets and greater interaction between higher education and enterprise sectors and possible performance related pay for staff are some of the other items recommended by group under the Chairmanship of Dr Colin Hunt.