Key report recommends AIT remain as independent institution

The Higher Education Authority, in a preliminary report on a major revamp of the higher education sector, is recommending that Athlone IT remain as a stand-alone institute of technology. The HEA is proposing reducing the number of third level institutions in the country from 39 to 24. It recommends that Athlone IT enter into a formal partnership arrangement with the National University of Ireland Maynooth. However, it envisages Athlone IT remaining as a stand-alone institution. It is recommending, among other proposals, that Carlow and Waterford ITs operate as a single entity, the South East IOT; that Cork IT and IT Tralee become the Munster IOTs; that GMIT, Letterkenny IT and IT Sligo merge as Connaught Ulster Alliance IOTs and that Dublin IT Blanchardstown and IT Tallaght form the Dublin Alliance. However, Athlone, Dundalk and Limerick ITs are to remain as independent institutions. The report says the proposals represent "an initial system configuration". "This does not represent, at this point, the considered conclusions of the HEA," it stressed. The HEA said the aim of the report was to assist in the consultation process with the various education providers in February by providing a focus for discussion. Following that consultation, the HEA said it would provide the Minister for Education with its "definitive advice" in March. The HEA also clarified that no formal proposal for technological university status has been received from Athlone IT. The technological university concept emerged over recent years after a key report on the education sector, the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, ruled out the conversion of institutes of technology to universities and instead suggested the evolution of some existing institutes into a form of university different in mission from the existing Irish universities - a technological university.