AIT poised to apply for Technological University status

The AIT-LIT consortium is due to submit its application for Technological University status to the Government in the coming weeks.

The consortium hopes to have approval by June 2021, in time for Ireland’s newest technological university to officially open at the start of the next academic year, in September 2021.

If that timeline is met, both AIT and LIT will then cease to exist, with the creation of the new ALTU.

The timeline was unveiled in a newsletter published last week by both Athlone IT and Limerick IT as part of its efforts to keep staff, students and external stakeholders updated on the process.

The process began in October last year, when AIT confirmed that it was forming a consortium with Limerick Institute of Technology to develop a new technological university for the Midlands and Mid-West.

Both institutions made a joint application for funding earlier this year to commence work on the TU consortium and to date, some seven million euro in funding has been provided by the State.

This week, the consortium says it has met the key metrics required for TU designation, including targets of 4% research students, 30% flexible, industry and part-time programmes and 45% staff doctoral level or equivalent.

AIT President Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin said the new Technological University would have a “key role to play in the future development of the Midlands and Mid-West regions …”

He said it would also have a role to play in “ensuring a better balance of spatial development nationally and will position the Midlands and Mid-West to drive this connectedness.”

In a joint statement the chairs of the governing bodies, Liam Rattigan (AIT) and Tony Brazil (LIT), said: “AIT and LIT are coming together to make history. As separate institutes, located in diverse provincial, urban and rural communities, we have, for decades past, served our communities with dedication and distinction. Now together we are building Ireland’s newest technological university.

“We are not merely in effect merging, but through a process of goodwill, cooperation and a common purpose, we are embarking on the creation of a powerful new education entity for our communities – a new forward-looking technological university serving the Midlands and the Mid-West."

There is currently only a single technological university in operation in Ireland, the Technological University Dublin, which merged DIT, and ITs in Blanchardstown and Tallaght in January 2019.

Four other consortiums are working towards designation.

It’s believed the ALTU project could be the third technological university to open in the State.

Technological Universities will address the social and economic needs of their region and will engage in industry-focused research. They are mandated to focus on science and technology programmes that are vocationally and professionally oriented.

A Technological University will also be expected to play a pivotal role in facilitating access and progression particularly through relationships with the further education and training sector.

The creation of a technological university requires the consolidation of at least two institutions. Each consortium applying for designation will be required to meet the designated criteria and achieve high standards across a range of areas before being designated as technological universities.