Formal approval has been given for the country's first technological university.

The new university will comprise of a merger between the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), and the Tallaght and Blanchardstown institutes of technology.

It is expected to be created by January of next year.

The institutes' existing campuses, including those at Tallaght and Blanchardstown, will remain.

The three Dublin ITs had submitted a joint application for technological university status.

Three other groups of ITs, in Munster, the southeast and Connacht-Ulster have also applied, but the Dublin consortium is the first to have its bid approved by an international panel.

The criteria governing technological universities was laid down in legislation that was put in place earlier this year.

The merging of existing Institutes of Technology was a requirement.

The new universities must also have "particular regard to the needs of the region" they are based in, according to the legislation.

As their status as "technological" universities suggests, they must maintain their current industry-focused approach, combining research and third-level "excellence" with programmes "that reflect the needs of individuals, enterprise, the professions" as well as "local interests and other stakeholders in the region".

The news will be welcomed by the Institutes of Technology.

However, senior figures in the existing university sector have privately questioned the wisdom of creating more universities in the country.

Some have expressed concern that the move may damage the international reputation of Irish universities.</s>Coming together of Irish institutes of technology will create a powerhouse of innovation and learning.

Ireland’s first dedicated technological university was formally announced today (17 July) at Grangegorman in Dublin by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, TD, along with Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, TD; Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe, TD; and Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD.

The university will represent the merger of Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), IT Tallaght and IT Blanchardstown.

While centred on the new Grangegorman campus close to Dublin’s north inner city, the existing campuses of DIT, IT Tallaght and IT Blanchardstown are expected to remain in place.

The three ITs had submitted a joint application for technological university status.

It is understood that the other ITs in Ireland, including Cork, Limerick, Tralee and Letterkenny, applied for the status but the Dublin consortium’s bid succeeded.

The new university will add to a powerful existing cluster of universities in Dublin, including Dublin City University, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Dublin.

The coming together of the Dublin ITs as well as the collaboration between the existing universities in Dublin to create a technological quarter in Dublin’s docklands, including a new €1bn campus for TCD, signals greater collaboration between Irish academic bodies.

It has long been the opinion of academics and science policymakers that Ireland’s universities and colleges, while of a high global standard, on their own would struggle to compete with the scale of leaders such as Stanford or Harvard – combined, though, they could be a force to be reckoned with.

In recent months, we reported how funding cuts were blamed by the Irish Universities Association for Irish universities failing to make the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2019.

The new technological university will be required to maintain the current industry-focused approach of the ITs as well as reflect the needs of enterprises and regional stakeholders.

The coming together of ITs was also a prerequisite in the bidding process.

No doubt the centring of more university resources in Dublin will be met by grumbling and claims of neglect for the regions. However, if Ireland wants to field the legions of engineers that the fast-growing tech giants such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, Intel and Microsoft require, it needs resources of scale.

Prof Tom Collins, chair of the three institute’s governing bodies, spoke at the announcement: “The members of the Technological University Dublin Alliance are delighted to receive confirmation today from An Taoiseach that we are to become Ireland’s first technological university (TU Dublin) in 2019. This is the historic culmination of seven years of hard work and commitment on the part of our three institutes.”

DIT president Prof Brian Norton said: “This is a milestone day that marks the beginning of a new type of Irish university that will revolutionise higher education in this country. TU Dublin will be positioned at the convergence of the arts, business, science and technology, and will strengthen the Greater Dublin region and its prominence as a location that encourages and supports knowledge advancement, sustainable development and inclusive education.

“After many years of laying the groundwork, today is the realisation of our long-held collective ambition to become a technological university, and the beginning of an exciting new chapter in higher learning in Ireland.”

Updated, 11.22am, 17 July 2018: This article was updated to confirm the announcement of Ireland’s first dedicated technological university and include comments from professors Tom Collins and Brian Norton.</s>Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown and Institute of Technology Tallaght is set to become the first Technological University (TU Dublin) in Ireland.

The University will be located on three campuses at Grangegorman, Blanchardstown and Tallaght.

The university is expected to be up and running by January of next year.

It will be the first technological university in Ireland established under the Technological Universities Act, which came into practice in March this year.

The first graduates of Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) will receive awards from the new university in 2019.

Speaking at the launch Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "This is an historic day for the future of higher education in Ireland. Project Ireland 2040 prioritises the expansion and consolidation of Higher Education facilities, to boost economic development across the country.

"Technological universities are central to delivering on this core objective and will stimulate a more balanced growth of population and employment across Ireland.

"The ambition is simple: to drive regional development and provide more opportunities for individuals, enterprise and the community."

Professor Tom Collins, Chair of the three Institute’s Governing Bodies, said: "The members of the Technological University Dublin Alliance are delighted to receive confirmation today from An Taoiseach that we are to become Ireland’s first Technological University (TU Dublin) in 2019.

"This is the historic culmination of seven years of hard work and commitment on the part of our three Institutes.

"We are extremely pleased that the panel’s final report, combined with the Higher Education Authority’s (HEA) recommendation, has resulted in a decision by the Minister for Education and Skills to grant us designation as Technological University Dublin."

Dr Mary Meaney, TU4Dublin Programme Lead, said: "This is a red-letter day that is the culmination of a huge effort over many years.

"The passion and hard work of staff and students across our three Institutes over the last number of months, in particular, laid the final foundations for this exciting announcement and we’re enthused about the ultimate stage of our journey to designation as TU Dublin.”</s>The State’s first technological university - based on the merger of Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), IT Tallaght and IT Blanchardstown - is set to be the country’s biggest third level institution.

The new university will be developed on three campuses – at Grangegorman, Blanchardstown and Tallaght – and will have a student population of about 28,500.

It will formally known as Technological University Dublin when the change comes into force next January.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and three Ministers made the announcement at DIT’s new campus at Grangegorman on Tuesday.

In all, 10 of the State’s 14 Institutes of Technology form part of four separate groups in Dublin, Munster, Connacht-Ulster and the southeast that are bidding to become technological universities.

The Munster bid – which includes Cork Institute of Technology and IT Tralee – is widely expected to be second in line to secure the status.

Mr Varadkar said the move represented a “new departure” in Irish higher education.

“Technological universities are central to delivering on this vision and will stimulate a more balanced growth of population and employment across Ireland, ” he said.

“The ambition is simple: to drive regional development and provide more opportunities for individuals, enterprise and the community.”

Minister for Education Richard Bruton said “TU Dublin” has the potential to be ground-breaking by providing a flexible teaching and learning framework to students.

“This is an opportunity to build a new higher education system that is inclusive and reflects the educational demands and economic needs of Ireland,” he said.

Prof Tom Collins,chair of the three institutes’ governing bodies, said the designation was the culmination of seven years of hard work.

“The process of engaging with the independent international panel that visited Dublin in May gave us the opportunity to highlight the potential for TU Dublin to be ground-breaking by providing a pioneering and practice-based, research-informed learning framework to students,” he said.

While the creation of technological universities attracts widespread political support, senior university sources have expressed alarm at what they say is the dilution of criteria for institutes seeking the new status. They fear this could damage the international reputation of higher education.

The Department of Education, however, has insisted there has been no “dumbing down” of standards required for institutes of technology to secure new technological university status.

In the meantime, Minister of State for higher education Mary Mitchell O’Connor said a draft order is required to be placed before the Oireachtas for approval in the forthcoming legislative term to appoint the day in early January on which three institutions will be dissolved and the new Technological University Dublin is established.

“Today is the dawning of new era in Ireland’s higher education history. The higher education landscape is changing and the people who will benefit most are the students.” she said.</s>The first technological university in Ireland is set to open in January 2019, after getting the go-ahead from the Government.

The TU4Dublin consortium is made up of the Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown and Institute of Technology Tallaght.

The new university will be named Technological University Dublin, known as TU Dublin, and be located on three campuses at Grangegorman, Blanchardstown and Tallaght.

It will be the first technological university in Ireland established under the Technological Universities Act, which was enacted in March this year.

A draft order is to be placed before the Houses of the Oireachtas for approval in the forthcoming legislative term, which will see the DIT, ITB and ITT dissolved and the new Technological University Dublin established.

It is part of the Government's plan to drive regional economic growth and development under Ireland Project 2040, and to make Ireland the best education and training service in Europe by 2026.

In addition, the Government has also announced further funding of €4.4m towards the continuing development of TU Dublin.

This funding tranche is being provided by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) under their 2018 higher education landscape restructuring funding call.

This will bring the total exchequer funding contribution to this flagship project alone to almost €9.3m to date.

Speaking at the launch Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "This is an historic day for the future of higher education in Ireland.

"Project Ireland 2040 prioritises the expansion and consolidation of Higher Education facilities, to boost economic development across the country.

"Technological universities are central to delivering on this core objective and will stimulate a more balanced growth of population and employment across Ireland.

"The ambition is simple: to drive regional development and provide more opportunities for individuals, enterprise and the community."

"Making higher education accessible to all is the best way of making Ireland a country of equal opportunities.

"Dublin’s new Technical University will promote an entrepreneurial ethos and provide accessible opportunities to those who are economically or socially disadvantaged.

"It will be the only university in Ireland offering programmes from Level 6 to Level 10, from apprenticeships to doctorates, serving students from right across Dublin and the wider region."

Education Minister Richard Bruton added: "TU Dublin has the potential to be ground-breaking by providing a new, flexible teaching and learning framework to students that is informed by research and offers opportunities for students to pursue diverse programmes across the range of levels on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

"This is an opportunity to build a new higher education system that is inclusive and reflects the educational demands and economic needs of Ireland."</s>The State’s first technological university is set to be announced later this week based on the merger of Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), IT Tallaght and IT Blanchardstown.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and a number of Cabinet Ministers are due to make the announcement at an event at DIT’s new campus at Grangegorman.

The new university will be developed on three physical campuses – at Grangegorman, Blanchardstown and Tallaght – and will have a student population of about 28,500.

The three colleges have had their joint application to become a new technological university passed by an international panel to ensure it meets standards such as in relation to the qualifications of staff and the quality of research output.

The centrepiece of the university will be the Grangegorman campus, which is due to accommodate up to 10,000 students by September 2020. The students will include those currently studying in DIT buildings in Kevin Street, Rathmines and Cathal Brugha Street.

In all, 10 of the State’s 14 Institutes of Technology form part of four separate groups in Dublin, Munster, Connacht-Ulster and the southeast who are bidding to become technological universities.

The Munster bid – which includes Cork Institute of Technology and IT Tralee – is widely expected to be second in line to secure technological university status.

The idea behind the new category of technological university is to create industry-focused research institutions which are in a stronger position to attract funding and international students, as well as delivering a bigger impact regionally and nationally.

Technological universities will also be expected to continue the current role of institutions of technology in facilitating access, particularly through relationships with the further education and training sector.

A new name for the Dublin-based technological university is to be agreed in consultation with staff and students.

While the three institutes have been operating under the name “TU4Dublin”, this is just a working title.

While the three institutions have different strengths, they also share courses across areas such as business, law, arts and humanities, Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths), ICT and health and welfare.

Sources say there are no plans at present to rationalise these offerings. Instead, they will continue to be offered across the different campuses.

Legislation paving the way for the creation of technological universities was steered through the Oireachtas recently by Minister of State with responsibility for higher education Mary Mitchell O’Connor.

She said at the time the “creation of technological universities provides the opportunity to drive regional development, and provide more opportunities for individuals, enterprise and the community”.

While the creation of technological universities will be welcomed by institutions of technology and politicians, senior university sources have expressed alarm at what they say is the dilution of criteria for institutes seeking the new status.

They fear this could damage the international reputation of higher education.

The Department of Education, however, has insisted there has been no “dumbing down” of standards required for institutes of technology to secure new technological university status.</s>The government is to green light Ireland's first technological university today.

The alliance of Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown and Institute of Technology Tallaght will merge to create Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin).

The University will be located on three campuses at Grangegorman, Blanchardstown and Tallaght.

Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O'Connor says it is the students who will benefit the most.

"It's going to be a very exciting future for students who attend this amalgamation.

"It will be transformative and it will be of benefit to the students. They will get the best in class experience in the very first technological university opening in Ireland."</s>The country's first technological university is set to open next Janaury.

The new Technological University Dublin, known as TU Dublin, has got the go-ahead from the Government.

The TU4Dublin consortium is made up of the Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Blanchardstown and Institute of Technology Tallaght.

It'll be located on three campuses at Grangegorman, Blanchardstown and Tallaght.

The DIT campus in Grangegorman will form part of TU Dublin | Image: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

The Government's also announced further funding of €4.4m towards the continuing development of TU Dublin.

This is being provided by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) under their 2018 higher education landscape restructuring funding call.

This'll bring the total exchequer funding contribution to this flagship project alone to almost €9.3m to date.

The university will be the only one in Ireland offering programmes from Level 6 to Level 10 - from apprenticeships to doctorates.</s>Ireland is getting its first ever Technological University.

It is being formed by the merger of the Institutes of Technology in Blanchardstown, Tallaght, and DIT.

It will be called Technological University Dublin or TU Dublin for short.

The Government has given the green light for the university status this afternoon.

Amy Keating from Tallaghtâs Student Union has said it is a huge boost for the area.

She said: "In my opinion, I think it's fantastic, from the socio-economic background of Tallaght.

"Young people in Tallaght will see so many people going to the University and will encourage more students to go to college.

"I think it's a fantastic opportunity for the people of Tallaght to have a university on their doorstep."</s>DIT, IT Tallaght and IT Blanchardstown are joining forces form Ireland's first technology university, it was revealed on Tuesday.

With the tech sector booming, Ireland’s largest university will now be a technology university, known as Technology University Dublin, thanks to Technological Higher Education Association (THEA).

Technology University Dublin will champion "access", actively targeting disadvantaged students who might otherwise avoid higher level education.

Dr Joseph Ryan, CEO of THEA said: “We are grateful for the vote of confidence in the technological higher education sector and look forward to the increased diversity and choice that further TU designations will bring to higher education in Ireland.”

THEA will lodge a collective pre-budget submission with the Department of Finance, in order to be included in the 2019 budget.

Minister Bruton, a supporter of the project, has stated that education is the cornerstone of Ireland’s economic and social development, making it a priority for ‘Ireland 2014’”.

Dr Ryan said: “We will ask the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe to mirror the confidence of Ministers Bruton and Mitchell O’Connor in the technological HE sector with a robust package of investment as a stepping stone to establishing a sustainable funding model in the near future.”

THEA have confirmed that the project will be followed by “three more applications for designation of university status from Institutes of Technology geographically spread across the island of Ireland.”

Dr Ryan said: “Through our institutions, the technological higher education sector delivers a unique system of higher education, allowing students to progress from level 6 to level 10 of the National Framework of Qualifications.

“Our links with industry ensure that our graduates are work-ready, have been operating to highest industrial standards and are experienced in meeting the demands of the workplace upon graduating.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announces plans to open the Technological University Dublin, a new university in Dublin, Ireland, in January 2019. The new university will be an amalgamation of three existing institutes of technology – DIT, ITB, and IT Tallaght.