LYIT, GMIT and IT Sligo have today (Friday) submitted their long-awaited joint application for Technological University status.
The progress has been welcomed by Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh as an exciting step forward for the future of education in the region.
The new Technological University (TU) for the west and north-west of Ireland will be one of the largest multi-campus universities on the island. The TU will be a leader in the provision of access to Higher Education by offering programmes from pre-degree to doctoral level on campus, online or as remote learning.
Joe McHugh TD said: “This is a huge day for Donegal and for the West and North West, where this process is seeking the formation and establishment of a technological university in Connacht/ Ulster.”
The application follows a vote in favour of memorandum of understanding in relation to CUA Technological University by TUI members of the Galway-Mayo IT, IT Sligo and Donegal Colleges.
Deputy McHugh added: “This is an incredible day for higher education in this County with this submission for Technological University designation, and will be an education powerhouse for this region.
“I wish to commend Paul Hannigan, John Andy Bonner, and Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin
LYIT CUA (Technological University Project Manager ) and all the team at LYIT, and Dr Sean Duffy, who led on this overall project, all of whom have worked hard together with their counterparts in Sligo and GMIT to ensure this application has reached this stage.
“I met with the team at LYIT on various occasions over the last few years in my role as Minister for Education as they worked through this process.
“I worked with Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell-O Connor and more recently with Minister Simon Harris to try and ensure that this became a reality.
“I am hopeful that this new TU could be established in January 2022, which would allow students graduating in the 2021/2022 academic year to do so with university qualifications.
“This will undoubtedly have massive benefits for this whole region and will create stronger regional growth in the North West, and will further encourage the development of our close cross-border links here in Donegal,” concluded McHugh.
