Transformation funding of €4.22m has been announced today for the progression of a new Technological University (TU) for the west and north-west of Ireland.
The government funding as been allocated to the Connaught Ulster Alliance (CUA) consortium, which comprises Galway-Mayo IT, Letterkenny IT and IT Sligo.
The CUA aims to build one of the largest multi-campus universities on the island of Ireland. It submitted an application for TU designation to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris T.D, on 21 May 2021. The application is currently under assessment with the Minister.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Donegal T.D., Charlie McConalogue today welcomed the €4.22m funding which supports the next step forward for the group.
Minister McConalogue commented “continued funding for Technological Universities and prospective Technological Universities is important to support TUs which have a tremendous impact on their local communities and regions. The proposed TU of Connaught Ulster would have many beneficial impacts for the region and for County Donegal”.
A total of €25.67m was announced today for higher education institutions to support them in their progression towards Technological University status and in post-establishment development.
This funding builds on the €34.33m awarded in 2020 and represents the second tranche from the Technological University Transformation Fund (TUTF). A total of €90m will be awarded in total over a 3-year period to assist the development and progression of technological universities.
It is anticipated that the creation of technological universities will significantly enhance progress towards national priorities, particularly in the areas of access to higher education, research-informed teaching and learning, supporting enterprise and enhancing regional development.