A new Technological University has been officially confirmed for the North West today.
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris TD has today announced that an application from Galway-Mayo, Sligo and Letterkenny Institutes of Technology has been successful.
This is the fourth TU to be created since 2019 and represents a milestone in higher education provision for the West and North West, providing for the establishment early next year of a multi-campus university presence across the North West region.
Joe McHugh, TD for Donegal, “I am delighted with the news of the formation of a new Technological University; this is an incredible day for higher education in this County and region.”
“I wish to commend President 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 very hard and closely together with their counterparts in Sligo and GMIT over the last number of years to ensure this application has reached this stage today,” Deputy McHugh added.
Minister for Donegal Charlie McConalogue said: “Confirmation of TU status for the North West is tremendous news for the entire North West Community and will enhance the higher educational offering for everyone in the North West.
“It provides for the establishment early next year of a multi-campus university presence across the region, encompassing eight locations in Castlebar, Galway City, Killybegs, Letterfrack, Letterkenny, Mountbellew and Sligo.”
Minister McConalogue continued “This is further investment in our rural communities and will benefit students and businesses throughout Connaught and Ulster.”
“Congratulations to all involved including the LYIT team led by Paul Hannigan and my thanks to my colleague Ministwr Harris for his work with the group.”
The process to designate a new TU is enshrined in the Technological Universities Act 2018. The next steps in the legislative process require the Minister to bring forward a draft order establishing the appointed day on which the new technological university will be legally established and the three existing Institutes consequentially dissolved for approval by the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Students graduating in the 2021-2022 academic year will do so with university qualifications.
“This is a really significant development and will undoubtedly have massive benefits for our whole region. This will create stronger regional growth in the North West, and will further encourage the development of our close cross-border links here in Donegal,” added Deputy McHugh.
Minister Simon Harris said: “I would like to warmly congratulate and sincerely thank the very many people from the three Institutions including their management, governing bodies, staff, students and the wider regional and community stakeholders who have enabled today’s announcement and who can now look forward to an exciting future for this new university and the regional hinterlands it will serve.”
Donegal Sinn Féin TD, Pearse Doherty added: “This is a great day for students and the wider community in the north-west and I whole-heartedly welcome the news that LYIT will be recognised as a university under the new alliance.
“I commend everyone involved in campaigning for this, and I understand the enormous work which has been put into this since 2012.
“It is particularly exciting that students who are now in the final year of courses at LYIT could possibly be graduating from a university, with the change in status set to take place early next year.
“Crucially, as one of the largest universities on the island, the new Technological University will give more of our young people the chance to live and study in the West of Ireland. This will allow us to educate, nurture and retain talent in the region which will be vital in tackling regional imbalance.”
Deputy Doherty continued: “This designation means that Letterkenny is now a university town, and Donegal is a university county. The relevant agencies such as Enterprise Ireland, the IDA, Údaras na Gaeltachta and others must now realise and promote the investment possibilities for the region.
“I was also glad of the assurances I received that there will be continued and enhanced cross-border engaged with Magee University in Derry. This is important in unlocking the full potential of this new status for the benefit of the entire north-west.
“I, along with Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD and our other local representatives look forward to engaging with university management going forward”.