Green light for Ireland’s first technological university
By Mary Dennehy
DIT, IT Tallaght and IT Blanchardstown are joining forces to create Ireland’s first technological university, which is due to be established early next year.
The alliance of Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Tallaght and Institute of Technology Blanchardstown will create the Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) – which got the go-ahead from Government today.
TU Dublin will be the first technological university in Ireland established under the Technological Universities Act, which was enacted in March of this year.
The university will be located across three campuses, Grangegorman, Tallaght and Blanchardstown, creating an “inclusive and open learning experience”, which offers pathways to graduations from apprenticeships to PHD level.
According to President of IT Tallaght, Mr Thomas Stone: “On behalf of all the staff, the 28,500 students across our three Institutes, and all the contributors over the last seven years that have made this breakthrough possible, I would like to express our delight at today’s announcement by An Taoiseach.
“TU Dublin will focus on practice-based, research-informed learning, combined with rigorous academic standards and success through inclusive and authentic engagement with our students.
“We look forward to the final stage of this process which will include ongoing engagement with the HEA and the Department of Education and Skills in advance of formal designation early next year.”
With establishment confirmed for early next year, the first graduates of TU Dublin will receive awards from the new university in 2019.
Further coverage on this story in Thursday’s paper.
