IT Tallaght joins forces to create Tech University
By Mary Dennehy
DUBLIN Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Tallaght and Institute of Technology Blanchardstown are joining forces to create Ireland’s first technological university, which is due to be established early next year.
The alliance of DIT, IT Tallaght and IT Blanchardstown marks the creation of the Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) – which got the go-ahead from Government on Tuesday.
Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Pascal Donohoe TD, Minister for State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
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 graduation from apprenticeship to PhD level.
According to the President of IT Tallaght, 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.”
IT Tallaght campus
According to information provided on the alliance, the Tallaght campus will continue to expand its academic programmes and research activity, as well as community and enterprise supports to the South Dublin County Region as part of TU Dublin.
Two new building projects are also in progress on the 41-acre campus, which have planned completion dates in 2021.
The first is a 500 m sq multi-disciplinary building as part of the Government’s PPP (Public Private Partnership) programme, which will house teaching space, hospitality and culinary and engineering and apprenticeship activities.
The second building is a Sports Science, Health and Recreation building with outdoor sporting facilities.
There are also two major PPP projects underway on the Grangegorman Campus, which will accommodate 10,000 students by September 2020, while at Blanchardstown a dedicated student services building is due to open in early 2019 and a 4,000 m sq teaching building as part of the Government’s PPP programme.
With establishment confirmed for early next year, the first graduates of TU Dublin will receive awards from the new university in 2019.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar launched TU Dublin at Grangegorman on Tuesday 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.
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