MINISTER of State for Skills and Further Education and local TD, Niall Collins, has welcomed the announcement by his Department that the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands and Midwest will be established on October 1st.
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has signed an order dissolving Athlone and Limerick Institutes of Technology and in their place the establishment of the new Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands and Midwest as of October 1st. This new higher education institution becomes the third technological university in the country from that date.
A scheme unlined by Minister Simon Harris as a key goal for developing the standard of higher education in the state. Speaking of the announcement: “This TU will drive regional development and socio-economic progression, will facilitate local and regional higher education access and course choice with university level qualifications for students in their own areas and will benefit in attracting enterprise, skills retention and creation and increased direct investment into the regions served by the university.”
Continuing – “This is a really significant day in the reform and step change development of our higher education sector and an important milestone for the people of the Midlands and Midwest.”
Minister of State Niall Collins said: “This is a transformational event for the people of the Mid-West and the Midlands.
“This will allow people across the Mid-West and the Midlands and beyond to obtain a university degree in their home places. As a former LIT lecturer and a proud Limerick man, I want to congratulate all those in LIT and AIT for bringing us to this point and wish them all the best on this exciting journey.”
The new TU will be established from October 1st meaning students who are starting their academic term this September and students who will graduate next year will do so within a university setting and with university qualifications, respectively.
