THE Mayor of the City and County of Limerick has welcomed the official opening of Limerick’s newest University – the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS): Midlands Midwest – which has been formally launched this afternoon.
Mayor Daniel Butler said the official opening of TUS, which comprises a student population of more than 14,000 and a staff of 2,000 across Limerick and five other campuses in Athlone, Clonmel, Ennis and Thurles, is ‘an exciting day that will drive development and investment across the region’.
“We now have two new university campuses in the city at Moylish and Limerick School of Art and Design on Clare Street and that’s a big win for Limerick to further strengthen our competitiveness and for those who wish to live, work and study here,” he said. “The establishment of this new technological university will play a critical role in shaping the future of Limerick and the Mid-West with regional development and leadership at the heart of the TUS remit. Employers in Limerick constantly reference the availability of talent in this region to add value to their operations. As TUS will be a research and innovation hub fostering a wide skills base, this will be a huge attraction to showcase Limerick and the Mid-West as a centre of innovation and to future investors.”
The Mayor continued: “What is also important is that the status and recognition of being a Technological University will enable TUS to retain and build upon its ethos of providing higher education to all those who can benefit from it. I would like to pay tribute to inaugural TUS President Dr Vincent Cunnane and the team at TUS for the belief, hard work and ambition that led to this day, particularly against the background of the global pandemic. I look forward to meeting and engaging with many TUS staff and students over the months and years ahead. Congratulations on your new beginning.”
Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest is the latest to be established in Ireland, and will be a new powerhouse university, driving development and investment across the Midlands and Midwest.
The Technical University has been a key focus from the Department of Higher and Third level education, which seeks to expand the access to greater education to further corners of the country, as well as develop existing institutions.
TUS will comprise a student population of more than 14,000 and a staff complement of approximately 1,200 people across six campuses in Athlone, Limerick (Moylish and Limerick School of Art and Design, Clare Street), Clonmel, Ennis and Thurles.
