Press Statement
From: Kieran O’Donnell TD
Wednesday 5th May
O’Donnell welcomes Technological University status for Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT)
- LIT Linking up with Athlone IT to establish a Technological University
- Technological University will have 5 Campuses in Mid-West
Limerick City Fine Gael TD Kieran O’Donnell has greatly welcomed the joint application to establish a new Technological University(TU) from Limerick Institute of Technology and Athlone Institute of Technology.
The application is being made under the 2018 Act, where two or more Institutes of Technology may apply to the Minister for Higher Education for the making of an order granting TU status subject to their jointly meeting prescribed eligibility criteria and approval of the houses of the Oireachtas. In practice, this involves the dissolution of both Institutes and the subsequent establishment of a new Technological university. LIT and Athlone IT together have a student population of almost 14,000 and some 1,300 staff.
LIT and Athlone Institute of Technology consortium have been allocated €7 million to date in Exchequer funding under a Transformation fund provided to assist the creation and development of these new types of technologies universities.
“I greatly welcome this direct confirmation I have received from Minister for Further & Higher Education, Simon Harris TD of LIT becoming a Technological University, and linking up with Athlone IT to establish same. This is a great news day for Limerick and the entire region of students, where will now have another University based in Mid-West region, with 5 Campuses – Limerick City(with Moylish and Clare Street Campuses), Tipperary(with Thurles and Clonmel Campuses) and Clare (with Ennis Campus).
“Having previously lectured in LIT and as a proud Limerick person, I am delighted to see this milestone being reached and I wish to congratulate all involved. In particular, I wish to commend LIT President Professor Vincent Cunnane, the board of LIT and all the staff for their hard work in progressing this Technological University application.
“LIT has been highly successful in linking with business and industry locally and nationally to provide highly educated graduates, from apprenticeships to doctorates, with the necessary cutting edge shills to meet the demands of a constantly changing world. This new Technological University status will further enhance this significant contribution LIT is already making to third level education for students and indeed will be of enormous benefit to Limerick, Tipperary, Clare and the region overall.
“I look forward to continuing to work with all at LIT under their new Technological University status.
END.