Further Progress for South East Technological University – Coffey

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy Paudie Coffey has said that further progress has been made in delivering a technological university for the South East Region. Deputy Coffey has said the process for creating technological universities has been on-going since this government came to office; the Minister has now instructed the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to start implementing a plan that will see WIT and Carlow IT (CIT) progress to becoming a technological university for the South East region.

“This is an issue that I have been working on since I entered the Oireachtas in 2007 and more particularly since the 2011 General Election where the South East Technology University was included in the programme for government and I have consistently raised the issue with the Minister and tracked the progress of the proposed South East Technological University. I firmly believe that WIT and CIT have the staff and facilities to deliver this for the Region.

“Only last week I visited TSSG at WIT and witnessed how they are working with industry while developing cutting edge technology. This is a real and practical example of how a technological university would benefit the South East Region as a whole.

“The purpose of technological universities is not to be a carbon copy of universities that already exist, but to offer a different type of learning that will be based on research and academia; but that will deliver innovation, investment and job creation.

“The next stage of the application process will be the preparation of a plan to meet the criteria for Technological University status that must be based on a legally binding memorandum of understanding between each of the institutions describing their consolidation into a new single institution. The plan will be evaluated by an independent expert international panel that will decide if the applicant can meet the agreed criteria in the proposed timetable and can proceed to the final stage.

“This will have a lasting positive impact on the economy of Waterford and the regional and on the students and teaching staff at both campuses. I intend to continue to work closely with the Stakeholders in WIT and with the Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn TD; so that a technological university can be delivered for the Region as soon as possible.”