Minister Joe McHugh has confirmed that Letterkenny Institute of Technology is to benefit from a share of €1.8million funding to support its work to transition to university status.
He said of the most significant aspects of this Government’s ambitious plan for third level education is to modernise Institutes of Technology into Technological Universities to drive regional development and improve job creation.
“The €1.8million funding package for the rest of 2018 is to help support and push forward the LYIT’s work with GMIT and IT Sligo to develop into a Technological University. It comes on top of the €2.12million that was awarded last year.
“LYIT’s team, including president Paul Hannigan, deserve huge credit for the work that is going on behind the scenes to drive this plan forward under the Connacht Ulster Alliance.”
Mr McHugh, Government Chief Whip, said: “The context of this initiative should also be remembered – developing LYIT into university status builds on the deepened third level education ties that the college has developed after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in February along with University of Ulster, the North West Regional College and Donegal Education and Training Board.
“The aim of all these broadened links are to improve access to higher and further education and training to students living and studying in the North West.
“And there is also this Government’s commitment to the City Region Status for Letterkenny-Derry-Strabane.
Deputy McHugh, Government Chief Whip and Minister for the Irish language, Gaeltacht and the Islands, added that ultimately we will see Letterkenny produce more and more highly qualified graduates.
It will become a world class institution and will pull in more and more research projects and funding, he added.
“Not only that but it will also give us the opportunity to drive regional development and provide more opportunities for individuals, for enterprise and for the community.”
Mr McHugh said: “I would also urge the team at LYIT to push on with their plans with IT Sligo and GMIT in a bid to get their formal applications into the Department next year.”
Background
The Technological Universities Act 2018 was signed into law by President Michael D Higgins on Monday, March 19.
It builds on the deepened third level education ties that LYIT has developed after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in February along with University of Ulster, the North West Regional College and Donegal Education and Training Board with the aim of improving access to higher and further level education and training to students living and studying in the North West City region planned for Letterkenny, Strabane and Derry.
Under the legislation, the next step in the process is for applications for Technological University (TU) status to be submitted to the Higher Education Authority for assessment by an international panel of experts.
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