The Connacht Ulster Alliance remains on track to submit an application for University status before end of year, Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh has confirmed.
The Connacht Ulster Alliance is comprised of GMIT, IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT, who are moving forward to secure university status by becoming a Technological University (TU) for the West/North West with eight campuses stretching from Letterkenny to Galway.
Further funding has been allocated to higher education institutions across the country to help them in their progression towards the sought-after status.
Joe McHugh, TD for Donegal said: “The Connacht Ulster Alliance consortium, comprising Galway-Mayo IT, Letterkenny IT and IT Sligo, is continuing to work towards submission of an application for University designation towards the end of this year or early 2021, which is good news for this County and region.
“The creation of Technological Universities is a key commitment within the Programme for Government and will deliver significant advantages to national priorities in relation to Higher Education access, research-informed teaching and learning, as well as supporting enterprise and regional development here in Donegal and across the North West.
“The unparalleled national Government investment of €34.33 million this year and € 90 million over the lifetime of the Fund, will establish TUs across all regions capable of delivering national strategic objectives in accordance with the TURN report vision.
“The TURN report “Connectedness & Collaboration enabled by Connectivity”, was published in October 2019 and sets out the case for a State change in higher education reform for the delivery of national strategic priorities.
“This is to be achieved through the connectedness, particularly at regional level, collaboration and connectivity of technological universities and their unique delivery of programmes across the full range of the National Framework of Qualifications from apprenticeships to doctoral degrees.”
“This investment will help deliver for the benefit of Donegal communities, the north-west region and Ireland internationally,” McHugh concluded.
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