Ninth Level Ireland

“The President of Carlow’s Institute of Technology (ITC) has told staff that financial challenges and legacy issues must be addressed in furthering the bid to achieve Technological University (TU) status in co-operation with Waterford IT (WIT). However, in an all-staff email issued this week, Dr Patricia Mulcahy stated …” (more)

[Dermot Keyes, Waterford News and Star, 3 June]

“While admitting to feeling ‘a little let down’ in the wake of last week’s Munster Technological University (MTU) announcement, WIT President Willie Donnelly has told staff: ‘We have earned the title of University’ …” (more)

[Dermot Keyes, Waterford News and Star, 31 May]

“The Munster Technological University’s governing body is being urged to consider the former St Finan’s Hospital as a location for distance learning. The merger between IT Tralee and CIT was given the green light last week …” (more)

[Radio Kerry, 31 May]

“The Teacher’s Union of Ireland (TUI) has called for matters of industrial relations to be ‘urgently addressed’ following the CIT and Institute of Technology Tralee (ITT) merger announcement on Tuesday. The Munster Technological University (MTU) has been in the pipeline since 2013 and is now set to become Ireland’s newest university, the second in Cork …” (more)

[Michael Olney, Cork Independent, 27 May]

“Outstanding industrial relations matters must be addressed urgently before the new Munster Technological University is formally established, according to the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 28 May]

“The merger between CIT and IT Tralee to form Munster Technological University is a ‘perfect opportunity to rejuvenate Cork’s long-forgotten northside when it comes to development and economic stimulus’, a TD for the area has said …” (more)

[Pádraig Hoare and Ann Lucey, Irish Examiner, 27 May]

“An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor today (26 May 2020) announced the decision to grant Technological University Status to the TU Consortium made up of Cork Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 26 May]

“Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry Norma Foley has welcomed the designation of Technological University status for IT Tralee and Cork Institute of Technology. The new venture will be known as Munster Technological University …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 26 May]

“A decision is due by May 29th on the Institute of Technology Tralee’s proposed merger with CIT. The Munster Technological University is the planned merger of the two institutes in Kerry and Cork, a process which was first mooted in 2009 …” (more)

[Radio Kerry, 17 May]

“Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the application by the Munster technological university consortium on behalf of Cork IT and Tralee IT to become a technological university; if the implementation of the recommendations of the international advisory panel as endorsed by the HEA and him have been affected by the Covid-19 crisis; the revised timeline to allow each of the recommendations to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 13 May]

“The creation of Ireland’s newest university through the merger of Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and Institute of Technology Tralee (ITT) will play a crucial part in the national recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. Education Minister Joe McHugh has now been given clarifying details on the proposed Munster Technology University (MTU) merger by the consortium partners which aims to keep Ireland at the forefront of global technology, engineering excellence and world class research and development …” (more)

[Ralph Riegel, Independent, 2 April]

“Members of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland have served notice of industrial action in relation to the establishment of the Munster Technological University. The MTU involves the merging of the Institute of Technology, Tralee and Cork Institute of Technology …” (more)

[Radio Kerry, 13 March]

“The Department of Education says funding given to CIT will help deliver on the ambitions of the proposed MTU. The department has announced an investment of €18.7 million in the Cork Institute of Technology, to go towards building upgrades and refurbishment of its campus …” (more)

[Radio Kerry, 18 December]

“The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and the Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD today announced an €18.75 million investment in Cork institute of technology. The funding is being allocated under Project Ireland 2040, which commits to exchequer investments of €2.2 billion in Ireland’s higher education infrastructure over the coming decade. The Department’s approval in principle for the €18.75 capital allocation will go towards significant building upgrades and refurbishment for CIT’s Bishopstown campus, built in 1974 …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 17 December]

“… In an update sent to staff and students of both colleges this week, which was seen by the Cork Independent, said that the project team is working towards a designation date of 1 September 2020 and that this is subject to a final decision by the Minister for Education and Skills …” (more)

[Niamh Aine Ryan, Cork Independent, 24 October]

“The Minister for Education has assured Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) it will not have to take on IT Tralee’s debts in the event that they merge to form a new university for the Munster area. Rising deficits and cashflow problems at IT Tralee have been a key obstacle in the creation of a new Munster Technological University …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 7 October]

“IT Tralee and CIT are confident the state will cover the remaining integration costs associated with their merger. The Munster Technological University is the planned result of the merger between the Institute of Technology Tralee and Cork Institute of Technology, a process which was first mooted in 2009 …” (more)

[Radio Kerry News, 30 August]

“Then Minister for Education Joe McHugh this week postponed the creation of Ireland’s second technological university until early 2020, alarm bells may have sounded for some in the higher education sector. For others, though, the news that Cork IT and IT Tralee are not yet ready to merge – despite provisional plans to do so this year – will have come as no surprise …” (more)

[University Times, 28 July]

“Government plans to award university status to institutes of technology may prove ‘problematic’ due to a lack of clarity over what constitutes research activity, according to an international panel of academics. The comment is contained in a report which found the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and IT Tralee only partially met the criteria required to secure university status. It is likely the bid will be reconsidered in six months …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 23 July]

“A decision on the long-awaited Munster Technological University, has been set back to early 2020 amid financial concerns and a ‘lack of clear vision and strategy’. A bid by Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and the Institute of Technology Tralee (ITT) seeking to become Munster’s first technological university ‘leaves questions unanswered regarding the specifics of how the two applicant institutions are to become one’, an independent review has found …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 23 July]