Ninth Level Ireland

“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]

“The creation of a Munster Technological University has been postponed until 2020, amid concerns over the debts of IT Tralee and a ‘lack of clear vision’ for what the new university will look like. An international panel that examined the proposed merger of IT Tralee and Cork IT found a lack of ‘integrated, coherent and effective governance structures’, and said it found ‘questions unanswered’ about ‘how the two applicant institutions are to become one’ …” (more)

[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 22 July]

“Ministers McHugh and Mitchell O’Connor welcome Report of the Independent Review Panel on Munster Technological University (MTU) Application. Ministers note significant progress made by consortium in meeting eligibility criteria. Establishment of MTU key Government priority to deliver on regional development objectives for South-West region under Project Ireland 2040 …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 22 July]

“A second technological university project has been hit by a wrangle over who picks up the tab for outstanding deficits, debt and certain other costs when colleges merge to form a new entity. The proposed Technological University of the South East (TUSE) involves a merger of the Institute of Technology Carlow (IT Carlow) and Waterford Institute of Technology (Waterford IT) …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 9 July]

“A long-awaited decision on the Munster Technological University (MTU) is expected to be made shortly as an independent report sparks uncertainty over the project. Following a formal application earlier this year, an international panel of experts assessed a bid by Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and the Institute of Technology Tralee (ITT) to become Munster’s first technological university …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 24 June]

“The proposed merger of Cork IT and IT Tralee into a new technological university has suffered a huge blow, after an international assessment panel sounded the alarm over its financial sustainability …” (more)

[Rachel O’Leary, University Times, 24 June]

“A long-awaited decision on the Munster Technological University (MTU) is expected to be made shortly as an independent report sparks uncertainty over the project. Following a formal application earlier this year, an international panel of experts assessed a bid by Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and the Institute of Technology Tralee (ITT) to become Munster’s first technological university …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 24 June]

“Plans to create a new technological university for the Munster area have suffered a major setback after an international panel raised concerns over the financial viability of the application. The planned merger of Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and IT Tralee into a new Munster technological university would have created one of the country’s largest third-level institutions with more than 18,000 learners …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 24 June]

“Staff at IT Tralee and their counterparts at Cork Institute of Technology are holding a protest in Cork this morning. Their protest coincides with the arrival of an international panel which will assess a proposed merger of the two third-level institutes. The Teachers’ Union of Ireland is organising the picket …” (more)

[Radio Kerry News, 22 May]

“Plans for the creation of a new technological university in the Munster area have been dealt a blow after staff at Cork Institute of Technology and IT Tralee voted to reject the latest stage of merger plans. The development comes as members of an international panel are due to visit on Wednesday to determine if both institutions meet the threshold to become a technological university …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 22 May]

“There is no row between IT Tralee and Cork Institute of Technology over senior roles in the new joint university. That’s according to the new interim president of IT Tralee, Brendan O’Donnell …” (more)

[Radio Kerry News, 20 May]

“IT Tralee says both it and Cork Institute of Technology remain committed to overcoming challenges as part of a merger to form the Munster Technological University. It follows an article in the Irish Times claiming that external accountants have been appointed to monitor spending at IT Tralee amid growing concern over financial deficits …” (more)

[Radio Kerry News, 17 May]

“Earlier this week politicians gathered to cut the ribbon on the Kerry Sports Academy, a gleaming new facility on the grounds of the Institute of Technology Tralee. The state-of-the-art facility – the largest sports capital project ever to have been undertaken in Kerry – boasts an international-sized indoor sports arena, hydrotherapy suite and high-performance gym …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 17 May]

“Education authorities have appointed external accountants to monitor spending at the Institute of Technology Tralee amid growing concern over financial deficits. The move comes at a sensitive time with plans at an advanced stage to merge IT Tralee with Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) to create a new technological university for the Munster area …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 17 May]

“Members of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland at IT Tralee are to debate a motion at their annual congress to protect staff in the formation of the Munster Technological University. The TUI is gathered at the INEC in Killarney until Thursday for its annual think-in …” (more)

[Radio Kerry News, 23 April]

“Minister of State Mary Mitchell O’Connor says she is waiting for the application from WIT and IT Carlow, for a technological university in the South East. The application for Munster Technological University, was submitted yesterday. It looks likely to become the country’s second technological university after TU Dublin, which was established in January …” (more)

[Sinead Aherne, WLR FM, 13 February]