Ninth Level Ireland

“The young people of Waterford should ‘accept no less’ than a commitment on behalf of the Government to adequate funding of the TUSE project, Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh has said. Speaking in the Dáil on Thursday 19 November, Mr Ó Cathasaigh said the Technological University for the South East is a ‘project so important in terms of balanced regional development’ that it is specifically referenced twice within the Programme for Government and that is must receive adequate funding going forward …” (more)

[Jade Wilson, Waterford News and Star, 19 November]

“… Waterford is being fobbed off with Tech Uni designation, despite being the only city in the country without a university. Fine Gael has, since 2008, evaded their electoral promises and through chronic underfunding, undermined WIT at almost every turn. It is clear in the recent funding announcements that there is a huge government / political / Fine Gael / HEA effort to big up IT Carlow and suppress WIT. These funding announcements also make it very clear that the TU process will not produce a real university in our region …” (more)

[Waterford News and Star, 10 November]

“‘Winter is Coming’ – three chilling words familiar to the Game of Thrones enthusiasts amongst us. The phrase which heralded impending doom to the civilised world of Westeros, or for the uninitiated GoT fans out there – in layman’s terms …” (more)

[Richard Finnegan, 28 October]

“Perhaps channelling Fleetwood Mac, the Labour Party locally has taken a brave and interesting position in advocating for Waterford Institute of Technology to set a deadline on talks or ‘go its own way’ and seek to become a standalone University …” (more)

[Richard Finnegan, 25 October]

“Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has issued advice to students travelling to college with Covid-19 restrictions in effect. ‘With the introduction of Level 5 restrictions, we are mindful that some students may encounter garda checkpoints as they travel to or from college …'” (more)

[Leinster Leader, 26 October]

“Last week the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris TD, announced funding of €34.33m to higher education institutions to help them in their progression towards Technological University status. The fund is being allocated under the 2020 Higher Education Authority (HEA) call to assist the development and progression of technological universities …” (more)

[Waterford News and Star, 13 October]

“The announcement of €5.1m funding for the Technological University of the South East of Ireland (TUSEI) project has been welcomed by the presidents of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) and Institute of Technology Carlow (IT Carlow). The TUSEI project had applied to the multi-annual Technological Universities Transformation Fund (TUTF) for funding support in respect of the costs arising in working towards designation as a technological university, in line with the Technological Universities Act 2018 …” (more)

[Claire Quinn, Waterford News and Star, 7 October]

“For businesses in Cork, Limerick and Waterford, the return of students in Autumn usually offers a seasonal boost. From takeouts to taxis, to clubs and bars, students can act as an economic powerhouse. But across the region, higher education institutions have been asked to deliver classes remotely where possible for the coming weeks in an effort to reduce cross country movement of students and avoid large groups gathering in and around campuses …” (more)

[Nicole Glennonay, Irish Examiner, 29 September]

“Going back to college doesn’t have quite the same ring when you’re told you’ll be spending very little time on campus …” (more)

[Brendan Kelly, Independent, 28 September]

“An objective has been set out this week to establish the Technological University of the South East on 1 January 2022. The chairpersons of the governing bodies and the presidents of both Institute of Technology Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology this week announced the objective in a briefing note to business and other community leaders …” (more)

[Suzanne Pender, Carlow Nationalist, 26 September]

“The chairpersons of the governing bodies and the presidents of Waterford Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Carlow have announced their objective that the Technological University of the South East of Ireland (TUSEI) will be established on January 1, 2022 …” (more)

[Dylan White, Waterford Live, 23 September]

“Hopes of a reduction in rent for students in Waterford have been dashed by a new survey. It shows that rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city has gone up by an average of 2% over the past year and by 4% in the county …” (more)

[Michael Wolsey, Waterford Now, 16 September]

“Verona Murphy (Wexford, Fine Gael): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the amalgamation of Institute of Technology Carlow and Waterford Institute of Technology to form the Technological University for the South East Ireland …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 9 September]

“The focus this week is on schools reopening. Next Monday it will shift to the Leaving Certificate. In about a fortnight, the spotlight moves on to third level. Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) set the pace, in a story broken in this newspaper, announcing that all lectures, tutorials, and practical classes will be delivered remotely for this academic year because of Covid-19. The few exceptions will be laboratory work …” (more)

[Gerard Howlin, Irish Examiner, 2 September]

“Waterford City is set for a further economic hit given the thousands of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) students who will be studying remotely during the coming academic year. And with third level education estimated to bring €600 million annually into the local economy, a city already struggling with the impact of Covid-19 is set for a further and unwelcome blow …” (more)

[Claire Quinn, Waterford News and Star, 1 September]

“So – Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) is first out of the blocks and has announced that all lectures, tutorials and practical classes will be delivered remotely for the 2020/2021 academic year, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a message to students, WIT announced that ‘delivery will include live-streaming of lectures and other forms of remote learning platforms appropriate to individual modules or programmes …'” (more)

[Careful With That Axe, Eugene, 1 September]

“The President of the Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) said students will be asked to pay full fees for this academic year as all lectures and tutorials move online. Students and staff were informed last week of the blended learning approach for the upcoming academic year …” (more)

[Orla Dwyer, TheJournal.ie, 31 August]

“Waterford Institute of Technology has told students and staff that all lectures, tutorials and practical classes will be delivered off-campus throughout the coming academic year. Third-level colleges throughout the county are expected to finalise timetable details once offers are made to incoming first-year students following next week’s Leaving Cert calculated grades …” (more)

[Conor Kane, RTÉ News, 31 August]

“WIT students, already anxious about the nature of the new academic year, have been plunged into deeper ‘concern and dismay’ after the institute announced that all lectures, tutorials and practical classes for 2020/21 will run online …” (more)

[Dermot Keyes, Waterford News and Star, 27 August]

“Waterford Institute of Techonology (WIT) has informed students that all lectures, tutorials and practical classes will be conducted remotely and off campus for the 2020/21 academic year …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 27 August]