ISSUE 5 • WINTER 2019/20
Technological University Submission in Q4 2020
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Arturo Ui Play @ IT Sligo
Governing Bodies and members of staff from CUA announcing they will make a submission to become a Technological University by end of 2020.
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T Sligo’s ambition to become a Technological University was boosted with a very significant meeting of all three Institutes of the Connacht Ulster Alliance (CUA) in November. The Governing Bodies of IT Sligo, GMIT & LYIT, met in Donegal Town recently and made a commitment to the Department of Education & Skills to submit an application to become a Technological University in Autumn of 2020. The three Institutes met as the CUA to clarify the next steps needed to secure University status. The governance, academic and organisational structures of the new TU were addressed as part of the planning by the three CUA institutions toward becoming a TU. This is a very significant movement towards the CUA’s joint ambition to become a Technological University and is the fruitful outcome of a seven year process.
So why do we want to become a TU? - It’s better for the region; economically and socially. There is an imbalance across the country in terms of population distribution, levels of employment regional incomes and the education qualifications profile. The current pace of development of industry in geographical centres other than the West/North-West is not consistent with long term economic, social and cultural regional balance. There is an opportunity now to greatly improve the ability of the West/North West region to grow at a faster pace by providing local access across the region to university education. This will attract and cater for students of all levels and will optimise the prospect of career opportunities in the region with businesses whose development is supported by the new TU. Continued on Page 7
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IT SlIgo celebrATe FIFTY YeArS In 2020 - itsligo.ie/50 Read about the performance on Page 23