IT Blanchardstown to form part of Technological University

The Institute of Technology Blanchardstown is to join up with The Dublin Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology Tallaght to form a new Technological University. The announcement by the Department for Education is part of a reorganisation of the higher education recommended by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The colleges must now prepare a plan to meet the criteria to become a full Technological University.

Ireland has 39 publicly funded higher education institutes which is way above international norms. None of them figure in international league tables and all struggle for funding.

We can expect a new focus now on performance which will bring the funding and governance of Irish colleges into line with best practice internationally. This is good news for students and all those involved in our third level education.

The department also announced the formation of regional clusters between universities and Institutes of Technologies. IT Blanchardstown is included with the Dublin/Leinster Pillar II cluster which includes The Dublin Institute of Technology, IT Tallaght, Dublin City University (and incorporating linked colleges, National College of Ireland, Dundalk IT, NUI Maynooth, Athlone IT and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

The Royal College of Surgeons is now part of the Connolly Hospital Group announced last week and this will create exciting new training and research opportunities for IT Blanchardstown.

Heads of institutions in these clusters will have to develop regional plans, eliminating unnecessary duplication of provision and establishing clear pathways of transfer and progression for students in the region. Emerging alliances between universities and institutes of technology will be strengthened and promoted to develop critical mass and centres of excellence in undergraduate, postgraduate and research provision.

This announcement follows recommendations made to the Education Minister, Ruairi Quinn. The HEA's report called for consolidation of the Institute of Technology (IT) sector; the creation of a small number of technological universities; the formation of regional clusters between universities and stronger ITs; implementation of recommendations to rationalise teacher education; as well as increased sustainability and capacity in the higher education system.