Almost 30 Oireachtas members from Connacht and Ulster attended a briefing held by the Connacht-Ulster Alliance in Dublin recently about its ambitions to achieve re-designation as a Technological University.

The Connacht-Ulster Alliance – which is made up of GMIT, LYIT and IT Sligo – was officially launched by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny in July.

‎Achieving re-designation as a Technological University will ensure that the region maintains a high standard of education provision within a soon-to-be restructured national higher education landscape.  It will also provide stimulus for economic and social growth, the TDs and Senators were told at the briefing.

A decision will soon be taken by the Higher Education Authority and Government about which Institutes of Technology can go forward to work towards Technological University re-designation.  Provision for the establishment of small number of Technological Universities is provided in the Government’s National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030.