Press release
Minister Harris addresses the Teachers Union of Ireland conference
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, has today addressed the Teachers Union of Ireland conference on the development of technological universities (TUs).
Minister Harris confirmed that the establishment of the Atlantic Technological University and the South East Technological University mark a new departure for the TU agenda.
Speaking today, the Minister said:
"By 1 May, we will have five TUs in the country. We will continue to work with DKIT and IADT on their future plans.
"Creating the new institutions is only the first step in progressing the TU agenda.
"Going forward, we will be working with our TU sector - management, staff and students - to further deliver on the vision of the TU agenda and to allow Tus, as autonomous HEIs, to plot their own courses in their regions while delivering on their legislative functions and on national strategic objectives.
"This will include addressing future funding, devising collaboratively new academic career paths and contracts for staff, increasing digital capability, reform and research funding and improving and expanding campuses and their footprints through capital funding.
"Since my appointment, the TU agenda has grown from the ‘first in family’ TU Dublin to an extended family of five - MTU, ATU, TÚS and SETU.
"We will, all of us, work to ensure this is more than a name change. We will build on what has worked by building upwards and outwards internationally to make it even better."