From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan today gave Atlantic Technological University the green light to begin the process of appointing an Executive Management Team.
This will kick off the process to begin the open recruitment of senior positions to the executive management team within the university.
Speaking today, Minister O’Donovan said:
“I am delighted to announce that Atlantic Technological University can, as of today, begin the process of appointing its senior management team.
“The successful applicants will emerge from competitive and open recruitment processes to perform the vital functions of managing and developing this important sector.
“The roles of senior executives will involve working across multiple campuses and will be critical in fulfilling the regional mission of Technological Universities, a mission that the founding TU Presidents have been tirelessly working towards to ensure balanced regional development.
“Balanced development which will directly benefit regional industries and communities is a goal firmly embedded in the new draft Programme for Government and one that we are fully committed to bringing to fruition through support for this innovative sector.
“I would like to thank the President of ATU, Dr Orla Flynn, for her dedicated leadership since her appointment.”
President of ATU Dr Orla Flynn said:
“I am delighted to see the approval of a senior leadership team structure for ATU; appointments in key roles allow us to continue the momentum built over the last three years and to take the next steps towards achieving all we have set out in our strategic plan.
“I want to thank our Minister and officials of DFHERIS for their support and guidance throughout this process.”
Today’s announcement is a sign of the Department of Further and Higher Education ongoing commitment to supporting ATU to flourish. This commitment is evident in the new draft programme for government.
Additionally, today Minister O’Donovan has also announced sanction for similar teams for three of Ireland’s five Technological Universities:
Following the passage of the Technological Universities Act 2018, a network of 5 TUs was established across the country spanning 25 campuses creating the infrastructure and potential to bring the advantages of university-driven applied skills and innovation to communities across the country. In order of establishment, these TUs are:
1. Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) (January 2019);
2. Munster Technological University (MTU) (January 2021);
3. Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS) (October 2021);
4. Atlantic Technological University (ATU) (1 April 2022); and
5. South East Technological University (SETU) (1 May 2022)
Additionally, on 1 November 2023, St. Angela’s College, Sligo was incorporated into ATU, the first such incorporation under an amendment to the TU Act 2018 introduced via the HEA Act 2022.
With the establishment of South East Technological University in 2022, the first establishment phase of the Technological University Agenda was completed. Currently, the sector is in the second phase, a phase of consolidation.
To support the reform of the sector, a number of funds have been made available. Initially, in 2013/2014 – 2019/2020, investment of €31 million was made into the technological sector as part of the HE Landscape Fund. Dedicated funding for the TUs would follow between 2020/2021 and 2022/2023, when funding of €90 million was dispensed via the Technological Universities Transformation Fund (TUTF). This funding was utilised to provide financial support for the TUs during their establishment phase. The funding came to completion in 2023, as following the establishment of SETU, the emphasis shifted towards supporting the TUs in their post-establishment phase, to allow for consolidation and expansion. Of the funding offered by these two programmes, ATU received €5.90 million under the HE Landscape Fund and €15.75 million under TUTF.
To support this consolidation and expansion, TUTF was replaced by the Technological Sector Assistance Fund (TSAF). This was launched on 20 July 2023, with applications submitted by 5 TUs and the two IoTs. The TSAF made €50 million available for the technological sector. €29,903,000 was allocated in 2024, and the remaining €17,297,000 to be allocated in 2025. Of this, €8.5 million in total has been allocated to ATU, with approximately €5.53 million allocated in 2024 and the remaining €2.97 million to be allocated in 2025.
In 2024, the department announced an €83.68 million regional funding programme called the Technological University Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise scheme (TU RISE). TU RISE is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Southern, Eastern & Midland and the Northern & Western Regional Programmes, and is supported through the European Regional Development Fund. The funding will enhance central research functions in higher education institutions in the technological university sector to further institutions’ engagements with their regions over a five year period (2023-2027). ATU was allocated €19.6 million in total via the Northern & Western Regional Programme.
This approval has involved an extensive organisational review process and draws on the recommendations and principles of the 2022 OECD report and the TURN report (2019) both of which identified new management structures as necessary to lead the range of strategies required by TUs to pursue their unique missions, values and ambitions.