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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today announced that the green light has been given to Cork Education and Training Board to proceed to the next stage in proposal development for a College of The Future (COTF).
The project proposed for the Bishopstown campus envisages the development of a new central FET College to act as a focal point for all FET services in Cork. It envisages the creation of centres of excellence and the inclusion of a new Digital FET centre, incorporating digital teaching and learning facilities.
In addition, Minister Harris announced Mallow has been successful in securing funding to build a new Youthreach facility on the site of the existing Mallow College of Further Education.
Separately, Minister Harris also confirmed MTU has been successful under the Technological Sector Strategic Projects (TSSPF) Fund to proceed to develop the business case for a significant expansion in Cork. This proposal for the Block D and A Combined extension envisages additional teaching facilities in the areas of Business, Humanities, Engineering, Science, Health and Wellbeing, Tourism.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said:
“This is a brilliant day for Cork. Cork city has been chosen as one of ten locations to proceed to develop a further education College of the Future.
“Cork has been leading the way on creating a unified third level system that meets the needs of the region it serves. This FET college will become a digital centre leading the way on digital education. It will also cater for apprenticeships too.
“The College of the Future Major Projects Fund will support the implementation of the vision set out in the Further Education Strategy. This Fund, including the proposed for development in Cork, has the potential to deliver on a range of strategic objectives. It is great that the Cork proposal will now proceed to Preliminary Business Case Stage.
“In addition, Mallow College has secured funding under the Strategic Infrastructure Fund to build a new Youthreach facility on the site of the existing Mallow College of Further Education.”
Minister Harris also confirmed MTU has been successful under the Technological Sector Strategic Projects (TSSPF) Fund to proceed to develop the business case for a significant expansion in Cork. This proposal envisages additional teaching facilities in the areas of Business, Humanities, Engineering, Science, Health and Wellbeing, Tourism.
Minister Harris added:
“At the beginning of the year I set out my vision for a new phase of capital investment in the higher education sector, and specifically the technological sector, that would act as an enabler to achieve and meet the ambitions and needs of this sector.
“Today is a key milestone as we see MTU emerge from the first part of a robust strategic assessment process, and move to the next phase of the project life cycle development, which will see the development of preliminary business case.
“Investment will play an important role in supporting the technological sector as drivers of regional development by allowing them to better meet the needs of learners in their region, to deepen existing and forge new relationships with business and enterprise and to respond in an agile fashion to future developments.
“Advancing these capital proposals with the support of the HEA and SOLAS is key to ensuring a pipeline of key strategic projects delivers for our learner, economic and societal needs, and we need to keep these objectives at the heart of all our decision making. The outcomes of the business case stage will inform the development of a pipeline of projects and future capital investment decisions.
“The proposal developments to be advanced under the Technological Strategic Projects Fund and Further Education and Training College of the Future Major Projects fund will complement significant investment right across the technological sector and further education and training sector.”
Denis Leamy, Chief Executive, Cork ETB, said:
“Today is indeed a great day for Cork. This is an important milestone in support of our ambitions to provide a service to the people and communities across the region that can deliver the education and training services that are required at a local level, that are easily accessible, and have the most modern and up to date facilities possible.
“The Minister’s announcement this afternoon is warmly and enthusiastically welcomed by Cork ETB and it validates and supports our initiative to develop Cork College of FET as an exemplar of what the FET College of the Future can be.”
MTU President Professor Maggie Cusack said:
“MTU’s reputation for excellence has been growing steadily since our establishment last year.
“Today’s announcement will continue to make us a university of choice in the southwest benefitting current and future students and staff for generations to come. The progression to the next phase of the proposed expansion to our Bishopstown campus will see our facilities upgraded and improved, putting MTU on the map locally, regionally and internationally."
Chair of MTU’s Governing Body Jimmy Deenihan said:
“On behalf of MTU, I am delighted to welcome Minister Harris’ announcement for our Bishopstown campus. Additional investment in MTU will strengthen the entire southwest region providing economic, social and educational opportunities. I’m very grateful for Minster Harris’ unwavering support for technological universities and MTU in particular.”