By Colette O’Shea, Research Project Assistant, MTU.
On January 1st 2021, The Institute of Technology Tralee (ITT) and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) merged to form the Munster Technological University (MTU) – the second Technological University to be formed in Ireland. The new university operates across 6 campuses in Cork and Tralee and has a student population of 18,000 students.
This is the first time that there has been a university in County Kerry, and its formation has been acknowledged as an exciting development for the South -West region and the town of Tralee.
President of the newly established MTU, Professor Maggie Cusack said: “This is an auspicious day for the region with the formation of Munster Technological University that will benefit students, staff, and stakeholders for generations to come. The positive regional benefits will be paralleled with global impact from our research and innovation as we maximise the opportunities afforded MTU by the Irish Research Council and through Horizon Europe and the Green Deal”, while Chair of MTU’s Governing Body, Bob Savage said that “Today marks an historic day for the future of higher education in Ireland. MTU has the potential to be ground-breaking for the South-West region by providing a new, flexible teaching and learning framework to students that is informed by research and offers opportunities for students to pursue diverse programmes across the range of levels. I now extend my best wishes to our collective staff, students, and stakeholders who have been instrumental in bringing us to this day”.
Meanwhile in a statement made to celebrate the formation of MTU, Minister for Higher Education in Ireland, Simon Harris said: “The establishment of only the second technological university in the State, the first outside the capital, is another important milestone for higher education in Ireland and, in particular, for the South West. From today, the new Munster Technological University will start its journey and drive access, excellence, and regional development. It will strengthen the links with businesses in the country and the community, all of which will greatly enrich and enhance the South West.”
To find out more information about MTU, visit the website https://www.mtu.ie/
Source: Munster Technological University (MTU), 2021. “MTU Formally Established” Available at https://www.mtu.ie/news/mtu-formally-established