Governing bodies at both Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology have today submitted an official application to government to form a consortium.
First announcing that they would be coming together to form a Technological University back in October of last year, plans are now one step further along in the process. Seeking the dissolution of both Institutes, the application looks to establish a new university that would span across six different campuses and account for a student population of over 15,000 students.
Describing it as "good news", Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science, Simon Harris welcomed the application. Confirming that he had received the paperwork as of earlier this morning, a formal legislative process that is the next hurdle to overcome.
"I have now received an application to establish a new technological university in the Midlands & Mid-West from Athlone Institute of Technology & Limerick Institute of Technology. Major milestone for a project that can be hugely transformative for the region."
TU Dublin was the first of its type to become a new higher education institution, with the second TU due to be established on January 1st 2021 when IT Tralee and Cork IT will join forces to become the Munster Technological University - subject to Oireachtas approval.
