The application has now officially been lodged for the merger of Waterford IT and IT Carlow.
The merger would see the Technological University for the South East formed, with major campuses in Waterford, Carlow and in Wexford.
The news comes despite WIT's TUI members last week voting against the terms of the merger.
However, it's understood there was a low turnout for that ballot and members are now to be re-balloted.
Commenting on today's historic occasion John Moore, Chair of IT Carlow Governing Body said: “Submitting the application for technological university designation is a major milestone in our decade-long work to create a TU of international standing in our region which will, above all, benefit our students and successive generations of students.”
Jim Moore, Chair of WIT Governing Body acknowledged the part of staff, students and stakeholders: “The sterling work completed by our staff, students and many important stakeholders over many years to develop the TU is evident in the strong and ambitious application that has been submitted, which we hope is well placed to stand up to the rigours of panel review.”
In a communication today to staff and students, the presidents of the institutes, Dr Patricia Mulcahy and Prof Willie Donnelly, expressed their confidence in the success of the application. The email said:
“Our confidence is based on the hard work of our staff and students in the years since this project was first mooted, and especially the very intense effort put in by you in the past year or so.”
Staff, the presidents noted, while under unusual pressure due to the pandemic “rose to the occasion and made that extra effort in working groups and other activities to bring us to this point.”
They also singled out the “unstinting support to TUSEI” given by students and their leaders and the encouragement and support of external stakeholders over a long period “reflecting the wider support and enthusiasm there is for TUSEI in our region”.
The submission of the application to the Minister starts a process which will include a review by a panel of international experts. The board of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) will consider the panel’s report, and report to the Minister, who after consideration of both reports will make a formal decision.
