University talks at 'advanced' stage

SEAN FLYNN, Education Editor

Five institutes of technology in the Border, Midlands and West (BMW) region said today they were at an “advanced stage” discussions regarding the establishment of a technological university.

If approved by Government approval, they say a Border Midlands West Technological University (BMW TU) would create the largest higher education institution in the State with 27,000 students.

A steering group comprising senior staff at Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) Dundalk Institute of Technology, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, and Institute of Technology, Sligo, is directing negotiations.

The move by the BMW colleges raised the possibility of at least two and possibly many more technological universities.

A technological university for the south east – which has the support of Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin – is regarded as almost certain by education sources

An application is also expected from a Dublin technological university group comprising the Dublin Institute of Technology and the institutes in Tallaght and Blanchardstown.

The Higher Education Authority will shortly publish the criteria for the establishment of a technological university. Once approved by Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, any of the 14 institutes will be free to apply for technological university status.