Dublin City University (DCU) is to receive more than €21 million under a long-awaited €97 million investment by the Government in higher education.
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin today approved 31 projects under the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) which will see universities and institutes of technology collaborating on a wide range of initiatives.
Today's funding will boost third- and fourth-level education and is the second instalment of allocated under the National Development Plan (2007-2013). Some €42 million of the €510 million fund was allocated last year.
Ms Hanafin said the money would fund teaching and learning innovations at under-graduate level including "significant access initiatives" for students with hearing difficulties and intellectual disabilities.
The SIF is a key part of the Government's plan to for Ireland to move towards the knowledge economy envisaged for the EU under the Lisbon Agenda.
It places particular emphasis on research and development and includes new opportunities for workplace-based learning.
Ms Hanafin said: "The role of the higher education system is critical to Ireland's future success. Rapid changes in the global economy are being shaped by new advances in knowledge and technology.
"Post-graduate research structures will be developed and improved, benefiting research students as well as wider society and the economy through enhanced quality of research."
Some 17 institutions have been approved to lead initiatives while the Irish Universities Association and the Institutes of Technology Ireland have received €5.45m and €9.96m respectively to co-ordinate projects.
DCU received the largest amount money at €21.64m followed by University College Dublin with over €15m and University of Limerick with €12.5m.
All the States universities and institutes of technology will be involved in projects under the formal heading of SIF Cycle II. Key areas of investment include:
- €35.9m for enhancing systems of teaching and learning
- €20.7m for extending research capacity in line with the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation
- €15.7m for lifelong learning and up-skilling
- €13m for institutional restructuring
- €11.8m for access for under-represented groups
Funding was approved after assessment by an international panel of experts in December and there was controversy over the Minister's delay in making today's announcement.
University and college heads were particularly aggrieved at the speed at which they were forced to meet the deadline for submissions last October.
SIF Cycle II funding (listed according to lead Institution)
Athlone Institute of Technology:€238,000
Cork Institute of Technology:€4,205,000
Dublin City University:€21,640,000
Dublin Institute of Technology:€4,385,000
Dundalk Institute of Technology:€1,988,000
Galway / Mayo Institute of Technology:€2,049,000
Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown:€515,000
Institute of Technology, Carlow:€2,039,000
Institutes of Technology Sector facilitated by Institutes of Technology Ireland:€9,961,000
University Sector facilitated by the Irish Universities Association:€5,459,000
Letterkenny Institute of Technology:€893,000
Limerick Institute of Technology:€878,000
National University of Ireland, Galway:€824,000
NUI Maynooth:€320,000
Trinity College Dublin:€7,029,000
University College Cork:€5,013,000
University College Dublin :€15,276,000
University of Limerick:€12,500,000
Waterford Institute of Technology:€1,903,000