Technological University Dublin

Technological University Dublin (Irish: Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath) or TU Dublin[5] is Ireland's first technological university, established on 1 January 2019, taking over all functions and operations of the three preceding institutions.[3][6][7]

Technological University Dublin
Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath
Other name
TU Dublin
Former names
Dublin Institute of Technology
Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown
Institute of Technology, Tallaght
MottoInfinite Possibilities; Féidearthachtaí as Cuimse
TypePublic university
Established1887 – foundation of City of Dublin Technical Schools
1 January 2019 – foundation of amalgamated university[1]
FounderArnold Felix Graves
PresidentProfessor David FitzPatrick[2]
Students28,500[3]
Location
Grangegorman (Hub),[4]
Blanchardstown, Tallaght
(all located in the Dublin Region), Ireland
CampusUrban, multiple
Websitetudublin.ie

The university was formed by the amalgamation of three existing institutes of technology in the Dublin area – Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, and Institute of Technology, Tallaght,[4] and it is the second-largest third-level institution in Ireland based on student population of 28,500, behind University College Dublin.[3] It is the eighth university in Ireland, and the fourth in the Dublin Region, following Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and Dublin City University.[8]

The institution's history stretches back to 1887, with the establishment of the first technical education institution in Ireland, the City of Dublin Technical Schools.

Professor David FitzPatrick is the inaugural president of TU Dublin.[2]

History

City of Dublin Technical Schools

TU Dublin has its origins in the City of Dublin Technical Schools, with a Technical College founded at Kevin Street[9] in 1887 by poet, songwriter and novelist Arnold Felix Graves.

Amalgamation of Institutes of Technology

In 2014, the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown (ITB) and Institute of Technology, Tallaght (ITT) jointly entered into a formal process to merge into a university.[10][11] At the time, following the "Institutes of Technology Act of 2006",[12] there were fourteen IT's in Ireland, and a political appetite[13] emerged to amalgamate several to form a more advanced third-level institution, known as a technological university,[14] similar to that of Delft and other technological universities in Europe.[15]

The Dublin bid, proposed by the three institutes, eventually coalesced in 2014 to seek designation as a technological university under the project title "Technological University for Dublin Alliance" / "TU4Dublin".[5][14][16] A final application was submitted in April 2018, following the signing into law by President Michael D. Higgins of the "Technological Universities Act 2018".[17]

The formation of the Technological University of Dublin was approved in July 2018, and the university was formally established on 1 January 2019,[6][7] on which date the preceding institutions were dissolved.[18]

In April 2019, TU Dublin sold its Kevin Street campus to York Capital and Westridge Real Estate for €140 million.[19]

In March 2020, TU Dublin put the Aungier Street campus up for sale.[20]

Facilities

The university consists of three main campuses, located in Grangegorman ("City Campus"), Blanchardstown, and Tallaght - the campuses previously of DIT, ITB, and ITT respectively, the institutes which have amalgamated.[5][3] The Grangegorman campus will complete ongoing relocation of activities at Kevin Street and Cathal Brugha Street, expanding its capacity to 10,000 students, while development is planned for the other two campuses during the formative years of the university.[21]

According to then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, the new university will have an "entrepreneurial ethos", and offer degrees and programmes ranging from Level 6 to Level 10 in the National Framework of Qualifications.[22] While having an emphasis on computer science and STEM subjects, given its status as a technological university, the then Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton stated that the university would aim to sit at "convergence of the arts, business, science and technology".[22]

European University of Technology

The Technological University Dublin is one of the eight holders of the European University of Technology, EUt+[23] with the Technical University of Sofia (Bulgaria), the Cyprus University of Technology (Cyprus), the Hochschule Darmstadt, University of Applied Sciences (Germany), the Technological University Dublin (Ireland), the Riga Technical University (Latvia), the Polytechnic University of Cartagena (Spain), the University of Technology of Troyes (France) and the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (Romania). The European University of Technology, EUt+ is the result of the alliance of eight European partners who share a common vision.

Innovation

The Grangegorman campus includes the Greenway Hub, which is a "state-of-the-art facility for research and innovation that has been developed on the new TU Dublin campus at Grangegorman". It is home to the Environmental, Sustainability and Health Institute (ESHI) and to DIT Hothouse.[24]

Students' Union

The Technological University Dublin Students' Union (TU Dublin SU) was established by referendum in February 2019 as the amalgamation of DIT Students' Union, IT Tallaght Student Union and Institute of Technology Blanchardstown Student Union.[25]

The TU Dublin Students Union began operating on 1 July 2019.

Other Technological Universities

In January 2021, IT Tralee is due to merge with Cork IT to become Munster Technological University.[26][27][28]

Similar institutions are planned in the south-east (TUSE), mid-west/midlands (Limerick IT/Athlone IT) and north-west (Connacht-Ulster Alliance).[29][30][31]

References
  1. "TU Dublin Partners Named Sunday Times Good University Guide Institutes of the Year". DIT.ie. 5 November 2018. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  2. "Head of newest university appointed". 20 December 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  3. O'Brien, Carl (17 July 2018). "Dublin colleges to merge into technological university in January". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  4. O'Kelly, Emma (17 July 2018). "Approval to be given for Ireland's first technological university". RTÉ.ie. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  5. "A New University for a Changing World". TU4Dublin.ie. Technological University for Dublin. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  6. "Announcement by An Taoiseach". Dublin Institute of Technology. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018 – via facebook.com.
  7. "Application for designation as Ireland's first Technological University has been successful!". facebook.com. Dublin Institute of Technology. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  8. Kennedy, John (17 July 2018). "Dublin set to get a brand new technological university". SiliconRepublic.com. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  9. Lisa Cassidy. "Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street, Dublin 8". Built Dublin. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  10. Traynor, Cian (16 February 2014). "Institutes or technical universities?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  11. "The transforming landscape of higher education in Ireland". Public Affairs Ireland. 4 April 2014.
  12. "Institutes of Technology Act of 2006". IrishStatuteBook.ie. Office of the Attorney General. 16 July 2006. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  13. O'Brien, Carl (24 January 2018). "Technological universities a step closer following passage of Bill". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  14. McGuire, Peter (15 March 2016). "Technological universities: are they really such a good idea ?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  15. Smyth, Patrick (19 November 2017). "Varadkar wants Irish college to be part of 'European university'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  16. DIT seeks an upgrading to university – Latest News, Education, Independent.ie, 20 October 2006, retrieved 13 September 2010
  17. "Technological Universities Act 2018". IrishStatuteBook.ie. Office of the Attorney General. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  18. Oireachtas, Houses of the. "Technological Universities Act, 2018" (PDF). Oireachtas.ie. Houses of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  19. Quinlan, Ronald. "DIT's Kevin Street campus on 3.57 acres sells for €140m". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  20. "TU Dublin Aungier Street campus up for sale". 2020-03-04. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  21. "An Taoiseach announces Ireland's first Technological University". DIT.ie. Dublin Institute of Technology. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  22. O'Mahony, Eleanor (17 July 2018). "In Dublin, Ireland's First Technological University Launched". UniversityTimes.ie. The University Times. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  23. https://www.univ-tech.eu/
  24. "DIT Dublin Institute of Technology - Greenway Hub". www.dit.ie. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  25. O'Mahony, Eleanor; Marren, Aisling (21 February 2019). "Constitution for Ireland's Newest Students' Union Passes Overwhelmingly". UniversityTimes.ie. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019.
  26. Graham, Breda. "Second university announced for Cork with green light given to CIT and IT Tralee consortium". EchoLive.ie. Archived from the original on 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  27. Casey, Jess (2020-05-26). "New technological university for Munster this week as greenlight expected for IT merger". IrishExaminer.ie. Archived from the original on 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  28. Roche, Barry (2020-05-26). "Taoiseach confirms creation of new Munster Technological University". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  29. Marren, Aisling (12 October 2018). "HEA Invests €800,000 in Four Institutes of Technology". The University Times. Trinity College Dublin. Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  30. Walsh, Fintan (15 October 2019). "Limerick Institute of Technology to form technological university consortium with Athlone IT". LimerickLeader.ie. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  31. "Limerick and Athlone ITs to form Technological University". RTÉ.ie. 15 October 2019. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.

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