Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

The national strategy for higher education to 2030 lays out a clear development pathway for amalgamated institutes of technology which meet specified performance criteria to seek redesignation as universities. A small number of new technological universities, with their own legislative framework and a distinct mission that is faithful to the ethos of the technological sector, working with existing universities, institutes of technology and other education providers, can enrich the quality of the higher education landscape. I have asked the Higher Education Authority for its formal advice on draft performance criteria and it is engaged in a consultation process in this regard. I expect to be in a position to publish the criteria before the end of December. Once a process is in place, it will be open to institutes of technology to come together to make applications for consideration for redesignation. All applications will be considered as part of an independent assessment process.

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