John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 238: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she will appoint an eminent international expert on higher education to carry out a preliminary independent examination of the submission by the governing body of Waterford Institute of Technology to have the institute designated as a university; the date by which this report must be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36014/06]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 239: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she received the submission from the governing body of Waterford Institute of Technology to have the institute designated as a university; the reason she does not immediately set up a body of experts under Section 9 of the Universities Act, 1997, to advise on whether WIT should be established as a university; when she plans to establish such a body; the length of time she would expect such a body take to produce its advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36015/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together.

In February 2006 the Governing Body of Waterford Institute of Technology wrote to my Department seeking a review of its status under Section 9 of the Universities Act 1997.

Since this submission was made, the Government has passed significant new legislation in the form of the Institutes of Technology Act 2006. This will now bring our institutes of technology and universities together under a single strategic ambit. It also provides substantial new managerial and academic freedoms for our leading institutes of technology to develop their roles in line with regional needs and strategic ambition.

The new legislation will transform the Irish higher education landscape and needs to inform our consideration of the case being made for university status for Waterford. In order to achieve the best outcome, as a first step, I intend to commission a preliminary independent examination of the submission that the Governing Body has made.

This preliminary independent examination will involve the appointment of an eminent international expert on higher education. The expert will comprehensively analyse the Waterford IT submission, taking account of the wider changing policy context. Once completed, the independent expert report will be used to guide the Government's decision on whether a formal statutory review process should be initiated to consider the application, as required under the Universities Act. I hope to make an appointment shortly.