Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

42. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the mission of technological universities is to drive regional development and jobs growth and meet the skills needs of the regions. [14280/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Technological Universities Act 2018 is a transformative piece of legislation and I am very pleased that it is now enacted. The TU Act underpins the development of a new type of higher education institution, building on the strengths and mission of institutes of technology to develop world class technological universities.

The mission and vision for each of the individual proposed technological universities will be developed by the consortia of Institutes of Technology who are engaged with the process seeking to become designated as Technological Universities.  This will be done in consultation with stakeholders, including staff and students, and the mission and vision will be contained in the implementation plans subsequently developed.

Technological Universities will be able to deliver a range of disciplines and levels of qualification, including apprenticeships, to meet the skills needs of the regions in which they are situated, and importantly, retain talent in the regions.

Along with their mission to develop our human resources to ensure that vital skills are available to make the most of economic and employment opportunities, the Technological Universities will engage in research and innovation, all of which are key to economic development and jobs growth in the regions.

The new Technological Universities will each have a strong regional mission to support development and innovation in line with the Government’s Project Ireland 2040.  I think that this represents an enormous opportunity for the regions in which the TUs are located and has the potential to be a driver of regional development and to retain jobs in regions.

Technological Universities will be institutions of scale and increased capacity to compete regionally, nationally and internationally.  They will have a strong role to play in facilitating lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling to support career development for citizens throughout their lives.  Their scale and coherent branding will enable them to increase their internationalisation activities including attracting more international students and increasing mobility opportunities for Irish students and staff.  

They will create the capacity for greater engagement with local enterprises, particularly Small and Medium Enterprises and will support innovation, management upskilling and internationalisation of companies.

They will be able to undertake globally significant research and innovation that supports competitiveness and nurtures new business ideas; creating a regional research capacity.  They will be a key selling point in the attraction, retention and development of Foreign Direct Investment in the regions.  

They will build on the existing mission of the Institutes of Technology and have a greater capacity for social and community engagements that can include placements, research and innovation, work with schools, cultural and sporting activities.