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The country’s newest technological university is on course to be established next year with the merger of IT Carlow and Waterford IT.
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris announced that an application to establish a technological university for the south-east will be established in 2022.
Students graduating in the current academic year will be the first to do so in the region with locally sourced university qualifications.
“This is a really exciting day for higher education in the south-east region, signalling the establishment next year of a multi-campus university presence across the region,” Mr Harris said.
“After years of debate, the establishment of this new technological university will become a reality next year, and the south east can look forward to it increasing higher education access, driving enhanced regional development and increasing opportunities for students, staff, business and enterprise, and local communities across Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford.”
An application for technological university status was made by IT Carlow and WIT – known as the Technological University for the South East Ireland consortium – in April of this year.

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris announced that an application to establish a technological university for the south-east will be established in 2022. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill


The application has since been assessed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and an international advisory panel.
Mr Harris said the HEA will now seek to finalise remaining operational elements in line with the advice of the advisory panel in preparation for establishment next year.
Dr Alan Wall, chief executive of the HEA said he greatly welcomed the progress made by IT Carlow and WIT towards technological university status.
“We look forward to working with both institutions towards their designation as technological university in 2022,” he said.
The Department of Further and Higher Education will shortly be inviting expressions of interest for the roles of chairperson and two external members of what should become the first governing body of the new institution.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD said the university will make it easier for the IDA to secure foreign direct investment for the region and is sure to become an incubator for new Irish businesses, which will become major employers in their own right.
“University of Limerick had a transformative effect on the city and mid-west region. I believe the same can happen now in Waterford and the south-east,” he said.
Mr Harris added that investment in this new university will continue with a new campus in Wexford and larger campus in Waterford.
“The footprint of this TU will be felt right across the region,” he said.
The Minister confirmed the decision at a meeting with the south-east Oireachtas representatives on Tuesday afternoon.
Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne said it was a “hugely significant and long-awaited step” forward for the region.
“We now need to grow the multi-campus university so that it can further serve the South East as well as contributing to solving national and global challenges,” he said.
He also praised the work of the presidents, governing bodies, staff and students at Carlow IT and WIT in “achieving this wonderful result”.
The move to create technological universities is part of what the Government describes as a “radical shift” in the higher education landscape.
It says technological universities have greater critical mass and capacity to meet local skills and build international links.
They will continue to offer a range of qualifications ranging from apprenticeships to PhDs.
There have, however, been concerns expressed among some staff over employees’ terms and conditions , while some in the university sector fear it will dilute available funding for research.
TU Dublin was the first to be created in recent years, followed by Munster Technological University and the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest.
The Government confirmed last week that a technological university for the west and northwest is also on course to be established early next year.
It follows an application from the Galway-Mayo, Sligo and Letterkenny institutes of technology to come together to gain university status.