The MTU Consortium of Cork Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology Tralee welcome the positive announcement by Ministers McHugh and Mitchell O’Connor following their consideration of the MTU application, the report of the International Advisory Panel and the views of the Board of the Higher Education Authority.  (Minister for Education and Skills proposes decision on establishment of Munster Technological University). The Consortium will address the matters raised by the Panel, jointly with the Department of Education and Skills well within the time frame set out by Ministers McHugh and Mitchell O’Connor. The MTU Consortium also wish to convey their appreciation of the on-going support of both Ministers in the development of the Technological Higher Education in Ireland. There was strong and positive engagement with the four-person panel of eminent international experts over the course of the application process and particularly during the site visits across the MTU campuses in Cork and Kerry.

The Consortium also wishes to thank the combined staff and student bodies of the MTU partners for their on-going input into this project.

The Technological Universities Act 2018 provides a blueprint for the development of a strong THE which will serve industry, enterprise and the community with a strong emphasis on regional development. The government’s recognition of the value of TUs in terms of making Project 2040 a reality in the regions will in itself be key to the successful launch of the MTU in 2020.

The MTU Consortium looks forward to reviewing the recommendations of the Ministerial Advisory Panel and implementing these recommendations in the coming months. We welcome the opportunity to engage intensively with the DES and the HEA on these matters as proposed by the Ministers.