Minister for Education and Skills, Mr. Richard Bruton, T.D. has appointed Mr. Lionel Alexander as Chairperson of the Governing Body of the Institute of Technology, Tralee with effect from today, 22 September 2016.

Mr. Alexander has been selected by the Minister having come through the process run by the Public Appointments Service.

The appointment is for a period of five years.

Minister Bruton said: “Last week I launched the Action Plan for Education 2016 – 2019 with the stated ambition to make the Irish Education and Training system the best in Europe over the next decade.  This is an ambitious sector-wide reform programme based on the key principles of access, excellence, transparency and innovation.  I want to ensure that the higher education system equips people with the knowledge and skills necessary to live fulfilled and rewarding lives, and to meet the social and economic challenges facing Ireland."

The Minister continued, "in addition, I will soon be mapping out a multi-year vision for the future of this crucial sector which will see the development of a new Systems Performance Framework for Higher Education for the period to 2021."

"This appointment comes at a very exciting time for IT Tralee who are at the forefront of significant changes in the Higher Education sector.  IT Tralee are involved in a consortium with Cork Institution of Technology with a view to becoming the Munster Technological University (MTU). The Programme for Government details our commitment to support the creation of Technological Universities. We strongly believe that the development of technological universities has the potential to deliver greater opportunity to students in these regions, to staff working in the institutions, and to the broader local economy and society.  Indeed, by creating institutions of greater scale and strength, high quality multi-campus technological universities will be able to bring greater social and economic benefits to their respective regions through the delivery of a broad range of high quality education and training in each of their campuses.  These regional institutions will have greater links to industry and will have an enormous impact on our capacity to create and retain jobs in regions." 

"Dedicated funding of €1.2Million has been provided by the HEA to the consortium in 2016 to underpin the next phase of engagement." 

The Minister concluded by saying, "I firmly believe that the knowledge and capability which Mr. Alexander can bring to this appointment will ensure that IT Tralee can deliver on all of its objectives.” The Minister wished Mr. Alexander well in his new and important role”.