



Connacht-Ulster
Alliance
The new Technological University (TU) for the West and North-West of Ireland will be one of the largest multi-campus universities on the island, bringing together students, enterprise and communities spanning a unique geographical region in transition. The region offers a high level of cultural, artistic and outdoor activities providing an excellent quality of life for its inhabitants.
The TU will be a leader in the provision of access to Higher Education by offering programmes from pre-degree to doctoral level on campus, online or as remote learning. As a TU, we will deepen collaborative partnerships with Further and Higher Education institutions and organisations in the public and private sectors. As one entity, the new distinctive TU will act in a coherent manner supporting the needs of enterprises, especially SMEs, across the region through collaborative research and enabling technology transfer to support economic and social prosperity. It will provide research-informed teaching and access to emerging technologies for all learners.
The TU will have the critical mass and academic depth to attract, educate, nurture and retain talent in the West, North-West and cross-border region and will strengthen and benefit our region socially, economically and culturally. As a TU of scale, quality and impact we will have greater capacity for collaboration with international partners and our graduates will have excellent employment potential nationally and internationally.
The Connacht-Ulster Alliance (CUA) of GMIT, LYIT and IT Sligo formally submitted its application to become a TU in May 2021. Following an international evaluation process the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, TD, formally approved the CUA for designation as a TU in October 2021. The three Presidents welcome the Minister’s announcement and look forward to operating as a multi-campus university in early 2022.
NEWS
Minister Harris designates first President of the Atlantic Technological University
First Governing Body appointed to Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
NEWEST TU NAME UNVEILED – ATLANTIC TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
CUA PRESIDENTS WELCOME MINISTERIAL APPROVAL FOR TU DESIGNATION
A new university for the West and North-West, a step closer
CUA Webinar “Scaling Your Business in a Hybrid-Working World – Working Locally, Trading Globally”
CUA institutes awarded Athena SWAN Bronze
CUA institutes assist in roll out of vaccine to people in west and north west
SLIGO WOMAN WINS EMPOWER START PITCH COMPETITION
Multimillion Euro Development at IT Sligo gets Go-ahead
CONNACHT-ULSTER ALLIANCE (GMIT, IT SLIGO AND LYIT) INNOVATION CENTRES ALLOCATED ALMOST €500,000
CUA ALLOCATED €5.7M UNDER TRANSFORMATION FUNDING FOR TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITIES
Connacht-Ulster Alliance institutes to collaborate on 6 HCI funded projects to help develop and transform education landscape
Presidents Meet Face-to-Face as Preparations to become a TU Step Up
Inaugural meeting of Joint CUA Governing Body Sub-Committee
Women’s Entrepreneurship Empower Programme To Roll Out Across the West & North-West from June
Dr Seán Duffy Appointed Connacht-Ulster Alliance (CUA) Executive Project Lead
CUA awarded €2.84m under new education fund to develop new flexible learning options in west & northwest
Women’s entrepreneurship programme delivered in GMIT iHubs to be rolled out to three more counties
Connacht Ulster Alliance Presidents Welcome €90 Million For Technological Universities
Connacht-Ulster Alliance (CUA) to formally apply for Technological University (TU) designation next year (2020)
Connacht Ulster Alliance Research Symposium a resounding success
CUA welcomes external advisers to support its flexible learning and digital capability project
OUR JOURNEY
Milestones
CUA receive formal approval for designation as a TU
CUA Apply for TU Designation
CUA Governing Bodies meet
TURN report published
€90m Government allocation for TU development
Technological Universities Act 2018
Project Ireland 2040
TU Bill, 2015
CUA passes Stage 1 for re-designation as a TU
CUA submits Expression of Interest
Ireland is the ‘fastest-growing euro area economy’
Formation of the Connacht-Ulster Alliance (CUA)
National Strategy for Higher Education 2030
The Bailout
Eurozone Crisis
The Institutes of Technology Act, 2006
National Framework of Qualifications launched
Ireland launches the Euro
Institutes of Technology responsible for own quality AND delegated authority
Ireland ranked among the world’s wealthiest nations
RTC’s become Institutes of Technology
Irish living standards at 90% of EU average
Irish Exports at 90% GDP
RTCs now autonomous Independent institutions
Irish living standards at 65% of EU average
RTC’s Award the first PhD
Irish Exports at 56% GDP
Ireland referred to as the ‘sick man of Europe’
RTCs deliver first Bachelor’s level programmes
Ireland joins the EEC; Irish exports at 37% of GDP
Ireland decimalised its currency
Establishment of RTC’s




