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.