The Connacht-Ulster Alliance – which is made up of GMIT, LYIT and IT Sligo – was officially launched by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny in July.
Achieving designation as a Technological University will ensure that the region maintains a high standard of education provision within a soon-to-be restructured national higher education landscape. It will also provide stimulus for economic and social growth, the TDs and Senators were told at the briefing.
A decision will soon be taken by the Higher Education Authority and Government about which Institutes of Technology can go forward to work towards Technological University re-designation. Provision for the establishment of small number of Technological Universities is provided in the Government’s National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030.
![: Tony McLaughlin TD, Senator Imelda Henry, Professor Terri Scott, President of IT Sligo, Senator Michael Comiskey, Senaor Susan O’Keeffe and Senator Marc MacSharry at the Oireachtas Briefing in Dublin.](https://www.itsligo.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/SligoNLeitrim.jpg)
Tony McLaughlin TD, Senator Imelda Henry, Professor Terri Scott, President of IT Sligo, Senator Michael Comiskey, Senator Susan O’Keeffe and Senator Marc MacSharry at the Oireachtas Briefing in Dublin.
![Paul Hannigan, President of LYIT; Senator Pearse Doherty; Henry Garvey, Chair of LYIT Governing Body; Deputy Charlie McConalogue; and Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn at the Oireachtas Briefing in Dublin about the ambitions of the Connacht-Ulster Alliance to achieve designation as a Technological University.](https://www.itsligo.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Donegal.jpg)
Paul Hannigan, President of LYIT; Pearse Doherty TD; Henry Garvey, Chair of LYIT Governing Body; Deputy Charlie McConalogue; and Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn at the Oireachtas Briefing in Dublin about the ambitions of the Connacht-Ulster Alliance to achieve designation as a Technological University.
![Michael Carmody, President of GMIT; Deputy Noel Grealish; Des Mahon, Chair of GMIT Governing Body; Senator Michael Comiskey; Deputy Dara Calleary; and Deputy Frank Feighan.](https://www.itsligo.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ConnachtUlsterAlliance-17.jpg)
Michael Carmody, President of GMIT; Deputy Noel Grealish; Des Mahon, Chair of GMIT Governing Body; Senator Michael Comiskey; Deputy Dara Calleary; and Deputy Frank Feighan.