Colleges vying for tech university status lack sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff

All four groups of colleges hoping to become technological universities are significantly short of the level of staff qualifications they need to be successful.

Figures compiled by the Higher Education Authority show that barely half the required number of staff at the 13 institutes of technology involved in prospective applications are appropriately qualified.

Under the strict criteria the authority published last month, at least 45% of full-time academic staff in applicant colleges will have to have a PhD qualification for technological university status to be granted.