University status will ‘rock region’
In his strongest statement to date on the issue, Professor Byrne appealed to more than 200 business leaders and decision makers — gathered for a conference in Waterford — to make achieving university status for the growing college their key priority.
“University status will rock the region. It will rock other regions. Not only will it be the cutting edge, but the glue that will hold the region together in terms of sustained economic development,” Prof Byrne said.
“The spatial spill of universities, where they are founded and when they are founded, is a proven success story the world over. Rocket science it ain’t.”
“When I go to the board rooms of the multinationals and seek strategic alliances of major universities, they ask me, ‘Is your organisation a university?’
“I have to say no, but, but it may be, it could be and I am into the maybe and yet kind of discussion,” added the college director.
“They don’t have a lot of space in corporate boardrooms for that kind of language. I have to say, in reality, we are a university, but we do not have the name.
“Can you imagine trying to do business on that basis?
“This is a matter for political and regional leadership. Those who have the power to devise must devise in favour of this region to give it the opportunity, the chance, and the dynamic to free up the energy so that we can help ourselves,” Professor Byrne told the ‘Invest in Waterford’ conference at the Clonea Strand Hotel.
His pleas for university status were echoed by Riverdeep chief executive Barry O’Callaghan who said it was ‘Economics 101’ that a university for the south-east would act as an economic driver.
Friends First chief executive Jim Power said it would be a huge boost for the region, attracting high-end employers, boosting its appeal as an investment hub, and a place to live, and fostering growth in the region.
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