Decision on IT’s university status expected soon

A DECISION on Waterford Institute of Technology’s application for university status is expected shortly.

Uncertainty over the progress of the venture has reportedly fuelled concerns about development in the south-east. The independent assessor appointed by the Government to examine the university application has, however, visited the institute.

A report is due in the near future.

It is anticipated that if the assessor recommends Waterford’s upgrade, it would be rubber-stamped by the new government.

“There’s been a lot of support for the issue in the manifestos of all parties,” said WIT’s strategy director Derek O’Byrne yesterday.

Having a university in the south-east would act as an engine for growth in the region, Mr O’Byrne said, and would help attract employers who could count on a high calibre of third level and fourth level graduates.

The WIT issue emerged at a business conference organised by Waterford Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber’s chief executive Monica Leech said that granting the IT university status was no longer a local issue but one that could impact on the entire country’s economic prosperity.

“Research shows that, for every 100 university jobs in the city, a further 99 are created in the wider economy and that, for every €20 million spent by a university in the south-east, an additional €30.4m of output would be generated in other sectors of the economy.”

Many speakers from the business and education worlds at the conference made reference to the importance of having a university in the south-east. Friends First economist Jim Power said that there was a tangible desire for economic change.

“I am certain that a university will be the ultimate catalyst for that change,” he said. “But the longer a decision is delayed, the longer it will take for the region to reverse its fortunes and benefit from the major infrastructure projects which are currently underway.”

The conference, whose theme was Seizing the Gateway Opportunity, heard leadership and unity were needed in the region to help stimulate growth. “Are we going to have to wait until 2013 before the south-east benefits from the Government’s promises on education,” asked Ms Leech. “National Development Plan commitments seem to have been forgotten amid all the election campaign hype but the business community wants a university and this has fast become another key election issue.”

Transport Minister Martin Cullen also addressed the conference and insisted the Waterford IT upgrade campaign had gone “extremely well”. He believed the independent assessor Dr Jim Port had a “very positive view” of the situation at the institute.