Quinn moves on college restructuring

COLLEGES could be invited to apply to become technological universities by the end of the summer, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn will indicate in a key higher education speech this morning.

In his first major policy statement on third-level education since taking office in March, Mr Quinn will address one of the most significant restructuring proposals for the sector put forward by an expert group chaired by economist Colin Hunt.

It proposed the creation of a technological university sector through the merger of a number of the 14 institutes of technology (IoTs) as part of a major overhaul of Irish higher education.