Waterford and Carlow institutes could resume talks about university bid

Efforts to get the institutes of technology in Waterford and Carlow back in talks about a joint technological university application could still be successful, the head of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) has said.

But Tom Boland told TDs and senators the reason why two or more institutions must merge before technological university (TU) status can be sought related to quality and scale.

The HEA chief executive was responding to questions about the flagging process towards a TU in the South-East. Waterford Institute of Technology withdrew from merger talks last October, believing it stands a better chance of meeting the TU criteria without amalgamating with IT Carlow, but has been told it must follow the path set out by the HEA in 2012 that includes colleges merging first.

Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan asked former HEA chairman Michael Kelly before Christmas to talk to management and staff at both colleges, and she expects a report by the end of March.

Mr Boland said he is hopeful of an outcome that can bring the two institutes together. “We’re all very aware, because it’s been terribly public, of the difficulties that the institutions are experiencing there. I certainly think that the work Mr Kelly is doing is worth doing,” he told the Oireachtas education committee.

“I think there’s great potential for those two institutes to become a technological university and I think it’s worth exploring in a good deal more detail before people reach any conclusion that it can’t happen,” Mr Boland said.

Four institutes of technology in Dublin plan to merge soon and to apply for TU status.