Southeast colleges leaders willing to resume merger talks

Senior figures at two third-level colleges in the southeast have given positive soundings about the prospect of restarting talks on a university for the region, despite serious problems highlighted in a plan.

The Kelly report on the process to get Institute of Technology Carlow (ITC) and Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) re-engaged in merger talks with a view to apply for technological university (TU) status is particularly critical of the larger college’s position.

Waterford had been blamed for the inability to get the parties around a table by Michael Kelly, who has recommended a stepping-stone process that will require patience and financial backing, but could eventually lead to a successful TU bid if the colleges agree to merge.

WIT president Willie Donnelly said it will engage with colleagues at ITC on the proposed process of facilitation recommended and supported by Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan.

The presidents and governing body chairs of both colleges met Ms O’Sullivan, Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin, and senior Department of Education and Higher Education Authority officials to discuss Mr Kelly’s report last week.

Despite previous views within WIT that it would be better off applying for TU status on its own — which led to its suspension from merger talks last October — it appears senior bosses are at least willing to sit down and discuss the situation.

“Any merger of institutes must come in the context of a shared vision of a technological university, the merging institutes’ ability to deliver on that vision and their commitment to the creation of a new entity which will be a credible university of international standing,” said Prof Donnelly, who succeeded Ruaidhrí Neavyn in April.

ITC president Patricia Mulcahy said Mr Kelly’s report, and particularly the views of regional stakeholders he had heard, confirms her conviction of how critical the project is.

While the question of engagement with longer-term processes he recommends would be a matter for the college’s governing body, she said it is already committed to the kind of initial facilitation he has proposed.

Mr Kelly suggests an independently chaired project steering group be appointed, along with a joint project team of six to eight staff members working full-time through to the point of TU status being approved.

He also recommends a regional stakeholder forum be set up, based on strong views on the need for a university in the region to boost the region’s economic and social progress. Ibec South East said business has a huge level of interest in the success of the project.

However, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland sounded a warning that members remain opposed to any forced mergers that might not lead to TU status. It also said significant extra funding is needed if the process is to have any chance of success.