Students want say in creation of universities

The announcement by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, of the Government’s ‘sign-off’ on the creation of three technological universities is welcome.

This provides us with an opportunity to create three world-class universities that have the ethos of an institute of technology. Student input into their creation will be critical.

The technological universities should more effectively deliver the needs of students and should not just be a cost-cutting exercise dressed up as reform. The DIT students’ union — along with its equivalents in the other institutes of technology — looks forward to engaging intensively with the Government, and the institutes, in ensuring the new universities — in terms of courses and facilities — will be of the highest quality.