The future of the Tipperary Institute (third level college), which was under threat of closure, now looks reasonably secure.
The Minister for Education Mary Coughlan is expected to make a full statement shortly following a proposal from the newly formed alliance between the Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) and the Tipperary Institute.
The so-called ‘Bord Snip’ report which was compiled by economist Colm McCarthy last year, recommended that this campus, which consists of the Tipperary Institute here in Thurles and in also Clonmel, should be closed down and auctioned off as part of an overall package of national government cost saving measures.
It would appear that the Government will now give their full approval to the proposal, agreed by both third level colleges, to merge under the flag of the Limerick Institute of Technology. This move will create a significantly enlarged Institute of Technology serving counties Limerick, Clare and both Ridings of Tipperary.
The amalgamation once fully agreed, will be is expected to be fully implemented by September 2011.
LIT currently has two campuses in Limerick city with the main campus at Moylish Park and the Limerick School of Art and Design at George’s Quay and Clare Street, in Limerick City.
Under this proposal both Tipperary Campuses will in future be known as LIT Thurles and LIT Clonmel and this alliance will lead to an expanded range of courses and student services in future years.
Student numbers are expected to rise considerably by 2015.
Honours degrees offered by the current Tipperary Institute already cover a wide range of areas from Accounting, Finance and Business to Creative Multimedia and Computer Games Design and Development. The rapidly evolving social and environmental sectors are also well provided for with Degrees in Environmental and Natural Resource Management and Social and Community Studies.
The latest CAO data shows an increase in the number of applications for TI programmes. The main highlight being a 10% increase in the overall number of applications for the TI compared with the same time last year.
New programmes will soon be ready to launch which will cover Smart Sustainable Energy and Digital Animation.
Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan T.D. has already announced that Tipperary Institute is to receive funding for a further 80 new training places for the unemployed under the Labour Market Activation Fund, 2010.
The training places will target the less-skilled, and those formerly employed in declining sectors such as construction, retail and manufacturing, with particular emphasis on those under 35 years of age and the long-term unemployed.
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