Castlebar will officially become a University town on April 1, 2022, following the announcement this week of the new name for the technological university in the region and its expected starting date, by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD.
Minister Harris announced that the name agreed by the applicant institutes for the new Technological University for the West and North West region being established next year shall be the Atlantic Technological University (Ollscoil Teicheolaíochta an Atlantaigh ), and it is anticipated to open its doors officially on April 1 2022.
The name chosen by the applicant institutes of Galway-Mayo, Sligo and Letterkenny Institutes of Technology follows a comprehensive survey commissioned by the Institutes from external consultants of relevant internal and external stakeholders, including most notably, the students and staff of the three Institutes. This name has the full support of all three governing bodies.
Welcoming the Minister’s announcement, Fine Gael Deputy Alan Dillon said: “This is further confirmation that the Castlebar Campus will serve as a powerhouse for regional development and improving access to higher education. It will drive enhanced regional development and increase opportunities for students, staff, business and enterprise, and local communities in the north west."
Minister Harris said: "I am pleased to be able to announce the name of this, Ireland’s fourth technological university, and that, subject to the relevant legislative processes being completed, the date of establishment of the Atlantic Technological University shall be April 1, 2022. This means that students of the current three Institutes who graduate in this academic year of 2021/2022 and henceforth in the West and North West will do so with university qualifications.”
Commenting on the name, the three CUA Presidents, Dr Orla Flynn (GMIT ), Dr Brendan McCormack (IT Sligo ) and Paul Hannigan (LYIT ), said in a joint statement: "We are delighted that Minister Simon Harris has announced that Atlantic Technological University will be the name for our TU. Our university will significantly contribute to the transformation of the educational landscape of this region, driving innovation, research and development and propelling the region on to an international stage.”
The three institutes – GMIT, LYIT and IT Sligo – situated on the western and northwestern seaboard stretching from North Donegal to South Galway, will see their eight locations become ATU campuses from April 1, 2022.
