Waterford University discussion

invara

Sorry link should work now- http://www.senser.ie/

azimuth17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123637045#Comment_123637045

Excellent analysis. The SEEM report is frightening.

Finnbar01

TUs are going the same way as polytechnics in the UK I'm afraid.

invara

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123715566#Comment_123715566

Government TDs across the region promised a gamechanger. SETU needs to double in size to halt the brain drain. The new PPP building stabilises the existing operation but what is needed is transformative investment to grow. They did it in Maynooth between 2007-2015; so the model is pretty simple.

Absent is the political will from Government TDs and electoral consequences of saying 'gamechanger' and doing nothing; and then going 'aw shucks it is really hard and people in Dublin are mean to them'. Same as 24/7, same as the airport.

imacman

More complaining from Wexford about the progress of the Wexford campus

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/wexford-district/wexford-setu-campus-remains-at-design-stage-amid-calls-for-student-accommodation-to-be-included-in-project/a1288786035.html

https://www.southeastradio.ie/wexford-td-george-lawlor-demands-clarity-on-setu-campus-delays/

I’ve been told by someone close to the matter that three new Wexford agriculture courses, launched with much fanfare last year, are now being cancelled due to receiving no CAO applications this year. On top of that, the number of students who actually started in Wexford this year is tiny.

From a financial and strategic perspective, I believe SETU should bite the bullet and shut down the Wexford campus as isn’t financially viable and instead focus on strengthening and developing the Carlow and Waterford campuses. Unfortunately, I doubt this will happen, as local political pressure and deliusons of grandeur from Wexford politicans will likely keep the project alive, even if it means building a new while elephant campus that few students will attend.

914

All Wexford needs to do is look at how Waterford has struggled to get developments in 3rd level despite being the top ranked IoT at the time, couple that with TUs not being able to borrow and they might just realise that the whole TU thing was a shambles.

The fact SETU has the crystal site now and Waterford is the capital of the southeast with private industry developing next door, one would hope that any major develops would and should occur in Waterford, as you say it's hard to see a Wexford campus being justified.

Night time courses, etc, I'm all for it but the cost of developing such for a handful of courses could be Bananas.

azimuth17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123921832#Comment_123921832

I don't support the Wexford idea but the die is cast and they have been told they will get something out of SETU. very hard to row back once the promise has been made. A building will be built there at some stage as has been done in Clonmel and Thurles for example. We should just get on with our own case.

I wish Wexford could be brought onside and convinced of the value of a proper institution in Waterford, which is long established and has successfully given degree level education to thousands of Wexford kids. They won't want to hear it, but the only one who ever made the case was Dr Ray Griffin. I heard him several times on SE Radio trying to lead the horse to water without much success!

imacman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123922136#Comment_123922136

No need for a campus for part-time courses as 90 precent are online now .

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123922425#Comment_123922425

Probably right but they are going to get something, so it should be something part time related or a new ETB aligned with SETU for apprenticeships.

I honestly don't see the justification for a campus other than political.

Both Waterford and Carlow are well established and both are close to other nearby towns in the South East Region so logically it would make sense to further enhance these campuses but unfortunately in Ireland logic often goes out the window when politics is involved.

Deiseen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123925960#Comment_123925960

The right thing would have been full university in Waterford and SETU in Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford.

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123925989#Comment_123925989

I 100% agree and it was the solution that the South East needed but unfortunately that ship has sailed, again due to political interference.

imacman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123926163#Comment_123926163

Yes, that was never really a runner with people like Phil Hogan and Brendan Howlin in positions of power when the TU structure was being developed. There’s also been strong opposition from the existing university sector to any full-scale university in Waterford and unfortunately, Waterford hasn’t had a politician with enough influence to counter that narrative over the past 20 years.

But it’s encouraging to finally see building work on the Cork Road campus and the new Veterinary and Pharmaceutical building approved for the Crystal site. Locating the new Pharmacy, Veterinary, and Home Economics courses in Waterford is the right decision and a long-overdue acknowledgment of the city’s potential.

What’s deeply frustrating, however, is the continued political pandering to Wexford, a county town that simply doesn’t have the population base or infrastructure to sustain a viable full-time university campus. Pouring scarce public funds into a project that’s destined to struggle makes no sense when Carlow and Waterford both have established campuses that need and deserve further investment.

For years, Waterford has been held back by short-sighted political compromises designed to appease local interests rather than strengthen the university as a whole. It’s time to prioritise what’s sustainable and strategic, not what’s politically convenient and stop indulging the delusions of grandeur of the Wexford politicians.

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123928074#Comment_123928074

Have plans been submitted and approved for this, new Veterinary and Pharmaceutical building approved for the Crystal site.

I completely missed that if so.

azimuth17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123928444#Comment_123928444

No. Funding secured to bring project to planning stage

914

Interesting to hear the student concerns, pretty much everything that was raised here prior to the established of TUs

https://www.rte.ie/news/education/2025/1022/1539959-technological-universities/

imacman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123928444#Comment_123928444

Yes still a few years away but that new building is going to happen

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless’ TD announcement today allows SETU and ATU to appoint design teams and to progress plans for their facilities to the planning stage. It marks an important step forward in expanding Ireland’s veterinary education capacity. 

The announcement paves the way for the first major development by the University on the Glassworks site in Waterford City. This facility will house state-of-the-art laboratories, teaching spaces and specialist resources to support delivery of SETU’s new Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (MVB) programme and other One Health related disciplines. 

https://www.setu.ie/news/setu-welcomes-government-approval-of-new-veterinary-schools

And the existing crystal site carparks are to be opened for SETU staff and student use with a new pedestrian entrance to the campus across the road.

Also planning has been approved to refurbish and redevelop the third floor of the main building with construction starting in 2026

https://www.eplanning.ie/WaterfordCCC/AppFileRefDetails/2460778/0

Phase 2 of that project is to build a similar third floor on the back part of that building as new staff offices to cater for the staff that move up from College street when the new building is finished .College street will be taken over by WCFE and all SETU courses moved to the main campus with the granary also closing an architecture going to a specialist floor in the new building

And the main building is also set to receive an insulation wrap and full window replacement as part of an energy-saving project. They completed the same work on the Business Building last year, and now it’s the main building’s turn. After a decade of little to no development on the Waterford campus, it’s great to see it will be a hive of building activity over the coming years

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123930293#Comment_123930293

Thanks for the update