Waterford University discussion

I didn't mean it as a bash. Just pointing out the realities, as we have people on here trumpeting its qualities and how it is on equal footing with WIT when its just not the case.

I admire your optimism but I can't see TUSE been a success with scattered campuses across the South East and lack of funding.

Strong but depressing stuff on the TU from the Phoenix this week

https://waterford-news.ie/2021/11/30/phoenix-into-the-abyss/

Completely agree this whole game changer narrative has gone on about all the new TU's. It's sad to see the likes of IBEC and local businesses completely buy into the TU idea with no investigation about how it will work and what actual benefits it will bring. It's like they have all decided that there is no other game in town and we will cross out fingers and hope for the best.

Just on the old waterford crystal site, has it been made to look as dilapidated as possible for some reason, are the owners hoping that the more run down it looks that it will have to be addressed quicker?.

We'll be lucky we don't lose courses let alone gain new ones.

Anyone dusting off the aul CV

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/30410-minister-harris-invites-expressions-of-interest-to-fill-chairperson-and-ordinary-members-positions-on-the-first-governing-body-of-the-new-technological-university-in-the-south-east/

Not sure it will make much of a difference anyway....

"In making nominations, and in line with best practice as set out in the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, it should be noted that it is open to the Minister to consider suitable nominees other than those identified through this process, provided his preferred nominee meets the specified criteria"

More waffle from the Minister, still no talk of actual funding or a plan of how "transformative" this TU will be

Wexford gearing up anyway......

I'd see this as a dig at Waterford

“I know funding for Wexford has been ring-fenced, much to the annoyance of people outside of Wexford who seem to think it’s their divine right to all the money available. But I think it’s important that we see things move along sooner rather than later.”

If it is a dig, it's just proving that TUSE is going to be full of in house fighting

True and the solution is to throw 50 odd million at it and expand it. Only way it works is relocating a school from either Carlow or Waterford and purely aim it at mature students/part time students who may have families and not want to travel.

Good point. Well worth reheating the argument.

Universities have an income of €18k per student, IoTs/TUs are closer to €9k. That additional money is spent on research, enterprise support and better services for students. Based on that WIT and ITCarlow's joint income would rise from the current level of around €125m to €250m, higher education has an economic multiplier of 4.3, so that would give an economic impact of €540m. To be clear- this is money students in Galway, Limerick, Cork and Dublin have spent on them, and students in the SE are deprived of (because of the historical status of their institutions)- they put up with substandard buildings and services.

Universities can borrow to build new buildings (and do, the 7 universities collectively owe €800-900m). IoTs and TUs cannot borrow (and so WIT could not buy the crystal even though it was going for a song in 2012).

Universities have greater freedom to add new programmes. The SE has 40% of the higher ed capacity- around 8k level 8 places, we need 18k-20k places to halt the brain drain. This is mainly by adding new academic fields such as medicine and teacher training- we only have half the CAO choices that other regions have.

There are good jobs without a degree, but the average income of a person without a degree is €47k pa, without a degree is €23k. Two of your examples involve degree equivalent training (most solicitors under 45 have a degree, same with accountants). I remember Ivan Yates speaking to my students a number of years ago- talking up the school of life, one of my students asked him if his children went to college (they did), he got a large friendly jeer from the students.

These are the main reasons. Our higher unemployment rate, lower incomes and job quality, brain drain (and missing generation of 20-45yr olds), lower GDP are why this is an obsession. UL lifted the whole midwest out of poverty, a properly funded university would transform this region in a decade.