Waterford University discussion

Can anyone tell me what's going on with the Carriganore site?

Words fail me.

The most glaring example in Ireland, ever, of political interference and incompetent government planning. A textbook example of how to financially starve and grotesquely undermine a fine third level institution and the educational aspirations of the city where it is based. Nothing built there in 20 years. It is fantastically unbelievable. Waiting for a new engineering building since Adam was a boy. More false starts than a kimdergarten egg and spoon race.

Our two government ministers Butler and Cummins are silent. The Shinner dynamic duo (not) that were elected here, Cullinane and McGuinness, are about as useful in opposition as tits on a bull. Ballast. Four bags full!

Even more offensive, the local party hacks talking about the super new Glassworks Building as if it had been funded by SETU or government, when in fact every single cent of it was spent by Frisby Construction.

A other interesting post, which highlights the lack of movement here

As a Clareman commenting, I think that this very sad. Limerick is currently seeing rapid developments taking place in the 2 universities in UL, TUS plus Mary I College and significant new secondary schools. I genuinely don't know why Waterford is being left behind. Is it the attraction of Cork as a rapidly growing city or a weakness in politicians. Cork City with the support of local politicians is receiving a giant share of government funding currently. Ironically, Limerick City imo probably benefitted from the crime wave of a few decades ago as the dereliction and general decay was so obvious that State Bodies plus politicians had no choice but to act. One of the great boosts to Limerick's progress was the amalgamation of the city with the county, a proposal vehemently opposed by politicians including Willie O'Dea. Waterford is not alone in having small time politicians. previous to the amalgamation most of the new developments were taking place outside the city's boundaries at Castletroy, Mungret, Raheen, Crescent Shopping Centre etc. Now the city has money to invest in Limerick 2030 which all going well will transform the city centre. The election of a city mayor for a five year term is also hugely beneficial. I am not writing this to annoy, just wondering if there's any way for interested parties in Waterford to create a forum where progress could be pushed.

We even had former president of UL commenting how Waterford and the South East needs a stand alone university and spoke highly of the transformation in Limerick and the huge impact UL has had on Limerick.

Add to that, countless other independent reports stating the same but yet all ignored for individual political gain, and our politicians smiling along.

The lack of buy in from the neighbouring counties was more damaging, had they rowed in behind WIT as they did with SETU, we would have had a stand alone University here 20 years ago.

Sh#t show of enormous proportions brought to you by Fine Gael. How anyone supports Mr Cummins at this stage is comical.

I was at the Glassworks launch. Emphasised on all sides that the project was built and financed by Frisby Developments.

They are putting up the barriers around the site and bringing in the Portaloo's and site offices this morning so looks like the work is beginning at long last

It's pure vomit looking at Cummins post. How hard they worked to deliver this building, the first building in nearly 25 years and the same building promised in 2009.

just be careful there, johns very busy resolving housing issues, so…..

Starve the dogs and then throw meat into the kennel. Result: A fight which keeps everyone here busy while other regions work away with investment.

This region needs a university alright, to make people think for God's sake.

This poor lad needs to be educated on said buildings. Both buildings going back to WIT/IT Carlow days.

Heck our building is going back as far as 2009, and the IT Carlow building was started pre SETU.

Waterford hasn't seen a new building in nearly 20 years, home to a campus which was performing to University level, the home of the only institute research to a non university and he is complaining about a building which was promised since 2009!

This is the ultimate in house politics which prevented the South East having a stand alone university 10 years ago.

The reality is that the Wexford campus is not a viable, and there is no clear business case to support its continuation. For a decade, it placed a significant financial strain on IT Carlow, which explains the hesitation around expanding or investing in a new campus prior to the merger.

There is the need for a small adult and continuing education centre in Wexford, but full undergraduate programmes are not sustainable. It’s time someone clearly communicated to local politicians that school leavers are seeking a full college experience, something that simply isn’t feasible in a small regional town on a small campus, which the Wexford site will remain even with further investment.

Apart from a small number of students who prefer to stay close to home, most will continue to be drawn to larger, more vibrant campuses. Investing substantial funds into an underperforming campus in Wexford, merely to appease local political ambitions, is not a good use of public resources. That funding would be far better spent enhancing the already strong and growing campuses in Carlow and Waterford.

The latest SE economic report is out, interesting bit on SETU

"In terms of higher education in the region, the report says that brain-drain continues, despite the amalgamation of Carlow and Waterford Institutes of Technology.

In 2023/24, there were 15,070 full-time higher education students from the South East (down from 15,270 in 2022/23), representing 7.3% of the national total – below the region’s 8.9% population share."

https://www.waterford-news.ie/news/south-east-economic-monitor-no-gdp-growth-in-five-years_arid-64393.html

All the chickens coming home to roost over the last 20 years of willful neglect.

Absolutely damning.

Staggering per capita discrepancies.

Life chances of people in this region crippled.

Dublin and Cork fire-hosed with public money. Dripping tap for us.

When you look at the overall TU merger strategy, it’s clear that it is becoming a nationwide failure. The plan was never properly thought through. It originated around 2010, envisioned as a cost-cutting exercise, a was also political compromise designed to appease smaller Institutes of Technology and the existing universities while holding back high-performing ones like WIT and CIT from achieving full university status. In that context, it’s no surprise that student numbers across the TUs are now in decline.

• SETU (formerly WIT and IT Carlow) saw first-year enrolments drop by around 10% in the first full academic year after the merger
• TU Dublin, formed from three Dublin-based ITs, reported a 6% fall in new entrants
• Other TUs across Ireland have experienced similar declines of 4–5%, following the same pattern

Links

• University World News TheJournal.ie

Why is this happening? In my view, several key factors are driving the downturn.

Loss of Legacy Brands

Decades-old institutions with strong local identities and brand recognition were suddenly rebranded or replaced. This abrupt change disrupted the trust and familiarity built over more than 50 years. Faced with uncertainty about what these new organisations represented, many students and families opted for what they saw as more stable and established alternatives.

Course Restructuring & Funding Gaps

Campuses have undergone significant internal restructuring, which has been costly in terms of both funding and the time and expertise of staff. Meanwhile, traditional universities have received increased public investment to develop new programmes and have focused aggressively on student recruitment effectively capitalising on the uncertainty, while TUs struggle to establish new structures and direction.

Financial Pressure

The mergers failed to resolve pre-existing financial challenges in many cases, they made them worse. TU Dublin, for instance, reported an €8.6 million deficit directly linked to declining enrolments.

Munster Technological University (MTU) required €5 million in emergency state funding to support its Tralee campus University World News

Implementing these mergers has also come at a significant cost, requiring substantial investment of money, staff time, and institutional expertise. As a result, attention and staff has been diverted away from core priorities like student recruitment and retention.

WIT had the track record, the student numbers, the research output, and the momentum to stand on its own as a university. Instead, we were folded into a political project that has diluted our identity, stalled progress, and driven students elsewhere. The South East was told this merger would be transformative but so far, it feels more like a step backward.