ATLANTIC Technological University will receive €2,660,000 as part of a support package for regional campuses which will be launched today by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD during his visit to Donegal.
The new Distributed Campus Support Fund, worth €4.5 million, has been established to support higher education institutions (HEIs) with multi-campuses primarily in the Technological University sector.
Minister Harris will officially launch this fund in ATU Donegal’s Killybegs campus this morning. The Minister will also visit ATU Letterkenny this afternoon to officially open a new Biomass Heat Centre.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said: “This new funding strengthens and supports campuses dispersed in our regions.
“This ensures that HEIs that have multiple campuses can boost and maximise the impact of their campuses in the regions.
“Dispersed campuses often have higher costs associated with delivering education. This funding ensures that regional higher education campuses like those in Thurles or Killybegs are supported in recognition of the fact they are regionally dispersed.
“With this extra investment we are guaranteeing that the same level and quality of education and service is being provided in regional campuses as anywhere else.
“Crucially this new funding delivers more balanced regional development, a key Government objective, with high quality and state of the art campuses,” said Minister Harris.
“It shouldn’t be that all roads lead to the big city when it comes to education. The actions I am taking with my Department, commit to the delivery of an excellent level of education across Ireland.
“Our higher education institutions are drivers of regional and economic development.
“This new fund will be key to supporting our institutions and sustaining their dispersed campuses, helping them to deliver on their mandates to develop knowledge and skills, promote innovation and collaboration, and to foster social inclusion across the regions.”
The other institutions to benefit from the funding include Munster Technological University; Technological University of the Shannon; South East Technological University; University of Galway and Mary Immaculate College.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)