The Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT; Irish: Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Phort Láirge) was an institute of technology, located in Waterford, Ireland. The institute had six constituent schools and offered programmes in business, engineering, science, health sciences, as well as education & humanities.
At the time of the founding of the RTC, there were two other third-level institutions in the city, St John's Seminary[5] Waterford News and Star which notes the closing of the St John's Seminary in 1999 and De La Salle Brothers teacher training college, but both had been closed.
Waterford politicians made strenuous but unsuccessful efforts to locate a university in Waterford at the time of the formation of the Queen's University of Ireland in the 1840s. The cause was led by Thomas Wyse, Member of Parliament for Waterford City, who was not influential in the House of Commons, having strong Napoleonic links[citation needed] (he married a niece of Napoleon I of France), being a Catholic and leaning towards an independent Ireland.[citation needed]Galway, a much smaller city at the time, won out over Waterford, perhaps because of the necessity for geographical dispersion or to bolster the Irish language. Wyse wrote in the round on the matter in his text "Education reform or the necessity of a national system of education" (London, 1836).
The institute was founded in 1970 as the Regional Technical College, Waterford. Once founded, the regional technical college grew very quickly as a result of the obviously strong regional need for tertiary education. In 1997 the college adopted its present name by order of the Minister for EducationNiamh Bhreathnach, with Dublin Institute of Technology being the only other institution with the "institute of technology" title at the time in Ireland. Following a change of government and enormous political pressure on behalf of other regional technical colleges, especially Cork Regional Technical College, all other regional technical colleges were renamed similarly by Minister for Education Micheál Martin.
Since 2001, the institute had conferred its own awards at all levels from Higher Certificate to PhD, subject to standards set and monitored by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) which was established by the Government in June 2001, under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999.[6] In October 2005 the institute was selected by The Sunday Times newspaper as the "Institute of Technology of the Year" in Ireland.
The institute now has a student population of approximately 6,000 full-time students and 1,000 part-time students. The Staff currently consists of approximately 470 Full-time academic, 300 part-time and 300 support staff.[7]
The institute formally applied in 2006 for university status in accordance with the Universities Act, 1997, and the process of examining the case for redesignation has commenced. In January 2007 Dr Jim Port was engaged by the government to carry out a "preliminary assessment" of the institute's case.[8][9]
Ranking
In 2018, Webometrics placed WIT as the 7th best higher education body in Ireland (out of 32). The institute is also ranked at 10th place by Unirank, and the leading Irish institute of technology (with the exception of DIT, which is now classified as a Technology University).[10]
Campuses
Waterford Institute of Technology campus
The institute has 5 campuses: Cork Road, College Street, Carriganore, the Applied Technology Building and the Granary.[citation needed]
Organisation
The institute is divided into 6 schools and their various departments.
School of Business
Department of Accountancy & Economics
Department of Management & Organisation
Department of Graduate Business Studies
School of Lifelong Learning & Education
Department of Education
Department of Lifelong Learning
School of Engineering
Department of Architecture
Department of the Built Environment
Department of Engineering Technology
School of Health Sciences
Department of Nursing & Health Care
Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Science
School of Humanities
Department of Applied Arts
Department of Creative & Performing Arts
Department of Languages, Tourism & Hospitality Studies
School of Science and Computing
Department of Chemical & Life Sciences
Department of Computing and Maths
Research at WIT
Research Centres
Walton Institute
Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre (PMBRC)
Eco-Innovation Research Centre
Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (formerly MPRG)
South Eastern Applied Material Research (SEAM)
Research Groups
School of Business
Centre for Enterprise Development & Regional Economy
Centre for Management Research in Healthcare & Healthcare Economics
Centre for Newfoundland and Labrador Studies
AIB Centre for Finance and Business Research
Research in Innovation, Knowledge Transfer and Organisational Networks
Waterford Crystal Centre for Marketing Studies
School of Engineering
Advanced Automotive Electronic Control Group
Advanced Manufacturing Technology Research Group
Construction Industry Research & Knowledge Centre
Materials Characterisation and Processing Group
Microelectronics and Systems Research Group
Nanotechnology Research Group
Wireless Communications & Large Scale Simulation Group
Convergent Technologies Research Group
Building Information Modelling Research Group
iBerg
School of Health Sciences
Health Informatics Research Group
Centre for Health Behaviour Research
School of Humanities
Spirituality in Society and the Professions
Centre For Research, Creativity & Innovation in Tourism
Centre for Social and Family Research
Content & Language Integrated Learning Research Group
The institute has been planning a joint application with IT Carlow for the formation of a technological university for the south east region since the mid-2010's.[11][12] A vision document, "Technological University for the South East" (TUSE) was published in 2015, and a memorandum of understanding was signed in 2017.[13] At the launch of TU Dublin in July 2018, the Taoiseach expressed regret that this TUSE bid had not progressed sufficiently following the Technological Universities Act 2018.[14][15]
Approval was announced in November 2021, and the TU will be formally established in May 2022[needs update].[16]
Notable alumni
Arts
Gráinne Mulvey – Irish composer, currently Professor and Head of Composition at the Technological University of Dublin
^"Governing Body - Waterford Institute of Technology". WIT.ie.
^"Office of the President". Retrieved 14 November 2016.
^Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992 (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 199 of 1997). Signed on 7 May 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved 8 March 2021, from Irish Statute Book.
^"Establishment of South East Technological University and its first president is welcomed by Minister Harris". www.gov.ie. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
^On the market: St. John's College sale to fund new pastoral centre Waterford News & Star
^"Technological University for the South East". Waterford IT. 31 May 2013. from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
^"South East Technological University moves Closer to Becoming a Reality". Waterford IT. 3 October 2013. from the original on 17 December 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
^Technological Universities Act 2018 (No. 3 of 2018). Signed on 19 March 2018. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved 18 July 2018, from Irish Statute Book.
^Byrne, Padraig (2 November 2021). "Establishment of Technological University of the South East confirmed for May 2022". Independent.ie.
^Niamh Briggs, rbs6nations.com, accessed 23 March 2013
External links
Official WIT website
Research Groups within WIT
WIT Strategic Plan
WIT Institutional Repository
January 14, 2023
waterford, institute, technology, irish, institiúid, teicneolaíochta, phort, láirge, institute, technology, located, waterford, ireland, institute, constituent, schools, offered, programmes, business, engineering, science, health, sciences, well, education, hu. The Waterford Institute of Technology WIT Irish Institiuid Teicneolaiochta Phort Lairge was an institute of technology located in Waterford Ireland The institute had six constituent schools and offered programmes in business engineering science health sciences as well as education amp humanities Waterford Institute of TechnoInstitiuid Teicneolaiochta Phort LairgeWaterford campus in June 2021Former nameWaterford Regional Technical CollegeMottoFoirfe chun fonaimhMotto in EnglishPerfect to ServeTypePublicActive1970 1970 1 May 2022 2022 05 01 ChairRichard Langford 1 PresidentWilliam Donnelly 2 Academic staff715Administrative staff395Students8 061Undergraduates7 208Postgraduates766Other students1 519AddressCork Road Waterford Munster X91 K0EK IrelandWebsitewww wbr wit wbr ieThe institute opened in 1970 as a Regional Technical College and adopted its name on 7 May 1997 3 Along with the Institute of Technology Carlow the institute was dissolved on 1 May 2022 and was succeeded by the South East Technological University 4 Contents 1 History 2 Ranking 3 Campuses 4 Organisation 5 Research at WIT 5 1 Research Centres 5 2 Research Groups 6 Technological University for the South East 7 Notable alumni 8 See also 9 References 10 External linksHistory EditAt the time of the founding of the RTC there were two other third level institutions in the city St John s Seminary 5 Waterford News and Star which notes the closing of the St John s Seminary in 1999 and De La Salle Brothers teacher training college but both had been closed Waterford politicians made strenuous but unsuccessful efforts to locate a university in Waterford at the time of the formation of the Queen s University of Ireland in the 1840s The cause was led by Thomas Wyse Member of Parliament for Waterford City who was not influential in the House of Commons having strong Napoleonic links citation needed he married a niece of Napoleon I of France being a Catholic and leaning towards an independent Ireland citation needed Galway a much smaller city at the time won out over Waterford perhaps because of the necessity for geographical dispersion or to bolster the Irish language Wyse wrote in the round on the matter in his text Education reform or the necessity of a national system of education London 1836 The institute was founded in 1970 as the Regional Technical College Waterford Once founded the regional technical college grew very quickly as a result of the obviously strong regional need for tertiary education In 1997 the college adopted its present name by order of the Minister for Education Niamh Bhreathnach with Dublin Institute of Technology being the only other institution with the institute of technology title at the time in Ireland Following a change of government and enormous political pressure on behalf of other regional technical colleges especially Cork Regional Technical College all other regional technical colleges were renamed similarly by Minister for Education Micheal Martin Since 2001 the institute had conferred its own awards at all levels from Higher Certificate to PhD subject to standards set and monitored by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council HETAC which was established by the Government in June 2001 under the Qualifications Education and Training Act 1999 6 In October 2005 the institute was selected by The Sunday Times newspaper as the Institute of Technology of the Year in Ireland The institute now has a student population of approximately 6 000 full time students and 1 000 part time students The Staff currently consists of approximately 470 Full time academic 300 part time and 300 support staff 7 The institute formally applied in 2006 for university status in accordance with the Universities Act 1997 and the process of examining the case for redesignation has commenced In January 2007 Dr Jim Port was engaged by the government to carry out a preliminary assessment of the institute s case 8 9 Ranking EditIn 2018 Webometrics placed WIT as the 7th best higher education body in Ireland out of 32 The institute is also ranked at 10th place by Unirank and the leading Irish institute of technology with the exception of DIT which is now classified as a Technology University 10 Campuses Edit Waterford Institute of Technology campus The institute has 5 campuses Cork Road College Street Carriganore the Applied Technology Building and the Granary citation needed Organisation EditThe institute is divided into 6 schools and their various departments School of Business Department of Accountancy amp Economics Department of Management amp Organisation Department of Graduate Business Studies School of Lifelong Learning amp Education Department of Education Department of Lifelong Learning School of Engineering Department of Architecture Department of the Built Environment Department of Engineering Technology School of Health Sciences Department of Nursing amp Health Care Department of Health Sport amp Exercise Science School of Humanities Department of Applied Arts Department of Creative amp Performing Arts Department of Languages Tourism amp Hospitality Studies School of Science and Computing Department of Chemical amp Life Sciences Department of Computing and MathsResearch at WIT Edit Research Centres Edit Walton Institute Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre PMBRC Eco Innovation Research Centre Nutrition Research Centre Ireland formerly MPRG South Eastern Applied Material Research SEAM Research Groups Edit School of Business Centre for Enterprise Development amp Regional Economy Centre for Management Research in Healthcare amp Healthcare Economics Centre for Newfoundland and Labrador Studies AIB Centre for Finance and Business Research Research in Innovation Knowledge Transfer and Organisational Networks Waterford Crystal Centre for Marketing StudiesSchool of Engineering Advanced Automotive Electronic Control Group Advanced Manufacturing Technology Research Group Construction Industry Research amp Knowledge Centre Materials Characterisation and Processing Group Microelectronics and Systems Research Group Nanotechnology Research Group Wireless Communications amp Large Scale Simulation Group Convergent Technologies Research Group Building Information Modelling Research Group iBergSchool of Health Sciences Health Informatics Research Group Centre for Health Behaviour ResearchSchool of Humanities Spirituality in Society and the Professions Centre For Research Creativity amp Innovation in Tourism Centre for Social and Family Research Content amp Language Integrated Learning Research Group Creativity amp Culture Research GroupSchool of Science Automotive Control Group Centre for INformation SYstems and Techno culture Game Based Learning Health Informatics Research Group Optics Research GroupTechnological University for the South East EditMain article Technological University for the South East The institute has been planning a joint application with IT Carlow for the formation of a technological university for the south east region since the mid 2010 s 11 12 A vision document Technological University for the South East TUSE was published in 2015 and a memorandum of understanding was signed in 2017 13 At the launch of TU Dublin in July 2018 the Taoiseach expressed regret that this TUSE bid had not progressed sufficiently following the Technological Universities Act 2018 14 15 Approval was announced in November 2021 and the TU will be formally established in May 2022 needs update 16 Notable alumni EditArts Grainne Mulvey Irish composer currently Professor and Head of Composition at the Technological University of Dublin Mairead Nesbitt Irish fiddler former member of the ensemble Celtic WomanPolitics Ciara Conway TD Martin Cullen Teachta Dala amp Government Minister Grace O Sullivan MEP John Paul Phelan Teachta DalaSport Niamh Briggs Irish Rugby Player 17 Setanta o hAilpin GAA amp Australian Football League player Geordan Murphy Irish Rugby Player Henry Shefflin GAA player Ayo Williams GAA playerBusiness Philip Lynch businessman CEO of IAWS Group Kerrie Power businesswoman CEO of HEAnetSee also EditEducation in Ireland List of higher education institutions in IrelandReferences Edit Governing Body Waterford Institute of Technology WIT ie Office of the President Retrieved 14 November 2016 Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992 Amendment No 2 Order 1997 S I No 199 of 1997 Signed on 7 May 1997 Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland Retrieved 8 March 2021 from Irish Statute Book Establishment of South East Technological University and its first president is welcomed by Minister Harris www gov ie Retrieved 16 June 2022 On the market St John s College sale to fund new pastoral centre Waterford News amp Star AboutWIT Retrieved 21 May 2008 Project Partners Institute a step nearer to university status Irish Independent Waterford Scholarship 2017 Afterschool Ireland Ranking Retrieved 7 December 2017 Technological University for the South East Waterford IT 31 May 2013 Archived from the original on 20 July 2018 Retrieved 20 July 2018 South East Technological University moves Closer to Becoming a Reality Waterford IT 3 October 2013 Archived from the original on 17 December 2017 Retrieved 20 July 2018 Timeline Technological University for the South East 2018 Archived from the original on 20 July 2018 Retrieved 20 July 2018 Announcement by An Taoiseach Dublin Institute of Technology 17 July 2018 Retrieved 17 July 2018 via facebook com Technological Universities Act 2018 No 3 of 2018 Signed on 19 March 2018 Act of the Oireachtas Retrieved 18 July 2018 from Irish Statute Book Byrne Padraig 2 November 2021 Establishment of Technological University of the South East confirmed for May 2022 Independent ie Niamh Briggs rbs6nations com accessed 23 March 2013External links EditOfficial WIT website Research Groups within WIT WIT Strategic Plan WIT Institutional Repository Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Waterford Institute of Technology amp oldid 1124683025, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
