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Institute of Technology, Carlow (IT Carlow) is one of the largest technology colleges in Ireland, with campuses in Carlow, Wexford and Wicklow, and part-time provision elsewhere in the Republic.

Present

Founded in 1960, IT Carlow is located in the centre of Ireland's South Leinster region (containing the counties of Carlow, Wicklow, Wexford, Kildare, Laois and Kilkenny), approximately one hour from Dublin. IT Carlow is the fourth-largest Institute out of 14 Institutes of Technology (IoTs) in the country (7,500 learners), but has ranked in the top three of the 14 IoTs for CAO first preferences for Level 8 honours degree programmes since 2010. As of 2017 IT Carlow has over 50,000 alumni. IT Carlow provides higher educational full-time taught programmes from level 6 – 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications, along with research programmes at level 9 & 10 and enterprise development opportunities, through its centres in Carlow and Wexford. The Institute also provides part-time programmes in Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Kildare (the Curragh), Shannon, Dublin (Tallaght) and, most recently, in Mayo.

The presence of the Institute was a consideration in the decision of UNUM (strategic software services centre, 2008) and Merck Sharp & Dohme (human vaccines and biologics, 2007) to locate in Carlow.

In 2014 IT Carlow was named the Sunday Times Institute of Technology of the Year. The judges, in making the award, stated that the Institute was deserving of the title "off the back of a strong academic performance, a high completion rate and a good record in the graduate jobs market".

IT Carlow employs almost 700 staff and is currently headed by its president, Dr. Patricia Mulcahy.

Campuses

IT Carlow provides higher educational full-time programmes, along with research and enterprise development opportunities, through its centres in Carlow and Wexford. The Institute also provides part-time programmes in Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Kildare (the Curragh), Shannon, Dublin (Tallaght) and, most recently, in Mayo.

In addition, IT Carlow has significant educational and research partnerships and collaborations with national and international industries and higher educational institutions in Europe.

Third-level courses

IT Carlow's comprehensive portfolio of almost 100 Masters, Honours & Ordinary Degree and Higher Certificate courses are delivered by the following departments and/or campuses:

• Business
• Sports, Media & Marketing
• Humanities
• Science & Health
• Computing & Networking
• Aero, Mechanical & Electronic Engineering
• Built Environment & Extended Campus
• Lifelong Learning
• Wexford Campus
• Dublin & Shannon Campus

Niche courses

In addition to its traditional degree courses, IT Carlow also provides niche courses, some of which are unique to Ireland and Europe. The Institute was awarded the Aviation Academic Education Award at the prestigious Irish Aviation Industry Awards in 2015. In 2015, IT Carlow launched its €5.5million Centre for Aerospace Engineering, comprising an avionics workshop and fleet of aircraft inside its own hangar. It Carlow offers degree courses in aero engineering and pilot studies, while its BEng in Aircraft Systems is the only one of its kind in Ireland.

IT Carlow's degree programmes in Sport & Exercise, delivered in partnership with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and Leinster Rugby Club are the only courses of their kind in Europe. Irish soccer international Robbie Keane and former Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini are amongst those who have completed courses at the Institute. Other popular sports degree and masters courses include Sports Rehabilitation and Athletic Therapy, Strength & Conditioning and Sports Management & Coaching.

IT Carlow was the first third-level institute in Ireland to offer a Bachelor of Science in Computer Games Development, developed with the assistance and endorsement of Microsoft. Its software and games development graduates are highly desired by employers.

Learner profile

With a student population of 7,000 (2015/16), IT Carlow has a diverse portfolio of over 80 taught programmes to Level 8 on the NFQ, seven taught programmes to Level 9 on the NFQ, a growing research portfolio to Doctoral level (Level 10 NFQ) in the Sciences and Technology, and an emerging research platform in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Having trained almost 45,000 graduates to date, IT Carlow's current student population comprises traditional leaving certificate entrants, a growing European and international student body, an increasing proportion of mature students and learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as a significant number of part-time learners (approximately 33% of the total IT Carlow WTE).

Research, Development and Innovation (RDI)

Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) is an integral part of IT Carlow's activities and is a vital aspect of the interaction of the Institute with industry and other higher educational and research institutes, on both a national and international basis. Its collaborative RDI programmes have been variously funded by the Department of Agriculture Ireland, the European INTERREG Programme, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) PRTLI, the HEA Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), EU Framework Programmes, Industry, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Irish Research Council for Science Engineering & Technology (IRCSET), the Technological Sector Research Programme (TSR, Department of Education and Science Ireland), Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland. The Institute has a strategic collaborative relationship with Teagasc Oak Park Research Centre Carlow.

The Institute's RDI activities are complemented by various campus-based specialist centres and campus companies, which include the Campus Innovation Centre and the Enterprise & Research Incubation Centre and, in particular, its multimillion-euro dedicated research facility, The Dargan Centre. It is home to the following strategic research areas:

• Bioenvironmental technologies (EnviroCORE);
• Product design and innovation (DesignCORE);
• Interactive applications software and networks (GameCORE);
• Health sciences, including Europe's only dedicated Men's Health Research Centre.
• Humanities (SocialCORE)

IT Carlow is also building research capacity in newly emergent areas including Advanced Security Technologies (SecurityCORE) and in targeted areas in Business and Humanities.

Collaborative partnerships and internationalisation

IT Carlow's collaborative work with other organisations include:

• The joint delivery of programmes with the Defence Forces in Engineering and Computing up to and including Masters level.
• The BA in Sport and Exercise delivered by IT Carlow in co-operation with Leinster Rugby and Irish Rugby Football Union, the Football Association of Ireland and the Gaelic Athletic Association.
• IT Carlow and An Cosán collaboratively provide the BA in Leadership and Community Development in An Cosán facilities in Tallaght, Dublin.

IT Carlow has significant educational and research partnerships and collaborations with national and international industries and higher educational institutions in Europe. These include:

• 76 European partner institutions (across 17 countries).
• The delivery of IT Carlow-accredited computing programmes in Henan University of Economics and Law, PR China.
• Other transnational collaborations which include dedicated feeder, progression or recognition arrangements, and exchange programmes with the following institutions: Guilin University of Electronic Technology, China; Louyang University of Finance & Economics, China; Dong-A University, South Korea; Chung-Ang University, South Korea; Inha University, South Korea; UTHM, Malaysia; Nilai University, Malaysia; UMP, Malaysia; Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore; St. Ambrose University, USA; Nova Scotia Community College, Canada; College of the North Atlantic, Newfoundland; University of Pristina, Kosovo; Université de La Rochelle, France; Makerere University, Uganda.

Non-national full-time students currently account for almost 10% of the Institute's full-time student population, divided between EU and non-EU nationalities.

Future

The institute has been planning a joint application with Waterford IT for the formation of a technological university for the south east region since the mid-2010s. A vision document, "Technological University for the South East" (TUSE) was published in 2015, and a memorandum of understanding was signed in 2017. 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".

Alumni

• Megan Campbell – Republic of Ireland women's football international player.

Staff

• John Meyler, lecturer involved in hurling

See also

• Education in the Republic of Ireland
• List of higher education institutions in the Republic of Ireland
• St. Patricks, Carlow College

References

1. Higher Education Courses An Cosán
2. "Technological University for the South East". Waterford IT. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
3. "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.
4. "Timeline". Technological University for the South East. 2018. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
5. "Announcement by An Taoiseach". Dublin Institute of Technology. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018 – via facebook.com.
6. "Technological Universities Act 2018". Office of the Attorney General. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
7. www.itcarlow.ie
8. Barry, Stephen (27 July 2018). "Proof the classroom is more conducive to an inter-county career". Irish Examiner. Two managers still standing are in education (John Meyler, a CIT lecturer, and John Kiely, principal of the Abbey School in Tipperary).

External links

• Institute of Technology, Carlow Website

52°49′40″N 6°56′09″W / 52.8277°N 6.9358°W / 52.8277; -6.9358

• Buildings and structures in Carlow (town)
• Educational institutions established in 1970
• Education in Carlow (town)
• Science and technology in the Republic of Ireland
• Scientific organisations based in the Republic of Ireland
• Universities and colleges in the Republic of Ireland
• Institutes of technology in the Republic of Ireland