TU Dublin was formally established on January 1st 2019, the culmination of over seven years of collaboration between the three partner Institutes – Institute of Technology Blanchardstown, Dublin Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tallaght.
The programme of partnership, which culminated in the creation of TU Dublin, began in 2011 with the publication of the Hunt Report. This proposed the introduction of Technological Universities as part of the Higher Education eco-system in Ireland. In response, IT Blanchardstown, DIT, and IT Tallaght signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing the Technological University for Dublin Alliance to guide partners towards the goal of TU designation.
The partner Institutes, through an Implementation Team, commenced work in earnest on establishing a shared Mission, Vision & Values; Governance; Learning & Teaching; Programme Provision, Standards & Quality; Research, Innovation & Knowledge Exchange; External Collaboration; People Strategy; Staff & Student Engagement; Human Resources; Finance; IS; Legal & Contractual; Campus Infrastructure & Activities; Student Services; and Marketing & Communications. In the subsequent years, work continues on aligning the operations of the three Institutes.
On 21 March 2018, President Michael D. Higgins signed into law the Technological Universities Act 2018 following its successful passing through the Oireachtas. On 30 April, the Alliance partners submitted a formal application to the Minister for Education & Skills to seek designation as Ireland's first Technological University. The Higher Education Authority invited an independent expert panel to commence the evaluation of the application by spending a week visiting the Alliance Partners. As part of the evaluation process, the panel met with students and staff from IT Blanchardstown, DIT, and IT Tallaght, as well as a wide range of community and industry partners. In the follow-up report to the HEA, the panel confirmed that the Alliance partner’s application for TU status met the specified criteria for designation. The panel report was considered by the HEA, which made a formal recommendation to the Minister for Education & Skills, resulting in his decision to award designation.
On 17 July 2018, An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, formally announced the decision to approve the establishment of Technological University Dublin, to be known as TU Dublin.
In October 2018, the Sunday Times Good University Guide jointly awarded the Institute of Technology of the Year award to the Alliance partners, recognising the achievements of IT Blanchardstown DIT, and IT Tallaght
TU Dublin, Ireland’s first Technological University, is where career-focused students, dedicated staff and academic excellence in science, the arts, business, engineering and technology converge to create the leaders of tomorrow. We offer an inclusive and open learning experience with pathways to graduation, from Apprenticeship to PhD. Our 28,500 students learn in a practice-based environment informed by the latest research and enabled by technological advances.
TU Dublin hosts a thriving research community engaged in applying innovation and technology to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. We are deeply committed to collaborating with our national and international academic partners and our many networks in industry and civic society to create new learning experiences and develop impactful research.
TU Dublin is an exciting new milestone in Irish Higher Education. With campuses in Dublin City, Tallaght and Blanchardstown, it spans the largest population centers of Ireland’s capital city. Building on the rich heritage of its founding organizations - DIT, IT Blanchardstown and IT Tallaght – TU Dublin will be inclusive and adaptable, creating educational opportunities for students at all stages. TU Dublin students will be socially responsible, open-minded global thinkers who are ambitious to change the world for the better. As graduates, they will be enterprising and daring in all their endeavours, ready to play their part in transforming the future.