President's Welcome 2009
Dear Visitor,
Thank you for taking the time to visit the web site of ITT Dublin, Institute of Technology, Tallaght. Our Institute is one of the leading higher education institutes in Ireland. It is accredited as a member of the European Credit Transfer Scheme for Higher Education Awards and we have been awarded the Extended European Erasmus University Charter. Our qualifications are recognised world-wide and provide opportunities for educational and career mobility on a global basis.
It is now seventeen years since the Institute was established as a European Demonstration College for Technological Education. In that time the Institute has expanded from an initial cohort of seven hundred students to a current complement, full and part-time, of almost four thousand undergraduates and over 100 postgraduates. It has been an exciting period in which we have witnessed a revolution in communication and education through the development of the worldwide web and of mobile technologies. We have seen the Celtic Tiger grow, mature and latterly go into decline. However, every observer of Ireland’s current economic situation knows that Ireland’s future relies heavily on the continued production of high quality graduates capable of undertaking life-long learning. Now is the right time for you to invest in yourself by undertaking a programme of education. It is important not lose sight of the career opportunities that are emerging and will continue emerge as the global economy pulls itself out of recession.
The Institute received funding as the lead partner in a research project funded by the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions. This is a €10million project which will enable us to establish a Centre of Excellence in Health Science with a view to enabling us to translate the very excellent research work taking place in the Institute into the clinical environment. We will continue to appraise research opportunities that play to our strengths and that have the potential to benefit the region.
The Institute has always prided itself on engaging with the community and we have established a network of supports for the schools in our region. We have also received major funding from the Strategic Innovation Fund to develop the teaching and learning environment within the institute. Through these projects we are playing a lead role in raising participation rates in Higher Education in the region.
We have a multicultural campus that celebrates diversity. In 2008 we had 73 different nationalities represented on campus. This is a very important aspect to your education as you will upon graduation most likely work in a multicultural environment where cultural mix is used as a strategic business advantage. By participating in the cultural events organised on campus and beyond you are investing not only in your social development but also in you career development.
The last twelve months have seen quite a few developments in the Institute. The new business incubation centre ‘Synergy’ opened at the beginning of 2007 continues to attract people with a wide range of ideas to start or expand their own businesses. Any of you who feel that you are budding entrepreneurs should contact the Centre Manager Nicola Mountfort. She has a range of supports in place for small businesses.
We have continued to work on the Campus Development Programme which will see us add sports and recreational facilities in addition to new teaching and laboratory facilities. The target completion date for all these facilities is 2011.
In all the Institute is a thriving, exciting place to learn and work and it continues to grow from strength to strength. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh tú spraoi agus tairbhe as an mbliain romhat anseo san Institiúid Teicneolaíochta, Tamhlacht.
Pat McLaughlin - Institute President
To contact the President's Office - Phone: + 353 1 404 2110 email
