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It'll now officially merge with Limerick IT to form a university.
Technological University status has been officially granted to Athlone IT today.
The Minister for Higher Education has confirmed the college will be dissolved and will merge with Limerick IT to become Ireland's third TU.
The next steps involve establishing the appointed day when the university will be legally established, but all students graduating in the 2021/22 academic year will do so with university qualifications.
Minister Simon Harris said:
“This is another hugely important day for higher education in Ireland and in particular for the Midlands and Mid-West regions.
“The higher education landscape is rapidly evolving and the people of the Midlands and Mid-West will be at the heart both geographically and practically of that evolution.
“This new TU – our third since 2019 - will now take its rightful place in the higher education landscape in the country’s heartlands. The new higher education institution of increased scale and reach will benefit the students and communities of Westmeath, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare and Offaly to name but some of the counties which will be served by the new university.”