Seven years ago, the government passed the Technological Universities Act which led to the setting up of five new technological universities (TUs) in Ireland to enhance regional development and increase access to education for all groups in society. A recent 2022-2023 Economic and Social Impact Study by Munster Technological University (MTU) confirms the success of this initiative, revealing a €1 billion annual contribution to the Irish economy and substantial improvements in education, employment and regional innovation.
Yet, as Ireland faces rising living costs, skills shortages, and recent research citing 70 per cent of people under 25 are living at home, the country faces an uncertain future. To futureproof our economy and ensure the wellbeing of everyone in our society, barriers to higher and further education, especially student accommodation, access to transport and sustained multiannual funding must be addressed urgently. TUs across Ireland are key to addressing the issues that our current generation of students face.
Latest Central Statistics Office figures cite that about 70,000 people left Ireland last year due to a lack of career opportunities, housing and an increased cost of living. A major challenge facing students, particularly those attending TUs outside Dublin, is the lack of transport infrastructure alongside the Statewide lack of affordable student accommodation.
Ireland must introduce a national technological housing strategy, ensuring that Government-backed funding is prioritised for affordable, purpose-built student accommodation in regional areas
Funding the Future, the government’s multiannual funding policy for further and higher education, outlined that nearly 30,000 students were unable to secure purpose-built student accommodation in 2023-2024, forcing many into an increasingly competitive private rental market. This issue is particularly acute for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who may struggle to find housing close to TU campuses. While there are plans to increase income thresholds for student grants to supplement rising living costs, as well as a National Student Accommodation Strategy to provide 21,000 student purpose-built beds, this falls far short of the housing demand that students are facing now.
Ireland must introduce a national technological housing strategy, ensuring that Government-backed funding is prioritised for affordable, purpose-built student accommodation in regional areas. Without this, students will continue to be priced out, risking increased dropout rates and long-term negative impacts for Ireland’s economy and society.
To increase completion rates and retain regional talent, further State-backed affordable housing initiatives are essential. Additionally, transport barriers, particularly long-distance commutes to regional campuses, must be addressed through expanded student travel subsidies and improved public transport links. While TUs enable people to access the highest quality of education in regional towns and cities, and act as a solution to prevent regional brain drain, further transport links must be established so students in rural areas can easily access third level.
This sentiment is reflected in MTU’s economic and social impact study, which reported that 5 per cent of respondents would not have gone to university if an accessible university such as MTU did not exist. In addition, 7 per cent of respondents said they would have had to leave Ireland to pursue higher education had MTU not existed. This is a stark reminder of how vital TUs are in ensuring social inclusion and ultimately preventing brain drain.
Technological universities have a crucial role in shaping the workforce of the future. We work closely with industry partners to equip students with skills that are in high demand in the Irish economy; connecting graduates to industry partners; and ensuring they can stay and thrive in Ireland if they wish
For students who might not otherwise consider higher education, TUs offer a pathway to success. Some of our students are the first in their families to attend university or come from disadvantaged communities who otherwise would not be represented in third level. We must continue to invest in regional education, ensuring that every student, no matter where they come from, has access to a world-class university experience without having to leave their home region.
The OECD 2022 report A Review of Technological University Academic Career Paths, Contracts and Organisation in Ireland, calls for a career framework for technological universities which includes professorships. This is of fundamental importance to bring Ireland in line with other universities globally where there is a career route to professorships and is in keeping with the programme for government, which identifies that the “knowledge economy remains key to our international competitiveness”. The generation of new knowledge and research-informed teaching, combined with the unique strengths of TUs, that include a strong focus on work-related learning, close collaboration with business, entrepreneurship and the provision of lifelong learning and flexible education programmes, presents a powerful educational offering that would fully maximise the positive impact of TUs on society and the economy.
Technological universities have a crucial role in shaping the workforce of the future. We work closely with industry partners to equip students with skills that are in high demand in the Irish economy; connecting graduates to industry partners; and ensuring they can stay and thrive in Ireland if they wish. Our graduates are not just equipped with academic knowledge; they leave our university with practical experience, industry certifications and the skills that employers need.
Beyond producing job-ready graduates, universities also play a critical role in driving entrepreneurship, another key factor in regional economic growth.
The economic contribution of TUs is clear, as evidenced in MTU’s latest report highlighting an annual €1 billion impact. However, to ensure their long-term success, the Government must move beyond broad policy commitments and instead implement targeted reforms in the sector. Introducing a career framework with professors, expanding student accommodation, improving transport infrastructure and providing ongoing multiannual core funding would ensure that TUs remained a cornerstone of Ireland’s innovation economy that would benefit all of society for generations to come.
Prof Maggie Cusack is president of Munster Technological University
