Historic occasion as governing body of the new Atlantic Technological University meets in Letterkenny

The governing body of the new Atlantic Technological University (Ollscoil Teichneolaíochta an Atlantaigh) convened for the first time today at ATU Donegal Letterkenny and appointed Dr Orla Flynn as its first President.

This  landmark inaugural meeting was chaired by ATU chair Maura McNally SC, followed the granting last year of technological university (TU) status to a consortium comprising Galway-Mayo, Sligo and Letterkenny Institutes of Technology. 

ATU will be officially opened on Monday 4 April by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, at an event in ATU Sligo. It creates university campuses in counties Donegal, Sligo, Galway and Mayo for the first time while giving Galway city a second university option. It also offers students in surrounding counties the option of a TU education. 

Above: Orla Flynn, ATU President Dr Orla Flynn

ATU will serve 21,000 learners and be one of the largest multi-campus universities in Ireland with eight campuses and research centres. The university will be supported by 2,250 staff, delivering practice-oriented study and research. Some 600-plus higher educational programmes will be available at all levels of the National Framework of Qualifications from apprenticeships to doctoral level qualifications. 

Commenting on today’s historic meeting, Maura Mc Nally SC, Chair of the Governing Body of Atlantic Technological University said: “Being from this region, and as a proud Leitrim woman, I am honoured to be leading the formation of Atlantic Technological University (ATU) as Chair of its inaugural Governing Body, whose aim is to provide higher education in the west and north-west and areas bordering the Atlantic and Northern Ireland. 

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ATU President Dr Orla Flynn said: “The coming days will see a range of events on all our campuses to mark the launch, and I’m looking forward to meeting staff, students, alumni and supporters from across the west and north west of Ireland. This marks the beginning of an exciting journey for our entire Atlantic Technological University community, and we are greatly looking forward to it!” 

The initial Governing body members are: 

Chair Ms Maura McNally SC, Chair of the Bar Council of Ireland

Ms Oonagh Monahan, founder and Managing Director of Alpha Omega Consultants Ltd 

Mr Felim McNeela, founder of Avenue Mould Solutions

Ms Anne McHugh, Chief Executive of Donegal ETB -nominee of the three Education and Training Boards in whose areas the TU campuses are located. 

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The new branding for ATU was also unveiled today. The word ‘Atlantic” conveys power, strength, inspiration, creation, vast horizons – distinctive geography, rich history and shared heritage. 

The two outgoing Presidents of Letterkenny IT and IT Sligo, Paul Hannigan and Dr Brendan McCormack wished the outgoing President of GMIT, Dr Flynn, good luck in her new role as ATU President.

Mr Hannigan said: “With the establishment of the Atlantic Technological University in Donegal, it is truly a historic day. There has been monumental work done behind the scenes to make today happen and I would like to thank all colleagues, students, and the wider Donegal community that have been with us every step of the way on the journey to Atlantic TU. 

“As today also marks the final day of my tenure as LYIT President, I would like to extend my best wishes to the incoming ATU President, Dr Orla Flynn, to the Chair, Maura McNally, and to the Governing Body. I have no doubt they will continue to contribute to the transformation of the educational landscape of this region, through driving innovation, research, and development which, will in turn, propel the region onto the international stage.”