An Taoiseach opposed to Mayo Campus being a stand-alone entity

AN Taoiseach Enda Kenny has stated that everybody has a stake in making a success of the newly appointed working committee on the future of the Mayo GMIT Campus.

In a statement issued to The Connaught Telegraph, the Fine Gael leader said the group will be chaired by the Higher Education Authority (who also fund higher education in Ireland) and their specified objective involves developing a sustainable future and growth options for the Mayo campus, as well as gathering evidence to support such options. It will also include an implementation plan.

He said: 'I am pleased to inform you that their first preparatory meeting took place on Friday, April 21, and the first full meeting will take place in mid-May.

'I have noted calls in recent commentary for a stand-alone entity which would then place the campus outside the proposed Connacht-Ulster Alliance.

'This alliance involves western and north-western Institutes of Technology working together in partnership with each other to form a technological university.

'It is unclear how a stand-alone entity would benefit Castlebar and would in fact place it at a disadvantage in terms of the collaboration that is often required by researchers in higher education to access competitive funding opportunities, such as the EU Horizon 2020 programme.

'For instance, researchers and companies in Ireland have won a total of €386 million in EU funding from the Horizon 2020 programme from 2014 to February 2017.

'Of this €386 million in funding, higher education institutions accounted for €221 million, or 57% of the total.

'Partnership and collaboration is the future of higher education and requires the need to work together, as demonstrated by the strategic alliances developed between NUI Galway and UL.

'I also wish to point out that some of the recent commentary in local media is portraying a negative image of GMIT Mayo campus, in particular to prospective students, current students, and staff of the institute.

'There are positive developments happening at the Mayo campus, such as the Outdoor Pursuits Centre, which should be finished by the end of this year.

'We must remember that Castlebar is a vibrant campus and remains a part of Mayo's social and cultural identity.

'I look forward to the working group's progress and I expect their full report to be presented to the Higher Education Authority’s finance committee in the third quarter of 2017, which will focus on a sustainable future and growth options for the Mayo campus, as well as including an implementation plan.'