Atlantic Technological University (ATU), located in Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, was launched on the 1st of April, 2022. It currently accommodates 23,869 students and has extended its educational provision with an increase in enrolments.
The university provides a myriad of study options, exceeding 600 for undergraduates and a further 100 plus for postgraduates. This educational institution also caters for craft and consortium apprenticeships, Springboard and HCI upskilling programmes, and caters for tertiary levels in collaboration with Education and Training Boards (ETBs). Educational options range from levels six through ten according to the National Framework of Qualifications, resulting in varying degrees such as bachelor’s, master’s and PhDs, to name a few.
The university, under the leadership of President Dr Orla Flynn, flagged that over the previous year, more than 50% of the courses were centred around STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths). With new educational avenues to be introduced at the tertiary level, the university anticipates further growth in numbers.
A point of note was the rise in students’ enrolment in 2023 due to successful measures aimed at improving student retention. Flynn emphasises the university’s growth and its dedication to enriching lives not only within the northern and western region but also expanding beyond it.
Being financially strong, she pointed out ATU’s solid budget surplus for the 2023 fiscal year. ATU anticipates TU Rise’s research funding to enhance its research capacity, improving higher education opportunities in the region.
The ATU’s campus network covers nine areas in the west and northwest that is equivalent to the size of Wales. The Letterkenny campus boasts over 18,000sq m of educational and auxiliary facilities. It has specialised teaching and research facilities as well as a library, dining areas, meeting rooms and top-notch sporting facilities.
The Killybegs campus provides two main bachelor degree courses, along with a plethora of part-time, flexible, internet-based, and postgraduate programmes. The campus is particularly noted for its programmes in the culinary arts, hospitality and tourism fields.
In proximity to the heart of Sligo town lies the St Angela’s campus, offering part-time, undergraduate, and postgraduate programmes in the fields of nursing, health sciences and disability studies, home economics and education.
Playing host to over 10,000 students across two campus sites is ATU Sligo. The campuses flaunt contemporary constructions, state-of-the-art amenities and charming landscaped areas. The grounds includes facilities for engineering and science studies, an Apple Mac computer lab and a novel centre for the arts, design, and architecture.
ATU Mayo provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses in sectors such as nursing, social care, early childhood care and education, community development and youth work, outdoor education, and history and geography. Numerous courses also exist for mature students wanting to re-enter education, either full-time or part-time. In 2011, ATU Mayo had the privilege of being the first Institute of Technology campus in Ireland to receive green campus status.
Regarded highly for its third-level courses in furniture, wood products and teacher education, the ATU Connemara campus boasts more than 200 students, studying five distinct degree programmes in a workshop environment equipped with advanced machinery and computer tech.
The campus in Mountbellew, Co Galway, which is approximately 30 miles northeast of Galway city, dispenses level seven and eight degrees. Disciplines offered here include agriculture, food production and environmental management.
The ATU Galway academic offering spans the business, science, computing, engineering, culinary arts, hospitality, tourism, and heritage sectors. It houses the school of design and creative arts, offering an array of courses in design, contemporary art, film and documentary, and teacher education in art, design and graphics.
ATU operates four innovation centres located in each of the four counties it has campuses in, in addition to eight research centres.
ATU is not the proprietor or operator of student residences. Nonetheless, a number of student villages designed specifically for student needs are conveniently situated around ATU campuses within a reasonable walking distance. According to the university, these self-provided student villages uphold high standards. They offer a variety of amenities and services such as high-speed internet access, laundry services and the presence of security personnel, said a university representative.
An exemplar course:
The course, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Furniture Design and Manufacture, initially provides education on the use of hand and power tools. This equips students with competent skills in using an array of woodworking machines, CNC apparatus, laser tools, and digital production. A sharp focus is placed on smart design addressing considerations such as market potential, competitive edge, cost implications, and environmental concerns. These aspects are intimately tied to the graduate’s capability to develop superior furniture product prototypes.