Munster Technological University (MTU), situated in both Kerry and Cork, welcomed its first batch of students on the first day of 2021. MTU is the first newly established university in the southwest after a gap of nearly two centuries since 1845. Currently, it has a student body of 18,000 and employs in excess of 2,000 staff members.
MTU offers a vast array of over 140 educational courses and programs and has established about 120 affiliations with other educational establishments all over the globe. The university is proud to house six leading research centres within its campuses and claims to have provided support to upwards of 500 budding businesses to date. The annual financial outlay for running the institution is estimated to be around €220 million.
In order to cater to the requirements of their stakeholders, the university is steadily growing its research and innovative efforts. A representative from the university stated that, “MTU prides itself on research, innovation, scholarly pursuits, transferring knowledge and engagement that have tangible outcomes”. They further elaborated that their functions hinge on cooperation and proficiency across a range of fields, from arts and humanities to health, science, engineering and more.
Linking their aims with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and adhering to national and European research priorities and strategies are some of the significant features of MTU’s global approach. They concentrate on increasing the depth and breadth of their impact and strive to make sure their research remains sustainable and competitive.
Entrepreneurship is embedded in the university’s ethos and bleeds into its curriculum and research initiatives as well, stated the spokesperson. MTU places a high emphasis on developing entrepreneurial skills in its graduates.
As of 2023, MTU became a part of the prestigious INGENIUM European University Alliance, thereby gaining the status of a European University, one among ten others.
Looking to the future, MTU’s strategic plan until 2027 is to create a globally linked region that stands as a beacon for sustainable, healthy, and responsible living. The representative further stated, “We expand our research and innovation to continually enrich our teaching. We disseminate knowledge that benefits the community and fosters competitive business and entrepreneurship both locally and worldwide. Being a globally oriented and responsible university, we aim to be a centre of knowledge exchange where our staff, students and stakeholders can interact in a collaborative, sustainable, respectful and positive environment.”
The Munster Technological University (MTU) is spread over six distinct sites: These include the Bishopstown Campus, Kerry North Campus, Cork School of Music, Crawford College of Art and Design, Kerry South Campus, and the National Maritime College of Ireland. The university is currently undergoing extensive infrastructural enhancements which includes the building of new amenities and the upgrading of existing ones. A massive €180 million has been invested in this overhaul.
Recently, a multipurpose arena was inaugurated on the Bishopstown campus, which is a top-of-the-line facility envisioned to serve both the MTU student body and the local community extensively into the future. Two more projects are well underway at MTU: the Learning Resource Centre at Bishopstown and the STEM Building in Tralee.
In addition to these developments, there is significant work being done to embellish several existing buildings to ensure a good provision of necessary facilities to cultivate a modern technological university atmosphere for students, staff, and external partners.
As of now, university-owned accommodation for students isn’t offered by MTU. Therefore, there’s dependence on the private sector for lodging provisions for students, mostly situated nearby the campuses. MTU is however, looking into all possibilities to bolster accommodation options across the southwest for its student body in the forthcoming years. MTU hosts in excess of 100 clubs and societies, contributing to its thriving social scene.
One of the highlighted courses is the BSc (Hons) in General Nursing, held in the dedicated Sólás building at the MTU Kerry North Campus. The course continues to develop, with increased potential to accept more students. Students on this course are equipped with the necessary skills to provide nursing care in a diverse range of settings. For more information, visit the MTU’s website at mtu.ie.