Ibec welcomes official launch of South East Technological University

Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, has welcomed the official launch of the South East Technological University (SETU) today by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD.  
 
Attending the launch, Andy Crowley, Ibec South East Regional President said: “Today’s launch of SETU marks a milestone occasion. The South East is now a university region, and this will play a key role in retaining existing talent within the region as well as attracting new talent, new inward investment and research opportunities. SETU will also support more balanced regional growth, by enabling the South East to realise its economic potential and achieve its growth ambition.  
 
“However, SETU’s potential will only be reached with sufficient investment. A targeted and sufficient capital investment programme by Government in physical, teaching and research infrastructure must be delivered to bring it to scale and realise the potential of the new institution. If the TU is not adequately invested in during the earlier stages of its development, the opportunity will be missed to deliver on balanced economic and regional development.  
 
“In addition to investment, the enabling legislation to be enacted so that Technological Universities are enabled to borrow money on the financial markets, must be expediated. The borrowing capacity could be used for a wide range of purposes including student housing, infrastructure and research and development expansion.”