Athlone Institute of Technology
Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Luain
Letters of AIT
Logo of the institute of technology
Former name
Athlone Regional Technical College
MottoEnglish: Connect and Discover
TypePublic
Active1970 (1970)–16 July 2021 (2021-07-16)
PresidentCiarán Ó Catháin
Academic staff
256+
Students6,000+
Address
University Road
,
Athlone
,
Leinster
,
N37 HD68
,
Ireland

53°25′05″N 7°54′17″W / 53.41794°N 7.90462°W / 53.41794; -7.90462
Campus18 hectares (44 acres)
Colours    Red, blue, and yellow
Websiteait.ie
Entrance of AIT main campus
AIT Engineering & Science Building
AIT John Count McCormack Centre
AIT Sport

The Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT; Irish: Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Luain) was an institute of technology, located in Athlone, Ireland. Established in 1970, the institute's campus was located on University Road.

A consortium between itself and the Limerick Institute of Technology was announced with the intention of forming a technological university. On 23 November 2020, the AIT-LIT Consortium announced that the joint Limerick-Athlone IT application for technological university (TU) status had been submitted for approval, which was granted in May 2021.

On 16 July 2021, the institute of technology was officially dissolved and succeeded by the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, which began operations on 1 October 2021.

History

The Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) was established by the Irish Government in 1970 as the Athlone Regional Technical College, under control of the local Vocational Education Committee. The college gained more autonomy with the enactment of the Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992. In late 1997, as with the other RTC's, it was renamed as the Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT). In 1999, AIT became a validation authority with the power to award HETAC degrees.

In 2000, Ciarán Ó Catháin was appointed as the institute's president. Dr. David Fenton and James Coyle were previous holders of the post, having been called director and principal. In 2001, a School of Humanities was opened. In 2010, then-president of Ireland Mary McAleese spoke at the fortieth anniversary of the college.[1]

The AIT had a campus size of 44 acres, and new, purpose-built facilities that included the Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Studies building, built in 2003; the Nursing and Health Science building and the Midlands Innovation and Research Centre, built in 2005; as well as the Engineering and Informatics building and the Postgraduate Research Hub, built in 2010.[2] RTÉ's Midlands studio and office have been located at the institute.[3]

The institute had a memorandum of understanding with the Rio de Janeiro State University, one of the largest universities in the Brazilian city.[4] It also had agreements with the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, one of the largest Brazilian private universities.[5] The institute also founded agreements with two leading Beijing universities, the Capital University of Economics and Business and the Beijing Union University.[6][7] The agreements were signed by the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland and university representatives.[7] Other agreements existed between the institute and TVTC, in Saudi Arabia, and a memorandum of understanding existed with the Georgia Institute of Technology.[8][9] Further agreements existed with the Bharati Vidyapeeth, one of the largest universities in India.[10]

College of sanctuary

In 2017, AIT became the first designated college of sanctuary in Ireland.[11]

AIT-LIT Consortium and dissolution

In 2018, the institute had investigated the possibility of becoming a university in its own right. A consortium between itself and the Limerick Institute of Technology was announced in October 2019 with the intention of forming a technological university. On 23 November 2020, the AIT-LIT Consortium announced that the joint Limerick-Athlone IT application for technological university (TU) status had been submitted for approval. Approval was announced in May 2021 by minister of Higher Education, Simon Harris.[12]

On 16 July 2021, both itself and the Limerick Institute of Technology were officially dissolved through a signed order by the minister.[13] The institute was succeeded by the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, which began operations on 1 October 2021.[14]

Facilities

  • The Goldsmith Library, named after Oliver Goldsmith, novelist, playwright and poet
  • McCormack Hall, performance venue named after John McCormack, tenor
  • Northgate street, former site of art and design, to be converted in to a digital hub[15]

AIT International Arena

AIT International Arena, 2015

An international athletics arena with an overall building floor area of 9,715 m2 was opened in early 2013. The arena can house 2,000 spectators and was constructed at a cost of €10 million.[16]

Notable alumni

Arts and Media

Politics

Sports

See also

References

  1. ↑ REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY DINNER CELEBRATION OF ATHLONE IT Media Library, www.president.ie
  2. ↑ "Campus Developments". Athlone Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "2012 press releases - RTA midlands office to be re-located to AIT" (Press release). Athlone Institute of Technology. 21 September 2012. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  4. ↑ "2012 press releases AIT Signs MoU with Rio de Janeiro State University" (Press release). Athlone Institute of Technology. 16 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2020..
  5. ↑ "2011 press releases - AIT Signs Agreement with Brazilian University" (Press release). Athlone Institute of Technology. 20 November 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  6. ↑ 2010 press releases Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Athlone Institute of Technology. (30 March 2010).
  7. 1 2 2010 press releases Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Athlone Institute of Technology. (12 May 2010).
  8. ↑ 2010 press releases Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Athlone Institute of Technology. (1 March 2010).
  9. ↑ 2009 press releases Archived 4 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Athlone Institute of Technology. (21 January 2009).
  10. ↑ 2009 press releases Archived 4 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Athlone Institute of Technology. (25 August 2009).
  11. ↑ "Athlone IT is the first College of Sanctuary in Ireland". Places of Sanctuary Ireland. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018. Athlone IT, a midland college with global reputation and international students from over 60 countries, including Mid East and East Asia, has become the first College of Sanctuary in Ireland.
  12. ↑ Kelly Palenque, Brendan (5 May 2021). "Limerick IT and Athlone IT to merge to form new technological university". Independent.ie. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Athlone IT Officially Dissolved Today". Midlands 103. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Minister signs order to dissolve AIT and establish new technological university". Offaly Independent. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  15. ↑ Verney, Deirdre (29 September 2023). "Design work for revamp of former RTC building to begin". Westmeath Independent.
  16. ↑ "AIT International Arena – Athlone Institute of Technology". Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
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