Dublin Institute of Technology
Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Atha Cliath | |
Established | Original foundation 1887, under the auspices of Dublin City Council 1978, as an independent degree-awarding institution 1992 |
---|---|
President | Professor Brian Norton |
Academic staff | 2,500[1] |
Students | 22,000 |
Address | 143 – 149 Rathmines Road , , Rathmines Dublin 6 |
Campus | Multiple locations in Dublin city centre |
Affiliations | EUA
IAU ELIA SEFI Association of MBAs Dublin Chamber of Commerce |
Website | http://www.dit.ie |
Located in the centre of Dublin, Ireland's capital city, Dublin Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as DIT) (Template:Lang-ga) is one of the largest higher education institutions in Ireland. It has been ranked in top 100 universities globally under 50 years old.[2] Though instated in its present form in 1992, the institution can trace an unbroken history back to the establishment in 1887 of the first technical education institution in Ireland. It is recognised particularly for degree and postgraduate programmes in Product Design, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Engineering, Science, Marketing, Hospitality, Music, Optometry, Pharmaceuticals, Construction, Digital Media and Journalism. Alumni of the Dublin Institute of Technology include many of Ireland's leading writers, artists and politicians.[3]
About
Academics
Academically DIT comprises four colleges; Engineering and Built Environment, Business, Science and Health and Arts and Tourism and a Graduate Research School. There are twenty-seven academic schools, four major research institutes, many research centres and groups and various technology transfer and commercial units.
The Institute currently has around 22,000 undergraduate and both taught and research postgraduate students.
The institution awards Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees. Dublin Institute of Technology has autonomous authority to make its own academic awards. As its awards comply fully with the national qualifications framework of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, they are fully recognised internationally.
DIT also validates programmes provided by other institutions in Dublin such as the Digital Skills Academy and the Brighton Institute of Modern Music BA course.
Research
Dedicated research facilities include the Focas Research Institute with extensive spectroscopy, microscopy and holography facilities. It also houses "CREST"; an international centre supported by Enterprise Ireland for paint and surface coating development. Antennae research is associated with the multi-institution "CTVR"; The Centre for Telecommunications Value-added Research.[4] Recently research supported by Science Foundation Ireland in the Dublin Energy Lab, water sciences, air quality, food preservation and environmental health and safety are being co-located in a major new building at the Grangegorman new city centre campus together with an additional "Hothouse" start-up business incubator for new DIT spin-off companies. Hothouse has nurtured, amongst other firms, Smart Wall Paint and Moletest.
New city centre campus
Dublin Institute of Technology is consolidating to a single campus in the centre of Dublin, the Grangegorman Campus [5] with the campus currently being home to students in Fine Art, Product Design, Visual Communications, Photography and Social Sciences.[6] The development of the new consolidated city-centre campus is undertaken by the Grangegorman Development Agency.
Community outreach
Embedded in Dublin city centre, DIT has built very strong and diverse links with its neighbouring communities and schools. The Access and Civic Engagement service provides extensive programmes that enable those from traditionally under-represented groups to study at DIT. These include many highly successful access routes for children in secondary schools where there has been no tradition of continuing to third level education. It has also made even earlier interventions in schools, for example the 'Pathways through Education' supports students in making the transition into secondary school.
International partnerships
There are extensive student exchange and joint research programmes with leading universities in India, China, Brazil, Australia, the USA and across Europe. DIT are lead partners in the Mozambique Eyecare Project. As part of the project, an undergraduate course in Optometry has been established at Universidade Lurio, Nampula. The first of its kind in Mozambique. Other partners on the project are University of Ulster and International Centre for Eyecare Education. There are strong links with Columbia College Chicago in design and media and with Purdue University across many disciplines including a joint master's degree programme. There are strong student and staff exchanges with Grenoble School of Management. DIT accredits programmes at Middle East College in Oman.
Sport
DIT has over 40 different clubs for student to choose from [7] They include Gaelic Athletic Association, Football, Handball, rifle shooting, waterpolo, archery, basketball, kite surfing and many more.
In 2013 Dublin Institute of Technology won the Sigerson Cup, the premier Gaelic Football Championship among Irish Higher Education institutions. DIT's hurlers won the Kehoe Cup in 2007 and the Walsh Cup Shield in 2013.
Outdoor and indoor sports facilities are being developed at Grangegorman and at Broom Bridge. The latter is adjacent to Broombridge railway station and the canal bridge where Sir William Rowan Hamilton first wrote the fundamental formula for quaternions.
Ranking
Dublin Institute of Technology was named "Best Institute of Technology 2010" by the Sunday Times. It came 94th in the 2014[8] and 2015 Times Higher Education 100 under 50 Ranking of universities worldwide. It came 157th in the UI Greenmetric Ranking of World Universities in 2013.[9] The 2012 QS World University Rankings puts DIT in the 451–500 bracket worldwide and in the 350th position for Engineering & Technology; DIT's best result in the same ranking was when it came 326th in the worldwide ranking in 2009.[10]
National Optometry Centre
The National Optometry Centre (NOC) located at the junction of Kevin Street and New Bride Street is a state-of-the-art facility and the only such centre in Ireland. The main function of the NOC is to facilitate clinical training for Optometry students. The Centre is developing specialised clinics in areas such as paediatrics, low vision and contact lenses. It will also offer eye examinations, spectacles and contact lenses to the general public. Free eye examinations are offered to DIT students.
Notable academics
Current
Current faculty include David Brophy, conductor, Gráinne Mulvey, composer, Bernie Sherlock, conductor, Jane O'Leary, pianist and composer, John Feeley, guitarist, Kieran Hanrahan, traditional Irish musician, Mike Nielsen, jazz guitarist and composer, Ciarán Cuffe, urban planner, Mairtin Mac Con Iomaire, culinary arts.
Past
Previous faculty members include Pat Kenny, Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ and Newstalk) news and current affairs presenter, Joan Burton, Teachta Dála (TD), Minister for Social Protection, Frank Harte, Irish traditional singer and architect, Hugh McFadden, poet, Seán Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus, politician, Brid Grant, Dean of Arts, University of Connecticut, Desmond Fennell, writer and cultural philosopher, Lelia Doolan, TV and film producer, Peter Sutherland, lawyer and politician. John T. Lewis, mathematician and physicist and Bernadette Greevy, mezzo-soprano.
Notable alumni
History
Foundation
Dublin Institute of Technology originated with the foundation under the leadership of Arnold Felix Graves in 1887 of the first of its predecessor colleges. The Institute existed from 1978 as a federation of colleges.[11] These were, with their original year of foundation:
- College of Technology, Bolton Street (1911)
- College of Catering, Cathal Brugha Street (1941)
- College of Music, Chatham Row (1890)
- College of Technology, Kevin Street (1887)
- College of Marketing and Design, Mountjoy Square (1905)
- College of Commerce, Rathmines (1901)
Dublin Institute of Technology was established officially by legislation as a single institution in 1992 under the Dublin Institute of Technology Act.[12]
Development
In 1992 Michael O'Donnell became the first interim President. He was succeeded as President in 1993 by Brendan Goldsmith. The predecessor colleges were recognised as centres of excellence in their areas of specialism and, following the establishment of Dublin Institute of Technology, their expertise formed the nucleus of a Faculty structure comprising, with their locations:
- Faculty of Applied Arts, Mountjoy Square, Rathmines, Clarendon Row, Portland Row, Temple Bar
- Faculty of the Built Environment, Bolton Street and Linenhall
- Faculty of Business, Mountjoy Square and Rathmines, latterly Aungier Street
- Faculty of Engineering, Bolton Street, Kevin Street, Beresford Street
- Faculty of Science, Kevin Street
- Faculty of Tourism and Food, Cathal Brugha Street, Sackville Place and Kevin Street
In 1975 the University of Dublin entered into an agreement whereby it conferred academic degrees at the colleges that formed Dublin Institute of Technology; this allowed these graduates a vote in the University of Dublin constituency for Seanad Éireann representatives. This continued until 1998, when Dublin Institute of Technology was granted its own autonomous degree-awarding powers. DIT has awarded Professorships since 2003.
An application for university designation in 1996 was declined but with the expert panel viewing the institution as on a trajectory for university designation. Dublin Institute of Technology now has a scope of activities and variety of powers identical to those of a university, and its degrees are recognised as such both in Ireland and internationally. The present internal structure of colleges and a graduate school has been in place since 2012. DIT has a Governing Body comprising distinguished representatives of public, including former Dublin Lord Mayors Maurice Ahern and Mary Freehill, social and industrial groups, faculty, staff and students, it is chaired by Professor Tom Collins.
The institution Is now in a formal process[13][14] leading to designation as a technological university [15]
See also
- DIT Students' Union
- DIT GAA
- Education in the Republic of Ireland
- List of higher education institutions in the Republic of Ireland
- Grangegorman Development Agency
References
- ^ "Electrical and Electronic Engineering DIT" (PDF). DIT SEEE. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ "DIT makes 'top100' for up-and-coming third-level institution". Irish Times. 30 April 2014.
- ^ Robinson, Jimmie (2007). From Certificates to Doctorates,by Degrees; Dublin Institute of Technology - a Photographic Memoir. ISBN 978-1-84218-143-0.
- ^ "CTVR website".
- ^ "Finishing touches as DIT campus opens in the heart of city". Irish Times. 4 September 2014.
- ^ "DIT opens new campus in Grangegorman to first students". Irish Independent. 10 September 2014.
- ^ http://www.ditsports.ie/site/view/28/
- ^ "DIT makes 'top100' for up-and-coming third-level institution". Irish Times. 30 April 2014.
- ^ "Greenmetric rankings 2013".
- ^ "2012 QS World University Rankings: Dublin Institute of Technology", QS Top Universities, 2012, retrieved 18 November 2012
- ^ Duff, Tom; et al. (2000). The Story of Dublin Institute of Technology. Blackhall Press. ISBN 1-842180-13-4.
- ^ http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1992/en/act/pub/0015/index.html
- ^ "ITs or Tech Unis". Irish Times. 16 February 2014.
- ^ "The transforming landscape of higher education in Ireland". Public Affairs Ireland. 4 April 2014.
- ^ DIT seeks an upgrading to university – Latest News, Education, Independent.ie, 20 October 2006, retrieved 13 September 2010
External links
- Universities and colleges in the Republic of Ireland
- Dublin Institute of Technology
- Education in Dublin (city)
- Further education colleges in Dublin (city)
- Educational institutions established in 1978
- Science and technology in Ireland
- 1887 establishments in Ireland
- Business schools in the Republic of Ireland
- Art schools in Ireland