STRATEGIC PLAN 2019 Institute of Technology Tallaght Strategic Plan 2016 – 2019
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Institute of Technology Tallaght 2016 STRATEGIC PLAN 2019 Institute of Technology Tallaght Strategic Plan 2016 – 2019 Contents Foreword 1. Introduction 1.1 Context: The Greater Dublin Region 6 1.2 Institute Mission 6 1.3 Institute Profile 7 1.4 Academic Schools, Disciplines & Programmes 8 1.5 Academic Quality Assurance 9 1.6 Research 9 1.7 Innovation and Enterprise Development 9 1.8 Student Demographic 10 1.9 Cultural Diversity 10 1.10 Educational Philosophy 12 1.11 Guiding Principles and Values 12 1.12 The Student Experience 13 2. IT Tallaght’s Vision and Strategy: Strategic Pillars, Goals and Objectives 2016-19 14 Pillar 1: Technological University Designation 18 Pillar 2: Career Focused Quality Higher Education 19 2.1 Programme Design and Delivery 19 2.2 Excellence in Teaching, Learning and the Quality of the Student Experience 20 2.3 Participation, Access and Lifelong Learning 20 Pillar 3: Research, Innovation and Enterprise 22 3.1 Core Research Capacity 22 3.2 Institute Research Centres and Groups 22 3.3 Innovation and Entrepreneurship 23 Pillar 4: Enhanced Engagement with Enterprise and the Community 24 4.1 Increase Engagement with Industry 24 4.2 Promote Civic Engagement 24 Pillar 5: Internationalisation 25 5.1 Internationalise the Campus 25 5.2 Promote International Student and Staff Exchanges 25 5.3 Increase the International Dimension of our Programmes 26 Pillar 6: Campus Development 27 6.1 Develop the Existing Campus 27 6.2 Promote Environmental Sustainability 27 6.3 A Health Promoting University 27 Pillar 7: People and Culture 28 3. Strategy Implementation 29 3.1 Conclusion 30 ii 1 Institute of Technology Tallaght Strategic Plan 2016 – 2019 Foreword Introduction by President On behalf of the Governing Body, I welcome This Strategic Plan sets out the proposed the publication of the Institute’s Strategic Plan strategic direction of the Institute of Technology 2016-19. The Strategic Plan provides a clear Tallaght for the period 2016-2019. The Strategic and focused strategy for the development of the Plan is formed against the background of the Institute over the next three years. National Strategy for Higher Education in Ireland to 2030 which sets out an ambitious plan for all The most defining achievement of the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Ireland. current Strategic Plan will be the successful It is also formulated at a point of transition achievement of Technological University status in the Institute’s history. The Institute plans by the Institute and its partner institutions, to apply for designation with its partners as a the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and Technological University during the life of this the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown Strategic Plan. (ITB). The Governing Body believes that the future Technological University will contribute Our strategic priorities are influenced by We look forward with optimism to shaping the to sustaining the Dublin region as an our Performance Compact with the Higher future. Our ambition is to promote progress internationally competitive location, critical for Education Authority (HEA). These reflect in our region and to facilitate the personal and the successful performance of the entire national the criteria for designation as a Technological professional achievements of our staff and economy. University and the set of national priorities students, and of the communities we serve. Our established by Government in areas that implementation plans recognise that strategic The establishment of a Technological University cover the broad spectrum of higher education achievement is delivered through the staff of for the Greater Dublin Region will be one of the provision, from research to industry engagement, the Institute as well as our stakeholders and our most exciting and important landmarks in Irish and the wider dimension of internationalisation. students. higher education in decades. Our priorities also reflect our distinct profile and mission which differentiates us from other Thomas Stone Professor Tom Collins Higher Education Institutes in the Irish Higher President Chairman of ITT Governing Body Education (HE) landscape. 2 3 Institute of Technology Tallaght Strategic Plan 2016 – 2019 1 Introduction The Institute of Technology Tallaght was established in 1992 and caters for a student population of 5,604 students. It is the only third level Higher Education Institute in South Dublin County, which is one of the most densely populated and highly industrialised counties in Ireland. Since its establishment, the Institute has embraced significant change and transformation. It has pioneered new developments in education and research and is at the forefront of scientific and technological innovations in industry. It has established centres of innovation and entrepreneurship, adapted to the impact of ICT on education, embracing the challenges and opportunities associated with the globalisation of markets, education and technologies. 4 5 Institute of Technology Tallaght Strategic Plan 2016 – 2019 The Institute is now on a new path of Overall, the Greater Dublin Region is 1.3 INSTITUTE PROFILE transformation with the ultimate ambition recognised as a national asset and its ongoing The student population of the Institute in of creating and becoming part of a new development as an internationally competitive 2015/16 was 5,604 registered students. This Technological University. This process is in place location is critical for the performance of the comprised 3,057 full-time students and 2,547 since October 2011 when the Institute, together entire national economy2. The Technological part-time students, including over 500 students with the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) University (TU4Dublin) aims to play a pivotal registered on professional programmes. The and the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown role in the Dublin region. With three main trend in student numbers, full-time and part- (ITB), established a formal alliance to develop a campuses in Dublin, the university is forecasted time, over the period 2010/11 to 2015/16 is programme of work that will culminate in the to have an estimated 27,000 learners, studying illustrated in Figure 1.1 below. submission of a joint application for designation at levels 6 to 10 on the National Framework as a Technological University. of Qualifications (NFQ). Flexible and part- Figure 1.1 Student Numbers 2010/11 to time students will account for over one third 2015/16 ‘Technological Universities’ are envisaged as a of all TU4Dublin learners. The conceptual and new type of higher education institution in the legislative frameworks for the establishment 7000 Irish landscape. The Technological University of Technological Universities is provided in (TU4Dublin) will offer innovative pathways the HEA document, Process and Criteria for 6000 for students by providing flexible, practice-led Designation of a Technological University (2012), research and education opportunities that meet and the Technological Universities Bill (2015). 5000 the needs of a diverse population of learners. 4000 Graduates of the Technological University will 1.2 INSTITUTE MISSION develop attributes that prepare them for life The Institute is a key driver in the development 3000 and for fulfilling careers in a rapidly changing of the region and works closely with regional Student Numbers knowledge economy. and national partners for that purpose. The role 2000 of the Institute in the region is to: 1.1 CONTEXT: THE GREATER DUBLIN 1000 REGION • Provide learners with higher education 0 Ireland is now one of the most globalised opportunities from Level 6 to Level 10 on the 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 countries in the world and the Greater Dublin National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Year Region (GDR) is a key driver of economic • Widen participation in higher education Full-time Part-time Total growth within the Irish economy. Currently the country’s only internationally-competitive large • Create career ready graduates for business, industry and society Source: Annual Figures supplied to the Higher Education scale city region, the Greater Dublin Region Authority (HEA) in March of each year has a population of over 1.9 million people, • Provide comprehensive lifelong learning projected to reach 2.1 million by 2020. Dublin opportunities for the region Despite the impact of the recession during the generates approximately 48% of the national • Provide educational supports to business, period covered by the last Strategic Plan, student GDP and employs almost 30% of the workforce1. industry and society numbers have increased. With the forecast It has attracted 47% of Ireland’s Foreign Direct increase in population in the Dublin region, Investment (FDI); it is home to nine of the ten • Engage in research, innovation and enterprise coupled with the growth in new and exciting largest global ICT companies and it accounts development programme offerings and internationalisation, for 86% of the total FDI in the financial services • Contribute to social, cultural and economic student numbers are expected to increase over sector in Ireland. It attracts almost four million development the next five years. visitors annually, generating revenues of over €1 Billion and it accounts for 57% of the total • Enhance internationalisation and integration number of international students studying in within the region Ireland. 1 From the Economic Profile prepared by Dublin Chamber of Commerce, 2013. 6 7 2 ‘Dublin’s Role in the Irish and