Technological Universities Transformation fund

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) was successful in securing a €40m investment in the technological sector through the TU Education & Training Reforms Programme Fund. The key objective of the NRRP TU Education and Training Reforms Programme Fund is to accelerate the stated plans and mission of Ireland’s Technological Universities through a targeted set of reforms and investments.  

The Higher Education Authority issued a call under this scheme that was designed to encourage a sectoral level proposal to optimise teaching and learning strengths. In response to a call under the TU Education & Training Reforms Programme Fund, a single award was made to a consortium of Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology for the N-TUTORR project. N-TUTORR’s programme of work is organised around three connecting streams, which are designed to enable the technological sector to meet regional and national needs for digitisation, to cater for 21st century learning and research, and to ensure that the new technological sector is sufficiently equipped to deliver the returns on the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030.

To date the project has made a number of advances in transforming the delivery of teaching, learning and assessment. The Partners in Innovation and Change Fellowship scheme is designed to create opportunities for students and staff to engage in meaningful partnerships to enhance student success and address challenges resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. In May 2023, 131 fellowship projects were awarded.  A curriculum framework has been developed that aims to create a sustainable and resilient higher education aligned to the institutional gender action plans and the national Climate Action Plan. A Digital Student Backpack has been launched, this provides flexible, accessible, and self-directed learning pathways to empower students to learn and develop skills focused on global priorities and challenges. The project will end by December 2024.

Consortium of Technological Universities awarded initial allocation of €18.81m under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan | News | Higher Education Authority (hea.ie)

N-TUTORR recorded Masterclass series