Cinnte review of Munster Technological University published
Munster Technological University (MTU) recently completed the CINNTE review process. It is the first technological university to go through QQI's CINNTE review in 2024.
QQI's CINNTE reviews assess and report on the effectiveness of quality assurance systems in public higher education institutions. CINNTE reviews explore how institutions improve their teaching, learning and research systems. They also investigate how well do HEIs align with their own mission, quality indicators and benchmarks.
A panel of national and international experts recently conducted a review of MTU quality assurance systems. QQI have now published the report. It highlights good practice that demonstrates positive benefits for students, staff and the wider community. MTU’s contribution to the South-West region was particularly praised. The review team acknowledges that the university is at an early stage, but they emphasise the need to continue to formalise and embed the university’s governance and academic structures. The report also suggests that MTU clarifies role responsibilities and relationships within it.
Professor Cara Aitchison, former President and Vice-Chancellor, Cardiff Metropolitan University, who chaired the Munster TU review team, commented:
“Munster Technological University is not simply a place of learning but a high-quality collaborative and innovative environment borne out of a leadership culture in which people are enabled to develop and grow in ways that deliver positive benefit to the economy, community, and education in the region and beyond.
The review team recognised the challenging journey that MTU has been on since it was established on 1 January 2021. The Strategic Plan, Our Shared Vision 2022−2027, is a model route map for the required journey, setting out a coherent mission, vision and set of guiding values for the new university in which there is a clear focus on ‘Succeeding Together’.
The team was impressed by the leadership of the university and the commitment, resilience, and professionalism of staff in ensuring a positive student learning experience.
Positive working relationships enabled partnership to be a golden thread running through the work of MTU and the review team was particularly impressed by the range and depth of the partnerships with industry that had clearly added value to students’ learning, staff research, and had leveraged significant added value to the economy.
The review team was also impressed by the visible and inclusive student-centred culture that widens access to higher education, demonstrated through its strong record of regional collaboration to ensure effective progression from further to higher education.
The openness of staff enabled constructive dialogue relating to those areas where MTU already recognised improvements could be made; the review team is confident that the leadership and staff are committed to a journey of continuous improvement. This journey will be expedited with the bolstering of the senior leadership team ensuring recommendations discussed with MTU staff and set out in the report are implemented as quickly as possible.
It was clear to the review team that MTU makes an extensive and visible contribution to achieving the primary objective of a technological university in supporting the region’s economy, community, and education. It does so through a clear focus on quality assurance and by fostering a collaborative culture that enables students and staff to thrive in partnership with each other and with external stakeholders.
On behalf of the review team, I wish to express my thanks to Professor Maggie Cusack and her team at MTU for their constructive engagement with the review process; the team greatly enjoyed our work and our visits to Cork and Kerry and have every confidence in the future of MTU.”
Professor Maggie Cusack, President of Munster TU commented on the publication of the report:
“I welcome the findings of the CINNTE review and am delighted that our staff have been recognised for their collaborative spirit and their commitment to giving our students the best possible experience at MTU. I am particularly pleased that MTU’s Strategic Plan Our Shared Vision 2022-2027 was singled out for praise. This Plan puts our students and staff at the heart of everything we do, and sets out our ambition to be a truly great university with a positive impact on society and the economy both locally and globally.”
Dr Padraig Walsh, QQI Chief Executive Officer noted:
“This review was conducted following a period of great transformation for Munster Technological University, with its merger only recently completed. It is to MTU’s credit that they have hit the ground running, developing a high-quality, student-centred teaching and learning environment.”
Munster TU was established on 1 January 2021 as a technological university following a merger of two founding institutions – Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and Institute of Technology Tralee (IT Tralee). MTU is a multi-campus university with sites across Cork and Kerry.
