Dublin Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT, Irish: Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath) was a major third-level institution in Dublin, Ireland. On 1 January 2019 DIT was dissolved and its functions were transferred to the Technological University Dublin, as TU Dublin City Campus.[2] The institution began with the establishment of the first technical education institution in Ireland, in 1887, and progressed through various legal and governance models, culminating in autonomy under a statute of 1992.
See also: Technological University DublinActive
1887 – foundation of City of Dublin Technical Schools
1978 – under the auspices of Dublin City Council
1992 – as an autonomous degree-awarding institution.–2019 – became part of Technological University Dublin
Professor Brian Norton
2,500[1]
20,000
Multiple locations in Dublin.
Relocating to a single inner suburban campus.
DIT was recognised particularly for degree programmes in Product Design, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Engineering, Science, Marketing, Hospitality, Music, Optometry, Pharmaceuticals, Construction, Digital Media and Journalism. It was ranked, in 2014, in Times Higher Education's top 100 university-level institutions globally under 50 years old.[3]
Alumni of the Dublin Institute of Technology include a number of Irish writers, artists, politicians and business leaders as well as international figures in the fields of arts, architecture and business.[4]
DIT's predecessor colleges were recognised as centres of excellence in their areas of specialism and, following the establishment of the unitary DIT, their expertise formed the nucleus of an internal structure comprising the following faculties and campuses:
From 2012 to 2018, DIT was organised into four colleges: Engineering and Built Environment, Business, Science and Health, and Arts and Tourism. These also contributed to the research activities of an overarching Graduate Research School and to four cross-institutional Research Institutes that brought together over seventy research centres and groups. The colleges in turn were divided into 27 Schools.
DIT also had various technology transfer and commercial units.
Faculty[edit]
Faculty included 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.
Previous faculty members included 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.
Partnerships[edit]
In common with other Irish universities, DIT validates programmes taught in other institutions in Dublin such as Pulse College, based in the Windmill Lane Studios, and the British and Irish Modern Music Institute BA programme.
There are student exchange and joint research programmes with several universities in India, China, Brazil, Australia, the US and Europe. DIT are also partners in the Mozambique Eyecare Project. As part of the project, an undergraduate course in Optometry was 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 also links with Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences across several subjects, with Columbia College Chicago in design and media and with Purdue University across a number of disciplines including a joint master's degree programme. There are student and staff exchanges with Grenoble School of Management. DIT accredits programmes at Middle East College in Oman.
Community outreach[edit]
Embedded in the life of Dublin city centre, DIT had several links with its neighbouring communities and schools. The Access and Civic Engagement service provided programmes that enabled those from traditionally under-represented groups to study at DIT. These included a number of access routes for children in secondary schools where there had been no tradition of continuing to third level education. It also made even earlier interventions in schools, for example the 'Pathways through Education' supports students in making the transition into secondary school.