Regional Technical College
A Regional Technical College (RTC) is a type of college in Ireland now replaced by an Institute of Technology (IOT). The idea of the institutions was first announced by Patrick Hillery in 1963, a year later a site for an institution in Carlow was identified, the Investment in Education (1962) and Training of Technicians in Ireland (1964) reports greatly accelerated the trend in Ireland for education reform and development particularily in technical education. This was similar to the pattern in many western countries at the time.
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2 Programmes & Validation 3 Institutes of Technology 4 See also 5 External links |
The first institutions, formally opened their doors in 1970, later more were added in Cork, Galway, Letterkenny, Limerick, Tallaght and Tralee. RTC, Limerick was cancelled after National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick was announced. Some colleges developed from earlier institutions and colleges, often after amalgamation, others were completely new colleges.
The institutions were run by Vocational Education Committees (Vocational Education Acts) until 1992, and placed on an independent basis thereafter (Regional Technical Colleges Acts). The eleven institutions: Athlone (1970), Carlow (1970), Cork (1976?), Dundalk (1970), Galway (1972), Letterkenny (1971), Limerick (1992), Sligo (1970), Tallaght (1992), Tralee (1977), Waterford (1970).
The primary courses taught in the institutions were National Certificate and National Diploma type courses particularly in business, engineering and science, later degrees at Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral levels were allowed.
Most courses were conferred by the National Council for Educational Awards, this statutory authority became the Higher Education and Training Awards Council recently. Some specialised courses, such as accountancy, are validated by professional bodies.
In the late 1990s all of the institutions were upgraded to Institute of Technology status. This was in recognition of the high standards, including university level research, which takes place at them. Additionally some institutions have been given delegated authority and confer their own certificates and diplomas and in due course degrees.
The Regional Techical Colleges Acts still apply to all the institutions, with Dublin Institute of Technology set up under previous legislation and been quite distinct. Two new institutions include: Blanchardstown (2000) and DÃÂún Laoghaire (1997). These two colleges are still very much in a early phase of developing courses and defining their role in the system of education.Regional Technical Colleges
Programmes & Validation
Institutes of Technology