Cinnte review of Munster Technological University published
The review report from the CINNTE review of Munster Technological University (MTU), conducted in March 2024, is now published on QQI’s website.
A QQI-appointed independent team of national and international experts completed a review of the effectiveness of the internal quality assurance system of the university, recognising good practice that delivers impact for students and staff, and making recommendations on areas for improvement in the coming years. MTU is the first of four newly established technological universities to undergo the CINNTE process in 2024.
Speaking on the publication of the report, Professor Cara Aitchison, former Vice-Chancellor of both Cardiff Metropolitan University (2016-2024) and Plymouth Marjon University (2013-2016), and current Board member of the Scottish Funding Council, who chaired the MTU review team said,
“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.”
