Athlone Institute of Technology

The aim of this website is to present general information on the institute and the facilities and services provided for students, as well as well as an outline of programmes currently offered by TUS. We offer a wide variety of programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level, delivered on a full-time and part-time basis. Programmes at TUS have been introduced and developed in line with changing regional, national and international needs. Emphasis on research activities and liaison with industrial and commercial organisations has helped to ensure the relevance and technological competence of courses at the institute, and has enhanced the employment prospects of our graduates over the years. We hope that you will find a course that interests you and supports your career aspirations, from the wide selection featured in this website. Further details of any of TUS’s courses may be obtained by contacting staff at the Faculty of Business & Hospitality, Faculty of Engineering & Informatics and the Faculty of Health & Science. Athlone is a vibrant and interesting place to live and I think you will fully enjoy your time spent here.The Athlone Institute of Technology was established by the Irish Government in 1970 as the Athlone Regional Technical College, under control of the local Vocational Education Committee. The college gained more autonomy with the enactment of the Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992. In late 1997, as with the other RTC's, it was renamed as the Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT). In 1999, AIT became a validation authority with the power to award HETAC degrees. In 2000, Ciarán Ó Catháin was appointed as the institute's president. Dr. David Fenton and James Coyle were previous holders of the post, having been called director and principal. In 2001, a School of Humanities was opened. In 2010, President of Ireland Mary McAleese spoke at the fortieth anniversary of the College.The AIT had a campus size of 44 acres, and has new, purpose-built facilities include the Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Studies building, built in 2003; the Nursing and Health Science building, built in 2005; the Midlands Innovation and Research Centre, also built in 2005; the Engineering and Informatics building, built in 2010; and the Postgraduate Research Hub, also built in 2010. RTÉ's Midlands studio and office are located at AIT.The institute has memorandum of understanding with the Rio de Janeiro State University, one of the largest universities in the Brazilian city. It also has agreements with the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, one of the largest Brazilian private universities. The Institute also founded agreements with two leading Beijing universities, the Capital University of Economics and Business and the Beijing Union University. The agreements were signed by the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland and university representatives. Other agreements exist between the institute and TVTC, in Saudi Arabia, and a memorandum of understanding exists with the Georgia Institute of Technology. Further agreements exist with the Bharati Vidyapeeth, one of the largest universities in India. A freedom of information request revealed in December 2020 that Athlone IT spent €6,737.33 on legal fees in 2018 and 2019 and paid an undisclosed amount as a settlement after receiving legal advice on sexual harassment claims.The Athena SWAN CharterThe Athena SWAN Charter recognises and celebrates good practice in recruiting, retaining and promoting women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) in higher education. The Charter aims to address gender imbalances in STEMM disciplines, based on the belief that endeavours in these fields will be enriched when they can benefit from the talent of the whole population, and when barriers to progress in academic careers are removed.Since its launch in 2005, the Athena SWAN programme has been widely implemented in the UK higher education sector, where it is run by the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU). The Charter was expanded to Ireland in 2014 on a pilot basis, managed by ECU and supported by the HEA. By signing the Charter, the Irish universities and Institutes of Technology have made a progressive commitment to embed its six principles in their policies, practices and culture.The (original) Charter PrinciplesTo address gender inequalities requires commitment and action from everyone, at all levels of the organisationTo tackle the unequal representation of women in science requires changing cultures and attitudes across the organisationThe absence of diversity at management and policy-making levels has broad implications which the organisation will examineThe high loss rate of women in science is an urgent concern which the organisation will addressThe system of short-term contracts has particularly negative consequences for the retention and progression of women in science, which the organisation recognisesThere are both personal and structural obstacles to women making the transition from PhD into a sustainable academic career in science, which require the active consideration of the organisationIn November 2018, Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) applied for the Athena Swan (AS) Bronze award with the view to attracting and retaining the brightest and most competent educators and researchers to guide the next generation of great thinkers.The institute is firmly committed to the principles that underpin the AS agenda, including gender equality, and wants to ensure the continued growth of an inclusive campus culture where employee’s multifaceted and intersecting identities are valued, respected and empowered.Through the attainment of the AS Bronze Award, the institute will continue to develop an effective strategy, committed to the ongoing development of effective and progressive policies, procedures and initiatives, subsequently leading to higher levels of female applicants for positions and promotions, enhanced job satisfaction, a better work environment and higher numbers of female students in Research and STEMM disciplines.

Courses

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