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Rankings matter, says WIT President as Universities downgraded

Rankings matter, says WIT President as Universities downgraded

The President of Waterford Institute of Technology says the downgrading of our universities is very concerning.

Six out of eight Irish Universities have been downgraded in the World rankings.

The country's top placed college Trinity has dropped from 88th place to 104th meaning Ireland no longer has a place in the top 100.

UCD, DCU, UCC and NUIG have all dropped down the rankings -Maynooth and Limerick escaped a fall but remain outside the top 500.

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The list is compiled taking account of staff to student ratios, academic and employer reputation.

President of WIT Prof Willie Donnelly says it's worrying:
"It's of interest to everybody that we have high performing universities that are internationally ranked because it is linked with investment by industry...they look at the quality of the universities, the quality of teaching. If we're slipping in the ranking then that is bad for investment."

Professor Donnelly says the strategy for the new Technological University for the South East will be for it to feature in the top 100 new universities by 2030.

The WIT President says that while the Institute had good news this week with the funding for a new Engineering, Science and General Teaching building, overall there is a need for huge investment in basic infrastructures.

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