The Institutes of Technology in Athlone, Blanchardstown, Carlow, Dundalk, Dun Laoghaire, Galway-Mayo, Letterkenny, Limerick, Sligo, Tallaght and Tralee have combined in a bid to see the entire sector re-designated as part of a University of Technology.
The call is made in a detailed submission to the group preparing a new strategy for Irish higher education and its impact on Waterford's bid for a regional university is unclear.
While the review group is unlikely to publish its findings until early next year, the submission from the 11 Institutes says that they can operate most efficiently as constituent colleges of a University of Technology. Their document says the move will deliver considerable cost savings and improve productivity across the colleges.
Waterford Institute of Technology made a bid to the Government seeking re-designation as University of the South East in February 2006 and repeats this call in its submission to the review group chaired by Waterford-born economist Dr Colin Hunt.
Submissions supporting University of the South East were made by Friends of the University of the South East; the South East Regional Authority; Waterford Chamber; Waterford City Development Board; Waterford Council of Trade Unions; Waterford County Council and Wexford County Council.
Stand-alone university bids are also currently in place from the Institutes of Technology in Dublin and Cork.