Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris has welcomed the incorporation of St. Angela’s College into the Atlantic Technological University.
St. Angela’s College in Sligo has now dissolved and has become a part of the ATU, the second largest TU in the state now with nine campuses including at Lough Gill and a student population of almost 25,000.
Minister Harris said that St. Angela’s College, Sligo has long been an important provider of initial teacher education particularly in terms of its home economics offerings not just in Sligo but nationally.
It provides higher education programmes across a range of other important disciplines including over two decades in delivering nursing education.
“So becoming an integral part of emerging higher education powerhouse in the West / North West that is ATU has always to my mind been a logical step,” he said.
“But it has not been an easy road. Today marks the end of a long journey for many people but it is the beginning of a new dawn for the staff, students and the county of Sligo.”
Minister Harris said that he was conscious this is a sad day for some as St Angela’s is no more, but that ATU is the future for this great institution.
He thanked the presidents, governing bodies, staff and students of both higher education institutions for the many years of hard work behind the incorporation.
