From Charter to Framework: The Case for Higher Education Provision in Kilkenny

Kilkenny County Council engaged BH Associates to explore the case for a substantial higher education provision in Kilkenny city to support the social and economic development of the city, county, and region through the provision, attraction, and retention of graduates with high-level skills.  

The Report found:

·            There is a convincing educational, social and economic case for locating tertiary/higher education and training provision in Kilkenny with the proposal aligning well with government policy across education –  including meeting growing demand and drawing on policy objectives for technological universities.

·            The proposal also aligns well with regional policy, especially as regards providing counter-weights to Dublin, based on making the South-East region more attractive than it currently is. 

·            The inclusion of Kilkenny as a campus of a multi-campus technological university in the South-East would enhance the development and impact of the university. 

·            Provision should leverage off regional/local expertise and strengths (in craft/design, agriculture, and/or animation – as well as history/culture and heritage/tourism) in order to establish a national centre of excellence so that it strengthens the region’s attractiveness nationally and internationally and builds sustainability.

·            Smart specialisation strategies provide opportunities to deepen partnerships between PACE (agri-tech) and NDIH (design) with enterprise and regional authorities to contribute to, and strengthen, innovation and regional development.

Full Report is available here.

Report in The Irish Times

Report in the Irish Examiner