The Role of THEA
THEA is the representative organisation for the technological university sector, which comprises ATU (Atlantic Technological university), SETU (Southeast Technological University), TUS (Technological University of the Shannon), DkIT (Dundalk Institute of Technology) and IADT (Institute of Art Design and Technology, DunLaoghaoire). The organisation’s primary function is to act for and advocate on behalf of the technological university sector with a national, unified, authoritative voice.
THEA interacts on behalf of the sector with many different key national and international stakeholders and influencers, including but not limited to:
- National and Local Government
- Government Departments
- Enterprise Ireland
- HEA
- Ibec
- Irish Research Council
- Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
- Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
- Solas
- Unions and representative bodies
Communal working across the technological higher education sector is facilitated by THEA through a series of working groups, committees and sub committees with representation from right across the sector. These groups, facilitated by THEA, work together in order share information, problem solve, create and enhance policy and create and agree submissions to Government on a wide variety of issues that affect the technological higher education sector.
- THEA Board and Council
- VP Academic Affairs & Registrar
- VP Corporate Affairs
- Human Resources Managers
- Finance Officers
- FOI Network
- Research, Development, Innovation & Engagement
- Heads of Research
- Knowledge Transfer / Industry Engagement
- Estate Managers
- Heads of Schools: Engineering
- Heads of Schools: Science
- Heads of Schools: Business / Humanities
- ASSAMs Managers
- Access Group
- Librarians
- Apprenticeship Committee
- Internal Audit Steering Committee
- IT Managers
THEA plays a leading role in influencing policy development for the technological higher education sector and works hard to ensure that the national voice for the sector is heard and acted upon.
Academic Affairs: The Academic Affairs office in THEA works collaboratively with the Chief Academic Officers of its members (Registrars/Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs) to consider and, where appropriate, coordinate and support the development of the Technological Higher Education sector’s position on key strategic issues in the areas of academic policy, academic governance, and academic standards and quality. You can find out more here
Corporate Affairs: Ireland’s Institutes of Technology are to the forefront in promoting excellent standards of Corporate Governance within higher education in this country. The THEA office provides support and advice to Ireland’s Institutes of Technology across the range of Corporate Governance area, most particularly on Human Resources, Funding and Finance, Governance and Gender and Diversity. You find out more here
Research, development and innovation is an established and strongly growing area of activity for the Technological Higher Education Institutions. More information around the RDI activities of the sector and case studies of successful enterprises can be found here.
The international office at THEA supports the internationalisation strategy of the technological higher education sector and works with national and international agencies to further the aims of the internationalisation strategy for Ireland 2016 – 2020, published by the Department of Education and Skills. We have a number of International agreements with consortia of higher education bodies around the world. You can access more information on these agreements and opportunities to study at an Irish Institute of Technology or Technological University as an international student.
