The Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) – Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) Consortium submitted a joint application seeking designation as a technological university to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, T.D., on 20 November 2020. 

The Minister appointed an Advisory Panel to assess the application and to provide a report with a recommendation on whether or not to make an order under Section 36 of the TU Act 2018. The Panel completed its review virtually in January and February 2021. 

Following careful consideration of the Advisory Panel’s report and the supporting views of the Higher Education Authority, the Minister notified the consortium of his proposed decision to grant the application.

Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest was established on 1 October 2021.