Education

Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) is now the Top Institute of Technology in Ireland. With more than 10,000 students and 5,000 graduating annually with a strong focus on STEM, Waterford City Region has a talent pipeline that is broad, deep and exceptionally versatile thanks to a well-coordinated regional skills initiative, excellent schools, colleges and Institute of Technology.

Waterford Institute of Technology is an internationally recognised institution and its investment in innovation, research and development has been unique in the education sector

Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) is a research-led Institute, recognised for its distinctive, high quality centres of research. WIT is investing in Centres of Excellences and areas of knowledge-intensive industrial development in Waterford, which are driving the region’s global impacts.

• WIT’s research expertise in ICT, Advanced Manufacturing and Life Sciences drives innovation and development in these industries in the Waterford City Region.

• WIT hosts three technology gateways, a €23m investment by the National Enterprise Agency Enterprise Ireland to create South East Applied Materials (SEAM) Research Centre, Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre (PMBRC), and the TSSG Technology Gateway which is part of the international renowned Telecommunications Software & Systems Group (TSSG).

• NDRC@ArcLabs Start-up Accelerator supporting the development of new digital enterprises.

The development of a Technological University (TU) for the South East of Ireland TUSEI is a bold step building on the existing institutional strengths at WIT and will create a distinctive, modern, innovative, high-impact education and research organisation. The impact of a university of scale in the Waterford City Region with an anticipated 18,000 students and 1,300 staff is transformative and will retain the regions talent in the South East. The development in Waterford of a university quarter that will function as a landmark development will be an indispensable anchor of the city of Waterford and the South East region performing a central role in regional and national economic, cultural and social development as set out in Ireland 2040.

Waterford City and County has an excellent range of primary and secondary educational facilities, with access to 77 primary schools and 19 post primary schools.

Access to primary and post primary multi-denominational and co-educational opportunities are also available across the City and County. Waterford post primary schools have a recognised high level of 3^rd level attainment, meaning over 89% of school leavers progress on to 3^rd level education.