{{Short description|Former higher educational institution in Sligo, Ireland}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox university | name = Institute of Technology, Sligo | native_name = Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Sligeach | image = Itsligo-logo.jpg | type = Public | established = {{Start date|1971}} | closed = {{End date|2022|04}} | faculty = 470<ref name="2016report">{{cite web|url = https://www.itsligo.ie/files/2012/07/IT-Sligo-Annual-Report-2015-2016-Web.pdf | publisher = itsligo.ie | title = IT Sligo Annual Report 2015 - 2016 | date = 2016 | access-date = 3 October 2018 }}</ref> | affiliation = Atlantic Technological University | president = Brendan McCormack | students = 6,000<ref name="2016report"/> | address = Ash Lane | city = Sligo | province = Connacht | postalcode = F91 YW50 | country = Ireland | coordinates = {{coord|54.278|-8.460|type:edu|display=title, inline}} | campus = {{convert|70|acre|m2}} | website = {{URL|https://www.itsligo.ie}} }}
The '''Institute of Technology, Sligo''' ('''ITS'''; {{langx|ga|Institiúid Teicneolaíochta, Sligeach}}) was an institute of technology, located in Sligo, Ireland. In April 2022, it was formally dissolved, and its functions became part of Atlantic Technological University (ATU).<ref name="ATU constituted">{{Cite news |date=1 April 2022 |title=Atlantic Technological University officially constituted |url=https://highlandradio.com/2022/04/01/292677/ |access-date=1 April 2022 |work=Highland Radio}}</ref> {{As of|2021|post=,}} the institute had three faculties and nine departments.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-14|title=Institute Of Technology {{!}} Ash Lane, Sligo|url=https://education2.ireland724.info/en/institute-of-technology-353-71-915-5222.html|access-date=2021-09-14|website=education2.ireland724.info|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Universities in Ireland|url=https://stellarioeducation.com.au/universities-in-ireland/|access-date=2021-09-14|website=Stellario Education|language=en-US|archive-date=14 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914211814/https://stellarioeducation.com.au/universities-in-ireland/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==History== The institute opened in 1970 as a Regional Technical College, and adopted the name 'Institute of Technology, Sligo' on 7 May 1997.<ref>{{Cite ISB|title=Regional Technical Colleges Act, 1992 (Amendment) (No. 2) Order, 1997|year=1997|number=199|signedby=Niamh Bhreathnach (Minister of Education)|date=7 May 1997|type=si}}</ref> The first students graduated with degrees from Sligo RTC in 1986.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 September 2016 |title=First degree class from 1986 to gather to celebrate anniversary |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/news/first-degree-class-from-1986-to-gather-to-celebrate-anniversary/35004515.html |access-date=12 April 2025 |work=The Sligo Champion |via=Irish Independent}}</ref>
Con Power, who acted as principal of the college from 1972 until 1979,<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/lifestyle/an-opportune-book-from-a-man-who-saw-it-all-before/27564291.html| website = independent.ie | title = An opportune book from a man who saw it all before | date = 6 May 2009 | accessdate = 15 April 2025 | quote = He was Principal of Sligo RTC (now Sligo IT) for seven years from 1972 to 1979 }}</ref> was later involved with other state bodies.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/revealed-another-top-adviser-has-dodgy-degree/25957455.html | website = independent.ie | title = Revealed: another top adviser has dodgy degree | date = 18 November 2005 | accessdate = 15 April 2025 | quote = Con Power obtained his doctorate from the Pacific Western University (PWU) which has been criticised for being little more than a "degree mill" [..] He was also Director of Economic Policy with the employers' body, Ibec, and was previously director of the Regional Technical College in Sligo }}</ref> Terri Scott was the institute's first female president, serving from 2008 until 2014.<ref name="Arrival of the fittest">{{cite news|author=Lorna Siggins|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/education/2009/0324/1224243311988.html|title=Arrival of the fittest|date=24 March 2009|access-date=12 February 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref> She was succeeded by Vincent Cunnane in October 2014. Brendan McCormack was appointed as president in September 2016.<ref name="president">{{cite web |url=https://www.itsligo.ie/administration/presidents-office/ |title=President's Office | website = itsligo.ie | accessdate = 21 May 2021 | quote = Dr Brendan McCormack has been President of IT Sligo since September 2016 }}</ref>
==Development== thumb|IT Sligo's "Main Concourse" IT Sligo developed a number of distance learning options, and as of 2016 reportedly had 1,800 online learners registered on various online programmes.<ref name="2016report"/> This subsequently increased to approximately 3000 online learners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itsligo.ie/|title=Institute of Technology Sligo|website=IT Sligo|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-31}}</ref>{{nonspecific|date=February 2019}}
In sports, the college has both ladies' and men's Gaelic football and soccer teams,<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 February 2014 |title=O'Connor Cup Round 1 Round Up |url=https://ladiesgaelic.ie/oconnor-cup-round-1-round/ |access-date=12 April 2025 |website=Ladies' Gaelic Football Association}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Farry |first=Jessica |date=15 September 2021 |title=Huge news for IT Sligo as Ndo takes charge |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/sport/soccer/huge-news-for-it-sligo-as-ndo-takes-charge/40853447.html |access-date=12 April 2025 |work=The Sligo Champion |via=Irish Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=24 August 2011 |title=Scholarships for sporting stars at IT Sligo |url=https://www.independent.ie/news/scholarships-for-sporting-stars-at-it-sligo/27583472.html |access-date=12 April 2025 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=25 February 2004 |title=ITs historic victory in 2002 |url=https://www.independent.ie/news/its-historic-victory-in-2002/27533813.html |access-date=12 April 2025 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref> with the men's gaelic football team winning the Sigerson Cup three times during the six years up to 2005.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Riordan |first=Ian |date=1 March 2004 |title=Sligo aces always going to trump Queen's |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/sligo-aces-always-going-to-trump-queen-s-1.1133576 |access-date=12 April 2025 |work=The Irish Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=27 February 2005 |title=Poor fare as Sligo retain Sigerson |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/poor-fare-as-sligo-retain-sigerson/26205288.html |access-date=12 April 2025 |work=Irish Independent}}</ref>
In technology, IT Sligo's "Team Hermes" won the software design category of the 2011 Microsoft Imagine Cup (a world student technology competition, held in 2011 in New York).<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 June 2011 |title=IT Sligo triumph in Microsoft Imagine Cup |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0714/303676-microsoft_imagine/ |access-date=12 April 2025 |work=RTÉ News}}</ref>
==Atlantic Technological University== {{main|Atlantic Technological University}} As of October 2018, Sligo IT was reportedly working with GMIT and Letterkenny IT to potentially form a Technological University for the West/North-West of Ireland.<ref name="UT">{{cite news |url-status=live |work=The University Times |archive-date=12 October 2018 |url=http://www.universitytimes.ie/2018/10/hea-invests-e800000-in-four-institutes-of-technology/ |location=Trinity College Dublin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012202052/http://www.universitytimes.ie/2018/10/hea-invests-e800000-in-four-institutes-of-technology/ |date=12 October 2018 |title=HEA Invests €800,000 in Four Institutes of Technology |first=Aisling |last=Marren |access-date=21 November 2018}}</ref> In October 2020, the constituent IT's were allocated over €5.5 million towards transformation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 October 2020 |title=Connacht-Ulster Alliance (LYIT, GMIT and IT Sligo) allocated €5.7m under Transformation Funding for Technological Universities |url=https://noneuapply.atudonegal.ie/news/new/13-connachtulster-alliance-lyit-gmit-and-sligo-allocated-eur57m-under-transformation-funding-technological-universities |access-date=12 April 2025 |website=ATU Donegal}}</ref>
Formal approval was granted in October 2021.<ref name="SR announcement">{{Cite web |last=O’Dea |first=Blathnaid |date=28 October 2021 |title=Connacht-Ulster Alliance receive minister's approval for new TU in 2022 |url=https://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/connacht-ulster-alliance-new-tu-2022 |access-date=12 April 2025 |website=Silicon Republic}}</ref> Atlantic TU began formal operations in April 2022.<ref name="ATU constituted"/>
== Gallery == <gallery> File:Itsligo-entrance.jpg|Main entrance to IT Sligo File:Itsligo-bic.jpg|Business Innovation Centre (BIC) at IT Sligo File:Itsligo-reception.jpg|Main reception File:Itsligo-sports-centre.jpg|Sports centre at IT Sligo File:Itsligo-track.jpg|400m running track File:Sligo IT library 2014.jpg|Section of library </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.itsligo.ie Official site - Institute of Technology, Sligo (as ATU)] *[http://www.ATU.ie Official site - Atlantic Technological University] *[http://www.itssu.ie Official site - I.T. Sligo Students' Union] {{Institutes of Technology in Ireland}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sligo, Institute Of Technology}} Category:Former universities and colleges in the Republic of Ireland Category:Atlantic Technological University Category:Institutes of technology in the Republic of Ireland Institute Of Technology, Sligo Institute Of Technology, Sligo Category:Educational institutions established in 1970 Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 2022 Institute Of Technology, Sligo Institute Of Technology, Sligo