17 November, 2021

The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 has placed Munster Technological University (MTU) as the top Technological University in Ireland and University of the Year for COVID Impact.

MTU makes its debut in The Sunday Times Top 10 in eighth place overall in the third level ranking and the highest of Ireland’s three technological universities. The ranking is based on data derived exclusively from MTU’s two predecessor institutions, ITT and CIT.

MTU’s CAO first-preference honours degree applications have risen by more than 16%, almost twice the national average, while MTU’s research income increased to 19 million in 2020, up 3 million from 2019, and research expenditure is the highest of the new technological universities. Professor Maggie Cusack, President of MTU, said the establishment of the University has been an unqualified success and is delighted that this has been recognised by the Sunday Times.

The Sunday Times adjudicating panel were also impressed by the MTU image “Talking Heads”, winner of the SFI Research Image of the Year 2020. The image was captured by researchers as part of the MASK - Making Aerosol Safety Known Project.

According to the Altmetric Attention Score, which measures the societal reach of research, the MASK Project was rated in the top 5% of all research outputs worldwide during the year.

Alastair McCall, Editor of The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said that the public health messaging of ‘Talking Heads’ is as relevant today as it was when first published in 2020, when it was becoming apparent that Covid transmission was aerosol, rather than contact-driven.

“They say a picture is worth one thousand words; this is a picture that could also save thousands of lives, and on its own earned MTU our University of the Year award for COVID Impact for its significance and societal reach,” he added.

MTU was also also recognised for donating its entire PPE stock to local hospitals at the beginning of the pandemic and for providing the Melbourn Building, on the Bishopstown Campus, to the HSE as a vaccination centre.

Commenting on the award for University of the Year for COVID Impact, President Cusack acknowledged the resilience, commitment, and ingenuity of MTU students and staff on finding new ways to learn, teach, research, and innovate during a period of immense challenge.

“I am proud to lead a university community of students and staff who, despite all that they have had to deal with, continue to succeed together and to excel across all areas of our activity,” she said.

If you feel your organisation could benefit from a collaboration with MTU students, lecturers or researchers email the Extended Campus at extended.campusCork@mtu.ie to explore your options.

Check out our database of case studies, illustrating previous important industry partnerships by clicking here.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with all news involving collaborations with external organisations and MTU students, lecturers and researchers: click to subscribe.