Early plans for a technical university (T.U.) in the region included a three-way merger with Waterford IT which was examined in 2012.[7] In building a proposal, the two institutions sought to offer a multi-campus institution spanning across Cork and Kerry, creating a second university in the region, and third in the province of Munster.[8][9][10] A formal application for T.U. status was lodged in February 2019.[11]
In May 2019, academic staff of Cork Institute of Technology and IT Tralee rejected the merger,[12] and an international advisory panel visited the campuses.[13][14] In 2019, Cork Institute of Technology refused to take on IT Tralee's financial debts.[15]
In May 2020, TaoiseachLeo Varadkar announced the formal approval of the technological university, to begin operations in January 2021.[5][4][6]
In October 2021, MTU launched the Code Red Period Dignity campaign to provide free period products to staff and students. It was the first university in Ireland to provide such a service. The campaign also ran a series of events, talks and workshops to tackle taboos and misinformation around menstruation. [16][17][18]
Munster Technological University consists of six campuses, the Kerry campuses in Dromtacker and Clash, Tralee, and the Cork campuses in Bishopstown, Cork School of Music (Cork City Centre), and Crawford College of Art and Design, as well as the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) facility in Ringaskiddy.[1][6] Research activity is undertaken in a number of centres across the university's facilities.[20]
The main Cork campus, of approximately eighty acres, is situated in Bishopstown in the western suburbs of Cork city.[21] It has theatres, lecture rooms, laboratories, drawing studios, a library, computer suites, open access computing centre and research units. Recreational facilities for the expected student population include a running track, tennis courts, all-weather pitch, a gymnasium and grass playing pitches, while an indoor swimming pool is located nearby. This campus has won awards for its architectural design and aesthetics.[22] A new sports facility building was planned for the campus, with works proposed to begin during 2020[update].[23][24][needs update]
The Crawford College of Art and Design spans a number of buildings in the centre of Cork city. Visual communications and digital media courses are based between the Bishopstown Campus and Sober Lane building, adjacent to Sullivan's Quay. Several fine art and art programmes are based from the university's Sharman Crawford Street campus and its facility on Grand Parade. Art therapy and art and design education are also based from the Grand Parade building.[25]