SETU to Expand Presence in Waterford

The South East Technological University (SETU) has been granted approval to expand its presence in Waterford.

The university will acquire 20.3 acres of the 37-acre Waterford Crystal site, subject to the necessary due diligence requirements. The move marks a significant milestone for SETU, as it will allow the institution to grow and embed itself in the city of Waterford.

The purchase of the site will also help the university to address current space shortages, cater for future student growth, and drive economic and social development in Waterford.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris said:

“This is a major moment in the development of SETU. The purchase of the site will allow SETU expand and grow, and crucially embed in the city of Waterford.

“We know the history of this site. Once a bustling site of business and tourism, the site has been largely derelict since the closure of Waterford Crystal over 14 years ago.

“Today is a new dawn for this site. Here SETU will grow and this site will once again become a bustling site for students, research, enterprise and for the people of Waterford through creation of an active and dynamic University-Enterprise Quarter.”

The President of SETU, Professor Veronica Campbell, welcomed the announcement, stating that the university’s ambition was to create a hub of knowledge, learning, enterprise, innovation, and creativity by bringing together academia, research, industry, and communities.

The acquisition of the site will allow SETU to expand and grow, while also realising the transformative vision of a University-Enterprise Quarter in Waterford.

South East Technological University (SETU) is a public technological university located in the South East region of Ireland. It was formed from the amalgamation of two existing institutes of technology in the region – Waterford IT and IT Carlow.