THE COMPOSITION of the expert group to advise on the criteria and evaluation process by which RTCs can achieve Institute of Technology status has been generally welcomed by the sector, although the presence of Dr Sean McDonagh in the group has caused some raised eyebrows.

The RTC sector is split on whether or not directors of RTCs should serve on any group which will advise on redesignation.

While McDonagh is serving in his capacity as chairman of the council of directors of RTCs, his other role as director of Dundalk RTC has rankled in other colleges. McDonagh was one of the directors who called for a reassessment of their college status following last month's upgrading of Waterford RTC.

The inclusion of TEASTAS chairman Dick Langford has also caused some unhappiness, particularly in Cork; Cork RTC rejected the TEASTAS proposals on the RTCs and its director resigned from the council of directors of RTCs as a result.

Meanwhile, Tralee RTC has added its name to the list of RTCs seeking redesignation. Sligo, Dundalk, Carlow and, of course, Cork have all demanded a change of status following the Minister's announcement on January 28th.

Dr Sean McBride, director of Tralee RTC, called for the extension of new status to the college and reconfirmed his support for a single national framework for the RTCs.

However, McBride appeared to shy away from calling for Institute of Technology status for Tralee, preferring instead "University Institute" or "Institute of Higher Education".

It's probably a wise decision. After all, if Waterford is to be known as WIT and Cork is now calling itself CIT, the Tralee Institute of Technology could find its new initials a bit of a burden ...