Minister reaffirms commitment to deliver Technological University for the South East New regional advisory group meets today Reporter: '); Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris has re-affirmed Government’s commitment to a Technological University for the South East. Minister Harris was speaking at a new Regional Engagement Advisory Group, attended by Presidents of IT Carlow and WIT and business leaders for the area. “It is a significant priority for Government, myself as Minister and my Department that the South-East attains technological university status this year," he said. "This region is the only one without any university presence and that is a situation that is not good for the region and which must and will be rectified. The benefits of a TU are significant –the ability to attract Foreign Direct Investment, to retain and create skills and employment in the region and to give students the highest quality education across all qualification levels, from apprenticeship to doctoral degrees, whilst residing in their own locality.