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[zookers]

I'm interested in learning about the Waterford Institute of Technology in Waterford, IE (beyond what's on their website).  I've read that it's a "third tier public institution," but I don't know what that means (I'm not really familiar with the Irish higher education system).  Is this the equivalent of a trade school or a CC in North America, or is it at somewhat of a higher level? 

Also, I'm aware that WIT was recently granted University status.  How is this different from its current charter, and what does this mean for its future?

[sandgrounder]

They're a higher level than that. They're similar to the old UK polytechnics or a German Fachhochschule. They offer all level of degrees but tend to be more applied and have close links to employers. They don't ask for very high entry grades so aren't as prestigious as the likes of TCD or UCD but are perfectly respectable institutions. I THINK (wouldn't like to swear to it) that all of the IofTs got degree awarding powers in about 7 years ago - before there was a national body that delegated degree awarding powers and monitored standards (if you know the UK like the CNAA was). I doubt its efforts for get university status will change things so much on a day to day order - there's a strict hierarchy in Irish HE and it doesn't seem to change much. Waterford is rather a nice port if that matters at all?

[bubbahotep]

I'm interested in learning about the Waterford Institute of Technology in Waterford, IE (beyond what's on their website).  I've read that it's a "third tier public institution," but I don't know what that means (I'm not really familiar with the Irish higher education system).  Is this the equivalent of a trade school or a CC in North America, or is it at somewhat of a higher level? 

Also, I'm aware that WIT was recently granted University status.  How is this different from its current charter, and what does this mean for its future?

Waterford is at the top of the Institute of Technology Tree. But its a short tree. Its best to think of it as a super-CC.
It is NOT a university and has not got university status.
In ireland there are univeristies (7 ), and ITs (13?) . These are regional, focused mor eon certificate/diploma than degree (but some, such as WIT do excellent degree work to doctroal level) and with low entry standards.
Go to www.hea.ie for some information

[secretweapon]

Why are you interested?  Is it for graduate study, study abroad or teaching?  If it's either of the first two, I wouldn't consider it.  Assuming you are an American, it's hard to enough to find a job with a foreign degree (or a domestic degree!), and you would be setting yourself up for many more problems if there are questions about whether or not your degree came from a "real" university.  Plus, you'd want to check if the ITs are considered eligible for Stafford Loans, postgraduate grants, etc.  Although I have known good researchers who work at ITs, I don't think ITs benefit from the same research culture as universities - all the seminars, conferences and other research events, which are one of the best things about studying in Irish and UK universities.

More on the ITs: some of them have degrees that are also offered in universities, and are good (I think social work and media studies at DIT are meant to be particularly good, and have more of a practical/vocational element than the same degree at a university).  But they also offer more vocational courses that you don't have at universities, such as carpentry.

Of course, the funniest thing about the ITs is that the names don't follow a standard format or word order, to minimise the inappropriate acronyms.  Thus you have Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT - funny, but not inappropriate), but Institute of Technology Tralee and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology.