A new name for the Athlone Institute of Technology will be made known in the coming weeks.
A public consultation process has taken place for the institution, which has now been designated university status in partnership with Limerick IT. It's hoped students graduating this year will have university recognition, and while all home students will be back on site by September, international students may have to be taught remotely until they return in early 2022.
There has been a fall of over 23 per cent in international students since the pandemic began and President of AIT, Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin says work is underway with partners in China, India and Malaysia to see students return in increased numbers.