The need for science and technology higher education graduates in Ireland in the 1960s and 1970s was advanced by the creation of these institutes. Both taught mainly at degree level and were de-facto universities from the start. Two were created:
National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin
National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick
These were later elevated to the level of universities after the International Study Group on Technological Education presented its recommendations in the late 1980's to the Government of Ireland. These institutions became, respectively:
