▁the ▁second - larg est ▁of ▁Ireland ' s ▁ 1 4 ▁Instit utes ▁of ▁Technology ▁with ▁more ▁than ▁ 8 , 4 4 8 ▁en rol ments ▁and ▁ 8 5 1 ▁staff , ▁and ▁has ▁generated ▁over ▁ 5 5 , 0 0 0 ▁gradu ates ▁since ▁its ▁found ing ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 0 . ▁Institute ▁of ▁Technology ▁Car low ▁provides ▁higher ▁educational ▁program mes , ▁and ▁research ▁and ▁enter prise ▁development ▁opportun ities , ▁through ▁its ▁cent res ▁in ▁Car low , ▁W ex ford , ▁and ▁W ick low ; ▁the ▁Institute ▁offers ▁more ▁than ▁ 8 0 ▁taught ▁program mes ▁to ▁Level ▁ 9 ▁on ▁the ▁National ▁Framework ▁of ▁Qual ifications ▁( NF Q ). ▁Institute ▁of ▁Technology ▁Car low ▁has ▁the ▁highest ▁percentage ▁of ▁full - time ▁post grad u ates ▁in ▁the ▁techn ological ▁sector , ▁the ▁highest ▁under grad uate ▁pro gression ▁rate ▁at ▁Level ▁ 8 ▁in ▁the ▁higher ▁education ▁sector ▁and ▁the ▁highest ▁percentage ▁of ▁L if el ong ▁Lear ners ▁in ▁the ▁sector . ▁ ▁The ▁presence ▁of ▁the ▁Institute ▁was ▁a ▁consideration ▁in ▁the ▁decision ▁of ▁UN UM ▁( str ateg ic ▁software ▁services ▁centre , ▁ 2 0 0 8 ) ▁and ▁Mer ck ▁Sh arp ▁& ▁D oh me ▁( human ▁v acc ines ▁and ▁bi olog ics , ▁ 2 0 0 7 ) ▁to ▁locate ▁in ▁Car low . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁IT ▁Car low ▁was ▁named ▁the ▁Sunday ▁Times