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Heriot-Watt University and Limerick Institute of Technology are to sever their links after being accused of "dumbing down"

university-validated courses at Limerick.

Both institutions deny the allegations, made to The Irish Times by a former course director, and say they have nothing to do with the end of the Heriot-Watt validation.

A spokeswoman for LIT said: "There is no way we would wish to lower our standards and there is no way Heriot-Watt University would allow it. We have always found that Heriot-Watt was committed to the highest academic standards and is recognised in Ireland as a progressive and leading university."

The link, established in 1989, has been under review for some time. A Heriot-Watt spokeswoman said that before Christmas, the senate and court had approved internal recommendations to withdraw from the partnership.

"Heriot-Watt has agreed to provide all reasonable assistance to LIT in finding an alternative validating institution, as well as a withdrawal period, to facilitate academic support of the current cohort of students."

Legislation already passed by the Oireachtas, the Irish legislature, required LIT to bring its awards within a national framework.