Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) was established officially in 1992 under the Dublin Institute of Technology Act but had been previously set up in 1978 on an ad-hoc basis. The institution can trace its origins back to 1887 with the establishment of various technical institutions in Dublin, Ireland. The institution considers itself to be quite distinct from other Institutes of Technology in Ireland; it continues to build on its long tradition of providing education from certificate to doctorate level.