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The University The University of Limerick (UL) is an independent, internationally focused university with over 11,000 students and 1,313 staff. The University has a proud record of innovation in education and excellence in research and scholarship. UL offers 72 undergraduate programmes and 103 taught postgraduate programmes across four faculties: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Education and Health Sciences; Kemmy Business School; and Science and Engineering. With the River Shannon as a unifying focal point, the University is situated on a superb 133-hectare campus. Outstanding recreational, cultural and sporting facilities further enhance this exceptional learning and working environment. The campus is located 5km from Limerick city and 20km from Shannon International Airport. UL has close links with industry from undergraduate to postdoctoral level. The University runs one of the largest cooperative education (internship) programmes in the European Union. Cooperative education at UL is undertaken as an integral part of the academic programme. UL has an established network of over 1,700 cooperative education employers, and 2,000 undergraduate placements are secured annually in industry, commerce and the public service. Students are placed in Ireland and internationally, primarily in North America, Europe and South East Asia. Employer contributions to the programme amount to €20 million annually. The University of Limerick has established its research distinctiveness through promoting a research ethos characterised by the convergence of discrete disciplines working together to achieve fundamental breakthroughs. The following priority areas have been identified: - Materials and Surface Science - Information and Communication Technologies - Bioengineering and Biosciences - Energy and Sustainable Environment - Applied Mathematics - Study of Knowledge in Society The University currently has four internationally recognised research institutes: Materials and Surface Science Institute; Stokes Institute; Lero – Irish Software Engineering Research Centre; and Institute for the Study of Knowledge in Society. These multidisciplinary institutes offer a wide range of opportunities at masters, PhD and postdoctoral level. In February 2010, the University and NUI Galway announced a strategic alliance. The institution-wide alliance will work across all areas of activity at UL and NUI Galway, including teaching, technology transfer, lifelong learning and the provision of services. Exciting new initiatives include a unique 'Link to Learn' student exchange programme, which will enable students at either university to choose modules from the other institution as part of their programme of study. The alliance also includes a unique partnership between UL and NUI Galway with the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA for the purpose of developing a joint Translational Research Institute. The Translational Research Institute will focus on the development and synergy of core technologies and expertise within the partner institutions with a view to providing Irish industries with relevant and world-class research solutions.
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Professor Don Barry, President of the University of Limerick, President of NUI Galway, Dr James J. Browne, An Taoiseach Brian Cowen, T.D., An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, T.D. and Batt O'Keeffe, Minister for Education & Science, T.D. at the launch of the NUI Galway - University of Limerick Strategic Alliance NUI Galway and UL Strategic Alliance to Drive Vital Research and Academic Excellence NUI Galway and the University of Limerick today (18 February, 2010) announced a Strategic Alliance which will support the development of the wider region to encourage indigenous enterprises and foreign direct investment, strengthen research and industry partnerships, and further a shared commitment to academic excellence. The Alliance will have an international dimension, through a partnership with Georgia Institute of Technology in the US, in the exploitation of research from both Irish universities. At a ceremony in Dublin involving An Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and the Minister for Education and Science, the Alliance was announced to leaders from a wide range of community, public and political bodies as well as partners from academia and industry. Welcoming the announcement, An Taoiseach Brian Cowen, T.D., said: "NUI Galway and the University of Limerick are demonstrating how working together means working smarter. This Alliance is an exciting new departure for two very progressive Universities. It represents a key building block for our Smart Economy project. And it promises to make a major contribution to economic and social development in this country, at both regional and national levels. The Government strongly supports increased collaboration between higher education institutions and between these institutions and industry. Our universities have a critical role to play as a dynamo energising our Smart Economy with new ideas and creativity. Increased collaboration among our universities - joining forces - greatly helps us to up our game in the intense ongoing global competition to come up with new ideas, new products and new services. The Government is very happy to see that Ireland's universities are coming up to the mark, moving from competition at home to collaboration in competing on the world stage". Key and immediate initiatives resulting from the Alliance include: Supporting key industry sectors · Furthering research and education to serve Ireland's biomedical device industry - which employs 24,000 people. · Joining forces on research initiatives to provide scientific and technological breakthroughs in the 'green tech' sector. · Supporting Ireland as the biggest exporter of software solutions in Europe, by collaborating to remain at the forefront of software development and internet technology research. Technology Transfer · Achieve economies of scale through jointly supporting technology transfer and commercialisation of research. · Working to establish a translational research centre with Georgia Institute of Technology for technology transfer. Academic Excellence · Furthering commitment to 4th Level Education through joint development of structured PhD programmes. · Facilitating student exchange between the Universities on a modular or semester basis. · Creating a new Medical Academy at Portiuncula and Roscommon Hospitals. · Planning to facilitate joint academic appointments to maximise student choice. Civic Engagement · Promoting active citizenship through projects such as urban renewal and regeneration. Shared Services · Optimising resources through shared services and focused use of research, teaching and academic support services. Professor Don Barry, President of the University of Limerick, said: "By forming this Strategic Alliance, we are collaborating in very real and immediate ways, driving scientific and economic progress with a specific focus on industry partnerships and research in the areas of Biomedicine, Energy, ICT and Civic Engagement. "UL and NUI Galway are hubs of educational excellence and research activity. By coming together with a shared vision for the future we will optimise our delivery of world-class research, innovative teaching and service to the community, while being responsive to the needs of our industry partners and to the social, cultural and economic needs of Ireland". Commenting on the new partnership, President of NUI Galway, Dr James J. Browne, said: "The aim of this Alliance is to better support the social and economic development of our wider region by combining the strengths of the two universities to enhance the service we provide to our students, to industry and business partners, and to enhance the international standing of both Universities. Together we can and will achieve more". President Browne added: "The fragmentation of Irish higher education prevents the achievement of critical mass, particularly in research, and slows down the drive towards internationalisation. The future of higher education in Ireland will be best served by a network of collaborating institutions, each of which develops international excellence in appropriate priority areas. The NUI Galway and UL Strategic Alliance is an important step in that direction". The institution-wide Alliance will work across all areas of activity at UL and NUI Galway including teaching, technology transfer, lifelong learning and the provision of services. The Alliance allows for the facilitation of student exchange between the universities. The new Alliance will see NUI Galway and UL collaborate extensively in the area of teaching and learning. Exciting new initiatives include a unique 'Link to Learn' student exchange programme, which will enable students at either university to choose modules from the other institution as part of their programme. Other developments include the creation of a new joint Medical Academy at Portiuncula and Roscommon Hospitals, in addition to the development of a programme of activities to respond to the national objectives of building strong foundations in mathematics and science in primary and second level education. Speaking at the launch, Minister for Education and Science, Mr Batt O'Keefe, T.D., said: "The Framework for the development of a 'Smart Economy' highlighted the key role played by the higher education system in the development of an innovation culture and it set out a challenge to the sector to create new possibilities, through new alliances and new organisational arrangements, to advance our knowledge capacity and generate opportunities for new levels of efficiency, performance, innovation and growth. The Alliance is significant in that it spans all the key areas of activity in the universities including teaching, research, technology transfer, lifelong learning and the provision of services. We know that the quality of our higher education system is critical to Ireland's economic recovery. It is essential that we position the system to fully exploit its potential in producing the smart people and the smart ideas that are required for our smart economy ambitions. I applaud today's announcement by UL and NUI Galway as an important practical contribution to meeting that challenge and as recognition by the two universities of the nature of the response that Ireland needs from its higher education system". A focus of this Strategic Alliance will be industry collaborations in R&D, increased commercialisation and spinouts. UL and NUI Galway continue to exceed international benchmarks for delivery of commercial licences and spinouts per euro invested. In total, NUI Galway and UL have set up 21 spin-out companies over the past four years, with 72 licences and 121 patents filed. By 2015, the Alliance aims to deliver 40 spin-outs, with particular focus on commercialisation in the fields of ICT, Healthcare and Medical Technologies and Energy. Targets also include 450 invention disclosures, 110 licences and to have filed 200 patents. The ICT and Biomedical industries are currently worth €34.2bn annually to the Irish economy, while dependence on imported energy significantly impacts industry and the economy. A cooperative effort focused on these strategically vital areas aims to accelerate the delivery of viable solutions and sustainable industries. Speaking at the announcement, An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, T.D., said: "This proactive and visionary arrangement illustrates the collective determination of both universities to further enhance the economic and social development of the region. I warmly welcome the Alliance as it will serve to encourage growth in indigenous enterprises and foreign direct investment, strengthen research and industry partnerships and further their commitment to academic excellence". "The objective of the Government's STI strategy is to harness the benefits of research collaboration for the benefit of the Irish economy. This is creating a strong cadre of indigenous firms and attracting and further embedding leading multi-national companies here. For example, last year 49% of the IDA's Foreign Direct Investment wins were Research, Development and Innovation related which were valued at €500m. Almost 45% of all enterprises are now engaged in innovation activities in Ireland", the Tánaiste added. The NUI Galway and UL Strategic Alliance is already forging relationships with international partners. Georgia Institute of Technology and the Alliance will work to establish a translational research institute to focus on technology commercialisation with industry partners. Together the three institutions will form a joint Translational Research Institute focused on the application of core technologies and expertise within the partner institutions. For further information go to www.nuig-ulalliance.ie gComhfhiontar Straitéiseach idir OÉ Gaillimh agus Ollscoil Luimnigh Ó clé: An tOllamh Don Barry, Uachtarán Ollscoil Luimnigh; An Dr James J. Browne, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh; An Taoiseach Brian Cowen T.D; the Tánaiste agus Aire Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta, Mary Coughlan T.D.; agus an tAire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta, A - Tacaíocht dhíreach do phríomhearnálacha an tionscail agus láidreachtaí taighde - Ról suntasach ag Ollscoil mhór i SAM in aistriú teicneolaíochta - Clár malartaithe mac léinn idir na hinstitiúidí D'fhógair OÉ Gaillimh agus Ollscoil Luimnigh Comhfhiontar Straitéiseach inniu (18 Feabhra 2010) chun an réigiún a fhorbairt le fiontair dhúchasacha agus infheistíocht dhíreach ó thar lear a spreagadh, le comhpháirtíochtaí taighde agus tionscail a láidriú, agus lena ngealltanas i leith feabhas acadúil a threisiú. Comhfhiontar idirnáisiúnta a bheidh anseo, trí chomhpháirtíocht leis an Georgia Institute of Technology sna Stáit Aontaithe ar shaothrú taighde sa dá Ollscoil in Éirinn. Fógraíodh an Comhfhiontar ag searmanas i mBaile Átha Cliath. I láthair ag an searmanas bhí an Taoiseach, an Tánaiste agus Aire Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta, agus an tAire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta, agus ceannairí as réimse leathan comhlachtaí pobail, poiblí agus polaitiúla agus comhpháirtithe acadúla agus tionscail. Ag fáiltiú roimh an bhfógra, dúirt an Taoiseach, "Tá OÉ Gaillimh agus Ollscoil Luimnigh ag léiriú go bhfuil sé níos ciallmhaire oibriú le chéile. Tús ré nua an Comhfhiontar seo do dhá ollscoil cheannródaíocha. Is ionann é agus bunchloch don Gheilleagar Glic. Agus is cinnte go gcuirfidh an bhunchloch seo go mór le forbairt eacnamaíoch agus shóisialta na tíre seo, ag leibhéal réigiúnach agus náisiúnta. Tacaíonn an Rialtas go láidir le comhoibriú níos fearr idir institiúidí ardoideachais agus idir na hinstitiúidí sin agus an tionscal. Tá ról lárnach ag na hollscoileanna cur leis an nGeilleagar Glic le smaointe nua agus le cruthaitheacht. Cuidíonn comhoibriú i measc na n-ollscoileanna linn dul i ngleic leis an tsíoriomaíocht dhian ar fud an domhain chun smaointe nua, táirgí nua agus seirbhísí nua a chur chun cinn. Tá an-áthas ar an Rialtas ollscoileanna na hÉireann a fheiceáil ag láidriú, agus seachas a bheith in iomaíocht le chéile sa bhaile tá siad ag comhoibriú le chéile agus in iomaíocht ar stáitse an domhain". I measc na bpríomhthionscnamh a thiocfaidh as an gcomhfhiontar seo tá siad seo a leanas: Tacú le príomhearnálacha tionscail · Taighde agus oideachas a chur chun cinn do thionscal fhearais bhithleighis na hÉireann - a fhostaíonn 24,000 duine. · Comhoibriú ar thionscnaimh taighde chun teicneolaíocht agus eolaíocht cheannródaíoch a sholáthar in earnáil na 'teicneolaíochta glaise'. · A chinntiú gurb í an tír seo an tír is mó san Eoraip a easpórtálann bogearraí, trí chomhoibriú chun fanacht chun cinn i bhforbairt bogearraí agus taighde teicneolaíocht idirlín. Aistriú Teicneolaíochta · A bheith níos barraineachtaí trí chomhthacú le haistriú teicneolaíochta agus tráchtálú taighde. · Ionad taighde aistrithigh d'aistriú teicneolaíochta a bhunú i gcomhar leis an Georgia Institute of Technology. Feabhas Acadúil · Gealltanas don Oideachas 4ú Leibhéal a chur chun cinn trí chomhfhorbairt cláir struchtúrtha PhD. · Malartú mac léinn idir na hOllscoileanna a éascú ar feadh modúil nó seimeastair. · Acadamh nua Leighis a bhunú in Ospidéil Portiuncula agus Ros Comáin. · Comhcheapacháin acadúla a éascú chun rogha na mac léinn a fheabhsú. Comhpháirteachas Poiblí · Saoránacht ghníomhach a chur chun cinn trí thionscadail cosúil le hathghiniúint agus athnuachan uirbeach. Seirbhísí Roinnte · Acmhainní a fheabhsú trí sheirbhísí roinnte agus úsáid cheart a bhaint as taighde, teagasc agus seirbhísí tacaíochta acadúla. Dúirt an tOllamh Don Barry, Uachtarán Ollscoil Luimnigh: "Tríd an gcomhfhiontar straitéiseach seo, táimid ag comhoibriú ar bhealach dáiríre agus tobann, ag déanamh dul chun cinn eolaíochta agus geilleagair le béim ar leith ar chomhpháirtíochtaí tionscail agus ar thaighde sna réimsí seo a leanas Bithleigheas, Fuinneamh, TFC agus Comhpháirteachas Poiblí". "Lárionaid don fheabhas oideachais agus don ghníomhaíocht taighde iad Ollscoil Luimnigh agus OÉ Gaillimh. Trí theacht le chéile le fís roinnte don am atá le teacht cuirfimid barr feabhais ar ár dtaighde, ar an teagasc nuálaíoch agus ar an tseirbhís don phobal den chéad scoth, agus, ag an am céanna, beimid airdeallach ar riachtanais ár gcomhpháirtithe sa tionscal agus ar riachtanais shóisialta, chultúir agus eacnamaíochta na hÉireann". Ag labhairt dó faoin gcomhpháirtíocht nua, dúirt Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr James J. Browne: "Is é príomhchuspóir an Chomhfhiontair tacaíocht níos fearr a thabhairt don fhorbairt shóisialta agus eacnamaíoch sa taobh seo tíre trí láidreachtaí an dá Ollscoil a nascadh chun an tseirbhís a fhaigheann na mic léinn chomh maith le comhpháirtíochtaí tionscail agus gnó a fheabhsú agus go gcuirfear le seasamh idirnáisiúnta an dá Ollscoil. Déanfaimid gaisce le chéile". Dúirt an tUachtarán Browne an méid seo a leanas chomh maith: "Ciallaíonn ilroinnt ardoideachas na hÉireann nach féidir mais chriticiúil a bhaint amach, go háirithe ó thaobh taighde de, agus moillítear an gealltanas i dtreo idirnáisiúnú. Cinnteoidh gréasán institiúidí a bheidh ag comhoibriú lena chéile todhchaí an ardoideachais in Éirinn, agus déanfaidh gach institiúid díobh réimsí tosaíochta feabhais cuí a fhorbairt. Céim shuntasach sa treo sin an Comhfhiontar Straitéiseach idir OÉ Gaillimh agus Ollscoil Luimnigh". Beidh baint ag an gComhfhiontar le gach réimse gníomhaíochta in Ollscoil Luimnigh agus in OÉ Gaillimh - teagasc, aistriú teicneolaíochta, foghlaim ar feadh an tsaoil agus soláthar seirbhísí san áireamh. Éascóidh an comhfhiontar malartú mac léinn idir na hollscoileanna. Sa Chomhfhiontar seo, comhoibreoidh OÉ Gaillimh agus Ollscoil Luimnigh le chéile go mór mór i réimse an teagaisc agus na foghlama. I measc na dtionscnamh nua beidh clár malartaithe mac léinn 'Link to Learn', a chuirfidh ar chumas mac léinn ó cheachtar ollscoil ar mian leo é modúil a dhéanamh san institiúid eile mar chuid dá gclár. I measc na dtionscnamh eile tá bunú comh-Acadaimh Leighis in Ospidéal Portiuncula agus in Ospidéal Ros Comáin, chomh maith le clár gníomhaíochtaí chun cur leis na cuspóirí náisiúnta bunús láidir matamaitice agus eolaíochta a chothú sa bhunscoil agus ag an dara leibhéal. Ag labhairt dó ag an seoladh, dúirt an tAire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta, An tUasal Batt O'Keefe: "Léirigh an Creat chun 'Geilleagar Glic' a fhorbairt an ról tábhachtach atá ag an gcóras ardoideachais ó thaobh cultúr nuálaíoch a fhorbairt agus tugann sé dúshlán don earnáil féidearthachtaí nua a chruthú, trí chomhfhiontair nua agus socruithe eagraíochtúla nua, chun ár gcumas eolais a chur chun cinn agus deiseanna a chruthú do leibhéil nua éifeachtachta, feidhmíochta, nuálaíochta agus fáis. Tá tábhacht leis an gcomhfhiontar mar go gclúdaíonn sé gach réimse gníomhaíochta sna hollscoileanna - teagasc, taighde, aistriú teicneolaíochta, foghlaim ar feadh an tsaoil agus soláthar seirbhísí san áireamh. Tuigimid go bhfuil caighdeán an chórais ardoideachais riachtanach do théarnamh gheilleagar na hÉireann. Tá sé riachtanach go mbeadh an córas sin in ann úsáid iomlán a bhaint as a chumas daoine cliste agus smaointe cliste a sholáthar don gheilleagar glic. Tréaslaím le hOllscoil Luimnigh agus le OÉ Gaillimh as an méid a d'fhógair siad inniu mar go gcuideoidh an comhfhiontar seo leis an obair atá le déanamh agus mar go dtuigeann an dá ollscoil an méid atá ag teastáil in Éirinn ón gcóras ardoideachais". Beidh an Comhfhiontar Straitéiseach dírithe ar chomhpháirtíochtaí tionscail i dtaighde agus i bhforbairt, ar thráchtálú agus ar sheach-chuideachtaí. Sáraíonn Ollscoil Luimnigh agus OÉ Gaillimh tagarmharcanna idirnáisiúnta do líon na gceadúnas tráchtála agus seach-chuideachtaí in aghaidh an euro a infheistítear. San iomlán, tá 21 seach-chuideachta bunaithe ag OÉ Gaillimh agus Ollscoil Luimnigh le ceithre bliana anuas, agus tá 72 ceadúnas agus 121 paitinn comhdaithe. Faoi 2015, tá sé i gceist go mbeidh 40 seach-chuideachta bunaithe ag an gComhfhiontar, agus béim ar leith ar thráchtálú i TCF, Cúram Sláinte agus Teicneolaíochtaí Leighis agus Fuinneamh. I measc na spriocanna eile tá 450 nochtadh fionnachtana, 110 ceadúnas agus 200 paitinn a bheith comhdaithe. Is fiú € 34.2bn na tionscail TCF agus Bithleighis gach bliain do gheilleagar na hÉireann. Bíonn an-tionchar ag fuinneamh iompórtáilte ar an tionscal agus ar an ngeilleagar. Le hiarracht chomhoibrithe atá dírithe ar na réimsí seo atá riachtanach go straitéiseach tá sé i gceist dlús a chur faoi réitigh agus faoi thionscail inmharthana. Ag labhairt faoin bhfógra dúirt an Tánaiste, "Léiríonn an socrú gníomhach agus ceannródaíoch seo diongbháilteacht an dá ollscoil forbairt eacnamaíoch agus shóisialta an réigiúin a fheabhsú. Fáiltím go mór roimh an gcomhfhiontar mar go gcuirfidh sé le fás i bhfiontair dhúchasacha agus le hinfheistíocht dhíreach ó thar lear, láidreoidh sé comhpháirtíochtaí taighde agus tionscail agus treiseoidh sé a ngealltanas d'fheabhas acadúil". "Is é cuspóir straitéis STI an Rialtais leas a bhaint as comhoibriú taighde ar mhaithe le geilleagar na hÉireann. Tá sé seo ag cruthú gnólachtaí dúchasacha agus ag mealladh agus ag láidriú cuideachtaí móra ilnáisiúnta anseo. Mar shampla, bhain 49% d'Infheistíocht Dhíreach ó Thar Lear an IDA anuraidh le Taighde, Forbairt agus Nuálaíocht ar luach € 500m. Tá beagnach 45% de gach fiontar in Éirinn bainteach le gníomhaíochtaí nuálaíochta", a dúirt an Tánaiste. Tá an Comhfhiontar Straitéiseach idir OÉ Gaillimh agus Ollscoil Luimnigh ag cruthú naisc cheana féin le comhpháirtithe idirnáisiúnta. Oibreoidh an Georgia Institute of Technology agus an Comhfhiontar le chéile le hinstitiúid um thaighde aistritheach a bhunú le díriú ar thráchtálú teicneolaíochta le comhpháirtithe an tionscail. Bunófar Comh-Institiúid um Thaighde Aistritheach a dhíreoidh ar fheidhmiú croítheicneolaíochtaí agus saineolas sna hinstitiúidí comhpháirtíochta.