The AIT and LIT consortium has been successful in its application to join a new, forward-thinking education alliance intended to increase collaboration between Europe’s universities.
The European Universities Network is part of an EU-wide ambition to create a centralised European Education Area and will enable students to obtain a degree by combining studies in multiple EU countries.
The network, which is expected to increase the competitiveness of European universities, will be integral to promoting the kinds of future and advanced skills necessary for social transformation across the European Union.
Under the new European Universities initiative, AIT and LIT will join its RUN-EU (Regional University Network - European Union ) partners in creating one of several new European universities capable of transcending languages, borders, and disciplines. This ambitious project is expected to be completed by 2024.
An important step forward in AIT and LIT’s internationalisation strategy, membership of the European Universities initiative aligns closely with the consortium’s aims to develop a technological university (TU ) which reflects the educational demands and economic needs of Ireland’s Midlands and Mid-West.
The goal of the new TU is to provide new opportunities and access pathways to learners with the view to sustaining prosperity and industrial growth across Ireland. This will be achieved through practical, experiential learning, strong industry engagement and applied, high-TRL research, and a global mindset.
“Membership of the European Universities initiative will aid us in achieving our technological university mission by enabling us to leverage international best practice, increase student and staff mobility while facilitating joint degree and research programmes.
“Internationalisation has always been at the heart of our educational approach, as it provides opportunities for growth and learning and gives our student body a well-rounded, holistic educational experience. We are looking forward to continuing to collaborate with like-minded higher education institutes across Europe, who see, as we do, the value in sharing knowledge for the benefit of all,” Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, President of AIT, remarked.
This was a sentiment echoed by the President of LIT, Prof Vincent Cunnane.
“I am very pleased with the success of RUN-EU in being selected as a European university in what was a highly competitive call. With institutions right across the EU bidding for selection, the success of RUN-EU represents a new direction for higher education in Europe.
“Indeed, the selection of RUN-EU is not just a recognition of the standing of technological higher education, but also a recognition of role of regions in the EU’s future. As we move towards TU status, this is a clear endorsement of our approach,” Professor Cunnane commented.
Welcoming the news on Friday last, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris remarked on “the greater internationalisation of our higher education system” and the “huge benefit” to both society and the economy.
“The success of our HEIs in this call further underlines Ireland’s commitment to the future of the EU and demonstrates that our higher education system is part of and working with the best in Europe.
“It bodes very well for the future experience of our students, academics, and researchers, as [it will provide] many more opportunities to experience international education and other cultures and to build alliances and partnerships as well as friendships for the longer term,” he said.
AIT and LIT announced their intention to form Ireland’s next technological university in October 2019 and subsequently joined the Regional University Network (RUN-EU ) - a precursor to their application under the European Universities initiative.
