Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) and Maynooth University (MU) have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) confirming joint strategic engagement on future collaborations over the coming years.
MU President Professor Eeva Leinonen today welcomed Dr Diarmuid O’Callaghan, President of DkIT, to Maynooth University for the signing event.
In August 2023, Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) and Maynooth University (MU) entered informal discussions regarding future collaborations. At the time, both Presidents stated their vision of future collaborations to enhance and expand higher education opportunities for students, staff and communities. A potential partnership would have shared objectives to ensure any collaboration respects the roots of both institutions whilst bringing innovation and best practices to meet future needs.
Welcoming the signing of this letter of intent, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD said:
“The signing of today’s letter of intent by Maynooth University and Dundalk Institute of Technology is a positive move, signifying the intention of these two fine higher education institutions to build on their individual strengths and explore together how they can strategically develop to better serve the regions in which they are based. It is this kind of commitment to regional partnership and collaboration that will lead to sustainable and resilient development and better opportunities for all.
Support from my Department, allocated by the HEA to DkIT through the Technological Sector Advancement Fund, has enabled today's signal of intent.”
Remarking on the importance of the partnership, Professor Leinonen added:
"I am delighted to advance this strategic engagement with Dundalk Institute of Technology. This partnership builds on our longstanding relationship and is a milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance higher education in the region. By working together, we will explore new ways to collaborate, focusing on innovative research and academic initiatives that benefit our students, our staff and the wider community.”
Dr O’Callaghan added: “Over the last twelve months we have identified our shared values and aspirations for both our institutions, and today is the next logical step in forging a strategic engagement founded on the principles of mutual respect, benefit and collaboration. By joining our interests, we seek to create an environment whereby we can exchange knowledge covering such areas as teaching and learning, research and innovation, engagement and organisational development, in a way that is of mutual benefit to the wider region served by our two institutions.”
In the coming months, DkIT and MU will actively explore and develop the nature, scope and scale of a strategic engagement between the two institutions. The activities supported by this LoI will include, but are not limited to:
- Developing detail of a possible agreement between MU and DkIT on strategic engagement for consideration within a defined time window by the institutions
- Establishing a Regional Research Graduate Academy for the joint registering and training of postgraduate research students within our shared region, including developing an agreed and aligned sustainable model of delivery
- Scoping of potential provision of MU awards for NFQ level 8 and 9 students in DkIT in the context of quality assurance, market and financial implications
- Enhancing research collaborations including successful application for at least two joint research and innovation funded projects
- Investigating opportunities for development of new joint academic programmes
- Supporting strategic development in both MU and DkIT in areas of mutual benefit aligned to the strategic direction of both institutions
- Implementing a joint communications plan relating to the strategic engagements between MU and DkIT
The work listed as part of this LoI is financially supported through the Technological Sector Advancement Fund (TSAF; January 2024 to June 2026). This is a HEA-managed fund which provides targeted support for initiatives that are critical to the strategic development of the technological higher education sector.
This LoI is initially effective from signing until June 2026, and will be reviewed annually, unless replaced in the interim.