The leadership of Universities Ireland, including newly appointed Chairperson Prof Eeva Leinonen, President of Maynooth University, gathered in Belfast for a series of significant meetings, underlining the organisation’s commitment to fostering collaboration and mobility in higher education across the island.
The visit, led by Prof Leinonen and Vice-Chair John D’Arcy, Regional Director of The Open University in Ireland, featured engagements at Queen’s University Belfast and the Department for the Economy. Their leadership marks an exciting chapter for Universities Ireland as they strengthen cross-border partnerships and address shared challenges in the sector.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Sir Ian Greer, a member of the Universities Ireland Executive, hosted the delegation at Queen's University Belfast. Discussions focused on Universities Ireland's ongoing work, and key priorities included advancing the shared vision for higher education and supporting initiatives that promote student mobility and research collaboration.
Later, the leadership team met with senior civil servants and also the Minister for the Economy, Conor Murphy, at the Department for the Economy. Discussions explored shared interests, including the role of higher education in driving economic and social development.
Recent highlights and strategic initiatives
Universities Ireland, established in 2003, represents a distinctive partnership comprising universities and technological universities (TUs) across the island of Ireland. Initially founded by the nine university presidents, the organisation has grown to include The Open University (2011), TU Dublin (2020), and most recently, the Atlantic Technological University (ATU, 2024).
Universities Ireland is dedicated to advancing higher education through key objectives that include promoting Irish universities internationally, facilitating academic collaboration, academic transfers, and shared research opportunities, and influencing policy to strengthen higher education across the island.
Among its core initiatives, the organisation provides postgraduate mobility support through scholarships and bursaries, fostering cross-border academic exchange. Supported by the Centre for Cross Border Studies, which serves as its secretariat, Universities Ireland operates as a uniquely-structured organisation, positioning itself as a vital force for collaboration, innovation, and educational excellence across the island of Ireland.
Recently, significant work led by the Universities Ireland Working Group, chaired by Prof Pól Ó Dochartaigh, focused on A-Level to Leaving Certificate equivalencies, which will make it easier for students with A-levels to secure university places through the CAO.
