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School of Computing
Switzerland Visit

DCU Students Attend Swiss-Irish Academic Celebration in Lucerne

Last autumn, students from Dublin City University (DCU) were at the heart of a special event hosted at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), where the Irish Embassy in Switzerland marked the deepening ties between Irish and Swiss higher education institutions.

The visit, organised by Donnacha Daly, Head of Studies in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning at HSLU and external examiner for the COMBUS programme at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), brought together students from DCU, TU Dublin, and Atlantic Technological University (ATU), who are currently spending a semester abroad in Lucerne.

Ambassador Aoife McGarry led the Embassy team in engaging with students, university leadership, and academic staff during a day filled with dialogue, cultural exchange, and celebration. The visit included a formal meeting with HSLU President Barbara Bader and senior leaders René Hüsler, Sarah Hauser, and Peter H. Wullschleger to explore opportunities for future collaboration, particularly in areas of innovation and emerging technologies.

Addressing a wider audience of students and staff, Ambassador McGarry spoke on the enduring strength of the Swiss-Irish relationship and the valuable contributions of Irish students abroad. She shared her personal connection to the moment, noting the particular pleasure of meeting students from her alma mater, DCU, who are now benefitting from the expanding international partnership with HSLU.

The event also featured talks by Donnacha Daly on cultural similarities and differences between Ireland and Switzerland, and by Irish master watchmaker Stephen McGonigle, who shared his professional journey as an artisan based in Switzerland.

A vibrant reception with live Irish music closed the day, giving students, faculty, and Embassy representatives a chance to build lasting relationships and celebrate the shared values of both nations.

This visit underscored the growing impact of DCU and its students on the global academic stage and reaffirmed the university’s role as a key player in Ireland’s international education partnerships.