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DCU and North Dublin Chamber of Commerce strengthen relationship

Pictured here (l to r): Ms Fiona Cottell, Professor Brian MacCraith, Mr Richard Bruton

DCU develops further links with industry in first MOU signing between any Irish university and chamber of commerce.

Professor Brian MacCraith, President of Dublin City University and Ms Fiona Cottell, President of North Dublin Chamber of Commerce today signed an MOU in the presence of Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr Richard Bruton.

This is the first such agreement between a local business representative organisation and a university in Ireland. Its primary objective is to support businesses in North Dublin to become more innovative and create employment opportunities through linkages with the university. Students will also have the opportunity to nurture potential business ideas with local businesses though increased work placements.

For the last five years the Chamber and DCU's Business School has built a strong level of engagement which has included student team placements, provision of expert speakers for breakfast briefings, specialised training for local businesses and ongoing access to expert advice via conferences and webinars. Today's MOU will further embed the relationship throughout the university and facilitate linkages between all faculties and schools.

Professor Brian Mac Craith, President of DCU said: "We have always enjoyed a very productive and successful relationship with the North Dublin Chamber of Commerce, particularly through the links built with the DCU Business School. I am delighted to see this relationship being made even stronger and benefitting the university as a whole. This is the first MOU to be signed by us with a Chamber and one that builds on our vision to become Ireland's University of Enterprise. I look forward to seeing more of these industry links and partnerships continuing, on a local, national and international level."

Commenting on the signing of the agreement, Fiona Cottell, President of the North Dublin Chamber of Commerce, said, "This agreement builds on a strong history of collaboration between the Chamber, its members and the university. It is concrete and the various actions agreed will enable SMEs in North Dublin to continue to improve their competitiveness. Of critical importance to local businesses is the fact that Dublin City University has shown a real willingness and commitment to engage with the particular challenges facing SMEs. We have already worked together on a significant number of collaborations and this agreement is a roadmap for the next phase in our partnership. The region's economic development depends on its large number of SMEs and this agreement shows how much we can achieve together."