DCU signs historic linkage agreement with three Dublin colleges
Tuesday 5th February 2008

Reverend Desmond Beirne CM (Trustee of All Hallows College) with David Byrne, Chancellor of DCU, An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD, President of DCU Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski and Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin

An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has witnessed the signing of three linkage agreements between Dublin City University and the North Dublin educational institutions, St. Patrick’s College, the Mater Dei Institute of Education and All Hallows College.

The agreements were signed by the President of DCU, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, the Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and the Reverend Desmond Beirne CM (Trustee of All Hallows College).

The Chancellor of DCU, David Byrne, former Attorney General and EU Commissioner, who was also present for this landmark educational agreement, will now become Chancellor of the linked colleges as well, while his role as chairman of the Governing Authority applies to DCU.

As a result of these agreements, All Hallows College now becomes a college of DCU, and the existing linkages with St Patrick’s College and the Mater Dei Institute are strengthened further, allowing them to be more closely integrated into the university’s academic structures.

The signing of these historic linkage agreements marks a milestone in Irish education and DCU’s commitment to education in North Dublin and nationally, and to strong collaboration with its linked colleges in the national interest.

Speaking at the signing of the agreements, DCU President Ferdinand von Prondzynski said, “I am delighted that these three well-known and important educational institutions are colleges of DCU. As one of the leading universities in Ireland and one of the top 300 universities worldwide, DCU has in recent years identified the development of innovative education policies as one of its strategic priorities.

The university with its three colleges is the most significant provider in the state of teaching and research in teacher training, educational policy and related aspects of the Humanities”.

The Dean of DCU Humanities and Social Science, Professor Eithne Guilfoyle, said, “Our Faculty shares many research and teaching interests with all three colleges, and for several years now we have been collaborating on various projects. We welcome this opportunity to strengthen and deepen our relationships with the colleges to the benefit of our students and the wider community”.

Together the three colleges along with DCU enrol over 13,000 students, with 10,000 attending DCU, over 2,000 at St. Patrick’s College, 700 at All Hallows and 500 attending Mater Dei. The three linked colleges offer full and part-time courses both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. They provide programmes leading to degrees that are validated and accredited by Dublin City University, and their students are recognised as students of DCU.