AIT and DCU Sign Strategic Collaboration Agreement
- 27 October 2006

AIT and DCU have signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Athlone with the intention of establishing an industry-linked research centre and providing new degree programmes. The strategic partnership was launched by the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen TD on Friday 27 october.

This initiative is in line with the national policy of promoting partnership and collaboration between third level institutions. It also reflects the government objective of regional development. As part of the strategic alliance, the new Director of Research at AIT, will also be appointed an Adjunct Professor at DCU. This joint appointment is believed to be the first of its kind between two Irish academic institutions and is part-funded by Élan.

The person appointed will be responsible for championing research within and on behalf of AIT, and will play a key role in developing in-depth research collaborations between AIT and DCU, and their national and international partners. The post holder will spend one day a week on DCU business to exploit and maximise joint research opportunities.

The two institutions will work towards the establishment of a focused, industry-linked research centre in Athlone, which will be jointly owned. Its remit will be to conduct or facilitate research or R&D in partnership with local or regional industry. AIT and DCU will seek public funding for the establishment of the new research centre. A joint working group will engage in discussions with government, the relevant agencies and with industry on its development.

As part of the strategic collaboration DCU and AIT will examine joint accreditation of new degree programmes that will be offered in Athlone. It is hoped initially to develop 2-3 programmes, which will reflect the strengths of both institutions.

A joint working group will also explore a range of other programmes that might be accredited at a later date.

Prof. Ciarán Ó Catháin, Director of AIT, said that ‘This is a very significant day for higher education in Ireland. We are committed to increasing research activity in AIT and to enabling a fourth-level Ireland. The creation of the joint Director of Research-Adjunct Professor with DCU, as well as the establishment of the new research centre will give great impetus to that. Both institutions share research competencies in areas such as biotechnology and software engineering, and this is an opportunity to undertake truly innovative work. As the only third level institution in the Midlands, we are very aware of the importance of regional development. We are currently in discussion with Georgia Tech Ireland about possible collaboration, and this strategic partnership with DCU will enable us to contribute in an even greater fashion to the region,’ he stated.

DCU President, Prof. Ferdinand von Prondzynski said: ‘DCU has an established commitment to regional development through knowledge transfer, and has already contributed actively to the strategy of attracting high value industry R&D to Ireland. We intend to work closely with AIT, with local government and with industry to build up research in the Midlands area. We also expect to work closely with the Georgia Institute of Technology, which has recently established a presence for its subsidiary, GTRI, in Athlone.’

This is the second strategic partnership announced by DCU this year. An international alliance with Arizona State University was unveiled in June

ENDS