John Snow, US Treasury Secretary, at DCU

As part of his tour of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Poland and Germany, the US Treasury Secretary John W. Snow was at Dublin City University today, where he met with DCU President, Professor von Prondzynski, as well as students, staff and alumni in an informal round-table discussion. The general topic was the role education has played in Ireland's economic growth story.

According to John Snow, universities are at the very centre of our modern economy and play a large role in both prosperity and the increase in living standards that we are experiencing today. However, it is vital that today's workforce also learns new skills, as the business that stands still is unlikely to remain competitive. However, one of the most vital skills is the ability to recognise that learning is a lifelong process.

He praised Dublin City University's commitment to the entrepreneurial spirit, as evidenced by its Invent centre, the university's incubation centre. "This is where research gets translated into workable ideas for new industry", he said. He went on to say that Ireland's gift to the world was its educated workforce.

An open discussion followed with contributions from the following participants:

Peadar O' Flatharta, Fiontar teaching staff
Gary Murphy, DCU Senior Lecturer in Government, Irish and US Politics
Sarah Ingle, DCU Lecturer in Entrepreneurship
Emer NiBhradaigh, DCU Fiontar Lecturer
Angelos Anxelopolous, DCU Postgraduate student, Business
Robert Mulligan, DCU Undergraduate, Accounting & Finance
David Doyle, DCU Ph.D. Student in International Relations
Ron Immink, Invent Manager
Steven Daniels, DCU Researcher & Entrepreneur in Invent
Larry Quinn, Entrepreneur and Chairman, Accuris Ltd
Damien McLoughlin, DCU Graduate, Business Studies and Education Officer SU
Sarah O'Connor, DCU Undergraduate, Accounting
Anna Piggot, DCU Undergraduate, Accounting & Finance
Tara Nolan DCU UndergraduateAccounting & Finance
Fiona Fitzpatrick DCU Undergraduate, Fiontar
Triona Nic Carthaigh DCU Undergraduate, Fiontar
Sharon Somani, DCU Undergraduate, Business School
Orla Coffee, DCU Undergraduate, Business School