University partnership leads to new courses
3rd October 2002

Students will be able to enrol for two new courses thanks to a unique partnership agreement between Dublin City University and Queen's University Belfast.

The agreement, signed in Armagh on Thursday 3 October, by the President of DCU, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski and the Vice-Chancellor of Queens, Professor Sir George Bain, means that students will be able to enrol in a joint MSc in Plasma and Vacuum Technology and joint MA in Cross-Border Studies.

Both universities have already established a relationship of working together since 1996 and the latest initiative enables them to forge a closer partnership. The two universities set up the Centre for Cross Border Studies based in Armagh and at DCU. They also offer a highly successful join masters in science communications.

The new Masters in Cross-Border Studies, which will begin in September next year, will give students a practical and comparative understanding of borders, border regions, cross-border co-operation and governance in the island of Ireland, the European Union and other parts of the world. A wide range of issues will be covered including examining accident and emergency services along the Newry-Dundalk border and the problems faced by minority communities living in the border area.

Chair of the programme, Dr John Doyle, expects to attract a broad range of students including people working in private and voluntary organisations, public servants, recent graduates and overseas students with an interest or involvement in cross boarder issues.

The MSc in Plasma and Vacuum Technology is delivered entirely through the Internet as a response to industry demand. Run jointly by the School of Physical Sciences in Dublin City University and Queen's School of Mathematics and Physics, the course is aimed at those employed in the industry, including scientists and engineers seeing to understand and apply the latest developments in the technology. Both universities have an established track record of international excellence in this area.

ENDS