TUS: Midlands Midwest TU Newsletter Edition 2

TU Newsletter Edition 2 Ireland’s Next Technological University Students and Staff #DeliveringTogether

The Journey Towards a TU. #DeliveringTogether

Registrars’ Foreword.

W

e now stand on the cusp of delivering a technological university (TU) for the Midlands and Mid-West – a transformative public service development that will have a significant educational, social, civic, geographical, and economic impact regionally, nationally, and internationally.

This TU will be unique in its geographical reach and regional campus structure as it will border almost half of Ireland’s 26 counties.

This is a transformational change in the availability and accessibility to a university education in the regions served by this TU. It is a critical factor in securing and increasing the participation rates in third-level education in the Midlands and Mid-West regions.

“The educational philosophy of our TU will be predicated on a learning community that cocreates an inclusive learning experience.”

The collegiate relationships that both AIT and LIT have established with second-level institutions and further education providers, and with our social and industry partners, will continue to be the bedrock to guaranteeing relevant educational provisions, enhanced research opportunities, and dynamic community and regional engagement.

Our long-established ethos of inclusivity and support is a cornerstone of our success as institutes of technology. The new TU will build on these foundations of best practices, policies, and procedures that deliver a truly holistic student experience – one that considers the development of the whole person. This holistic approach will ensure that our graduates are confident in their abilities and are equipped to play an integral role in the development of the economy and society that the TU will serve. We will achieve this by providing learning experiences and activities such as work-based learning, the development of life-long skills, enabling research, encouraging active citizenship, and through professional accreditations.

The educational philosophy of our TU will be predicated on a learning community that co-creates an inclusive learning experience, through leadership in teaching, active learning, research, scholarship, and civic and industry collaboration.

How we make our provisions available will be underscored by our digital capacity to reach beyond even our traditional geographic boundaries. We aim to build our digital infrastructure and connectivity to interact seamlessly with our stakeholders and ensure efficient and effective access to a high educational experience across our multi-campus profile.

Frances O’Connell VP Academic Affairs and Registrar, AIT

A

s we look forward to a new technological university for the MidWest and Midlands, we do so with the knowledge and understanding that there will be an expansion in educational opportunities for these regions.

And as we welcome and look forward to these developments and changes, we remain steadfast in our position that our studentcentred ethos remains the same.

Our students will without doubt reap the benefits of an education from a technological university. Their qualifications on graduation will be of a globally recognised standard. The possibilities of studying abroad, opened up as part of RUNEU, are enormous. The potential for expanding research and development that will benefit the regions, our environment, the economy and society, is huge.

“As a TU, we will be just as committed to equality of opportunity, and those opportunities for students will be greater as part of the new entity.”

It is important to note, however, that as we embrace these opportunities, we remain committed to our core values of access to education, equality of opportunity, strong working relationships between staff and students and active learning.

The corner stone of this new TU is education. It is how we impart this education – how we teach, how we learn and how we engage - that will continue to set us apart.

We, as institutes of technology, know our students by their name not merely a number. Through continuous engagement we learn and understand their needs. We provide access to education through scholarship programmes and engaging with communities who traditionally would not have access to third-level education. We provide student supports and mentoring programmes to ensure students have every opportunity to remain in education.

As a TU, we will be just as committed to equality of opportunity, and those opportunities for students will be greater as part of the new entity. They will benefit not only from the new TU identity but the established way of learning, teaching and engaging.

By retaining our core values and maintaining our ethos as we expand to a TU, we will have the best of both worlds – and our students deserve nothing less than the best!

Marian Duggan VP Academic Affairs and Registrar, LIT

Socio-Economic Assessment.

Ireland’s Next TU Well Positioned to Address Challenges of Post-Pandemic Economy.

Ireland’s next technological university is well placed to address the challenges of a post-pandemic economy by meeting the resulting demands for higher education, upskilling and reskilling, as well as addressing educational disadvantage and economic regional imbalances.

The report, Socio-Economic Assessment of the AIT-LIT Consortium, which was commissioned as part of the process to develop the new technological university, has highlighted how the higher education system will be central to Ireland’s economic recovery from the twin shocks of Covid-19 and Brexit, and will be especially important in enabling the regions to realise their potential.

The 130-page report by Shannon International Development found that the new Technological University will have a key role to play in restoring the finances of the country to 2019 levels, and providing support to a changing post pandemic society.

According to the Socio-Economic Assessment, structural changes, notably the transition to the digital economy and the shift to remote working and service delivery, are likely to be accelerated as a result of the pandemic recession. Demand for higher education, upskilling and reskilling is therefore likely to increase in the aftermath if the pandemic, creating opportunities for higher education institutions. Enterprises are also likely to seek more collaboration with the higher education sector on research, development and innovation as they adapt to the challenges of the postpandemic economy.

“The Covid-19 recession and Brexit will continue to impact the Irish economy and society throughout the coming decade.

The rise in unemployment and the sectoral shifts resulting from the two shocks will create additional demand for training and education,” the report states.

“Responsiveness and flexibility will be required throughout the HEI sector to cater for the additional learners seeking to reskill, to upskill and to embark on new career paths as the economy adjusts to the postCovid-19 and post-Brexit realities. Equally, companies in all sectors will be looking to take advantage of the opportunities that the new economy will create and will look to the HEI sector to support their research, development and innovation activities. The applied research and innovation capabilities of the AIT-LIT Consortium will be a valuable resource in enabling enterprises to exploit these opportunities.

”The new TU will also act as a research and innovation hub for enterprise in the Midlands and Mid-West. “Building research intensity and capacity in the new TU will develop a key regional asset, delivering targeted research activities that will strengthen the competitiveness of enterprises in both regions.”

And while the Socio-Economic Assessment of the AIT-LIT Consortium points to the importance of the new TU for the Midlands and the Mid-West in a postpandemic Ireland, it also concentrates on the TU’s national role in balanced regional development.

The report outlines how the Irish economy recovered strongly from the 2008-2009 financial crash and by the end of 2019 was in a stronger, more sustainable economic

position than it had been prior to the recession. However, this strong national economic performance since 2010 was accompanied with growing disparities in regional growth rates, with Dublin and the South West widening the gap with other Irish regions including the Midlands and the Mid-West.

The report suggests that the new TU can help address these imbalances through developing the skills base of the Midlands and Mid-West regions. Raising regional productivity in the Midlands and Mid-West will be essential for the future economy of these regions, especially in the indigenous enterprise sector. A wider and deeper skills base will also make both regions more attractive for inward investment, especially by overseas companies, and will help to grow future jobs and incomes in the Midlands and Mid-West, making for a better-balanced pattern of spatial development The new TU will also act as a research and innovation hub for enterprise in the Midlands and Mid-West. “Building research intensity and capacity in the new TU will develop a key regional asset, delivering targeted research activities that will strengthen the competitiveness of enterprises in both regions. More and better innovation driven by the new TU will build more productive regions that can compete internationally for mobile investment and talent.”

Looking Forward to Our New TU.

Dr Niall Seery, Project Director

Terry Twomey, Project Director

“Significant ventures rarely happen without people working together in the spirit of common purpose to deliver a new initiative. This is an acknowledgement of the work and commitment of colleagues and students in the development of our TU application as we begin our journey towards achieving technological university designation. We would also like to thank stakeholders drawn from academia, industry, politics, and public life whose feedback and ambition for the Midlands and Mid-West have helped shape the vision of the new technological university.�

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

“I strongly support the development of the TU and believe that it presents an excellent opportunity to combine AIT and LIT’s unique and innovative range of flexible and undergraduate courses with an expanded postgraduate offering.” Student Survery

“The technological university should focus both on practical teaching and innovative research with the aim of training students ready to take on the world and change society and workplace for the better with practical and innovative ideas.” Student Survery

“The Technological Universities Act (2018) presented AIT and LIT with an opportunity to revisit their mission so as to increase impact, improve engagement, enhance teaching and learning and to boost capacity, capabilities and profile through the creation of a new entity – a technological university for the Midlands and Mid-West of Ireland.”

Staff Survery

“The new technological university will be a vibrant and diverse learning community which will strive to meet the ever-evolving needs of its students, by the deliverance of excellent and accessible higher education where students and staff are supported in reaching their full potential.” Staff Survery

Our Journey.

The AIT - LIT Consortium’s goal is the formation of a contemporary technological university with a regional focus that will benefit students, staff and the communities it serves. Becoming a technological university will further strengthen its teaching and research capacity and provide new opportunities and access pathways for all learners.

March 2019 Application to HEA landscape fund (first joint project).

Technologoical Universities Act 2018 Establishing the concept of a TU in Irish law.

February 2019 Governing body consideration of strategic futures of both institutes.

October 2019 Joint management steering group for the TU project established.

June 2019 Governing bodies approve formation of TU consortium.

September 2019 Landscape funding of â‚Ź2m announced to commence TU project.

May 2019 First joint meeting of AIT and LIT executive management teams.

January 2020 Joint project directors and project facilitator appointed to lead TU project development.

March 2020 Consultation fora with employee representative bodies established.

November 2019 Governing bodies of AIT and LIT approve the AIT - LIT Consortium.

November 2020 TU application went to government.

April 2020 AIT - LIT Consortium metrics audit by Deloitte.

June 2021 Projected TU designation.

May 2020 Professional Services Steering Group and working groups established.

January 2021 International Advisory Panel visit.

September 2021 Ireland’s newest TU to open its doors.

October 2020 Landscape funding of â‚Ź5m announced to progress TU project.

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

Student Voices.

Name: Brendan Egan Course: MA by Research in Learning & Engagement Campus: Limerick School of Art and Design, Clare Street I have (unexpectedly) experienced studying at LIT’s Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD) through three different lenses in the past decade.

First as a Fine Art undergraduate student, then as part of a two-year taught MA, and now I am in the midst of an MA by Research as a Shinnors Scholar at Limerick City Gallery of Art (LCGA).

My journey at LIT began back in 2007. As a young aspiring art student, I enrolled at LSAD Clare Street campus and subsequently completed a BA (Hons) Degree in Fine Art Painting in 2011. The highlight of being an undergrad at LSAD is the strong connections you make with your peers and tutors, with gallery trips to London, Rome, Berlin and New York helping to form solid friendships.

After graduating in 2011, I found myself in Abu Dhabi teaching art and design, where I developed a deep interest in education and working with young people.

In 2016, I accepted a place on the Professional Masters in Art and Design Education (PME) with Digital Media in 2016. The PME is an intensive twoyear taught MA based at LIT’s Clare St campus. The overarching aim of the PME is to produce fully qualified second-level art teachers, ready for professional careers.

By 2018, I was teaching full time in the UK, when an old colleague sent me a “call out” for the ‘Shinnors Scholarship’; Limerick City Gallery of Art (LGCA) were seeking someone with art education expertise to design and develop a learning and engagement programme between the gallery and schools in Limerick City. I could not resist the opportunity and found myself applying to study with LIT for a third time!

I was awarded the scholarship which offers a MA by research or the opportunity to progress to PhD, which I have my sights on.

My current research is investigating the effects of virtual exhibitions and engagement due to COVID-19 on the learning opportunities between LCGA and local primary schools, and my aim is to provide a dynamic education programme for primary schools in Limerick City.

Overall, through these different perspectives of studying at LIT/LSAD, I can say that whether you are in the first year of your degree or reaching for a PhD, you are guaranteed to benefit from access to state-of-the-art facilities and support from practicing experts.

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

Regional Focus - Empower Eco Project.

“Many of the products that could be produced from stressed peatland would have superior qualities due to the stress responses from plants and herbs and the nature of the pollen collected.�

Professor Neil Rowan

€1.1 Million Empower Eco Project to Mobilise Next Generation of Green Enterprise Innovators and Create Jobs.

According to Professor Rowan, who is the director of the Bioscience Research Institute at AIT, the unique conditions of the Irish peatlands give rise to powerful medicinal qualities and make it an ideal “future factory for nutraceuticals.”

“Plants and herbs are one of the most climate adaptive types of vegetation, but the peat itself can be subjected to extremes of PH and drying and wetting. These stresses can produce extremely interesting bioactives,” he explained.

Prof Neil Rowan , Director, Bioscience Research Institute

A new economic and environment partnership led by AIT - LIT is expected to mobilise a new generation of greenenterprise innovators and create jobs.

The Empower Eco project, which recently received a €1.1 million investment from the EU Just Transition Fund and others, will create 100 jobs over the next two years.

The project will achieve this by creating new, sustainable opportunities that will positively impact those most affected by decarbonisation, their communities, and the local economy.

Following a “hub and spoke” model, Empower Eco will deliver green-enterprise opportunities through a central innovation hub in Lough Boora, Co Offaly.

The project will see the development of “living laboratories” and testing facilities in situ by 2022, with further test beds dotted across Ireland.

The goal is to create a “defined ecosystem” from concept right through to products and services, where “we can encourage and train eco innovators and environmentalists,” Professor Neil Rowan, one of Empower Eco’s chief architects, explained.

“Through Bord na Móna and other partners, we’ll develop more test beds to provide upskilling and training on low carbon transitioning right through to green deal innovations.”

The Lough Boora hub will act as a sustainability business accelerator for high potential scale-ups in bioplastics, nutraceuticals, high-added-value agri-food and other high potential natural resource areas.

One such innovation, due to be launched in 2021, is a “Food for Good” range. Derived from the Irish peatlands, the range will include a bell heather honey and the development of exotic gourmet mushrooms in agroforestry.

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

“The projects’ early success could see it identified as a flagship project for the RUN-EU network - of which AIT and LIT are founding members – due to its ability to impact on and add value to citizen’s lives.”

“Many of the products that could be produced from stressed peatland would have superior qualities due to the stress responses from plants and herbs and the nature of the pollen collected.”

Empower Eco is expected to benefit ex-Bord na Móna workers, the unemployed and underemployed who will be trained in biodiversity, design thinking, food production and employed through the social enterprise.

Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, the president of AIT, called the project a “sustainability imperative focused on using the natural world in clever ways to meet human needs” and said it would make the region a hotspot of eco-innovation, collaboration and investment.

He added that Empower Eco is an “ambitious” and “transformative” project for AIT and LIT as they transition to becoming a new technological university.

The projects’ early success could see it identified as a flagship project for the RUN-EU network - of which AIT and LIT are founding members – due to its ability to impact on and add value to citizen’s lives.

If successful, Empower Eco will become the first regional hub for eco sustainability across the European network.

Dr Michael Brougham, Enterprise Ireland’s regional director for the Midlands, Mid-East and West, called Empower Eco an “exciting and far-reaching” project and said he expects it to have a significant impact on SMEs throughout Ireland and Europe.

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

Student Voices.

Name: Alison Fagan, PhD Candidate Department: Dept. of Sport and Health Science Campus: Athlone Institute of Technology Having attended AIT for my undergraduate studies (BSc (Hons) in General Nursing), I already had first-hand experience of the excellence in knowledge, innovation and the world-class facilities AIT has to offer; when the opportunity arose to come back to AIT in 2018, it really was a no brainer, and I jumped at the chance to pursue further studies here.

I am currently in the middle of my PhD research which looks at Irish centenarians and their attainment of longevity. Like my peers, I am very lucky to be working with a fantastic team of supervisors whose knowledge and expertise is available to me pretty much on demand. They know how to harness my strengths and nurture my weaknesses so that I can be at my best and this did not change in the last 12 months either as the unchartered waters of the COVID-19 pandemic was navigated. While 2020 undoubtedly presented unique and unprecedented challenges for everyone, AIT rose to the challenge, keeping its students and their learning and development very much as its focus.

We have all learned many life lessons since the outbreak of COVID-19, but one thing in particular that comes to mind for me is the idea of collaboration and how when people come together for a common cause, truly wonderful things that can happen! I feel this concept can be applied also to the union of AIT and LIT in forming the TU. The development of the TU will be amazing for the Midlands, not only academically but also socially and economically.

Across the region, it will increase access to higher education and create new opportunities beyond compare. As a TU, we will have the authority to award PhDs in all areas, which as a PhD student I strongly welcome; already in AIT, there is such a diverse array of postgraduate students and research projects underway, to think of the additional contribution to knowledge and expertise that will be gained from this is amazing. The future of research is very bright indeed!

Global Reach of the New TU. From next September, Ireland’s newest technological university will have an educational imprint in 105 different countries across the globe.

The international offices in AIT and LIT are already working in partnership to promote the prospects of a new technological university to potential students all over the world. The teams are drawing on their experience from the countries they already engage with as institutes of technology and are sharing this experience to allow for the broadening of the TU international imprint.

Working together, the AIT-LIT international staff are already finding engagement with international students encouraging, as potential students look to joining Ireland’s third technological university in September.

22

Countries

AIT

21

Albania Belarus

Countries

Bhutan

LIT

Botswana

Benin British Indian Ocean Territory Canada Central African Republic Cote d’Ivoire

Bouvet Island

Hong Kong

Congo Republic

Iraq

Cyprus

Jamaica

Georgia

Kazakhstan

Iran, Islamic Republic of

Korea, Republic of

Japan

Libya Luxembourg

Morocco

Nepal

Mozambique

New Zealand

Myanmar

Panama

Norway

Slovenia Occupied

Somalia

Sweden

Taiwan

Tanzania, United Republic of

Thailand

Uzbekistan

Togo

Venezuela

Tunisia

Zambia

62

Common Countries

Afghanistan

France

Switzerland

Malta

Australia

Gambia

Syrian Arab Republic

Mexico

Austria

Germany

Turkey

Netherlands

Bangladesh

Ghana

Uganda

Nigeria

Belgium

Ukraine

Oman

Brazil

Great Britain (excluding NI)

United States

Pakistan

Bulgaria

Greece

Vietnam

Guinea

Philippines

Cameroon

Zimbabwe

Hungary

Poland

China (excluding overseas) Republic of the Congo

Saudi Arabia

Iceland Sierra Leone

Czech Republic

Singapore

Denmark

Slovakia

Egypt

South Africa

Estonia

Spain

Ethiopia

Sri Lanka

Finland

Sudan

Portugal India

Romania

Indonesia

Lithuania

Ireland (including NI) Italy Kenya Latvia Malawi Malaysia

105 Countries in Total A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

Bringing Global Attention to the New TU. The move from institute of technology to technological university, which is a more globally recognised brand, will provide a significant advantage in attracting students, researchers, staff and partnerships from around the world to the new TU for the Midlands and Mid-West.

The international offices from LIT and AIT are already working together to represent the TU consortium at international virtual recruitment fairs around the world.

International staff from the two institutes have also been meeting (virtually) on a regular basis over the last year, getting to know each other and working towards advancing the common Internationalisation objectives.

AIT’s Director of International Relations, Mary Simpson, said, “AIT and LIT have agreements with 272 international partner universities, and they were really excited when we briefed them on our trajectory to becoming a TU. We will build on our international relationships and partnerships to attract talented international researchers and students to our campuses and to further boost the development of our regions”.

“The key principle underpinning the new TU international ambition is Internationalisation of the curriculum, incorporating internationalisation at home.”

AIT and LIT have many common International partners and are now sharing their expertise in assisting the new technological university in realising an ambitious internationalisation Vision. For example, AIT and LIT will jointly promote to prospective students at virtual fairs in Malaysia.

Mary Simpson, Director of International Relations, AIT

Both offices are together providing a vision for a worldclass TU that promotes and embeds global perspectives in all of it activities, through the commitment to an internationalised curriculum, transnational research and education partnerships, and an extensive staff and student mobility network.

The key principle underpinning the new TU international ambition is Internationalisation of the curriculum, incorporating Internationalisation at home. Students will be offered global perspectives and enabled to develop the international and intercultural competences they need as global learners and citizens within their programme of study, while graduates will be prepared for employment in international and intercultural settings.

LIT’s Director of International Affairs, Cliona Campbell, said, “The TU presents a wonderful opportunity for us to enhance and strengthen our international global footprint. Bringing together our individual specialties gives us a collective strength that will create a significant competitive advantage and enable us to realise our ambitious international goals.”

Cliona Campbell, Director of International Affairs, LIT

Work and Role of the International Offices The international offices are the first point of contact for all incoming international students, providing assistance with regard to language requirements, visas, immigration, study-abroad programmes and on-campus services.

The core work of the office continues in this new online environment with the virtual recruitment of promising and ambitious students, researchers and staff from around the world. The offices also promote and support international study, work placement and exchange opportunities to students and staff through national and international exchange programmes.

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

Internationalisation at Home - Inclusive pedagogy - Inclusive campus - Learning from diverse communities - Domestic/international student interaction Foreign language learning

Transnational Education

Outward Mobility

- Joint programmes of study - Modules for delivery at international partner institutes - Blended and online modules for delivery at partner institutes overseas

- Staff and student exchange programmes - Funding and scholarship for outward mobility - Fellowships - Placements abroad - Study tours and field trips - Collaborations - Volunteering

Research

Inward Mobility

- Raised global research profile - Extensive international relationships, partnerships and collaborations - Innovative and impactful contributions to UN sustainability goals - Opportunities for internationally acquired experience

- Recruitment of staff, students and researchers - Scholarships and funding for inward mobility

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

Flexible Learning to Play a Key Role in TU Future.

Dr Michael Tobin Dean of the Faculty of Continuing, Professional, Online and Distance Learning, AIT

Lifelong learning plays a vital role in the continued growth and development of the Irish workforce, helping future-proof career prospects by keeping learners’ skills and knowledge up to date.

AIT and LIT are fully committed to supporting learners in this endeavour and offer an extensive range of flexible and innovative learning routes designed to work around career and familial commitments.

In response to increased demand from learners looking for flexible upskilling opportunities, LIT established a Department of Flexible Learning in 2015, while AIT established a Department of Adult and Continuing Education in 2001 and in 2018, a fourth faculty – the Faculty of Continuing, Professional, Online and Distance Learning.

Both have since driven significant growth in the range and number of flexible programmes offered, each of which has been carefully designed in response to current and future needs of industry in the region.

According to Dr Michael Tobin, Dean of Faculty of Continuing, Professional, Online and Distance Learning at AIT, the response from industry and people in the community has been “exceptionally positive”. “There’s a demonstrated value there; people can see the value of these flexible learning courses and upskilling opportunities to their companies and prospects,” he explains.

Seamus Hoyne Development and Public Engagement Manager, LIT

Dr Tobin and his Limerick counterpart, Seamus Hoyne, tailor and deliver highly customised courses, based on the needs of companies or sectors such as biopharma and MedTech.

“Companies or industry groups who have specific requirements can just pick up the phone and say, ‘I need this particular skillset’ and we deliver,” Dr Tobin says.

Thanks to government-funded initiatives like Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative, industry can now access a constant stream of talent for little to no cost. The same holds true for people living in the region.

“Collectively, AIT and LIT offer more than 160 flexible learning courses, with progression pathways from single module programmes right through to certificates, degrees, and postgraduate programmes. “ While previously these subsidised programmes were only available to those on social welfare, now they are also open to those in employment at a reduced cost.

To date, AIT and LIT have enjoyed huge success with this model, with almost 3,500 students currently enrolled in flexible learning courses across the two institutes.

One of the key targets set out by Ireland’s National Skills Strategy 2025 includes an ambition to increase Ireland’s lifelong learning participation rate to 15% by 2025.

A core tenet of the TU is increased access to education, something that flexible learning facilitates. “Flexible education is there for everyone with an appetite to learn,” Dr Tobin explains.

“This is all about increasing accessibility - no one should be precluded from accessing education.”

Skill gaps are typically identified through national skills reports and consultation groups like the Midlands Industry Forum and Limerick for Engineering, with whom AIT and LIT work very closely. Both AIT and LIT have been extremely proactive in developing new programmes, recognising early on the huge appetite for flexible upskilling opportunities.

With increased awareness, Dr Tobin says people’s perception of online learning is starting to change. “People are realising just how brilliant learning online can be. You can access education from anywhere, at any time, on any device.”

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

Dr Tobin is quick to point out that online students still benefit from the supportive, friendly, and inclusive campus culture for which AIT and LIT are so well known.

“We are conscious of the student experience and have made every effort to reproduce that lecturer-learner and peer-topeer interaction virtually.We don’t just upload course material; we actually replicate the live classroom environment to ensure students get the most from their experience.

Collectively, AIT and LIT offer more than 160 flexible learning courses, with progression pathways from single module programmes right through to certificates, degrees, and postgraduate programmes.

“There’s a wonderful complementarity of programmes and a history of collaboration and partnership between our two faculties,” Dr Tobin says. “Becoming a TU will allow us to provide an even broader range of programmes because we’ll be marrying the skills and competencies of our six campuses under the banner of a technological university.”

Spotlight: Digital First Campus Supporting Teaching, Learning and Assessment.

Working Group 8, chaired by Frances O’Connell (AIT) and Marian Duggan (LIT), is responsible for ensuring the new multi-campus TU is a “digital-first organisation”, capable of providing equal access to education on demand.

The new TU is being designed with the needs of the 21st century student in mind.

With six locations across four counties, the TU will require a robust, future-proofed digital identity and digital infrastructure. This includes equipment, hardware, and software. Strong digital connectivity is essential for delivering equal access for all learners and ensuring a consistent and high-quality educational experience, regardless of physical location.

“A digital-first campus approach will support the overall academic experience and facilitate flexible delivery of education. Preparations are already underway across the campuses to upgrade infrastructure.”

The new TU will offer a flexible model of learning that includes blended and online programmes. This on demand style of education will facilitate a broader cohort of students, supporting CPD and lifelong learning. The integration of digital technologies will enable more diverse ways of delivering content and communicating with and assessing students. It will also offer students more flexible and engaging ways to learn as well as a higher degree of personalization and learner autonomy. Students will be able to use resources such as the digital library to enable self-directed learning through access to a limitless portal of qualityassured learning resources.

A digital-first campus approach will support the overall academic experience and facilitate flexible delivery of education. Preparations are already underway across the campuses to upgrade infrastructure. In AIT, a campus-wide upgrade project has replaced the legacy wireless system with a new next-generation wireless LAN from Aruba Networks. The new Aruba access points use the latest WiFi6 standards to deliver optimal speeds even when the campus is busy. This first-class IT infrastructure – the first of its kind used in Ireland – will facilitate a dynamic, mobile, and flexible educational experience.

Thanks to government-funded initiatives like Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative, industry can now access a constant stream of talent for little to no cost.

Regional Focus - IDEAM. Bridging the Digitalisation Gap

IDEAM Cluster to assist manufacturing SMEs in all aspects of digital transformation and Industry 4.0.

“The IDEAM Cluster will enable the AIT - LIT Consortium to co-operate and engage further with SMEs, providing a means to increase their educational and research remit in all aspects of digital transformation and Industry 4.0. Working jointly as part of the AIT - LIT Consortium can bring many new opportunities for manufacturing SMEs to augment their digital journey.”

Those were the words of Dr Liam Brown, Vice-President for Research, Development and Innovation, Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT), at the launch of the IDEAM Cluster in December.

The IDEAM (Irish Digital Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing) Cluster, designed to assist manufacturing SMEs in all aspects of digital transformation and Industry 4.0 will help more than 70 manufacturing SMEs, from the Mid-West, Midlands and all over Ireland, increase productivity, improve competitiveness and expand into international markets.

The cluster received the maximum allocation of €406,520 from the Regional Technology Clustering Fund, which provides a platform for engagement between enterprise and regionally-based academic institutions to drive productivity and competitiveness across the regions and is overseen by Enterprise Ireland.

Dr Brown explained, “Business clusters have proven to drive regional economic development performance, due to the significantly greater increases in innovation and technology applications, and commercialisation of these applications. IDEAM will act as a catalyst for bringing together the key stakeholders

from industry, academia and government to make a real impact on the development of the advanced manufacturing and digital transformation sector in the Mid-West, Midlands and Ireland as a whole.”

“Working jointly as part of the AIT LIT Consortium can bring many new opportunities for manufacturing SMEs to augment their digital journey.”

The Irish digital technology sector is thriving with annual sales of over €6.5 billion with more than 1,000 companies operating across a wide number of industries. The manufacturing sector in Ireland employs 205,700 people directly and 400,000 people across all skills levels. More than 80% of companies have said that automaton of manufacturing was critical to their future success with robotics, AI and data analytics, additive manufacturing and 3D printing IN4.0 digital technologies being implemented.

It has been well documented that companies involved in clusters have greater access to resources, skilled labour, talent, capital, knowledge, and institutions. Business clusters have proven to drive regional economic development performance, due to the significantly greater increases in innovation and technology applications, and commercialisation of these applications.

IDEAM will therefore: • Enhance the development of the cluster, • Improve SME productivity, competitiveness and internationalisation, • Nurture critical mass, R&D and talent and skills gap, • Act as the nucleus between the triple-helix community, • Impact GDP, start-up creations and employment opportunities, • Stimulate systemic change through high levels of collaboration and building trustful relationships.

“The cluster business model is based on an industry-driven, academia-fuelled, government-supported approach to solve industry pain points and connect the wider community.”

Jamie Meehan, Educational and Outreach Manager, IDEAM Cluster Jamie Meehan, Educational and Outreach Manager, IDEAM Cluster, stated, “The cluster business model is based on an industry-driven, academia-fuelled, government-supported approach to solve industry pain points and connect the wider community.”

Mr Meehan added, “The global industry is growing unprecedentedly and now is the right time to make the Mid-West, Midlands and Ireland a world-class one-stop-shop that will assist Manufacturing SMEs in all aspects of digital transformation and Industry 4.0. An advanced manufacturing and IN4.0 digital transformation cluster can pioneer Ireland on an international scale to attract start-ups, investments and develop indigenous SMEs in this sector. Everyone must work more collectively and build trust towards specific goals with a strategic focus.”

Dr John Cosgrove, Head of Graduate Studies and Acorn Research Team Leader, LIT, added that, “Collaboratively working and backing industry in the region is one of our main objectives as we continue to develop programmes to specifically meet industry needs and up-skill our students to prepare them for industry employment. The IDEAM Cluster will help to ease industry pain points and open new doors for SMEs to become more competitive and productive.”

Harriet Cotter, Manager Regional Technology Clustering Fund at Enterprise Ireland, said Enterprise Ireland was delighted to be funding the institutes of technology to develop capability in clustering amongst industry in their regions.

“IDEAM will add to the eco-system for manufacturing and ICT companies in the Mid-West region. LIT have specialist capability in the area of manufacturing 4.0 and given the relatively high number of traditional manufacturing companies in the region, this cluster can only benefit the individual companies and create a positive economic impact regionally and potentially nationally,” she said.

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

AIT Meets LIT. I am a lecturer and researcher in the Faculty of Business and Hospitality. I lecturer primarily in digital marketing, SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and marketing analytics. My research interest lies in digital marketing, employee brand advocacy, data analysis using structural equation model (SEM), and technology adoption and usage. I contribute annually to the Irish Academy of Management and the Academy of Marketing conferences. I enjoy supervising PhD and master’s by research students. I am also part of a steering group with Athlone Chamber of Commerce and Destinations Athlone who are aiming to rebuilding a strong and resilient tourism and retail sector for Athlone.

“The TU will further strengthen our ties with SMEs in the Midlands/ Mid-West region and enhance our enterprise, innovation and research collaborations. It will allow us to develop new opportunities with our industry partners, paving the way for our graduates to prosper.”

Here in AIT, I have worked with excellent leaders and colleagues in an environment that has been supportive, encouraging dynamic and driven. As part of our undergrad and postgrad programmes, we have collaborated with many SMEs in the Midlands/MidWest on real live projects with our students. This has been an enormous success to date, and we look forward to building on that with our partners in LIT. The TU will further strengthen our ties with SMEs in the Midlands/Mid-West region and enhance our enterprise, innovation, and research collaborations. It will allow us to develop new opportunities with our industry partners, paving the way for our graduates to prosper.

Dr Aisling Keenan Lecturer, Department of Business Computing, AIT

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

“The new TU will provide a significant competitive advantage in attracting students, researchers, staff and partnerships from around the world.”

As the director of international affairs at Limerick Institute of Technology, I am responsible for heading up the team coordinating the recruitment and administration of all international students. In this role, I am responsible for forging long-term strategic partnerships that give rise to staff/student exchange opportunities and research collaboration.

I have sat on the board of the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) since 2016 to ensure international education policy and practice in Ireland is quality-driven and remains firmly focused on the educational and social needs of all students.

I am co-chair of the TU Working Group on internationalisation, advancing work towards common Internationalisation objectives. I am an active member of the Regional University Network-European University European Mobility Innovation Centre (EMIC) Working Group which is currently exploring innovative international student and staff mobility opportunities.

I eagerly await the formal creation of our new technological university which will further enhance and expand our international activity and reach. The new TU will provide a significant competitive advantage in attracting students, researchers, staff and partnerships from around the world.

Cliona Campbell Director of International Affairs, LIT

“I look forward to collaborating with the Disability Service in LIT and sharing our commitment to providing a learning environment where students with disabilities can study without disadvantage.”

I am the learning support tutor for the Disability and Learning Support Service in AIT. I completed a BA in Applied Languages (French and German) in 2005. Following this, I went on to complete a Certificate of Competence in Educational Testing with the British Psychological Society and an MA in Professional Studies in Special Educational Needs with St Angela’s College in 2016.

My role as a learning support tutor is to support students with disabilities in their transition to third level by guiding them in developing the academic skills required to access and progress through their studies. Much of my role involves identifying students learning needs, delivering one-to-one learning support based on those needs while monitoring their progress and outcomes. I also train students in the use of assistive technologies to create a more autonomous learning environment and enhance engagement.

I feel privileged to support students in growing to overcome obstacles and reach their full potential. I am excited about the new opportunities that becoming a TU will bring. I look forward to collaborating with the Disability Service in LIT and sharing our commitment to providing a learning environment where students with disabilities can study without disadvantage.

Róisín Kelly Learning Support Tutor, Disability and Learning Support Service, AIT

LIT Meets AIT. I am currently working with CONFIRM, a world-leading SFI smart manufacturing research centre. I recently completed my PhD in polymer engineering at AIT, which focused on the creation of personalised solid dosage forms.

My interest in engineering sparked from my love of physics, which led me to complete a BSc (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering in 2012 before emigrating from my home country of Venezuela.

In 2015, I undertook a master’s by research and subsequently earned my doctorate. It was a fantastic experience – one that has stood to me as a postdoctoral researcher working closely with academics and industrial partners on the cutting edge of polymer research and smart manufacturing.

I hope that the transition from IT to TU, and the inclusion of LIT as a fellow institute, will open new opportunities for novel multidisciplinary courses and projects, expanding the possibilities for other individuals to follow a similar path to mine.

“I hope that the transition from IT to TU, and the inclusion of LIT as a fellow institute, will open new opportunities for novel multidisciplinary courses and projects, expanding the possibilities for other individuals to follow a similar path to mine.”

Dr Evert Fuenmayor Postdoctoral Researcher, AIT

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

“I am excited about the AIT-LIT Consortium. This will hopefully futureproof higher education for our communities and will provide new opportunities.”

As the facilities services coordinator, I work in the Facilities and Estates Department at Limerick Institute of Technology. My role is to manage a variety of services across the five LIT campuses. The services include cleaning, security, waste and landscaping on each of the campuses.

I joined LIT in January 2020 having gained 10 years’ experience in the facilities management industry throughout a variety of sectors.

Initially, my core focus was to streamline these services to ensure that we are getting the best performance possible and efficiencies from these facilities service contracts.

There was nothing that could have prepared us for the Covid -19 pandemic, but we rallied together as a team to respond to the challenge in many diverse and impactful ways. Working alongside the LIT estates team and other departments has been a huge learning curve, and it’s a testament to what can be achieved by information sharing, education, experience and hard work.

I am excited about the AIT-LIT Consortium. This will hopefully futureproof higher education for our communities and will provide new opportunities, employment and learning experiences across the Midlands and Mid-West.

Diane Whyte Facilities Services Coordinator, LIT

“I have seen the benefits and the challenges merging two organisations presents, and it has been reassuring to see the consultation with staff in the TU process.”

Following a period working in financial services, I joined the then TRBDI (Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute) in July 2000, which later became known as Tipperary Institute. With the merger of TI into LIT in September 2011, it brought with it a change to LIT Thurles, so we’ve grown quite used to change around the Tipperary campuses! Having experienced the integration of TI into LIT, I have seen the benefits and the challenges merging two organisations presents, and it has been reassuring to see the consultation with staff in the TU process.

Based in LIT’s marketing and communications office, I work as schools liaison officer, where I coordinate our undergraduate student recruitment activities. The role gives me opportunities to work with all academic and professional services teams across LIT, and I’ve seen first-hand that everyone in our organisation is dedicated to the same goal – providing a positive, supportive and enjoyable learning experience for our students. Knowing that our colleagues in AIT share the same goals, I am excited for the opportunities the new technological university will bring for students, particularly to our regional locations.

Ann McBride Schools Liaison Officer, LIT

Redefining Student Representation in the Emerging TU. The Limerick Institute of Technology Students’ Union provides massive support for all students of LIT, whether that be through their academic studies or their social life, LITSU is there for everyone.

At LITSU, we help provide a social atmosphere for all students, whether that be through yearly events such as Freshers’ Week or Movie Weeks, even in the college through clubs and societies such as the Gaming Society or International Society which help form friendships from all different backgrounds and cultures from all over the world.

“These societies are what help students get in that positive mindset after a long academic day, allowing them to look forward to meeting their friends after college for a board game or meeting their new friends out for some food.”

These societies are what help students get in that positive mindset after a long academic day, allowing them to look forward to meeting their friends after college for a board game or meeting their new friends out for some food.

The Students’ Union also helps to guide students in their studies and help them academically through our various online partners that provide free information and help. Alongside this we also sit down and listen, no matter what the concern may be and guide them in the correct direction whether that be for academic help, mental help or physical help.

Our main role outside of all of this though is to help represent the students at the highest governing level within the college. The Students’ Union sits on a lot of committees in the college ranging from Health and Safety all the way to the Governing Body, this ensures that no matter the area the students voice is heard.

All of us at LITSU are so grateful for being able to work so closely with LIT and are very happy that all of the student concerns have been taken on board and the appropriate changes were to be made to make the students’ lives easier.

The new TU being developed is something special; the supports that the students will get are going to be astronomical. We’re looking forward to meeting with the International Panel shortly to share our thoughts about the new TU and how a new and improved structure will benefit the representation of students.

Dylan Ryan Overall President, LITSU

AIT Students’ Union represents every single student attending Athlone Institute of Technology. Our role is to provide support, information, and advice on a wide range of issues for students who thrive off peer-to-peer support with the AITSU playing a pivotal role in directing students towards the great student services available on campus. Our organisation is run by students for students, who play a key role deciding on our overall policy and direction at our councils, at out our reoccurring class representative meeting and AITSU general meetings.

“The AITSU is proud of the relationship that has been built with the AIT Executive, championing the principle of partnership in all our dealings and upholding that students are always the centre and forefront in the AIT communities every day.”

The Students’ Union represents the students on numerous councils and committees within AIT on many levels such Governing Body, Academic Council, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee and so forth. During the TU process, we have held seats on the TU Governing body, Academic Steering group, Professional Services Steering group and relevant working groups. Our objective is to ensure our students get the best possible deal when it comes to their education. We are also very active members of USI, with each of the officers holding respective seats on national committees where we work on national campaigns relating to social, economic, and academic issues.

We organise a huge range of social events for students within the institute along with offering a wide range of services regarding the students educational and welfare needs with the understanding the student experience is more than what is learned within the classroom. Along with this, we provide educational advice, support and assistance with the student grant process, examinations and electing the class representatives each year. In the area of welfare, we provide support, advice and referrals for student’s mental health, sexual health, physical health and safety. Another service we provide is in student accommodation and support. The officers were students recently themselves within the AIT community and truly enjoy working with the students and seeing them excel and thrive through their education journey.

I am excited to meet the upcoming International Panel and to speak to our involvement and partnership throughout this process.

Becoming a TU is an extremely positive development for the Midlands and Mid-West. This is a necessary growth required in the landscape of higher education providing a university degree, wider provision of courses whilst continuing the ethos and community spirit that we have grown to love in IoTs. Áine Daly President, AITSU

The Mission, Vision and Values of the New SU

OUR

MISSION The mission of the union is to be the independent representative organisation for students of the AIT-LIT Consortium technological university, to act in the best interests of its members, to advance and defend their rights, primarily in relation to their education and welfare as AIT-LIT Consortium TU students and also as citizens.

OUR

VISION

The vision is that each AIT-LIT Consortium TU student will have a positive and transformative experience to assist members in reaching their full potential academically and professionally, to become socially responsive and politically aware, and to develop as ethical and informed individuals.

OUR

VALUES The values of the union are that it will be student-led, democratic, inclusive, transparent, accountable, ethical, respectful, empowering and professional.

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie

A Word from the Presidents.

Professor Vincent Cunnane President, Limerick Institute of Technology

F

riday, November 20, 2020, was a significant day in the history of Irish education. It was the day the AIT- LIT Consortium submitted our application for technological university designation to Government. This application was the culmination of several years’ work, and the first of four key milestones on the road to becoming Ireland’s first cross-regional university and lead transformational change across our adjacent Midlands and Mid-West region.

“It is this commonality of commitment, alongside our academic complementarity and regional orientation, that underpins our desire and ambition to create an impactful, contemporary technological university to serve communities across Ireland’s Midlands and Mid-West and beyond.”

Our journey to this point has uncovered a strong set of shared values among our students and staff, a student-centred ethos, a commitment to providing access to an excellent standard of higher education to all who would benefit from it, and a clear commitment to balanced regional development. It is this commonality of commitment, alongside our academic complementarity and regional orientation, that underpins our desire and ambition to create an impactful, contemporary technological university to serve communities across our regions, Ireland and beyond.

Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin President, Athlone Institute of Technology

This process has been met with great positivity and buy-in from staff across all functions and levels of our respective institutes. Their ownership of this transformational process and engagement with one another has proved extremely productive and has served as a backdrop to the development of very strong governance and operational teams for the AIT – LIT Consortium.

Indeed, this shared understanding, common purpose and ability to work together has already borne fruit in the form of RUN-EU, a network of likeminded and regionally focused HEIs committed to societal transformation across Europe. The AIT – LIT Consortium was instrumental in the formation of this alliance formally launched on November 1 last year.

The submission of our TU application has triggered a chain of events that should see our transformative TU in situ by September 2021. We now await a visit from the International Panel, who will assess our submission and submit its report to Government.

This visit will take place virtually, beginning at the end of this month, and will allow the panel members to learn more about our institutes, our people and our wider community. We are confident that these meetings with students and staff will capture our energy, enthusiasm, and ambition for the TU project.

Students and Staff. #DeliveringTogether

A Technological University for the Region. www.aitlitconsortium.ie A Technological University for Region