SETU launches globally in Washington

Ireland’s South East Technological University (SETU) has been launched to the international community at a special reception held in US last week.

President of SETU, Professor Veronica Campbell, launched SETU at the residence of the Irish Ambassador to USA, Geraldine Byrne Nason, in Washington D.C. e international launch took place in line with the rst anniversary of SETU’s establishment as a technological university in May 2022.

Prof. Campbell and SETU colleagues travelled to Washington D.C. to attend the reception hosted by Ambassador Byrne Nason in honour of the visit of Niall Collins, Minister of State for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. is visit coincides with the 75th Annual NAFSA Conference and Expo – the world’s largest international education event attended by international educators from over 100 nations. e theme of this year’s event is “Inspiring an Inclusive Future”, one that aligns closely with SETU’s ambition of inspiring futures for its people across Ireland and the world.

Minister Collins welcomed the opportunity to support Irish Higher Education Institutions at NAFSA, noting that his presence indicated the importance the Government attached to international education in Ireland, as well as highlighting the role Technological Universities have to play in this area.

Prof. Campbell commented: “It is a great opportunity to share SETU’s plans for the coming years with a global audience. With the recent launch of our strategic plan, we’re embarking on our work to achieve meaningful and impactful goals in innovation, research and graduate excellence.

“A key part of this mission is that of our global strategic alliances, including our partners here in the US, that we value highly. is is just the beginning of a period of signi cant growth for SETU, marrying over 50 years of experience from the merger of our former regional institutions, to build an exciting global technological university of impact in Ireland, and beyond,” continued Prof. Campbell.

Over €2.5 million is being awarded to local authorities to carry out biodiversity projects through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) and €193k is being granted to the natural history recording community through the Small Recording Grants scheme.

Operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing,

Local Government and Heritage, the scheme was rst launched in 2018. Since then, a total of just over €6m has been granted to local authorities through the LBAF for projects that support actions in the 3rd National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP). is year’s grants will build on that investment.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform,

Malcolm Noonan TD: “ e Local Biodiversity Action Fund is an enormously impactful scheme that supports local authorities and communities to deliver on Ireland’s national objectives for nature, from invasive species to habitat restoration to awareness-raising to surveys and monitoring work. As more and more Biodiversity

O cers join the ranks of our local authorities, I know that the bene ts for nature and people that this Fund provides are only going to grow.”

A total of 188 projects have been approved across all 31 local authorities, covering a range of biodiversity-related activities, including invasive alien species control, dune restoration, wetland surveys and biodiversity awareness and training.