SETU looks to the future... and to its role in Kilkenny

South East Technological University (SETU) is launching its rst strategic plan, setting out the university’s ve-year aim to become a leading global technological university driving the south east as a learning and innovation region.

e plan, titled ‘Connecting For Impact’, sets out SETU’s ambitions in the coming years to establish itself as the anchor institution for the ongoing development of the south east.

In so doing, SETU aims to have long-term transformative impact on the south east region. is will be achieved by creating new educational opportunities for people in the region, contributing to developing the skills and capacity of the regional labour force and driving regional innovation, which in turn will create high quality jobs and will help improve the quality of life for everyone.

e university’s priorities include access to higher education, supporting the student experience, developing a range of new courses and signi cantly increasing the volume and impact of the university’s research. Expanding and improving physical and digital infrastructure across the uni- versity’s campuses are also key priorities. is includes, among other investments, the development of a new campus in Wexford, a University-Enterprise Quarter at the former Waterford Crystal Site on the Cork Road in Waterford and new buildings for the Carlow campus.

Speaking in advance of the launch, SETU President Professor Veronica Campbell said, “We’re delighted to launch this strategic plan, the rst plan for our new university. People who read it will have no doubt about our ambitions for the university and the south east region. We see ourselves as an anchor institution, an important change agent that will be central to addressing regional challenges – especially those relating to the green and digital transitions.

“ e full implementation of this plan will see us expand our campuses and facilities, develop new courses in areas of regional needs, deepen our international partnerships and greatly enhance what we are doing in research and innovation – all in support of the development of the south east.”

In relation to the plan for Kilkenny, Prof. Campbell comes in Budget 2023. “We’ve seen huge strides made in recent weeks with additional measures being added to the Vacant Property and Derelict Rural Property refurbishments schemes, and that is de nitely being acknowledged,” he said.

“However, there is perhaps more that we can do to streamline the planning process for these projects.Capital Acquisitions Tax and Agriculture Reliefs remain rmly on the farming agenda, but stock relief and stamp duty are also emerging as areas where changes could be made.

“ ese reliefs are available to those aged 35 years and under, but there is an argument to be made for extending it to those aged 40 and under. Similarly, capital allowances on the transfer of family farms from one generation to the next is an issue that recurs consistently.

“Land tax zoning is an issue that must be resolved too.”

After the meeting, Fine Gael Agriculture spokesperson Tom Lombard said his party does not have a formal position on it bitions of SETU and deliver on what are rightly the high expectations of the region. ese are exciting times for the south east region and SETU’s Governing Body looks forward to supporting and overseeing the implementation of the plan in the coming years,” he said.

Dr Richard Hayes, VicePresident for Strategy at SETU, also thanked those who contributed to the development of the plan. “ is plan is the culmination of six months of consultation and discussion both within the university, and between the university and external partners, including the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), the IDA, IBEC, the Southern Regional Assembly, regional local authorities and many others. We thank our sta , our students, and all our stakeholders for joining in the collective e ort to produce this ambitious plan. We look forward now to moving to implementation with the goal of transforming our university and our region in the time ahead.” yet on the proposed inheritance changes.

“I think generation renewal and the pressure on a certain age pro le in the farming community are hugely important topics.

“ ere is massive nancial pressure on 25-35 year-olds who are dealing with TAMS application, looking for planning permission, building a house.” said, “We very much look forward to enhancing our activity in Kilkenny and to that end, we have commenced detailed scoping discussions with Kilkenny County Council to identify future opportunities that can add value to the new university and to the city and county. We already have a strong presence in Kilkenny through our ArcLabs facility in St Kieran’s and, of course, with Teagasc in Kildalton, and we look forward to working with our partners in Kilkenny County Council and across other sectors to expand Kilkenny-based SETU activity. We are excited about the period ahead, and this plan sets us up well with a roadmap to really deliver for the people of the region.”

Chair of the Governing Body and Chancellor of SETU Professor Patrick Prendergast expressed his thanks to Prof. Campbell and her team for delivering an ambitious plan. “ e Governing Body of the university wholeheartedly endorses this strategy as the best way to achieve the am- e plan is being launched in four centres across the south east region, with key partners of the university hosting the launch events. e Strategic Plan is available on the university’s website from 22 May.

· e Wexford launch takes place in the Wexford Arts Centre on Monday, 22 May.

· e Carlow launch will be hosted by Unum and takes place on Monday, 22 May.

· e Kilkenny launch takes place in Tirlán in Kilkenny on Monday, 22 May.

· SunLife in Waterford will host the Waterford launch on Tuesday, 23 May.

Women are more than twice as likely to die after a heart attack than men, according to a new study which highlights the need for greater awareness of the risks of heart disease in women.

According to the study, women aged 55 and below also had to wait 15 minutes longer for treatment after arriving at hospital.

Previous studies have found that women who have a heart attack when a major artery feeding into the heart is completely blocked have a worse prognosis during their hospital stay compared with men.

Experts suggest this may be because of their older age, increased numbers of other conditions, and stents being used less to open blocked arteries.

Study author Dr Mariana Martinho, of Hospital Garcia de Orta, in Almada, Portugal, said, “Women of all ages who experience a myocardial infarction are at particularly high risk of a poor prognosis.

“ ese women need regular monitoring after their heart event. Smoking levels are rising in young women and this should be tackled.” e research compared short and long-term outcomes after STEMI in women and men, and looked at whether any sex di erences were apparent in premenopausal (55 years and under) and postmenopausal (over 55) women. e study included 884 patients, with an average age of 62 years, and 27pc were women.

Women were older than men (average age 67 versus 60 years) and had higher rates of high blood pressure, diabetes and prior stroke, researchers found.