20th February 2008

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The University of Ulster is to develop closer links with Letterkenny Institute of Technology through a new North-West Gateway Strategic Alliance  –  a €1.7m scoping study designed to enhance cross border co-operation in higher education.
 
Announced by Irish Education Minister Mary Hanafin,  the North West Gateway Strategic Alliance project is a collaborative proposal between the University of Ulster and Letterkenny Institute, and is in line with the commitment in Ireland’s  National Development Plan (NDP) for a significant upgrading of higher education capacity in the North West and the border region.

Funding for the project is being provided under Cycle 2 of  Ireland’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF). It is the only cross-border proposal funded under the scheme.
 
This project will take approximately eighteen months to complete and encompasses a scoping study and the development of a blueprint for achieving significant additional capacity.  A review of the higher education needs of the region and the operating environments of both partners will be the focus of the scoping study.  The blueprint will detail where additional capacity can be delivered together with the resources required and will also address the model of governance for the Alliance.
 
Welcoming the announcement, Professor Richard Barnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster, said: “The University is committed to the further expansion of higher education opportunities in the North West and, as outlined in our corporate plan, to work with others to achieve this.  
 
“In this context it makes perfect sense for us to build on our existing partnership with Letterkenny Institute of Technology and for us to work together to see how we can best meet the higher education needs of the North West and more generally to promote the North West as a location for high wage and high value added jobs.  
 
“This is an exciting project which can only serve to enhance the future prosperity of the North West Gateway region.  I’m pleased to have this opportunity to thank Minister Hanafin for her support of our partnership with  Letterkenny Institute of Technology.”
 
Mr Paul Hannigan, President of Letterkenny Institute of Technology,said: “There has been close collaboration between University of Ulster and ourselves already, in creating courses such as the Master of Science in Innovation Management; however, this new project will enable us to develop our joint capacity exponentially. In doing so, we can deliver even more opportunities for students and industry in the North West through innovation.
 
“The objective of this project is to adopt a strategic approach as to how we plot our future.  A collaborative project of this nature will give leadership in the region which will attract resources in the future.
 
“It is also completely consistent with with Letterkenny Institute of Technology’s recently published Strategic Plan, which emphasises a leadership role for Letterkenny Institute of Technology in the region and recognises the vital importance of both the National Spatial Strategy and an all island approach to activity.”

Announcing the scheme in Dublin yesterday, Minister Hanafin said:  “This is the second funding announcement under the Government’s Strategic Innovation Fund.  The successful proposals will have a range of impacts and benefits across the system.
 
“New opportunities for workplace based learning will be supported. At an organisational level, the process of internal re-structuring and development will be given further impetus, enabling institutions to grow into the demanding roles now expected of them as innovation leaders in the knowledge society.”

   
Notes for Editors:
 
The Strategic Innovation Fund aims to stimulate innovation in higher education and research through collaboration between institutions.  All seven Universities and the fourteen Institutes of Technology are invited to compete for funding under SIF which will amount to €510 million over 7 years.  In October 2006, the Minister announced details of an allocation of over €42 million to fourteen projects under the Cycle 1 of SIF.  Letterkenny Institute of Technology was a partner in six of those successful projects. 

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young