Maynooth University and Dundalk Institute of Technology officially launch MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy

Maynooth University (MU) and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) have today officially launched the MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy.

The Regional Graduate Academy (RGA) will offer structured PhD programmes supervised by DkIT staff, with doctoral students jointly registered at both institutions and receiving their degree from Maynooth University. PhD programmes are currently approved in six disciplinary areas; Computer Science, Biology, Environmental Science, Electronic Engineering (Renewables), Applied Social Sciences and Media Studies.

This event, celebrates the first major milestone in the strategic collaboration between Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) and Maynooth University (MU), following their Letter of Intent signed in June 2024.

This strategic engagement between MU and DkIT is a collaborative effort to enhance higher education in the region to explore new ways to collaborate, focusing on innovative research and academic initiatives that benefit our students, our staff and the wider community. Supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Technological Sector Advancement Fund (TSAF), DkIT and MU are actively exploring and developing the nature, scope and scale of a strategic engagement between the two institutions.

Speaking at the launch event, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless T.D. said:

“A clear example of regional ambition in action, it is an honour to launch the Maynooth University and Dundalk Institute of Technology Regional Graduate Academy. Delivering on DkIT’s strategic goal to continue provision of Level 10 education in the region, the Academy marks a new and significant phase of collaboration between two strong institutions.

This partnership is to be commended. It reflects a shared commitment to building research capacity, strengthening ties with enterprise, and supporting the development of local communities, while enhancing the national research and innovation ecosystem.

I welcome that this initiative has been supported by my Department through the HEA and the Technological Sector Advancement Fund. It demonstrates what can be achieved when we invest in talent, partnership, and regional development.”

Dr Alan Wall, CEO of the Higher Education Authority welcomed the launch of the MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy:

“The HEA is committed to supporting the strategic development of higher education institutions in the context of their individual missions and strategic plans, and provision was made in the Technological Sector Advancement Fund (TSAF) for institutions to explore strategic collaborations that are aligned with national and regional policies and priorities. It very encouraging to see the progress made by DkIT and Maynooth University on the Regional Graduate Academy, and this initiative is an important milestone in the strategic engagement of these higher education institutions.

“The MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy is a tangible example of how collaboration can enhance Ireland’s higher education and research system locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. The structured programmes that will be available in Computer Science, Biology, Environmental Science, Electronic Engineering (Renewables), Applied Social Sciences, and Media Studies will advance research and innovation in these disciplines and benefit students as well as the region.”

In addition to the establishment of the MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy, DkIT and MU are further developing collaborations in areas of mutual strategic benefit including Research and Innovation and Student Experience collaborative initiatives. Scoping out of the potential provision of MU awards to DkIT Level 8 and 9 programmes is also being carried out.

The first 16 postgraduate students in the MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy are engaged in a range of exciting projects, many of which many involve close collaboration with Industry partners. At the launch today, PhD students, Stephanie Woods, Shubhendu Madhavrao and Provia Kadusabe spoke about their research in the areas of environmental education for empowerment, the role of LINGO proteins and BK channels in tremor, and the application of Natural Language Processing (NLP) for analysing clinical notes and detecting medical errors.

Presenting her research, Stephanie Woods a PhD student in the MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy said:

"I began my journey at DkIT as a research assistant on the H2O Heroes environmental education programme, led by Dr. Caroline Gilleran Stephens and Dr. Suzanne Linnane at the Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies (CFES). The centre was a vibrant research environment that exposed me to a range of perspectives. Through my work on H2O Heroes, I witnessed first-hand the positive impact environmental education was having on young people in Ireland. This experience inspired me to pursue my own research into environmental education and its potential to alleviate eco-anxiety among Irish youth. I am delighted to be part of the first cohort of the MU-DkIT Regional