GMIT and LIT sign new agreement that will benefit Atlantic Corridor regions

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) is pleased to announce a new strategic alliance with Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) that will provide greater educational opportunities for students, communities and industry in the West/North West and Mid-West regions (Atlantic Corridor).

The Presidents of GMIT and LIT, Dr Maria Hinfelaar and Michael Carmody, and the Chairmen, Des Mahon and Niall Greene, signed the new collaborative agreement at a reception in GMIT on Thursday 8 May.

Based on the two Institutes’ strategic plans, as well as national policy and regional/national skills needs, the new alliance will connect the two regional clusters of the West/North West and Mid-West into a multi-stakeholder regional cluster as envisaged in the National Higher Education Strategy to 2030.

 

GMIT President Michael Carmody, says:  “With the signing of the new alliance, the two Institutes have committed to a full programme of enhanced collaboration, co-operation and development in the provision of academic programmes, staff development programmes, outreach and access (with an increased focus on the development of inter-institute progression pathways) and research programmes.”

“It also commits to co-ordinated support for industry and employment, collaboration on the development of quality assurance procedures and policies, shared planning and implementation of Labour Market Activation initiatives for the regions, development of joint relationships with relevant regional, national and international organisations, and a general optimisation of resources including shared services and joint procurement activities.”

LIT President, Dr Maria Hinfelaar, says: “The LIT-GMIT Alliance will ensure that its activities enhance the development of the West/North West Regional Cluster (involving GMIT, Letterkenny IT, IT Sligo and NUIG) and the Mid-West Regional Cluster (involving LIT, Mary Immaculate College and UL).  It aims to respond proactively to the Government policy decisions regarding the development of increased synergies between the two Atlantic corridor clusters.”

“The Alliance will involve institute-wide co-operation across the range of activities, and will be jointly chaired by the Institutes’ Presidents. The work of the alliance will be directed by an implementation board, jointly chaired by the two Institutes’ Registrars, which will meet on a regular basis,” adds Dr Hinfelaar.