Posted 17 June 2013
UCD and Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology (IADT) sign Memorandum of Understanding
University College Dublin has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology (IADT) to develop and implement new substantive educational and creative collaborations between the two institutions.
Today’s announcement was made following the publication last week of the HEA report to the Minister for Education and Skills on system reconfiguration, inter-institutional collaboration and system governance in Irish higher education, which highlighted plans to thematically cluster third level institutions in the Dublin region around the Creative Arts and Media areas and which recommended the development of strategic collaborations.
Speaking about the alliance, the Deputy President of UCD, Professor Mark Rogers, said: “We see excellent opportunities arising from a closer collaboration with IADT. We both promote an entrepreneurial spirit among our students and our staff and I can foresee creative outcomes from the cross-pollination and exchange of ideas between the two institutions.
With this agreement, we will now develop specific plans to encourage and facilitate joint projects on an academic as well as on a social and innovation exchange level.” He added.
The President of Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology, Dr Annie Doona said, “We have been in discussions with UCD since July 2012; the signing of today’s agreement signifies the further development of our on-going collaboration and the formation of an alliance in areas such as teaching, research and innovation. IADT will maintain its specialised position within the education landscape and today’s announcement is a step forward in developing relations between our two Institutions.”
Dr Annie Doona went onto say that, “We also welcome the fact that our alliance with UCD was mirrored in the Department of Education and Skill’s plans for the Higher Education Authority.”
The HEA report to the Minister recommends that Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology continue to develop its role as an institute of technology with a specialist mission in the field of creative arts and media. It goes on to suggest that IADT should engage in discussion with University College Dublin and National College of Art and Design with a view to developing an alliance that could actively exploit opportunities for cooperation. Since 2011, NCAD has been a recognised college of University College Dublin.(Produced by UCD University Relations)
