ATU signs three international MOUs with leading Canadian higher education partners
Atlantic Technological University has signed three Memoranda of Understanding with Douglas College, Selkirk College and Vancouver Community College, all based in western Canada.
The agreements, signed by ATU president Dr. Orla Flynn, will provide degree completion opportunities for Canadian students, curriculum sharing and programme development in several disciplines and faculty and student mobilities.
These agreements were signed in the presence of the Minister of State for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Niall Collins, and Consul General at the Irish Consulate in Vancouver, Frank Flood.
The signings, which took place on June last in Vancouver and Whistler, built on previous work undertaken by ATU at the British Columbia College International Education (BCCIE) conference in 2019.
The 2022 BCCIE conference took place in Whistler from June 26 to 29, with Tuesday, June 28, designated Ireland-Canada Day.
The forum was opened by Consul General Flood and Minister of State Collins. Dr. Flynn delivered the keynote address and participated in a Q&A with Minister Collins.
The ATU team included Nollaig Crombie, head of department at ATU Donegal, Úna Parsons, head of faculty at ATU Sligo, John Joe O’Farrell, director for international engagement at ATU Galway-Mayo, and Cáit Noone, head of the Galway International Hotel School and VP for international engagement at ATU Galway-Mayo.
Team members used this visit meet new and existing partners in the region as the university plans to broaden engagement across Canada.
On June 27, Dr. Flynn hosted the inaugural ATU alumni gathering for alumni from all three colleges – Donegal, Sligo and Galway-Mayo. Over 200 alumni are working in Vancouver and the western Canada region across engineering, science, business and hospitality industries. The university plans to further develop a global network of alumni connecting graduates all over the world.
Dr. Flynn commented: “I was delighted to support colleagues across ATU who have been building relationships in British Columbia, Canada, since before the pandemic. I look forward to welcoming our new partners to the west and northwest of Ireland and growing these partnerships in the years ahead.
“It was a particular pleasure to meet ATU alumni from Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal at our inaugural alumni event, and great to see them all thriving in the greater Vancouver area.”