Institutional Partnerships
UMass Lowell’s 2020 Strategic Plan calls for a University that envisions a rich array of international partnerships for UMass Lowell that will help our students become globally competent and bring more international students to campus. These partnerships will enhance the quality of education we provide and will offer our students meaningful and substantive international learning experiences.
An understanding of other countries and cultures enriches our students’ education overall and helps make them global citizens. A global perspective gives our graduates a workplace advantage by ensuring that they have the multicultural understanding required to succeed.
UMass Lowell’s international partners enhance the breadth and depth of faculty research activities, represent student travel interests, and reflect the multi-cultural heritage of the Lowell community. By nurturing research relationships around the world, we increase the chances that we will innovate more efficiently and more effectively and in ways we could not have imagined otherwise.
Our global partners also reflect the University’s economic development efforts. By serving as a catalyst that connects companies and business leaders in our region to those around the world, we become an effective economic engine for our own community. We can help to strengthen industries in our region by helping them become global.
The Center for Irish Partnerships has established formal collaborations with the following institutions in Ireland:
An understanding of other countries and cultures enriches our students’ education overall and helps make them global citizens. A global perspective gives our graduates a workplace advantage by ensuring that they have the multicultural understanding required to succeed.
UMass Lowell’s international partners enhance the breadth and depth of faculty research activities, represent student travel interests, and reflect the multi-cultural heritage of the Lowell community. By nurturing research relationships around the world, we increase the chances that we will innovate more efficiently and more effectively and in ways we could not have imagined otherwise.
Our global partners also reflect the University’s economic development efforts. By serving as a catalyst that connects companies and business leaders in our region to those around the world, we become an effective economic engine for our own community. We can help to strengthen industries in our region by helping them become global.
The Center for Irish Partnerships has established formal collaborations with the following institutions in Ireland:
- Queen’s University Belfast (2009)
- Dublin City University (2010)
- Ulster University (2011)
- National University of Ireland, Galway (2014)
- Letterkenny Institute of Technology (2014)
- University of Limerick (2015)
- University College Cork (2015)
Faculty Exchange and Collaboration
Faculty Exchange Excellence and Equity in Education: Research Collaboration between Lowell, Belfast and Haifa completed a research proposal that will identify evidence based practices for school improvement and design intervention strategies to assist communities in improving their schools. The Belfast-Haifa-Lowell Group also completed a research proposal it intends to use to apply for grants from external funders.
Several faculty members have been asked to give lectures at various institutions in Ireland including, National University of Ireland at Galway, Queen’ University, Dublin City University and St. Patrick’s Drumcondra.
We have hosted faculty from Queen’s University, Dublin City University and Cork Institute of Technology on campus for lectures and workshops, including:
- Dr. Gary Murphy, faulty member from Dublin City University and Fulbright Scholar, came to campus to deliver a lecture on “Ireland: From Celtic Tiger to IMF Bailout."
- Dr. Shane O’Neill, Dean of College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences from Queen’s University visited campus to meet with faculty and students in Peace and Conflict Studies.
- Dr. Jean Hughes and Morag Munro from Dublin City University spent two days on campus meeting with various individuals about online learning, Centers for Learning and Innovation in learning.
- Dr. Tony Gallagher, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, from Queen’s University, visited campus to take part in a Peace and Education Forum “Facing Conflict: Voices from the Field.”
- Michael Delaney, Vice President of Development from Cork Institute of Technology came to campus to explore collaboration opportunities.
- Dr. Karen Devereaux Melillo spent a portion of her Sabbatical at Dublin City University from February 26 - March 14, 2013. Read her report on the trip.
Business Leaders and Local Government Collaboration
In November 2010, The Center for Irish Partnerships hosted a visit to UMass Lowell by delegation from Donegal, Ireland, including Mayor Cora Harvey and members of the County Council.
In October 2011, The Center for Irish Partnerships hosted The Northern Ireland Massachusetts Connection (NIMAC), a group dedicated to advancing business, research and clinical collaboration, between Massachusetts, Northern Ireland and Europe, on campus in the M2D2 facility.
In November 2011, The Center for Irish Partnerships hosted Breakfast Roundtable for a delegation of local authority and business leaders from the Northwest of Ireland on the Green Economy and Tourism.
Meetings and Events with Irish Government Leaders
On November 19, 2010, Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States of American, His Excellency Michael Collins visited UMass Lowell with Irish Consul General to Boston, Michael Lonergan, to hear about the various partnership activities UMass Lowell is engaged in with Irish Universities.In February 2012, the Center for Irish Partnerships directors attended a reception at the Seaport Hotel for Taoiseach Enda Kenny, T.D.
In March 2012, Ireland’s Minister for Children and Youth Affairs visited UMass Lowell for a roundtable discussion on Children’s Rights with faculty members Linda Williams and Andy Harris from Criminal Justice and Stephanie Block from Psychology.
In May 2012, Co-Director Frank Talty attended a luncheon at the UMass Club welcoming Irish President, Michael D. Higgins, to Boston. Co-Directors Steve McCarthy and Victoria Denoon subsequently attended a lecture at Faneuil Hall by President Michael D. Higgins, regarding the Famine.