As part of the UL40 celebrations commemorating the 40th anniversary of the first intake of students at the University of Limerick, the official University of Limerick history has been launched.  65,000 students have graduated from UL since 1972 when it opened as the then National Institute of Higher Education (NIHE), Limerick.  “The University of Limerick – A History”, written by Dr David Fleming of UL’s History Department, documents the long and determined local campaign in Limerick that led to the eventual establishment of UL as first new university created since the foundation of the Irish state.

Speaking from the launch by Former UL Chancellor Dr Sean Donlon of “The University of Limerick – A History”, UL President, Professor Don Barry said “From its inception the University of Limerick broke the mould of third level education in Ireland and when you consider what has been achieved here in a little over 40 years, it is truly quite remarkable. To take just one area, that of employability, UL pioneered the concept of Cooperative Education and now has the largest and most successful undergraduate work placement programme in Ireland, with placements across all disciplines in over twenty five countries. UL also has an unrivalled graduate employment record. Over the years, UL has consistently recorded a graduate employment rate higher than the national average for universities. This year, despite the continuing challenging environment, UL's graduate employment rate is 16% higher than the national average for all graduates in Ireland,” Professor Barry continued.

Author Dr David Fleming said he hoped that the book will provide an opportunity to reflect on the origins and development of the University, and how certain relationships shaped the institution in sometimes unpredictable ways. “The book explains the unique circumstances which led to the foundation of the University and how it responded to governments and more generally Irish society in developing a curriculum that both modern and useful,” Dr Fleming said.

The book, which is published by Four Courts Press, documents the campaign for a higher education institution for Limerick in the run up to the establishment of NIHE, the resistance by those at the helm of the institution to become part of the National University of Ireland and the establishment of independent university status for UL in 1989. 

The University of Limerick has achieved many ‘firsts’ over the past 40 years.  UL pioneered Cooperative Education in Ireland and developed the first medical school to be established in the State in over 150 years.  In addition to a wide range of unique academic programmes across a broad spectrum of disciplines, the University is also home to the country’s only virtual financial services trading floor, the first Olympic standard swimming pool in Ireland, the longest pedestrian bridge in Ireland and many educational innovations and community engagement initiatives. UL researchers continue to make significant contributions to society, addressing such pressing challenges as childhood obesity, maths and science teaching, Alzheimer’s screening, cancer, climate change, sports performance, alternative energy and Ireland’s economic recovery.

This past year has been a good one for UL. The University was listed among the top 100 Young Universities in the world. In a survey of international students in Ireland UL won the awards for Best Student Experience, Best Student Support and Warmest Welcome. The international university ratings agency, QS Stars awarded UL the top 5 star rating across a number of key areas including teaching, graduate employability and innovation. UL continues to outperform international innovation benchmarks for delivery of commercial licences and research-driven spinouts per euro invested. And a recent nationwide survey of students in Ireland has placed the University of Limerick top of the league in terms of student satisfaction.