EU Projects

Aligned with our UL@50 strategic plan, ULs international partnerships enhance our global impact. Partnering with leading European universities and enterprise networks inspires innovation and shared best practice in education. Engaging in EU funded programmes allows UL to build multi-university flexible learning pathways co-designed with industry, generate talent to meet global digitisation and sustainability challenges and welcome a growing number EU students.

What does University of Limerick (UL) bring to European consortia?

As a partner, UL can:

Provide access to a strong portfolio of SME and multi-national industry partners, demonstrating a young, entrepreneurial ‘talent’ focused university
Lend its well-established expertise in micro-credentials, flexible master's learning pathways, and new course structures and development strategies
Connect partners with experts in engineering excellence in the manufacturing sector through our consortium partners specifically in Lean, Supply Chain, Digitalisation, Data, AI and Cybersecurity
Integrate best practice industry–university collaboration models
Lead and project manage work packages according to proposal KPIs, having already delivered skills focused European and National projects worth over 35M, including MicroCreds, EAGLE, REBOOT and UL@Work
Offer over 200 part-time and micro-credential course options for rapid, flexible upskilling

About UL and the role of the Professional Education Team

University of Limerick (UL) is located in the Wild Atlantic Gateway city of Limerick on the west coast of Ireland.

With over 18000 students, including more than 3,300 internationally mobile students each year, UL is an independent research-led university offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences: Education and Health Sciences, Science and Engineering and the Kemmy Business School. Read more

Professional Education - Led by Geraldine Carroll, the Professional Education Team is responsible for funding submission and management with over €30M in funding secured on behalf of UL in the last four years. Funding has driven strategic innovation in the form of education projects and stimulus funding for lifelong and professional learners.

The team has a lead university role in enterprise engagement through leadership on national and regional skills forum, working with higher education authorities, state agencies, employer representation bodies and many companies.

UL has a strong reputation for leading excellent industry collaboration models, including the co-design, co-development and co-delivery of education programmes that resolve skill gaps. UL has established strong partnerships with both multinational and small to medium enterprises. The Mid-West is home to the largest concentration of multinationals outside Dublin, a global base that supports a thriving base of indigenous enterprises across the sub-supply network.

Adopting a pro-enterprise business model at UL has allowed for flexibility and agility across the academic, governance and administration university structures. Micro-credentials at UL exemplify how UL's role in the unique national MicroCred project has enabled further innovation in adopting a flexible, market-driven university student experience. MicroCred is a Human Capital Initiative (HCI) funded €12.3 million project led by the Irish Universities Association to empower lifelong learning in Ireland through short, accredited courses. UL has been delivering micro-credentials through bespoke workflows and processes since 2016. The UL@Work project, funded through HCI, has provided 20+ part-time, flexible programmes, including micro-credentials, professional diplomas and apprenticeships in digitisation, manufacturing, ICT and AI, climate and strategic leadership. UL@Work is a coordinated response to the workplace's digital transformation challenges. It has constructed a flexible, technology-enhanced learning ecosystem that responds directly to digitalisation challenges by developing flexible, innovative and technology-enabled experiential learning.

Tangible examples of ULs' enterprise-led portfolio.

Leading the ‘delivery’ work packages for the EU Digital Europe projects EAGLE and REBOOT focused on enhancing the digital skills of SMEs.
Leading in the establishment of enterprise learning pathways with 90+ micro-credentials developed in areas of talent deficit.
UL@Work (€16.3M) with 20+ online flexible programmes co-designed with industry to enable upskilling and reskilling for your professional development
The world’s first industry-led MSc in Artificial Intelligence with ICT Skillnet Ireland;
BSc in Engineering Science to 400+ Intel staff through distance delivery;
Higher Diploma in Middleware Integration & Software with General Motors;
Higher Diploma in International Financial Services with Northern Trust;
MSc in Lean Sigma Systems by distance education co-developed with Intel and Lufthansa Technik, yielding over 1,000 graduates, many funded through the Higher Education of Ireland’s, ‘Springboard+’ fund;
UL is Ireland's first University to offer apprenticeships from Level 7 Diploma to Level 10 Doctorate, seven in all areas of lean, supply chain and cyber security.

Fostering Innovation and Expertise

University of Limerick's Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) Department has access to a large talent pool in technology research and part-time education upskilling. Our collaboration with esteemed faculty members who are experts in this field enables us to access this talent pool. Our team are dedicated to utilising this expertise to contribute to Horizon Europe proposals focusing on digitalisation, SME skills enhancement, a Green and Circular economy, and sustainability in the training sector.

At GPS we use advanced geospatial technologies to lead the way in digital transformation. We understand that small and medium-sized businesses are crucial to the European economy, and we are committed to creating personalised programs that promote digital adoption and bridge the skills gap. Our initiatives provide SMEs with practical guidance and hands-on training to navigate the digital landscape, ultimately enhancing their competitiveness and innovation capabilities. Our We are dedicated to helping SMEs successfully implement digital transformation. Our innovative programs equip SMEs with the tools and skills to navigate the digital marketplace confidently.

Through our programs, SMEs become more competitive and promote a culture of innovation essential for sustainability and growth in the digital age.

Our team consists of technology experts who can assist companies in optimising their resource usage, increasing efficiency, and decreasing their environmental footprint. We also offer comprehensive training programs that align with sustainable practices to create a skilled workforce that values environmental stewardship.

The GPS team is committed to promoting sustainable economic growth by advocating for the Green and Circular Economy. We provide training and support to businesses to encourage efficient resource utilisation and minimise environmental impact, creating sustainable business plans. Our approach ensures that the economy remains robust, eco-friendly, and capable of providing long-term benefits to all stakeholders.

We offer targeted training programs that are carefully crafted to meet the dynamic needs of the market. These programs equip professionals with technical proficiency and the ability to adapt to changing environments and expectations. As a result, the workforce becomes more skilled, flexible, and ready to drive innovation and positive change in their respective organisations. This contributes significantly to the industry's overall capacity and capability.