University of Limerick Driving European digital health innovation through €12.4M European SUSA Project

University of Limerick is playing a leading role in the €12.4 million Sustainable Healthcare with Digital Health Data Competence (SUSA) project, a major Digital Europe Programme (DEP) initiative designed to equip the healthcare workforce with critical digital skills for the future. 

Led at UL by Professor Martin Hayes (Electronic and Computer Engineering), with Associate Professor Emma Smith (School of Allied Health) as SUSA Academic Champion and Rhoda Sohun (Graduate & Professional Studies) as UL Project Manager, UL is shaping how digital health education is designed and delivered across Europe.

A key element of UL’s contribution is its leadership of Work Package 4, which focuses on developing an impact framework for SUSA’s educational activities.  This work will ensure that the programme delivers tangible value for learners, educators, and healthcare professionals, supporting the real-world application of digital skills in clinical and professional settings.

In this context, Professor Martin Hayes leads the development of the project’s impact framework and provides strategic direction on digital innovation, while Associate Professor Emma Smith plays a key role in ensuring that these developments are effectively embedded within clinical education and practice, maintaining relevance across allied healthcare disciplines.

Coordinated by the University of Oulu (Finland), SUSA brings together a consortium of 12 higher education institutions across nine European countries, alongside a wider network of partners including healthcare providers, research centers, training organisations and industry stakeholders. UL works closely with Irish partners University College Dublin (UCD), Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and Skillnet Ireland, a key training body supporting workforce development. More broadly, the consortium spans institutions and organisations across Finland, Greece, Spain, Poland, Türkiye, Slovakia, the Netherlands and Croatia, reflecting the project’s strong interdisciplinary and cross-sector approach to advancing digital health education.

The project, which began in 2025, aims to train over 7,000 learners by 2028, addressing urgent skills gaps as healthcare systems become increasingly digital.

Through the development of 20 bachelor’s and 26 master’s programmes, as well as 16 flexible lifelong learning modules, SUSA will embed key competencies such as artificial intelligence, health data analytics, cybersecurity, Internet of Things technologies and sustainability into healthcare education. This will support both new graduates and experienced professionals in adapting to rapidly evolving healthcare environments.

UL’s interdisciplinary strength is central to its role in SUSA, combining expertise in engineering, digital technologies, and clinical education. This ensures that the project remains grounded in both technological innovation and the practical realities of healthcare delivery.

The project aligns closely with European priorities, including the Digital Decade and the European Green Deal, by promoting data-driven, efficient and sustainable healthcare systems. By equipping professionals with advanced digital competencies, SUSA aims to improve patient outcomes while supporting more efficient and environmentally sustainable healthcare delivery.

As SUSA progresses, UL will continue to play a central role in shaping how digital health education is designed, delivered, and evaluated across Europe. Through strong collaboration, innovative curriculum design, and a focus on real-world impact, UL is helping to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals to lead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.