Our President's First Eleven Days

If our new President’s first eleven days are anything to go by then we have an exciting journey ahead of us. Dr Flynn travelled the length and breadth of the west and north-west, a region as big as Wales, to visit each of our eight campuses. She joined staff and students in celebrating various events held to mark the launch of Atlantic TU.

On Friday, April 1 she was in Letterkenny for the first governing body meeting and our internal launch. The following Monday she was in Sligo for our external launch and here’s a snapshot of the rest of her first eleven days.

Tuesday April 5, ATU Sligo Higher Ed 4.0 Launch

This €12.5 million project funded under the Human Capital Initiative, is designed to transform the way adult learners and employers engage with third level education. By developing a new suite of tools and services Higher Education 4.0 will enable greater access to third level education, enhance partnerships with employers, and meet more diverse student needs.

Wednesday April 6, ATU Mayo

Dr Flynn travelled to ATU Mayo for the Climate Action University Virtual Conference. Staff and students across the ATU gathered online to discuss our collective vision for sustainability and why it is core to our purpose at Atlantic TU.

Wednesday April 6, ATU Virtual Exercise Challenge

Also on Wednesday, students and staff went on a virtual journey together to all the ATU campuses, which is a round trip journey of 668 km. They walked, ran, cycled and swam, and covered a combined distance of over 1500 Km.

Wednesday April 6, ATU Sligo

Dr Flynn also found space in her diary on Wednesday to attend the lunchtime virtual launch of the ATU LGBTQI+ Staff and Allies Network. The network brings together the existing staff networks in Galway-Mayo, Sligo and Donegal.

The Pride flag was flown on all campuses during launch week to symbolise ATU’s commitment to equality, inclusion and diversity.

Thursday April 7, ATU Galway City

Galway City campus hosted the France Ireland Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism (FICAHT) Forum and the Dairy Chef competition with the support of the French Embassy.

All dishes in the Dairy Chef competition were based on the theme, “Sustainability and innovation in meals for the future.”

On Thursday evening ATU also hosted the annual Gòut de France dinner in partnership with the French Embassy.

The dinner was attended by His Excellency Mr. Vincent Guérend, Ambassador of France to Ireland, Dr Flynn and by finalists of the Dairy Chef Competitions from culinary schools in Ireland and France, and other delegates from the field of gastronomy, business and tourism.

Thursday April 7, ATU Connemara

ATU Connemara hosted the Islands Project Launch on Thursday. The project aims to build a network for sustainable living to ensure people from the region can learn, work and live in their own communities.

Representatives from county councils, tourism, renewable energy, community and enterprise development agencies across the west and north-west attended the event to discuss the needs of the nine inhabited islands off the west coast from Galway to Donegal.

The inaugural initiative is a research project on Sustainable Destination Management for Island Tourism. The data for which will be gathered this summer utilising the European Tourism Indicator System. This model allows researchers from Atlantic TU to collaboratewith island communities, tourism stakeholders, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Fáilte Ireland, destination managers, and local authorities, to better inform the sustainable management of island tourism destination.

Friday April 8, ATU Mountbellew Agtech in Action Conference

ATU Mountbellew celebrated the launch of Atlantic TU with a special Agtech in Action conference.

Demonstrations explored the use of technology in every-day agricultural life, to enhance sustainable production systems in Irish agriculture.

The day was supported by several agricultural businesses from all over the ATU catchment area.

Monday April 11, ATU Donegal Killybegs

Killybegs Marine Cluster Launch

Mr. Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine was in Killybegs on Monday April 11 to launch the Killybegs Marine Cluster.

The cluster is one of twelve clusters on the Island of Ireland and part of Enterprise Ireland’s National clustering programme.

It is the only dedicated Blue Economy Marine Cluster in Ireland, with 20 members, combined revenues of €300m and 1,000+ employees. The unique ecosystem creates an attractive environment and one-stop shop for all things marine.