Joseph Kennedy III praises cross-border collaboration at ATU

US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, Joseph P Kennedy III has praised the work of ATU's role in fostering cross-border collaboration and its significant contributions to the advancement of North-South cooperation, as envisioned in the Good Friday Agreement.  Atlantic Technological University (ATU) recently conferred an Honorary Doctorate on Joseph P. Kennedy III, at a ceremony in Letterkenny.  

During the event, Mr Kennedy expressed his admiration for ATU’s commitment to strengthening ties between north and south through the North West Tertiary Education Cluster (NWTEC).  

Mr Kennedy praised ATU’s North-South engagement as an example of the university’s leadership in addressing shared challenges across the island of Ireland, "Graduates of this university are given the tools to do something transformative – build bridges where there once were walls, and help shape the future not just of Donegal, but of this entire island. This is what ATU is about – using education as a force for unity and progress."

The NWTEC is a strategic alliance of all four publicly funded tertiary educational providers in the North West City Region: Atlantic Technological University, Ulster University, Donegal Education and Training Board, and North West Regional College. This deep partnership provides the full range of educational services including advanced skills training, cutting-edge innovation supports for enterprise, and internationally recognised high-quality research.

NWTEC, established via the North West Strategic Growth Partnership (NWSGP), is focused on supporting the development of the North West City Region which comprises County Donegal and the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.  

The mission of NWTEC in collaboration with key stakeholders is to create a Shared North West; a connected, high performing region achieved through the pursuit of the clear opportunities available via Smart Growth, Sustainable Growth, and Inclusive Growth.

Paul Hannigan, Head of College at ATU Donegal, echoed Kennedy’s sentiments, adding; "ATU has long established links with the key stakeholders across both jurisdictions and ATU’s footprint encompasses most of the border region and is therefore pursuing several important elements of North South activity. The North South Engagement Centre will better coordinate and further strengthen the University’s role on the all-island agenda and will develop strategy to enhance cross-border student pathways and address skills shortage areas."

The University has long-established links with key stakeholders across both jurisdictions and continues to be a driving force in building sustainable, inclusive growth for the region. 
 

Photo caption: Front Row L-R: Paul Hannigan, Head of College ATU Donegal, Joseph P. Kennedy III, US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs (Honoary Doctorate), Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President, Maura McNally, ATU Chair.
Back row L-R: Joanne Kilmartin (TITLE), Dr Billy Bennet, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar at ATU, Dr Justin Kerr, Head of ATU Mayo Campus, Paddy Hannigan, Senior Lecturer for Strategy at ATU Donegal.,  Dr Aodhmar Cadogan, ATU Assistant Registrar.

Aidan Haughey
ATU Communications Manager 
Bainisteoir Cumarsáide OTA
Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh (OTA), Éire  
Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Ireland  
Tel: + 353 86 086 6913
E: aidan.haughey@atu.ie