Higher education partnerships between Northern Ireland, the Republic and the US will help further international co-operation, according to Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry.
He was speaking recently at a meeting in Queen’s University of the alumni of the US State Department funded study group which visited Boston and Michigan in November 2011.
The group was established as a result of a US State-funded study visit, by nine higher education senior managers from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The visit was organised by The Irish Institute at Boston College.
The meeting discussed cross border HEI linkages and Northern Ireland-USA links and showcased international excellence in higher education. Attendees included those who participated in the study visit and representatives from the US Consulate in Belfast.
Dr Farry said: “My department is fully committed to programmes that provide opportunity for forging closer links within Ireland and the US higher education sectors.
“I acknowledge the important role of the Belfast US Consulate in encouraging the development of the all island HEI networks. The commitment to research collaboration between the NI Executive, the Irish government and the US government, through the work of the US-Ireland Research & Development Partnership, is an excellent example of our strong relationship with the US.
“The partnership is already playing an important role in advancing research in the key areas of nanotechnology, sensor technology, diabetes and cystic fibrosis, and I am looking forward to projects being supported in the two newly approved areas of telecommunications and energy/sustainability.”
The meeting allowed officials to discuss challenges faced in the international higher education sector and to share experiences of both Boston College and University of Michigan Ann Arbor and other associated institutional visits.