Maynooth university launches major strategic link-up with Chinese college

Ireland’s fastest growing university today unveiled plans to grow research to address global and societal challenges, and expand total postgraduate enrolments by more than 60% over the next five years.  At the launch of its Strategic Plan 2018-2022 Maynooth University also announced a joint International College of Engineering at one of China’s leading universities that will see 1,200 Chinese students graduate with Maynooth University degrees in computer science and electronic engineering over the next four years.

Maynooth International College of Engineering, Fuzhou University, will support academic and cultural exchange and pave the way for future research and innovation partnerships, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence and robotics.

Under the new strategic plan, a €300 million capital investment will transform the Maynooth University campus experience.  Construction on a new state-of-the-art academic centre will begin in early 2019. In addition to a range of innovation, sports and recreation amenities, a new Student Centre and on-campus student bed accommodation for an extra 1,000 students form part of a sustainable Campus Masterplan.

The Maynooth University Strategic Plan 2018-22 which prioritises research and postgraduate studies, was launched today by Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD.  Speaking at the launch of Strategic Plan, she said: “Maynooth University has made enormous strides during its relatively short history as an independent institution.  Its work in undergraduate education in recent years has been remarkable and I greatly welcome the strategic vision and roadmap set out in this latest plan to drive research, postgraduate studies and internationalisation at the University.  These are three drivers of excellence in global education and will position Maynooth well as one of Ireland’s academic powerhouses long into the future.”

She continued: “The plan builds on Maynooth University’s work in widening participation and expanding student choice through the introduction of a new undergraduate curriculum that is regarded as the single most important development in undergraduate education in Ireland in recent years.”  

Maynooth University President, Professor Philip Nolan, said the institution now aims to grow its doctoral community to 600 and increase the number of master’s students at the University to 1,600.

“Last year Maynooth University marked its 20th anniversary as an independent institution, and its achievements in that time have been remarkable. We are recognised for our world-class research which drives the excellent teaching at the University.  Our new undergraduate curriculum, rooted in the tradition of a liberal education, has brought unparalleled choice to students and is better preparing them to adapt to the careers of the future. It is now timely to focus on the postgraduate and research aspects of our mission to drive us forward over the next five to 10 years,” said Professor Philip Nolan.

Key to bolstering Maynooth University’s international credentials is the establishment of its first joint International College of Engineering, with Fuzhou University in the Fujian province of China, which will see around 300 students graduate annually with Maynooth University degrees when it reaches full capacity.  Maynooth University is currently recruiting a team of 13 lecturers plus administrative support for the venture as part of a commitment to developing a world class education partnership.

Located in the southeast of China, Fuzhou University has been identified as part of China’s Project 211, which aims to bolster the standards of the top 100 Chinese universities. Maynooth University’s partnership with Fuzhou University will not only support this goal, but also encourage academic and cultural exchange between Ireland and China.  The initiative is assisted by Enterprise Ireland and it is expected to enhance global research endeavours while also raising Maynooth University’s profile in the world’s fastest growing market. 

Commenting on the partnership with Fuzhou University, Professor Philip Nolan said: “This is a necessary move for a bold, progressive young university.  It is about embedding ourselves in the local culture and academic environment to strive together for world-class developments. Fuzhou has been selected as one of the highest potential universities in all of China and a long-term partnership is the appropriate way forward to develop a flow of knowledge, research and students.”

In recent years Maynooth University has witnessed significant growth and progress.  It has:
    Increased student numbers by over 60% to 12,500 since 2008
    Grown its CAO first preferences by more than a third (to 3,408) in the same period
    Seen the number of international students more than double to 1,100 
    Expanded staff numbers by 37% to 428 since 2012
    Delivered a diverse collection of high technology start-up companies, supported by the MaynoothWorks business incubator
    Built strong links with more than 50 enterprise partners across the country in a range of areas
    Cemented its position as the national leader in widening participation in university education.  More than 45% of new MU undergraduates are the first in their families to experience higher education.
Maynooth University is Ireland’s fastest growing university and is ranked as one of the top 100 global universities under 50 years old by the Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings.

Maynooth University Strategic Plan 2018-22 is available to read here: https://mu.ie/strategicplan