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ATU hosts Fulbright Showcase at Galway City Council
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) hosted a special event at Galway City Council on 19 May 2026 to reflect on internationally recognised scholar-practitioner Dr Stephanie Doscher’s work with ATU.
Throughout April and May, Dr Doscher worked closely with staff across ATU to support capacity building in Global Learning and Curriculum Internationalisation, contributing to ATU’s broader journey towards holistic internationalisation, globally engaged education for all students, and the development of globally competent graduates. Dr Doscher is a senior leader in higher education internationalisation in the United States, with expertise in curriculum innovation, academic partnerships and institutional capacity building.
This event at Galway City Council reflected on the impact of the initiative, while also exploring the role of international collaboration, education, and shared civic values. Guest speakers included Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President; Leonard Clancy, CEO of Galway City Council; and John Andy Bonar, Vice President for Internationalisation at ATU.
Dr Stephanie Doscher said:
“My project engaged me with students, lecturers, support staff, and executive leaders across the depth and breadth of ATU’s campuses and academic programmes. I left with one important takeaway: ATU is poised to set the gold standard for internationalisation in the TU sector by embedding global learning as a signature component of all students’ education. I’m proud to have participated in this bold visioning process and pledge to partner with ATU to make it a reality.”
John Andy Bonar, Vice President of Internationalisation at ATU, said:
“We were delighted to welcome Dr Doscher to ATU and to the West and Northwest of Ireland as part of this landmark Fulbright Specialist programme focused on global learning and curriculum internationalisation. This initiative comes at a pivotal time as we finalise our inaugural Global Engagement Strategy. Building on the strong foundations already established, this programme will further enhance our capacity and act as a catalyst for advancing global learning across the university.
John Joe O’Farrell, Director of International Engagement at ATU, said:
“This Fulbright Specialist project helped generate important momentum around Global Learning at ATU, encouraging academic staff across disciplines to engage with inclusive approaches to internationalisation such as COIL, blended mobility, and curriculum internationalisation. As Global Learning now becomes a key objective within ATU’s emerging Global Engagement Strategy, we look forward to building on this momentum to ensure all students have opportunities to develop intercultural and global competencies, regardless of their ability to participate in physical mobility.”
Dr Dara FitzGerald, Executive Director of the Ireland–United States Commission for Educational Exchange, added:
“The Fulbright Specialist Program supports highly qualified U.S. academics and professionals in sharing expertise and strengthening connections between U.S. and Irish institutions. We are delighted that Dr Stephanie Doscher collaboration with ATU supports the application of its ‘7 Steps to Programme Design’ and contributes to the development and implementation of its Global Engagement Strategy.”
Feature photo caption: Dr Rita Melia, Lecturer at ATU, Dr Stephanie Doscher, scholar-practitioner and Fulbright specialist, and John Joe O’Farrell, Director of International Engagement at ATU.
For media enquiries, contact:
Ivana Hanjs
Communications Officer
Tel: 089 963 9559
E: ivana.hanjs@atu.ie
