Courses
ATU launches major all‑island initiative to transform cross‑border education and skills mobility
Atlantic Technological University (ATU), in partnership with Ulster University, North West Regional College, Donegal Education and Training Board, and the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation, have officially launched the North South ESTEEM Project – Education, Skills & Training: Empowering Economic Mobility.
This landmark three-year project – supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) – is designed to remove long‑standing barriers to cross‑border student and employment skills mobility across Ireland and Northern Ireland
Despite geographical proximity and shared economic interests, cross‑border student mobility remains low. In addition, challenges exist in employment mobility, where enterprises report cross‑border recruitment difficulties with particular challenges in the healthcare, apprenticeships, and technology sectors.
At its heart, North South ESTEEM is about opportunity. It promises to give students clear, accessible information on cross-border study options and to tackle the systemic issues that have impeded cross-border mobility. For skilled workers, it will address accreditation gaps and propose reforms to licensing and regulation, making it easier to work across jurisdictions.
The North South ESTEEM project will directly tackle these issues by:
- Breaking down information silos
- Identifying and addressing regulatory and accreditation barriers
- Supporting learners, workers, employers, and educators
- Creating sustainable, evidence‑based policy solutions
- Building a long‑term research and innovation capacity for cross‑border mobility
The project brings together a powerful consortium of education providers and policy influencers, supported by 12 associate partners who have the capacity to inform the research and assist in implementing the recommendations from the research.
This collaboration will ensure that the project’s outputs will be practical, scalable, and aligned with policy priorities on both sides of the border. The project will be significant in providing a pathway to a North South education and employment skills environment where cross-border education and skills mobility will be simpler, fairer, and rich with opportunity.
Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Jack Chambers TD said: “I am delighted that the North South Esteem project has been funded under the PEACEPLUS programme. North South Esteem brings together experienced project partners from across the island, sharing their expertise in research, education, and skills to support cross-border mobility. “Through this strategic cross-border collaboration, North South Esteem will create opportunities that benefit students, workers, and employers, and promote economic growth in both jurisdictions.”
Minister of Finance John O’Dowd MLA said: “I am pleased to welcome the launch of the North South ESTEEM project. This initiative represents a strong example of collaboration between organisations across our Island to address the key issues of cross border student and employment skills mobility. I commend all partners involved for their commitment to delivering practical change that will deliver benefit to our citizens and economy.”
Contact Information
Aidan Haughey
Communications Manager
Atlantic Technological University
086 086 6913
aidan.haughey@atu.ie
