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Delegation from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology visits ATU
A delegation from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Alberta Canada visited ATU recently, funded by the World Technological Universities Network (WTUN), and facilitated by Dr James Britton and RISE@ATU.
The delegation included Melanie Ross, Research Chair managing the Green Building Technologies (GBT) research division, and Tyler Wilson principal investigator in the GBT who are experts in the development of environmentally friendly construction technologies.
The WTUN is a global network of 20 technology focused universities united by their commitment to inclusive advancement of sustainable scientific and technology teaching & research. ATU is a proud member of the WTUN, in which Dr. Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin is the representative and who instigated the exchange visit with his counterpart in SAIT. The broad objectives of the WTUN are:
- To promote the role & understanding of technology universities globally
- To promote mobility and global citizenship
- To collaborate on research & knowledge transfer
- To develop policy
- To facilitate links between the WTUN, industry, NGOs & SMEs
- The WTUN achieves these aims by facilitating visits and exchanges of staff between its member institutions to facilitate collaboration in research. The WTUN also hosts an annual conference which is held in member universities.
In the 2022 framework for cooperation and collaboration with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) outside of Ireland, the HEA has piloted an initiative which specifies that Canada is a key partner for Irish Universities outside of the EU and UK. With Canada recently becoming a partner nation in Horizon Europe, forging connections with our colleagues in the Great White North is a key ambition for the HEA and for ATU.
Over the course of their two-day visit to ATU Melanie & Tyler met with researchers in the school of engineering in Galway & Sligo, along with members of the MET & PEM Technology Gateways, the Galway iHUBs and members of the research office. Of the visit Melanie Ross stated:
International connections need to start somewhere, and we were thrilled when ATU responded to our request to meet as we travelled to the UK and Ireland this fall. With a warm welcome by all, we are looking forward to developing our relationships and project ideas, demonstrating how aligned Irish and Canadian institutions are!
Dr. Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin met with the Canadian delegation in Galway during the visit and stressed:
Global collaboration allows our WTUN member universities to pool intellectual and material resources, enabling research that would be difficult or impossible to conduct in isolation. By combining globally diverse perspectives, methodologies, and expertise, institutions can tackle complex global challenges—such as climate change, pandemics, and sustainable development—more effectively. I am delighted to host our partners from SAIT to begin what will be very fruitful and enduring engagement.
Dr John Bartlett, ATU Sligo and John Andy Bonar, ATU Donegal also met the Canadian delegation on their visit to ATU Sligo and provided additional support and recognition for the collaboration.
Photo left to right: Dr. John Bartlett, Head of Research ATU Sligo; Dr. Melanie Ross, Green Building Technologies Research Chair, SAIT; John Andy Bonar, ATU VP for Systems and Internationalisation
Aidan Haughey
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