University of Limerick Briefs Companies on Opportunities for Business Linkages

Front row (l-r): Dr Ann Ledwith, director, Continuing and Professional Education, UL; Thomas Caffrey, head of aviation services, Lufthansa Technik Shannon; Conor Flanagan, CEO, Atlantic Aviation Group; Helen Downes, CEO, Shannon Chamber; and Cillian Griffey, manager, Shannon Chamber Skillnet are joined by the University’s heads of departments and centres at Shannon Airport. Photograph by Eamon Ward

 

 

In a move to encourage businesses to initiate or expand their linkages with academia though learning or research, heads of departments and centres from the University of Limerick recently travelled to Shannon Airport to present at a breakfast briefing organised by Shannon Chamber.

 

The event, which was held in the viewing gallery at the airport, included presentations from the faculties of Science & Engineering, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Kemmy Business School and involved each presenter giving a five-minute overview of their course offerings and the types of collaboration they can provide to companies, through current educational programmes or through designing bespoke offerings designed to meet a company’s specific needs.

 

The director of Continuing and Professional Education at the University of Limerick, Dr Ann Ledwith, speaking at the event said: “All of our courses are structured with flexible participation and delivery in mind to meet the skills needs of business. The content is industry relevant and delivered both off and online as blended learning. Our decision to visit Shannon, the first time we have travelled as a group to meet companies on their own doorsteps, was to show that we have an open door policy and are eager to respond to any issue or topic that businesses need support with.”

 

Shannon Chamber’s chief executive Helen Downes added: “The decision to host an event of this nature was prompted by our interest in ensuring that companies in the Shannon region remain competitive. The feedback to the event has been most favourable and we were delighted that two companies who are expanding their linkages with UL, Lufthansa Technik Shannon and Atlantic Aviation Group, spoke of the value such linkages extend to their businesses. By travelling to Shannon, the university has reinforced its willingness to support businesses in the area. We would encourage companies to avail of the many opportunities that can be facilitated by UL’s Continuing and Professional Education centre. ”