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Monday, 12 January 2026
Professor Colin Fitzpatrick has recently returned from Beijing, where he represented the University of Limerick (UL) at a Transnational Education (TNE) Showcase event. The event was attended by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, whose presence underscored the importance Ireland places on long‑term cooperation with China through education. Twelve Irish higher education institutions were represented at the showcase, which was attended by over 100 participants.
Coordinated by Education in Ireland, the programme featured an opening address by H.E. Dr Nicholas O’Brien, Irish Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, and concluded with closing remarks from An Taoiseach.
A central feature of UL’s engagement in China is the Limerick International College at Henan Polytechnic University (LICHPU), where the Electronic & Computer Engineering Department plays a leading academic role, delivering the engineering component of the programme. Drawing on more than a decade of collaboration with Henan Polytechnic University in engineering and computing, the department underpins the academic delivery, curriculum development, and quality assurance of the joint institute.
Commenting on UL's involvement in China and the success of LICHPU, Professor Fitzpatrick said:
“UL’s engagement with China is founded on partnership and a shared belief in the transformative power of education. These principles are fully embodied in the Limerick International College at Henan Polytechnic University, UL’s flagship joint institute in China. Building on more than a decade of collaboration in engineering and computing, this is a mature, trust‑based partnership that will shortly grow to over 1,200 students.”
The Electronic & Computer Engineering Department’s leadership in the delivery of the engineering curriculum has been instrumental in establishing LICHPU as a flagship example of UL’s transnational education activity and its commitment to high‑quality, sustainable international partnerships.