Dr Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Chairperson of Údarás na hOllscoile and former EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science has today launched the College of Science and Engineering Strategic Plan 2021-2025. 

The College has set challenging goals as part of the plan, including attaining Green Lab certification for all laboratories, review of all undergraduate science programmes and expanding scholarship opportunities.

Speaking at the launch today, Dr Máire Geoghegan Quinn spoke about the need for Ireland to be the "green heart of the green European deal" and how universities, and indeed NUI Galway is central to this aspiration. 

The College of Science and Engineering Strategic Strategic Plan is based on NUI Galway’s values of excellence, respect, openness, and sustainability. The plan aligns the College’s ambition and objectives with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Executive Dean of the College, Professor Walter Gear said: “This plan demonstrates our huge ambition to drive the College of Science and Engineering forward to deliver world-leading and relevant research and innovation, for the good of our region, Ireland and the world, and to provide an outstanding educational experience to our students, which nurtures critical thinking, leadership, employability and professionalism.”

At the heart of the College’s Strategic Plan is a focus on excellence in teaching and research.

The College will achieve excellence by empowering students for life-long learning and employment, enhancing the student experience and encouraging and supporting researchers to grow in both established and emerging research areas.

Key ambitions in the plan include:

  • Attaining Green Lab certification for all laboratories in the College
  • Substantially improving infrastructure and facilities 
  • Developing curricula that embeds sustainability, features evidence-based teaching methods and draws on interdisciplinary strengths
  • Focusing on research and innovation linked to Curiosity and Discovery, Innovation for Health, Decisive Data and Sustainable Futures
  • Enriching the College through diversity and inclusion and promoting and sustaining a culture of respect
  • Reducing student-staff ratios and deepen efforts to encourage women in STEM.
  • Creating a more inclusive work and learning place for people with disability
  • Annual reviews of how schools in the College respond to student feedback and surveys

The Director of Strategic Development, Dr Ann Ryan said: “Our Strategic Plan is ambition complemented by action. We are setting down markers as to how we can and will achieve these ambitions over the coming years and through an action plan we will have the focus and direction in order to deliver on that.”

Follow the links below to browse the Strategic Plan: