February University of Galway signs new four-year agreement with the HEA

University of Galway and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) have signed a new Performance Agreement, setting out ambitious targets for the next four years across all of the core areas of the University’s activity.

The Agreement covers themes such as teaching and research; sustainability; and internationalisation.

Speaking at the launch on campus, Interim President of University of Galway, Professor Peter McHugh, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome the HEA to Galway to mark this important agreement. As a research-intensive university, University of Galway is committed to providing global leadership in our distinctive areas of research excellence and to delivering an exceptional education experience for our students. The Performance Agreement sets out an ambitious plan for the next four years that will see us deliver excellence and impact across our core domains of teaching and research.”

Dr Alan Wall, chief executive of the HEA, said: “The signing of this Performance Agreement is the culmination of a very positive engagement with University of Galway over the last year. It sets out robust and ambitious strategic objectives that articulate the institution’s unique contribution to national policies and priorities in teaching and learning, research and innovation, access and participation, and engagement. I look forward to working with University of Galway over the next four years as part of the HEA’s work to strengthen the higher education and research system under the System Performance Framework 2023-2028.”

Secretary for Governance and Academic Affairs, Caroline Loughnane, said: “The Performance Agreement reflects the University’s commitment to advancing initiatives to deliver excellence across four core pillars of our activity – teaching, research and innovation, access and engagement. In committing to delivering on the objectives and targets set out in this Agreement, University of Galway is setting out its contribution to advancing national priorities for the Higher Education sector.”

Key highlights of the Performance Agreement include:

Teaching and research excellence

• Provide best-in-class teaching and learning spaces with the development of the new Library and Learning Commons, part-funded by the HEA
• A suite of student learning supports; curriculum reform and innovation; and enhancements to student feedback processes
• More pathways for flexible lifelong learning, including ensuring students from under-represented background succeed and thrive during their time at the University
• New targets for performance in the competitive European research funding programme, Horizon Europe
• Continuation of partnerships with the MedTech sector and industry

Sustainability

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
• Embed sustainability in the core curriculum

A Global University

• Increasing numbers of international students
• Provide more international experiences and study abroad opportunities for domestic students

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