Foreword from the Director of ICT

The University of Galway’s digital estate provides critical infrastructure for teaching, research and public service. As a publicly funded University, we must ensure that our digital capabilities are secure, resilient, well governed and aligned with national policy, while remaining responsive to institutional priorities and emerging opportunities. This Digital Strategy sets out how we will meet that responsibility.

The strategy has been developed with explicit regard to the University’s Strategic Plan 2025-2030, our National Digital and AI Strategy 2030, evolving national cyber security policy and regulatory obligations, and sectoral best practice. In particular, it recognises the growing importance of strong cyber resilience, data protection, and responsible adoption of emerging technologies such as automation and artificial intelligence, in line with national and EU regulatory frameworks.

At its core, this strategy is about enterprise discipline and delivery. It establishes clear governance structures,  decision-making pathways and guiding principles to ensure that digital investment is prioritised transparently, managed sustainably and delivers measurable value.

The three strategic themes, Enterprise IT Governance, Digital Transformation, and Data as an Enabler, reflect the reality that technology decisions now cut across all University functions and must be approached in a consistent, coordinated and risk aware manner.

The accompanying three year ICT Roadmap - a living document - translates strategic intent into prioritised, achievable actions, while 
retaining flexibility to respond to regulatory change, emerging risks and institutional needs. Information Solutions and Services (ISS) is 
positioned as a centre of excellence, working in close partnership with colleges, professional services and external bodies to deliver secure, resilient and scalable digital services.

Delivering this strategy will require sustained collaboration, continued investment in capability, and a willingness to adopt new ways of working. In this context ISS welcomes the University’s strategic investment in the ISS Operating Model – a key enabler of the strategy.

Success will be measured not by technology outputs alone, but by the extent to which digital capability enables better decisions, reduces risk, improves experience and supports the University’s long term mission, in line with national and sectoral expectations.

Dr Beatrice Heneghan
Director of ICT / Chief Information Officer