Founding president of TU of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest announced

Founding president of Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest announced

The chair of the Joint Governing Body of the AIT-LIT Consortium, Professor Tom Collins, has welcomed the news that Professor Vincent Cunnane is to be the first president of the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest.

The appointment was announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, following an international recruitment process.

The term of the appointment is eight years and Professor Cunnane will take up his post from the commencement of the new TU on October 1.

Prof Collins said: “All in the consortium are pleased that Vincent Cunnane is to be the inaugural president. He has a distinguished record of achievement in the academic, research and development spheres. He is eminently qualified to lead the development of the TU and its contribution to the economic, social and cultural life of the midlands, midwest and beyond.

“In that task, he will be greatly assisted by the quality and commitment of the leadership team and staff of the TU.”

Liam Rattigan, outgoing chair of AIT Governing Body also welcomed the appointment. “I want to wish Vincent and all in the new TU every success as it embarks on this new phase of higher education in the midlands and the midwest,” he said.

“I also want to pay tribute to the legacy of Prof Ciarán Ó Catháin, who has led AIT for the last two decades and under whose leadership the institute achieved university status.”

Tony Brazil, outgoing chair of LIT also paid tribute to Prof Cunnane. “I have worked closely with Vincent over the last three years since I became chair,” he said, “and have been hugely impressed by his vision, energy and leadership.

“He will be an outstanding first president for the new TU.”

The Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest will commence on October 1 next, with campuses in Athlone, Clonmel, Ennis, Limerick and Thurles

Biographical note

Professor Cunnane joins the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest from LIT, where he has been president since 2016. Prior to that, he was president of IT Sligo.

He was formerly chief executive officer of Shannon Development, until its merger into the Shannon Airport Authority Group of Companies.

Prior to that, he was vice-president of Research at the University Limerick, where he also lectured and researched.

Prof Cunnane is an internationally renowned researcher in the field of physical electrochemistry.

He is chair of THEA and former chair of the Governing Council of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, and a member of the board of the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training.

He is married to Helena and has three adult sons, Eoghan, Connor and Ciaran.