Midlands Region declared Overall Winner at .ie Digital Town Awards 2024
The ‘Midlands Digitisation’ Project take the overall win, as well as the ‘Digital Education’ Award and Athlone’s Midlands Polish Community TV wins ‘Digital Newcomer’ Award The Midlands Region has come out on top at this year’s .ie Digital Town Awards with multiple wins across various categories including being crowned ‘Overall Winner’ at an awards ceremony […]
Transition Year Students Showcase Innovations at ‘Ideas Made Real’ Event in Mullingar
The Mullingar Park Hotel was the venue for the “Ideas Made Real” Transition Year Programme Showcase and Awards Ceremony, hosted by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), Mullingar. The event, sponsored by Decotek Automotive with additional support from strategic partners Fastrack into Information Technology (FIT) and the Engineering Technology Teachers’ Association (E.T.T.A.), featured participation from over 150 […]
TUS Scoops Top Honours at National Education Awards
Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) has taken top honours at the national Education Awards, held in the Naas, Co Kildare. Defeating notable competitors from other universities, TUS secured the coveted Best Industry/Business – Academic Collaboration accolade for its innovative Athlone Campus Digital Speaker Series. The success didn’t end there for TUS, as its International […]
Midlands projects to receive €18 million under EU Just Transition Fund programme
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, has announced the 15 projects in the Midlands that will receive grant awards amounting to €18 million from the EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) programme. All of the awarded projects will invest in local communities, to create employment and to diversify the local economy of […]
TUS Athlone’s ‘Garden of Curiosity’ Teaches Students About Food Sustainability
Under the leadership of Dr Emma Reardon, Head of the Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Athlone Campus, is aiming to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing the hospitality industry: food sustainability. Through innovative food sustainability projects led by lecturers Gayle Tarmey, Kevin Ward, John Killeen, and Shane […]
Schools Tech Talent Showcased at LOETB S.T.E.A.M. Awards.
There were big wins for secondary schools across Laois and Offaly at the inaugural Laois Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) S.T.E.A.M. Showcase event, held recently at Portlaoise College. The showcase and awards were the climax of a new S.T.E.A.M. (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Maths) Programme for LOETB schools, where, as part of a […]
Google Developer Group to launch in Portlaoise
GDG Portlaoise launching on 21 February. A Hub for Tech Enthusiasts to Connect, Learn, and Innovate Portlaoise is set to become the newest addition to the global Google Developer Groups (GDG) network with the launch of the GDG Portlaoise. The official launch event is being hosted by sponsors FRS Recruitment at The Cube – Low […]
Midlands hosts VEX Robotics Regional Finals
The Midlands hosted the regional finals of the 2024 VEX Robotics Competition in Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore on Tuesday 23rd January, with over 200 secondary school students from across the Midlands region taking part. The competition brings Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning to life with students taking part in a game-based engineering challenge to […]
TUS allocated €12m for Research and Innovation
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD has announced €84 million to enhance research and innovation opportunities for the Technological University sector. The programme will establish, equip, and staff regional research and innovation offices within TUs to enable deepened engagement with local and regional business, industry, and enterprise stakeholders. […]
Midlands strongest for IDA Ireland job growth in 2023
Annual results from IDA Ireland show that the Midlands region was the strongest for job growth in 2023, with a 5.8% increase in employment at IDA client companies in the region, reflecting a stable and resilient FDI sector. Nationally, the Modern Manufacturing and Traditional Manufacturing sectors showed the highest levels of job growth in the […]
Midlands schools to benefit from almost €500,000 in STEM funding
Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has announced a trebling of the budget for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) grants to €4.7m. The announcement, which comes as a result of phenomenal demand, marks a significant stride towards advancing STEM education in schools nationwide. Midlands schools will benefit from almost a half a million in […]
TUS Graduates the most employable in the country
Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) has the highest number of honours degree graduates in the country in employment nine months after graduation. According to the most recent HEA (Higher Education Authority) Graduate Outcomes Survey, 86.9% of 2022 TUS honours degree graduates are in employment, the highest percentage in the country. TUS undergraduates outperforming the national average […]
Full S.T.E.A.M ahead in Laois and Offaly
A new initiative from LOETB in partnership with Laois and Offaly County Councils will see nine post-primary schools benefit from €10,000 worth of S.T.E.A.M. (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Maths) equipment and support. This is part of a new programme to support the development of digital skills among students in LOETB schools over the next […]
TUS ResilMesh Cyber Security project receives €7M EU investment
ResilMesh, a new collaborative EU project coordinated by the Technological University of the Shannon’s (TUS) Software Research Institute at the TUS Athlone Campus, has received a €7 million investment from the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme. Over the next 36 months, the project will focus on developing cyber situational awareness based on a […]
‘Ideas Made Real’ Schools STEM Programme launched by IMR in Mullingar
The Midlands is Pioneering the Future of Innovation with the official launch of the new “Ideas Made Real” programme, an initiative of Irish Manufacturing Research in Mullingar. The dynamic platform is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of visionaries, creators, and leaders by working with schools, students and enterprise to highlight the possibilities of a […]
Discover the ‘Science of the Scrum’ with Jack Carty, Rosie Foley and Midlands Science
With Rugby becoming a national obsession thanks to the World Cup in recent weeks, the Midlands Science Festival is proud to present “The Science of the Scrum,” an exciting event featuring Irish flyhalf Jack Carty and former Irish International Rosie Foley. This one-of-a-kind event exploring the science of rugby will take place on the evening […]
ICT Skills Survey Finds Potential for over 800 New Midlands Tech Jobs by 2026
The Midlands is set to continue its growth as an increasingly important ICT hub, new research published today suggests. According to the Midlands ICT Cluster Skills Survey, regional companies expect to create up to 800 new ICT jobs over the next 3 years, in addition to over 3,000 already employed in the sector across the […]
Midlands celebrates 4 Ericsson Finalists in Women in STEM Awards 2023
The highly anticipated Women in STEM Awards 2023 celebrate and recognise the incredible achievements and innovations of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in Ireland, with the Midlands region celebrating as four women from the Ericsson Athlone team have been named as finalists in the upcoming awards. These awards shine a light on […]
New €24 million fund launches to further support the Just Transition in the Midlands region
Funding of up to €1 million available for local projects, with up to €5 million on offer for strategic, regional flagship projects Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, has today announced a further €24 million for the Midlands region under Ireland’s EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) programme, to provide targeted funding […]
Midlands to host Medtech and Manufacturing ‘Future of Work’ Seminar
A national seminar exploring the Future of Work in Medtech & Manufacturing takes place in Athlone on Thursday October 5th. The event is a Free Information & Networking Seminar on Funded Training and Industry Insights for Medtech and Manufacturing businesses of all sizes. The Midlands is well-recognised as a centre of excellence in Advanced Manufacturing, […]
Agritech in Midlands wins at Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena Awards 2023
Biodegradable polymers for mineral bolus systems from PolyBo, and Methane measurement technology from Agri Data Analytics were two innovative Midlands Agritech winners at this year’s Enterprise Ireland Innovation Arena Awards. The winners of the Innovation Arena competition, hosted by Enterprise Ireland in association with the National Ploughing Association, were announced at an awards ceremony attended […]
Accelerate Green 2024 now open for green innovators
Sustainability Entrepreneurs in the Midlands encouraged to apply for the 2024 Accelerate Green executive accelerator programme from Bord na Móna. Leading Executive Accelerator programme for Green Business Applications are now open until November 10th 2023, for companies to take part in Bord na Móna’s Accelerate Green programme. SMEs in the Midlands looking to scale, start-ups […]
Mobile NZEB Training Unit launched by LOETB Mount Lucas National Construction Training Centre
Laois Offaly Education and Training Board LOETB continue to lead the way in Construction Training with the launch of an innovative Mobile NZEB Training Unit by the National Construction Training Centre in Mount Lucas. The new Mobile Training Unit will be used to demonstrate NZEB Construction Training and Career Opportunities nationwide, and was officially launched […]
Call now open for €10 million Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative under Just Transition Fund
Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D., along with his colleagues Ministers of State Martin Heydon T.D. and Senator Pippa Hackett today announced the opening of a new innovation support measure for the bioeconomy in the Midlands region. The ‘Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative’ is part of the EU Just Transition Fund for Ireland […]
Microsoft Dream Space success for Longford students
Congratulations to Colmcille Broadband Connection Point (BCP), St Joseph’s National School and Scoil Bhríde Glen, who won awards at the first ever national Microsoft Dream Space Showcase, representing both Co. Longford and the broader Midlands region at the STEM event. Prize winners from the inaugural Longford Microsoft Dream Space Showcase, which was held in Edgeworthstown […]
TUS to benefit from €84m TU RISE Fund for Research and Enterprise Support
Technological University of the Shannon is set to benefit from the new €83.68 million TU Research and Innovation Supporting Enterprise (TU RISE) Fund announced by Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD. The scheme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the European Regional […]
TUS invest €8.5m in Flexible Learning for academic year
The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) is making more than 1,500 flexible learning places worth more than €8.5 million available for the next academic year. These HCI and Springboard skilled focused programmes were developed following detailed engagement with local industry. Funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Human Capital Initiative (HCI) and Springboard are […]
Information Seminar on €20m Midlands Bioeconomy Initiative Scheme
Under the EU Just Transition Fund, the Midlands region will benefit from a €20m Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme to invest in sustainable bioeconomy development. The Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, and host partner The Cube in Portlaoise, will hold an information session regarding the scheme. As Ireland moves towards a low-carbon economy, the […]
Midlands Women in Tech Career Networking Morning
On Saturday 24th June 2023, Midlands Women in Tech will host a Career Networking Morning at the Ardonagh Analytics Lab in Mullingar from 10am to 12pm. The Midlands Women in Tech community aims to close the gender gap and to help women and girls embrace Tech by educating and inspiring more women about the opportunities […]
Dreamspace becomes reality in Longford
“The best way to predict the future is to build it now, and that’s exactly what we’re doing here today” – Danny Lynch, Head of IT, Longford County Council Microsoft and Ericsson team up with Longford County Council Over 300 local students converged on the Edgeworthstown Community Centre last Friday for a Coding Competition as […]
Midlands Students represent Ireland at VEX Robotics World Championships
Students from Tubber National School will travel to Dallas, Texas to represent Ireland at VEX Robotics World Championship 2023 from May 2nd to May 4th. VEX Robotics has been pioneered in the region by Offaly County Council, and is now in over 70 schools at both primary and secondary level. The programme is just one […]
Launch of the Midlands ICT Cluster Action Plan
Today, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary, marked the official launch of the Midlands ICT Cluster Action Plan at the Building Better Business event held at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise. In launching the Action Plan, Minister Calleary said “I am delighted today to be publishing the Action Plan […]
Degree Course Access for Midlands students
“A student could complete the first year of a computing course in Laois/Offaly ETB and then have a guaranteed route into SETU to pursue a degree.” (Minister Simon Harris) For the first time in Ireland, there will be guaranteed access to a degree programme that starts in further education and concludes in higher education. A […]
Midlands Schools achieve European Digital School Award
European Digital School status has been awarded to 11 secondary schools across the Midlands, as part of a European project from the Erasmus+ programme from European Union in partnership with HP and AMD. What is The Digital Schools Programme? The Digital Schools programme works to build a community of digital schools across Europe, aiming to […]
Longford aim to lead in Computer Science
Innovation in the Midlands region in the areas of STEM and ICT Education continues to grow, as Longford seeks to be the first county in Ireland with Computer Science as a Leaving Cert option in all secondary schools in the county. Longford County Council was today awarded funding to progress the ambitious plan under the […]
TUS secure €1.3m for Bioeconomy Research
Technological University of the Shannon have secured over €1.3m in funding to support major Bioeconomy Research projects in the coming years under the Policy and Strategic Studies Research Call from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Bioeconomy sector is one of the most important in Europe, employing close to 17.4 million people, […]
TUS and Zinkworks Launch €2M Telecommunications Research Group
Technological University of the Shannon and Athlone-based technology company Zinkworks have launched a new €2M Telecommunications Research Group to Make Driverless, Intelligent Shipping Ports a Reality The group will develop cutting-edge autonomous port management capabilities using 5G, AI and cloud, improving eco-efficiency and safety. As the race for self-driving cars heats up, a team of […]
CAO Points ‘game-changer’
A new government initiative will allow students to start a degree programme in a college of further education (FE) and finish it in a university, without the big worry of CAO points. For the Midlands, TUS (Technological University of the Shannon) will be involved in the initial phase. This landmark policy will see students commence […]
Midlands well-represented at BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 23
The 59th annual BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition takes place in the RDS Dublin from the 12th to 14th of January, a great return to the first in-person event in over 3 years. Students, Teachers and Schools across the Midlands have worked hard to ensure STEM in the region is well-represented at the national […]
Start a new Course in January, 2023?
Why not start the year 2023 afresh by taking up a new course with your local Further Education and Training Centre? We have compiled a list of some part-time and FREE courses taking place across the midlands, that range in skills from ‘Mindfullness’ to Bookkeeping, Art or even Construction. Most people think they can only […]
New STEM Building approved for TUS Athlone with capacity for 1,000 students
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today (21 December) welcomed the conclusion and signing of the contracts for the construction of six new buildings across multiple campuses in the eastern, southern and midlands regions. As part of the announcement, a new 65,000sq.ft. STEM Building will be constructed on […]
Boost for Public Transport routes across the Midlands
Transport connectivity in the Midlands is set to for a series of improvements with new public transport announcements from Bus Eireann and Iarnroid Eireann under Transport for Ireland. Improved bus services between Athlone, Mullingar and Drogheda, and between Athlone and Cavan are the latest announcements, serving many towns and villages of the region along the […]
TUS Learning Gates open across the Midlands
The Technological University of the Shannon has opened new ‘TUS Learning Gates’ at locations across the Midlands. Several ‘TUS Learning Gates’ are to be located throughout the Midlands region, ensuring access to Higher Education opportunities is available to those living and working in surrounding areas throughout the Midlands. The first TUS Learning Gates to open […]
Nearby Institutions
SETU Carlow (formerly IT Carlow) Background Now for the first time a university stands in the south east after it’s opening in May 2022. South East Technological University (SETU) are merging campuses in Waterford, Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow and Kilkenny into an institution that brings investment, ideas and opportunity to each community.They are creating a Technological […]
Midlands ICT Information Session at TUS
The bright future for ICT in the Midlands was the focus of an insightful event at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) in Athlone, as Midlands Local Enterprise Offices and their clients came together for an information session delivered by teams from TUS and the COMAND Technology Gateway on the funding mechanisms open to business […]
New Further Education Facility for Athlone
Further Education in the Midlands to receive another significant boost, with a multi-million euro investment for Athlone getting the go ahead, which will see a new Further Education Facility being developed on grounds of the Athlone Training Centre Campus. The project was announced by LWETB Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB) and Minister Simon […]
Midlands at the centre of building a new Ireland.
John Kelly is the Manager of the LOETB – National Construction Training Centre, Mount Lucas, County Offaly and recently he took me on a tour of the 33-acre sight. It is the only place in Ireland doing the national scaffolding apprenticeship which was officially launched in July by Minister Simon Harris. At the time he also […]
New Variety of courses in Further Education
Thinking of starting a new course, something new, and looking for something a little different? Did you know that along with many of the courses on offer in Further Education, you can now study Science, Sound Engineering, Music Performance or even Digital Media with your local Education and Training Board? There are dozens of Community […]
New Technological University of the Shannon TUS is launched today
The Event will be live streamed from Athlone International Arena and Moylish Millennium Theatre from 2 – 4pm Its a great day for the Midlands Region, with all the new opportunities now available to students through our new Technological University of the Shannon – TUS Watch live here or catch the playback: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXk3IskEQFo or Check out […]
Minister Harris and Minister Collins announce €20 million capital funding to expand apprenticeship provision across further and higher education
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD and Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins TD have today announced the roll-out of €20 million in capital funding to respond to the growing demand for apprenticeships. The funding will allow for a significant expansion in electrical, plumbing […]
