University of Limerick sets sights on Hollywood to broaden international profile

The University of Limerick has set its sights on Hollywood as part of a new plan to broaden the college’s international business profile.

A five-year roadmap for growth and development at UL, titled Excellence & Impact 2020 — research and innovation strategy, was launched yesterday.

Mary Shire, vice-president of research at UL, said the impending arrival of a major film studio in Plassey Technological Park, next to the college, presents a whole new opportunity for UL.

“Delivering graduates to suit that filmmaking area will be very important for us and we will work closely with the studios in defining their expectations and needs,” said Ms Shire.

“We already have graduates who would fit in with such a programme and we will look to expand and build on those as required. We have already discussions with the studio and we will continue this dialogue.”

The strategy aims to involve all students and academic staff in entrepreneurship studies to sharpen UL’s industry-focused ethos. Key targets include:

• A 20% rise in the number of doctoral enrolments;
• A 100% rise in number of employment-based and part-time doctoral enrolments;
• A 30% increase in the number of publications in top-10 percentile journals;
• A doubling of income from European funding sources;
• Establishing commercialisation and entrepreneurship training for all staff and students;
• A 25% increase in new spinout companies and a 20% increase in research income from industry.

Ms Shire said: “We have a good track record for such a young university. Our outlook will be international, our ethos will be excellence with impact, and our approach will be innovative.”