On January 18, 2017, leaders of the Waterford Institute of Technology and the Technical College System of Georgia signed a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes a framework of academic partnership between the two institutions. The signing took place in Atlanta, Ga., with TCSG Commissioner Gretchen Corbin, WIT President William Donnelly and Shane Stephens, Counsel General of Ireland in attendance.

The MOU states each party’s commitment to maximize the educational and training programs offered by both institutions, while providing to students the benefits of these cross-border programs. Partnering with WIT gives Georgia students access to international science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs.

"Signing this MOU formalizes our longstanding relationship with Waterford Institute of Technology and establishes a broad framework to expand our collaboration,” said TCSG Commissioner Corbin. “This partnership is an outstanding opportunity for our students to train on an international level and then bring those skills to bear at companies here in Georgia."

This summer, students from North Georgia Technical College and Chattahoochee Technical College will participate in a one of a kind engineering program in Ireland.  The program has been custom tailored by both WIT and TCSG faculty. Similarly, students from North Georgia Technical College and Columbus Technical College will be attending a custom-designed culinary program.

The Waterford Institute of Technology is a university-level institution in the southeast of Ireland with over 10,000 students and 1,000 staff. They offer certificates, degrees and PhD’s in Humanities, Health and Nursing, Science and Informatics, Engineering, Architecture, Business and Education. The MOU with TCSG will open additional program opportunities in tourism, hospitality management and criminal justice, adding to the already existing programs.

WIT President Professor Willie Donnelly welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding. “The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the entire Technological System of Georgia is of significant importance in further developing and expanding the existing relationships: indeed it elevates it to an entirely new level. It will create opportunities for staff mobility, joint teaching, research development and, particularly, it will allow students from TCSG come to WIT where they can gain an internationally recognised qualification through offering them Pathways for Progression in their chosen field of study.”

Georgia and Ireland are international trade partners, with Georgia’s imports from Ireland totaling $776 million annually and Georgia’s exports totaling $145 million annually. Over 19 Georgia companies have operations in Ireland, including Equifax, Georgia-Pacific, Mohawk Industries and UPS. Irish companies located employ 6,680 Georgians locally.

“As Consul General of Ireland, I was delighted to attend the signing of the ground breaking Memorandum of Understanding between the Waterford Institute of Technology and the entire Technical College System of Georgia,” said Mr. Shane Stephens, Counsel General of Ireland. “Our institutes of technology have been central to Ireland’s economic success story, an essential player in producing industry-ready talent. I am also fully conscious of the important role that WIT have played in contributing to the successes of certain investors from the Southeast of the U.S. into the Southeast of Ireland. By advancing collaboration, this new Memorandum of Understanding will aid both WIT and its numerous technical college partners in Georgia in their work to realise the full the potential of all their students.”