University of Limerick
 University of Limerick  (University)    | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Formation | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Limerick, Eire |
| Irish university | |
The University of Limerick is a higher education institution in Limerick, Ireland. Founded in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick, it became a university in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989.[1] It was the first university established since Irish independence in 1922, followed by the establishment of Dublin City University later the same day.
Successful economic-development policies during the 1960s led to an influx of foreign investment in Ireland and demand for expertise not met by the existing universities. Ireland established the National Institute for Higher Education (NIHE) at Limerick, modelled on the technological universities of continental Europe.
Elements of the US university system were adopted, including cooperative education, grade point average marking and the trimester system. During the 1970s, limited public financing led Walsh and his team to seek World Bank and European Investment Bank funding. Sophisticated private-sector fundraising programmes were later developed, based on US university models and guided by an international leadership board under founding chair Chuck Feeney and Lewis Glucksman. The campus developed primarily as a result of such fundraising activity.
The university has been an active participant in the European Union's Erasmus Programme since 1988 and has 207 partner institutions in 24 European countries. In addition, UL students may study at partner universities in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, China and Singapore.
UL allied with NUI Galway in 2010, sharing resources.[2]
An Alumnus on Wikispooks
| Person | Born | Nationality | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pat Cox | 28 November 1952 | Eire | Attended the 2001 Bilderberg as Leader of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party Group and an MEP |
