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Dundalk Institute of Technology is set to become a University College of Queen's University Belfast under a major new partnership announced yesterday 19 November, that will see students graduating with Queen's degrees from September 2026.
Welcoming the move Newry and Armagh MP Daire Hughes said: “This is a hugely significant step for education, regional development and young people on this island, particularly those in Newry and Armagh, given their proximity to DKIT."
“The new university will be a social and economic driver. It will boost local educational attainment and help to retain talent on the island, whilst attracting new students to this region and boosting investment. It will open up better degree pathways for students in border communities like ours, ensuring they can access the best opportunities on their doorstep."
The Governing Body of DkIT and the Senate of Queen's have formally approved the strategic partnership, which aims to catalyse economic and social development within the Dublin-Belfast corridor whilst enhancing higher education, research and innovation provision for the region. A formal agreement is anticipated to be signed in December 2025, with the new University College fully operational for the start of the 2026 academic year.
Under the partnership, DkIT will be embedded within Queen's academic and quality assurance frameworks, ensuring students in Dundalk receive the same standard of education and award as those studying in Belfast. The institute will retain its financial, staffing and governance autonomy, consistent with the collegiate model through which St Mary's University College and Stranmillis University College operate in partnership with Queen's, and will continue to play a vital role as part of the technological sector in Ireland, including the delivery of essential educational provisions such as apprenticeships.
Dr Diarmuid O'Callaghan, President of Dundalk Institute of Technology, commented: "We are delighted to collaborate with our counterparts at Queen's to establish Dundalk Institute of Technology as a University College of Queen's University Belfast. The Vision of our Strategic Plan at DkIT is to be a sustainable, accessible and impactful University Campus. This collegiate partnership with Queen's will serve to help that vision become a reality. Our students are at the centre of our strategy, and we are committed to delivering on our promise that they graduate with a university award. This partnership presents the real opportunity for our students graduating with a Queen's University award."
The collaboration will expand high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate provision in the north-east region and integrate DkIT's academic programmes within Queen's academic framework, with shared quality assurance and programme approval. Plans include working to establish a Joint Research and Innovation Centre on the Dundalk campus, with yet to be agreed lead projects in areas such as health and life sciences, energy and sustainability.
The partnership will create new opportunities for student mobility, skills development and shared learning across the island, support enhanced research collaboration, industry partnerships and access to new funding opportunities, and contribute to the competitiveness and strategic development of the Dublin–Belfast Corridor.
Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast, said: "This is a hugely significant and exciting development for both institutions. Queen's and Dundalk Institute of Technology share a strong commitment to widening access, enhancing research, and supporting regional growth. Dundalk University College will allow us to deliver high-quality education to more people and strengthen our shared ambition for the wider region. We look forward to signing the Heads of Agreement in December and to welcoming the first cohort of students in 2026."
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA welcomed the partnership "By investing in shared knowledge and talent, both institutions are shaping a future where excellence thrives through co-operation." she said
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD added: "This proposal builds on the strong tradition of North–South collaboration fostered through the Shared Island initiative. As the first all-island initiative of its kind, the proposed partnership reflects the pivotal role higher education has in driving collaboration in research, innovation, teaching and learning, delivering benefits for students, educators and wider society."
The historic partnership marks a significant milestone for higher education on the island, with the combined strengths of both institutions set to enhance educational opportunities and research and innovation in communities from Dundalk to Belfast and far beyond.
