NUI GALWAY has unveiled a development strategy for the next five years that features a €130 million construction plan.
The college also aims to increase numbers of mature, international and PhD students and to nurture more “spin out” companies as part of the strategy for 2009 to 2014, which was published by university president Dr James J Browne yesterday.
“We are the biggest employer in Galway city, a fast-growing and dynamic university and increasingly recognised internationally for our research and scholarship,” Dr Browne said.
“Our strategic plan enshrines not only our commitment to supporting the social, economic, industrial and cultural development of the region, but our national role in supporting economic recovery.
“It also cements our research ambitions which will bring further international recognition in our priority areas of expertise,” he added.
Five new buildings will be constructed as part of the €130 million construction segment, with more than one-third of funds coming from philanthropic sources identified by the Galway University Foundation.
These include the €43 million engineering block, which is under construction, three research buildings and one human biology building, all of which should be completed by 2012.
Dr Browne said the new infrastructure requirements on campus stemmed from the rapid growth of research activity, in areas such as biomedical science which supports the west’s industry cluster in medical devices.
The university’s strategy has set a target of 200 PhD graduates a year by 2014. It forecasts that “non-traditional” students will account for 7.5 per cent of the total student population, international students 15 per cent and mature students 27 per cent. Currently, it has more than 17,000 students on its books and a research income of more than €50 million annually.
The university aims to “lead the smart economy” in the west, and to become a “centre for innovation and enterprise”. It hopes to encourage five “spin out” companies annually.