Colleges and universities in Pittsburgh will cooperate with schools in Ireland on education, innovation, research and training. The 10 members of the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education(PCHE) will work with the 13 members of Ireland's Institutes of Technology which according to PCHE executive director Kenneth Service have a reputation for supporting business development.
Service says the partnership will initially be student exchange between Ireland and Pittsburgh, but then will expand into other ventures.
“Down the road we envision potential faculty exchanges, joint research projects, and perhaps maybe some corporate involvement.”
Service says the Pittsburgh and Irish schools are alike.
“One of the areas that’s most complementary is the fact that those schools, like many of the schools here in Pittsburgh are looking to help the economy by commercializing the research activities in their laboratories and either creating spin-off companies or licensing some of the technology to help improve the economy.”
The 10 Pittsburgh schools are Carlow University, Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University, La Roche College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Point Park University, Robert Morris University and the University of Pittsburgh.
Service says the student exchanges could begin next year.
