UL appoints new interim Vice President Global and Community Engagement

Acting University of Limerick President Professor Shane Kilcommins has announced the appointment of a new interim Vice President Global and Community Engagement.

Professor Kilcommins confirmed that, following an internal recruitment process, Professor Colin Fitzpatrick has been appointed to the position, replacing Professor Nigel Healey, who has retired from the post.

Professor Kilcommins said: “With over two decades of academic leadership and a distinguished career at UL, Professor Fitzpatrick brings extensive expertise in fostering global connections and enhancing community partnerships. 

“I want to congratulate Colin on his appointment and look forward to working with him on Executive Committee and wish him well as he takes up the new role,” added Professor Kilcommins.

Professor Fitzpatrick said: “As interim Vice President, I will be leading the development of a comprehensive global engagement strategy, focusing on building strategic international partnerships, enhancing UL’s teaching and research and excellence, and deepening our ties with local and regional communities. 

“The vision includes fostering inclusive and sustainable educational opportunities that align with UL’s mission and values. I am very much looking forward to working with colleagues in the institution and our partners both locally and around the world to broaden the institution’s horizons on a global scale,” Professor Fitzpatrick added.

Professor Fitzpatrick holds a PhD in Electronic Engineering from UL, where his research focused on optical fibre sensors for environmental applications. He has been a member of the Faculty of Science and Engineering since 2001 and has also gained invaluable international experience during his time as a Visiting Research Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration in Berlin. 

Over the years, he has taken on various leadership roles, including Head of the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering and he is recognised for his leadership during the establishment of the Limerick International College at Henan Polytechnic University in China. 

Other contributions to international education during his term as Head of Department include leading the development of joint-degree programs with international institutions and introducing taught master’s degrees with strong international appeal. 

As an experienced coordinator of several EU-funded international consortia, Professor Fitzpatrick will serve as lead for the UL coordinated EMERGE European University Alliance, bringing together nine universities from across Europe with the common goal to help build a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous society for peripheral regions.

Professor Fitzpatrick’s commitment to community engagement and sustainability is also noteworthy. As Chair of the UL Environmental Committee, he spearheaded initiatives such as the UL Farmers Market, the community roof garden, and the nationally acclaimed E-Mining@School project, which integrates sustainability education into secondary schools. 

A prolific researcher, Professor Fitzpatrick has published extensively in top-tier journals, with his work cited in widely in policy documents internationally. He has managed over €5.5 million in research funding and served as Editor of the leading environmental engineering journal, Resources, Conservation and Recycling. His efforts in advancing the circular economy and sustainability have earned him international recognition.