Atlantic Technological University (ATU), in partnership with Ulster University, North West Regional College, Donegal Education and Training Board, and the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation, have officially launched the North South ESTEEM Project – Education, Skills & Training: Empowering Economic Mobility. This landmark three-year project – supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) – is designed to remove long-standing barriers to cross-border student and employment skills mobility across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Despite geographical proximity and shared economic interests, cross-border student mobility remains low. In addition, challenges exist in employment mobility, where enterprises report cross-border recruitment difficulties with particular challenges in the healthcare, apprenticeships, and technology sectors.
At its heart, North South ESTEEM is about opportunity. It promises to give students clear, accessible information on cross-border study options and to tackle the systemic issues that have impeded cross-border mobility. For skilled workers, it will address accreditation gaps and propose reforms to licensing and regulation, making it easier to work across jurisdictions.
The North South ESTEEM project will directly tackle these issues by:
- Breaking down information silos
- Identifying and addressing regulatory and accreditation barriers
- Supporting learners, workers, employers, and educators
- Creating sustainable, evidence-based policy solutions
- Building a long-term research and innovation capacity for cross-border mobility
The project brings together a powerful consortium of education providers and policy influencers, supported by 12 associate partners who have the capacity to inform the research and assist in implementing the recommendations from the research.
This collaboration will ensure that the project’s outputs will be practical, scalable, and aligned with policy priorities on both sides of the border. The project will be significant in providing a pathway to a North South education and employment skills environment where cross-border education and skills mobility will be simpler, fairer, and rich with opportunity.
Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Jack Chambers TD said: “I am delighted that the North South Esteem project has been funded under the PEACEPLUS programme. North South Esteem brings together experienced project partners from across the island, sharing their expertise in research, education, and skills to support cross-border mobility.
“Through this strategic cross-border collaboration, North South Esteem will create opportunities that benefit students, workers, and employers, and promote economic growth in both jurisdictions.”
Minister of Finance John O’Dowd MLA said: “I am pleased to welcome the launch of the North South ESTEEM project. This initiative represents a strong example of collaboration between organisations across our Island to address the key issues of cross border student and employment skills mobility. I commend all partners involved for their commitment to delivering practical change that will deliver benefit to our citizens and economy.”
SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “Today’s event sees the launch of one of the nine projects that have received a total of €19 million in PEACEPLUS funding under the Strategic Planning and Engagement Programme. Together, all of these projects will strengthen cross-border cooperation in areas that matter deeply to citizens, including emergency planning, healthcare, the environment, community development, education and skills.
“The North South ESTEEM project is about enabling people to move more easily between education and employment systems on both sides of the border. It will provide clear, accessible information for students considering cross-border study options. It will examine the socio-economic barriers that prevent learners from taking up opportunities. This project truly reflects the values of cooperation, opportunity and shared progress that underpin the PEACEPLUS Programme.”
PEACEPLUS is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.
The North South ESTEEM project by combining research, pilot interventions, and policy development, will deliver lasting improvements to education and employment mobility across the island. It will support economic mobility across the island with increased education and skills mobility. The project outcomes will be of great benefit to those living closest to the border in the PEACEPLUS programme area which includes Northern Ireland and the six border counties in Ireland.
Photo caption: At the launch of the North South ESTEEM Project at ATU in Donegal: L-R Dr Brendan Jennings ATU Chief Officer Research, Innovation and Engagement, David Lynch Department of Finance Northern Ireland, Gina McIntyre SEUPB Chief Executive, Dr Orla Flynn ATU President, and Paul Hannigan VP with responsibility for Cross Border Activities at ATU.