Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin of Athlone Institute of Technology gives the speech at the Asia Ireland Higher Education and Global Talent Forum in Dublin, 9 July as part of Asia Business Week Ireland 2015

1. Prof Ciarán Ó Catháin
President
Athlone Institute of Technology, Ireland

2. Trust as a first principal
‘Guanxi’

3. 90% of Chinese people conduct research online
before buying

4. Food and drink exports to Asia
increased by 45% last year to
reach €850 million
That is close to the total value of
international traded education
services for Ireland

5. Ireland – land of quality food and drink, Riverdance and U2 in Asia
Whither higher education?

6. World Class
Universities

8. The Rankings WarThe Ranking War

9. MOU signed with DUFE during Presidential Trade Mission to
China 2003

10. East China Institute of Technology
400 students enrolled on joint AIT-ECIT
degrees in software & mechanical
engineering
Chinese students undertake first 3 years
of joint degrees, approved by MoE, in
their home university
Option of transferring to Athlone to
complete the final year

11. Ingredients for
success • Harmony with official MoE
policy
• Internationalised curricula
• global perspectives
• intercultural communication
• socially responsible
citizenship
• Long-term relationships at
multiple levels
• Alumni Network

12. Overcoming scale
differences

13. Connectedness to industry
• Quadrangular relationship
• Chinese partner
University: Southeast
University
• AIT
• Ericsson Athlone
• Ericsson China

14. Diplomacy of knowledge
‘Innovation is about crossing
borders because it requires us
to enlarge our imaginations
and push the boundaries of
what is currently thought
possible.’
– David Johnston, governor
general of Canada

15. More than a number – a person