Mary Immaculate College in Limerick and the Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut signed an agreement to exchange students each semester for study abroad programmes, and have agreed to explore the opportunity for faculty and staff exchanges in the future.
In a statement issued by Mary Immaculate College (MIC), they said, “Sacred Heart University is the second largest Catholic University in New England. It provides its students with a comprehensive, hands-on education rooted in the liberal arts and Catholic intellectual tradition. Indeed its ethos is very much in common with that of Mary Immaculate College, in terms of encouraging great thinking, innovative proposals, a supportive community and a strong belief in diversity, including religious diversity across its campus. Areas of special interest for both institutions are theology, religious studies and education.”
It added, “It is expected that the opportunity to study at Sacred Heart University will be particularly appealing to MIC's Bachelor of Arts students when deciding where to go on their off-campus placements. The off-campus placement programme, which takes place in third years of the BA in Liberal arts at Mart Immaculate College, enables students to expand their knowledge and skills through study abroad and/or work placements. Students undertake either one yearlong placement or two placements of a semester's duration.”
Speaking about the new partnership between the two Catholic universities, the President of Mary Immaculate Fr Michael Hayes said, “I am delighted to be signing a Memorandum of Agreement with Sacred Heart University. This will provide yet another wonderful opportunity for both our students and staff to have International experiences. This agreement is part of our growing international development and also provides Mary Immaculate College with an additional platform for International collaboration on research projects in the areas of education and the liberal arts.”
Commenting on the visit to Mary Immaculate College Dean of Arts and Sciences at Sacred Heart University Dr Seamus Carey said, “As Dean of the Colleges Arts and Sciences, I think there is great promise for building a relationship between our two institutions.”