Minister Thomas Byrne Visits TU Dublin as University Welcomes European Partners for EUt+ Week
.png)
This week, TU Dublin welcomed Thomas Byrne TD, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, to its Grangegorman campus as keynote speaker for EUt+ Week 2026, a gathering of leaders, students and researchers from the nine member universities of the European University of Technology alliance. At the start of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Minister’s visit came at a pivotal moment for Ireland and Europe, highlighting the important role that higher education plays in strengthening European cooperation, developing future skills and supporting innovation.
The highlight of the opening day was a keynote address by Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne TD, who spoke to delegates about the importance of European cooperation and the role of higher education in shaping Europe's future. His address was followed by a high-level panel discussion, Shaping Europe Through Higher Education and Future Skills, examining how universities can equip graduates with the skills, resilience and values needed in an increasingly digital, interconnected, and rapidly changing world.
Minister Thomas Byrne said:
“The EU has brought huge economic and educational opportunities for Irish people, with profoundly positive effects on our lives. As our EU Presidency begins this week, it’s clear that the role of our universities sector is vital for the EU to remain a global leader in new technologies, research and innovation.”
Opening the event, Dr Deirdre Lillis, President of TU Dublin, welcomed delegates from across the EUt+ Alliance, ambassadors, representatives of the diplomatic corps, higher education leaders and students from throughout the EUt+ alliance. Dr Lillis highlighted the close alignment between the ambitions of the European Universities Initiative and Ireland's Presidency priorities of competitiveness, values and security.
"EUt+ is demonstrating what the future of European higher education can look like. By working together across borders, we are creating new educational pathways, strengthening research excellence and giving students opportunities to learn, innovate and collaborate in ways that would not be possible within a single institution. Hosting EUt+ Week at TU Dublin as Ireland begins its Presidency of the Council of the European Union is particularly significant, and we were especially honoured to welcome Minister Thomas Byrne TD to our campus to address this gathering of European partners. His visit highlights the vital role universities play in building a more innovative, resilient and connected Europe."
EUt+ is one of the European Union's flagship European University Alliances, bringing together nine universities from France, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Romania, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Latvia and Italy to create a truly integrated European University of Technology. Together, the alliance is developing joint educational pathways, collaborative research programmes, enhanced mobility opportunities and new approaches to addressing Europe's technological, environmental and societal challenges.
Since joining EUt+, TU Dublin has secured almost €6.5 million in European investment through alliance capacity building and complementary education and research initiatives. This investment has supported a range of developments, including the emerging European Engineering Degree, collaborative doctoral networks, expanded student mobility, research partnerships and enhanced staff development opportunities.
The event also follows recent recognition of the EUt+ Alliance by the European Commission at a high-level meeting of European University Alliances in Brussels, where the alliance presented its vision for a European Degree in Engineering. The proposal was welcomed by Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu as an important contribution to Europe's future skills and competitiveness agenda.
Alongside strategic meetings throughout the week, TU Dublin is also hosting the EUt+ Entrepreneurship Showcase, where multidisciplinary student teams from across Europe will present innovative solutions to real-world challenges, demonstrating the entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit at the heart of the alliance.
Find out more about the European University of Technology alliance.