Connecting West Virginia and Ireland through education, research, and shared cultural heritage

The Honors College at Marshall University is leading the effort to build a transatlantic partnership connecting West Virginia and Ireland through education, research, and cultural exchange. This began through a mission-aligned, strategic initiative and has since grown into a broader transatlantic framework linking students, faculty, and institutions across both regions. What began in 2023 through collaboration led by Dr. Brian A. Hoey, Dean of the Honors College, with Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) in Ireland has evolved into a sustained initiative supporting student mobility, academic collaboration, and interdisciplinary engagement between institutions on both sides of the Atlantic.

The initiative reflects Marshall University’s commitment to global engagement while also strengthening the historic and cultural ties between Ireland and Appalachia. It also emerges at a moment of significant change in Irish higher education, including the landmark cross‑border partnership between Dundalk Institute of Technology and Queen’s University Belfast, creating the first “all‑Ireland” higher education model of its kind. Through programs developed with partners in Ireland, students and faculty explore shared heritage, contemporary innovation, and the role that place plays in shaping culture, communities, and economies.

Origins of the Marshall–Ireland Partnership

The Marshall–Ireland partnership began in 2023 through exploratory collaboration between the Honors College at Marshall University and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) in Ireland. What started with a single Marshall Honors student completing coursework at DkIT quickly evolved into broader conversations about how the two institutions might build a sustainable academic connection linking Appalachia and Ireland. From the beginning, the initiative was conceived not simply as a study abroad program but as a wider framework for collaboration—one that could integrate student mobility, faculty engagement, and interdisciplinary learning while expanding access to international experience for students across West Virginia. The inclusion of BridgeValley Community and Technical College as a consortium partner reflects that commitment to accessibility and regional collaboration.

This collaboration was underway ahead of broader statewide conversations began about expanding West Virginia–Ireland educational partnerships. These early efforts laid the groundwork for what has since become a growing transatlantic initiative connecting institutions, students, and communities on both sides of the Atlantic.

Partnership Structure

The WV–Ireland initiative is built through sustained collaboration with partner institutions in Ireland. Marshall’s primary academic partner is Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), located between Dublin and Belfast along the dynamic Dublin–Belfast economic corridor.

• Marshall University Honors College together with on-campus partners such as Global Education provides academic leadership, program coordination, and interdisciplinary framing for the initiative.
• BridgeValley Community and Technical College (BVCTC) participates as a study abroad consortium partner, expanding access to international experience for students who might not otherwise have opportunities to study abroad.
• Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) serves as Marshall’s primary academic partner in Ireland and hosts the certificate program and study abroad experience.
• Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) Beginning in late 2026, DkIT will operate as a University College within the framework of Queen’s University Belfast, linking the partnership to one of the leading research universities on the island of Ireland.

Partnership Timeline

• 2023 — Initial Academic Collaboration: A Marshall Honors student completes coursework at Dundalk Institute of Technology while Dr. Hoey begins administrative and faculty discussions with DkIT to explore long‑term collaboration.
• 2024 — IDEAS Grant and Program Development: Marshall University receives support through the U.S. Department of State’s IDEAS (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students) Grant, helping expand the emerging partnership with Dundalk Institute of Technology and supporting development of the study abroad framework and consortium collaboration.
• 2025 — First Full Student Cohort of the Study Abroad Consortium: Students from Marshall University and BridgeValley Community and Technical College participate in the Ireland program.
• 2026 — Expansion through the QUB–DkIT Partnership: Dundalk Institute of Technology becomes a University College within Queen’s University Belfast, creating the first cross‑border “all‑Ireland” partnership of its kind and opening new possibilities for collaboration.

Study Abroad in Ireland

The first operational component of the WV–Ireland partnership is Marshall’s faculty‑led study abroad program in Ireland, which launched the initiative and continues to serve as its central student experience. Each year, students travel to Dundalk Institute of Technology to participate in the Certificate in Cultural Landscapes: Newgrange and the Boyne Valley, an intensive academic program exploring Ireland’s archaeological, historical, and cultural heritage. Students study the cultural landscapes of the Boyne Valley—one of Europe’s most important archaeological regions—while also reflecting on connections between Irish and Appalachian landscapes, identities, and communities.

The program is designed to be accessible to students across disciplines, including STEM, business, and the humanities, and intentionally includes students from both Marshall University and BridgeValley Community and Technical College.

Study Abroad Program Impact

Since its launch, the WV–Ireland partnership has begun to generate tangible academic and experiential outcomes for students in West Virginia.

• Student Cohorts: The program launched with a cohort of seventeen students in 2025, bringing together participants from Marshall University and BridgeValley Community and Technical College in a shared international learning experience. The program is designed to grow steadily in the coming years as the partnership expands.
• Accessible Study Abroad: The consortium model intentionally expands access to international education for students who might otherwise face barriers to studying abroad, including first‑generation, rural, and community college students.
• Interdisciplinary Participation: Students from a wide range of academic fields—including STEM disciplines, business, and the humanities—are able to participate because the program is designed to complement existing degree pathways.
• Academic Credential: While in Ireland, students complete the Certificate in Cultural Landscapes: Newgrange and the Boyne Valley at Dundalk Institute of Technology, earning internationally recognized academic credit while engaging directly with Ireland’s archaeological and cultural heritage landscapes.

Interdisciplinary Learning

A central goal of the WV–Ireland partnership is to demonstrate how international experience can enrich learning across academic disciplines. Students participating in Ireland programs explore topics such as:

• Cultural landscapes and heritage preservation
• Environmental sustainability and rural development
• Innovation and entrepreneurship in regional economies
• Archaeology, history, and identity
• Comparative perspectives on Appalachian and Irish communities

Through these experiences, students develop the ability to connect knowledge across fields and apply interdisciplinary perspectives to real‑world challenges.

Cultural Connections: Ireland and Appalachia

Why Ireland? Why Appalachia? Appalachia and Ireland share deep historical connections shaped by migration, landscape, and community traditions. By exploring these connections directly in Ireland, students gain a new perspective on their own region—seeing Appalachian culture not as isolated, but as part of a broader Atlantic world shaped by movement, exchange, and shared histories.

The partnership also reflects the deep historical and cultural connections between Ireland and Appalachia. Waves of migration from Ireland and Scotland to the Appalachian region shaped the music, storytelling traditions, language, and community life that remain central to Appalachian identity today.

By studying in Ireland, students gain new insight into these shared histories while also exploring how cultural traditions evolve across generations and landscapes. These connections allow students to see their own region in a global context and better understand how local identity is shaped through international histories of migration, exchange, and adaptation.

Building a West Virginia–Ireland Education Network

Marshall University’s WV–Ireland initiative also contributes to broader efforts to strengthen educational and economic collaboration between West Virginia and Ireland.

Through partnerships with institutions in Ireland and collaboration with organizations across West Virginia, the program seeks to expand opportunities for:

• Student exchange
• Faculty collaboration
• Joint research
• Workforce development
• Cultural and educational exchange

These efforts align with growing interest in strengthening connections between the two regions through education, innovation, and shared heritage.

Why This Partnership Matters for West Virginia

The WV–Ireland partnership is designed not only as an academic initiative but also as a strategic opportunity for West Virginia. By building sustained educational connections with institutions in Ireland, the program helps position Marshall University and its partners within a broader transatlantic network of research, innovation, and workforce development. Barely more than two generations ago, Ireland was one of the poorest and least educated countries in Europe. It has since been transformed and has emerged as one of Europe’s most dynamic centers for technology, entrepreneurship, and international investment. Connecting West Virginia students and institutions to this environment creates opportunities for experiential learning, professional development, and future collaboration.

At the same time, the partnership highlights the historic cultural connections between Ireland and Appalachia, allowing students to explore how regional identity, migration, and landscape shape communities on both sides of the Atlantic. In this way, the initiative supports both global engagement and a deeper understanding of West Virginia’s own cultural heritage.

Looking Ahead

The WV–Ireland partnership continues to grow as new collaborations emerge between Marshall University, institutions in Ireland, and partners across West Virginia. Future initiatives may include expanded study abroad opportunities, faculty research collaborations, interdisciplinary programs, and new pathways connecting students with Ireland’s rapidly developing innovation economy.

Through these efforts, the Honors College at Marshall University aims to serve as a bridge linking Appalachia and Ireland—two regions connected by history, culture, and a shared commitment to resilient communities and global engagement.

Press Releases

Marshall strengthens Ireland partnership, engages state delegates in Dublin

Marshall signs MOU with Dundalk Institute of Technology in Ireland

State Department IDEAS Program awards Marshall grant to build study abroad capacity