Partnership Timeline<\/h3>\n\n- 2023 \u2014 Initial Academic Collaboration<\/strong>
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 between the institutions.<\/li>\n- 2024 \u2014 IDEAS Grant and Program Development<\/strong>
Marshall University, through the Office of Global Education (Dr. Zeli Rivas as PI), receives support through the U.S. Department of State\u2019s IDEAS Grant<\/a> (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students). Working with Dr. Hoey, this grant helps expand the emerging partnership with Dundalk Institute of Technology and supporting development of the study-abroad framework and consortium collaboration.<\/li>\n- July 2024 \u2014 Marshall\u2013DkIT Memorandum of Understanding Signed<\/strong>
Marshall University and Dundalk Institute of Technology formalize their emerging partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding<\/a>. The agreement, signed at a ceremony in Dundalk by Dr. Hoey on behalf of Marshall University and Dr. Diarmuid O\u2019Callaghan, President of Dundalk Institute of Technology, establishes a framework for academic collaboration, student mobility, faculty exchange, and the development of joint educational initiatives.<\/li>\n- May 2025 \u2014 Engagement with Irish Parliament<\/strong>
During a visit to Ireland, together with colleagues from DkIT and BridgeValley, Dr. Hoey meets with members of the West Virginia-Ireland Trade Commission and Irish Parliament<\/a> (Oireachtas), including discussions in the Seanad \u00c9ireann, to explore opportunities to strengthen educational collaboration between Ireland and West Virginia and to highlight the emerging Marshall\u2013BridgeValley\u2013DkIT partnership.<\/li>\n- May 2025 \u2014 First Full Student Cohort of the Study Abroad Consortium<\/strong>
Students from Marshall University and BridgeValley Community & Technical College participate in the Ireland program, marking the first full cohort of the consortium-based study-abroad initiative developed with Dundalk Institute of Technology.<\/li>\n- October 2025 \u2014 Presentation to the West Virginia Legislature<\/strong>
Dr. Hoey presents the Marshall\u2013BridgeValley\u2013DkIT partnership to the West Virginia Legislature\u2019s Joint Committee on Education<\/a>, outlining the academic framework, student mobility model, and broader opportunities for West Virginia\u2013Ireland collaboration. The theme of Dr. Hoey’s presentation of “Bridging Heritage and Innovation<\/a>” has a significant impact on the committee. Hoey is joined by Jason Spencer from BVCTC; Patricia Moriarty, Head of School of Business & Humanities at DkIT; Annaleigh Margey, Head of the Department of Humanities at DkIT; and James G. Field, Associate Professor of Management at West Virginia University and member of the West Virginia\u2013Ireland Trade Commission. The presentation outlined the academic framework, student mobility model, and broader opportunities for West Virginia\u2013Ireland collaboration.<\/li>\n- March 2026 \u2014 WV\u2013Ireland Education Alliance Legislation<\/strong>
Following legislative discussions and continued engagement with policymakers, House Bill 4087<\/a> has created a West Virginia\u2013Ireland Education Alliance designed to expand academic partnerships, student exchange, and collaborative research between institutions in West Virginia and Ireland. The bill was led by Delegate Michael Hornby<\/a> and sponsored by Delegates Willis, Howell, and Linville. The bill was signed into law by West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey<\/a> on St. Patrick’s Day, 17 March 2026.<\/li>\n- 2026 \u2014 Expansion through the QUB\u2013DkIT Partnership<\/strong>
Dundalk Institute of Technology becomes a University College within Queen\u2019s University Belfast, creating the first cross-border \u201call-Ireland\u201d higher-education partnership of its kind and opening new possibilities for academic collaboration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nLegislative and Parliamentary Engagement<\/h3>\n
The Marshall\u2013BridgeValley partnership with Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) has developed through a series of academic, governmental, and institutional engagements connecting West Virginia and Ireland.<\/p>\n
In May 2025, Dr. Hoey was invited to participate in meetings with the West Virginia-Ireland Trade Commission at the Irish Parliament (Oireachtas) in Dublin, including discussions with members of the Seanad \u00c9ireann on opportunities to strengthen educational and research connections between Ireland and Appalachia. These conversations highlighted the emerging collaboration between Marshall University, BridgeValley Community & Technical College, and Dundalk Institute of Technology and explored the broader potential for transatlantic partnerships linking education, workforce development, and shared cultural heritage.<\/p>\n![\"Dr.](\"http:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/honors\/files\/Hoey_WV-Joint-Commission-on-Education_2025_WP7_2719-3_edited-scaled-e1773075943938-1000x673.jpg\")
Dr. Hoey presenting to the WV Legislature Joint Commission on Education.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nLater that year, in October 2025, Dr. Hoey was invited to present before the West Virginia Legislature\u2019s Joint Committee on Education. His presentation outlined the development of the Marshall\u2013BridgeValley\u2013DkIT collaboration beginning in 2023 and described how the partnership integrates place-based learning, student mobility, faculty collaboration, and applied research. Particular attention was given to the Certificate in Cultural Landscapes: Newgrange and the Boyne Valley program and the potential for expanded educational collaboration between institutions in West Virginia and Ireland. The subject of Hoey’s presentation on the opportunity to bridge both respect of heritage and the imperative of innovation (on both sides of the Atlantic) was particularly well-received. Read the presentation here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\nFollowing the presentation and subsequent discussions with legislators and higher education leaders, interest grew in establishing a statewide framework to support and expand these types of collaborations. This effort led to the introduction of House Bill 4087 (2026), proposing the creation of a West Virginia\u2013Ireland Education Allianc<\/strong>e designed to support academic partnerships, student exchange, and collaborative research initiatives between institutions in West Virginia and Ireland.<\/p>\nThe proposed alliance reflects and builds upon the model demonstrated through the Marshall\u2013BridgeValley\u2013DkIT partnership, recognizing the value of sustained institutional relationships, experiential learning opportunities for students, and the shared cultural and economic ties linking Appalachia and Ireland.<\/p>\n
Ireland Study Abroad: Cultural Landscapes Program at Dundalk Institute of Technology<\/h3>\n
The first operational component of the WV\u2013Ireland partnership is Marshall\u2019s faculty\u2011led 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<\/a>, an intensive academic program exploring Ireland\u2019s archaeological, historical, and cultural heritage. Students study the cultural landscapes<\/a> of the Boyne Valley\u2014one of Europe\u2019s most important archaeological regions\u2014while also reflecting on connections between Irish and Appalachian landscapes, identities, and communities.<\/p>\nThe 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.<\/p>\n
Study Abroad Program Impact<\/h4>\n
Since its launch, the WV\u2013Ireland partnership has begun to generate tangible academic and experiential outcomes for students in West Virginia.<\/p>\n
\n- Student Cohorts:<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\n
- Accessible Study Abroad:<\/strong> The consortium model intentionally expands access to international education for students who might otherwise face barriers to studying abroad, including first\u2011generation, rural, and community college students.<\/li>\n
- Interdisciplinary Participation:<\/strong> Students from a wide range of academic fields\u2014including STEM disciplines, business, and the humanities\u2014are able to participate because the program is designed to complement existing degree pathways.<\/li>\n
- Academic Credential:<\/strong> 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\u2019s archaeological and cultural heritage landscapes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Shared Cultural Heritage: Ireland and Appalachia<\/h3>\n
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 between the institutions.<\/li>\n
Marshall University, through the Office of Global Education (Dr. Zeli Rivas as PI), receives support through the U.S. Department of State\u2019s IDEAS Grant<\/a> (Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students). Working with Dr. Hoey, this grant helps expand the emerging partnership with Dundalk Institute of Technology and supporting development of the study-abroad framework and consortium collaboration.<\/li>\n
Marshall University and Dundalk Institute of Technology formalize their emerging partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding<\/a>. The agreement, signed at a ceremony in Dundalk by Dr. Hoey on behalf of Marshall University and Dr. Diarmuid O\u2019Callaghan, President of Dundalk Institute of Technology, establishes a framework for academic collaboration, student mobility, faculty exchange, and the development of joint educational initiatives.<\/li>\n
During a visit to Ireland, together with colleagues from DkIT and BridgeValley, Dr. Hoey meets with members of the West Virginia-Ireland Trade Commission and Irish Parliament<\/a> (Oireachtas), including discussions in the Seanad \u00c9ireann, to explore opportunities to strengthen educational collaboration between Ireland and West Virginia and to highlight the emerging Marshall\u2013BridgeValley\u2013DkIT partnership.<\/li>\n
Students from Marshall University and BridgeValley Community & Technical College participate in the Ireland program, marking the first full cohort of the consortium-based study-abroad initiative developed with Dundalk Institute of Technology.<\/li>\n
Dr. Hoey presents the Marshall\u2013BridgeValley\u2013DkIT partnership to the West Virginia Legislature\u2019s Joint Committee on Education<\/a>, outlining the academic framework, student mobility model, and broader opportunities for West Virginia\u2013Ireland collaboration. The theme of Dr. Hoey’s presentation of “Bridging Heritage and Innovation<\/a>” has a significant impact on the committee. Hoey is joined by Jason Spencer from BVCTC; Patricia Moriarty, Head of School of Business & Humanities at DkIT; Annaleigh Margey, Head of the Department of Humanities at DkIT; and James G. Field, Associate Professor of Management at West Virginia University and member of the West Virginia\u2013Ireland Trade Commission. The presentation outlined the academic framework, student mobility model, and broader opportunities for West Virginia\u2013Ireland collaboration.<\/li>\n
Following legislative discussions and continued engagement with policymakers, House Bill 4087<\/a> has created a West Virginia\u2013Ireland Education Alliance designed to expand academic partnerships, student exchange, and collaborative research between institutions in West Virginia and Ireland. The bill was led by Delegate Michael Hornby<\/a> and sponsored by Delegates Willis, Howell, and Linville. The bill was signed into law by West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey<\/a> on St. Patrick’s Day, 17 March 2026.<\/li>\n
Dundalk Institute of Technology becomes a University College within Queen\u2019s University Belfast, creating the first cross-border \u201call-Ireland\u201d higher-education partnership of its kind and opening new possibilities for academic collaboration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Legislative and Parliamentary Engagement<\/h3>\n
The Marshall\u2013BridgeValley partnership with Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) has developed through a series of academic, governmental, and institutional engagements connecting West Virginia and Ireland.<\/p>\n
In May 2025, Dr. Hoey was invited to participate in meetings with the West Virginia-Ireland Trade Commission at the Irish Parliament (Oireachtas) in Dublin, including discussions with members of the Seanad \u00c9ireann on opportunities to strengthen educational and research connections between Ireland and Appalachia. These conversations highlighted the emerging collaboration between Marshall University, BridgeValley Community & Technical College, and Dundalk Institute of Technology and explored the broader potential for transatlantic partnerships linking education, workforce development, and shared cultural heritage.<\/p>\n Later that year, in October 2025, Dr. Hoey was invited to present before the West Virginia Legislature\u2019s Joint Committee on Education. His presentation outlined the development of the Marshall\u2013BridgeValley\u2013DkIT collaboration beginning in 2023 and described how the partnership integrates place-based learning, student mobility, faculty collaboration, and applied research. Particular attention was given to the Certificate in Cultural Landscapes: Newgrange and the Boyne Valley program and the potential for expanded educational collaboration between institutions in West Virginia and Ireland. The subject of Hoey’s presentation on the opportunity to bridge both respect of heritage and the imperative of innovation (on both sides of the Atlantic) was particularly well-received. Read the presentation here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Following the presentation and subsequent discussions with legislators and higher education leaders, interest grew in establishing a statewide framework to support and expand these types of collaborations. This effort led to the introduction of House Bill 4087 (2026), proposing the creation of a West Virginia\u2013Ireland Education Allianc<\/strong>e designed to support academic partnerships, student exchange, and collaborative research initiatives between institutions in West Virginia and Ireland.<\/p>\n The proposed alliance reflects and builds upon the model demonstrated through the Marshall\u2013BridgeValley\u2013DkIT partnership, recognizing the value of sustained institutional relationships, experiential learning opportunities for students, and the shared cultural and economic ties linking Appalachia and Ireland.<\/p>\n The first operational component of the WV\u2013Ireland partnership is Marshall\u2019s faculty\u2011led 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<\/a>, an intensive academic program exploring Ireland\u2019s archaeological, historical, and cultural heritage. Students study the cultural landscapes<\/a> of the Boyne Valley\u2014one of Europe\u2019s most important archaeological regions\u2014while also reflecting on connections between Irish and Appalachian landscapes, identities, and communities.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Since its launch, the WV\u2013Ireland partnership has begun to generate tangible academic and experiential outcomes for students in West Virginia.<\/p>\nIreland Study Abroad: Cultural Landscapes Program at Dundalk Institute of Technology<\/h3>\n
Study Abroad Program Impact<\/h4>\n
\n
Shared Cultural Heritage: Ireland and Appalachia<\/h3>\n