A major new cross-border partnership has been announced between Queen's University Belfast (Queen's) and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) that will establish DkIT as a University College of Queen's.

The collaboration aims to catalyse economic and social development across the Dublin–Belfast corridor by enhancing higher education, research, and innovation provision in the region.

The governing bodies of both institutions have formally approved the strategic partnership. A formal agreement is anticipated to be signed in December 2025, with the goal of having the new University College fully operational for the start of the 2026 academic year. Students enrolling from September 2026 will graduate with a Queen's degree or postgraduate qualification.

Under the partnership, DkIT will be embedded within Queen's academic and quality assurance frameworks, ensuring students in Dundalk receive the same standard of education and award as those studying in Belfast. Crucially, the Institute will retain its financial, staffing, and governance autonomy, consistent with the collegiate model Queen's already uses with St Mary's and Stranmillis University Colleges. DkIT will also continue to deliver essential educational provisions, such as apprenticeships. Key objectives of the collaboration include:

• Expanding high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate provision in the North-East region of Ireland.

• Establishing a Joint Research and Innovation Centre on the Dundalk campus, with initial projects focusing on areas like health and life sciences, energy, and sustainability.

• Creating new opportunities for student mobility and shared learning across the island.

Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast, described the development as "hugely significant and exciting," stating it will allow Queen's to deliver high-quality education to more people and strengthen the shared ambition for the wider region.

The partnership was warmly welcomed by Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA, who called it a "major step in north–south collaboration". Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, also praised the move as a "landmark initiative" that builds on the strong tradition of North–South collaboration fostered through the Shared Island initiative.

Dr Diarmuid O'Callaghan, President of DkIT, noted that the partnership will help realise the Institute's vision to be a sustainable, accessible, and impactful University Campus, delivering on the promise for students to graduate with a university award.