LIT - Development Office: External Services

External Services Office

The External Services Office is located with in the Development Office and covers a wide range of functions within the institute.

Industry Interaction

The LIT mission statement states that “We provide third and fourth level education, training and research, playing a pivotal role in the economic and socio-cultural development of our region.”

One of the functions of External Services is to act as the interface between the institute and business, industry, and public sector employers.

The specific objectives of the LIT strategic plan for this are

2.5 LIT will develop an ethos of participation, consultation and ownership of our mission by all regional external stakeholders through appropriate representation necessary for the dissemination and implementation of our mission.

2.8 We will further develop our existing relationships with the regional economic partners by participating actively in platforms and networks in a manner which is beneficial to the Institute and to the Mid-West region.

5.2 We will offer key and integrated support in Research and Development leading to business creation, growth, technological development and innovation in the Mid-West region.

The External Services office uses the following initiatives to meet the institute objectives.

Technology Transfer

LIT is active in a number of initiatives with Enterprise Ireland and The Irish Development Agency to work with local companies to identify and exploit potential Intellectual Property.

This works in a number of ways. The institute has a policy to license Intellectual Property to local companies so that it can be exploited for the benefit of the region and Ireland. The institute also works with companies who come to it with initial ideas which they want to work with LIT to develop further. The institute is able to secure funds from Enterprise Irelands funds such as Innovation Partnerships and Commercialisation. This can be at the level of a feasibility Study of approx €9000 up to full Innovation Partnerships of typically €200,000.

The institute is also involved in the new Enterprise Ireland Innovation Vouchers scheme. This scheme gives €5000 Innovation Vouchers to Small to Medium companies that are normally not clients of Enterprise Ireland.

Consultancy

LIT is able to provide a range of Technical and Commercial assistance and consultancy to individual enterprises, commercial organisations and to a wide range of regional bodies and groups.

Areas of expertise that have been provided include:-

New Market Identification
CE Mark
Product Design Analysis – Electronic, Mechanical
Computer System Analysis

LIT has carried out Research for companies that have secured funding from Enterprise Ireland under the Regional Technology Initiative.

Training Courses

LIT is able to provide courses in a wide range of disciplines delivered in LIT and at company premises. Examples include:-

EDCL
Sage Quickpay
Programmable Logic Controllers
Arc, Gas, and MIG Welding
Languages – French, German, Russian, Mandarin Chinese
Cisco Courses
Quality Management
Occupational Health and Safety

Facilities

LIT’s facilities are available to rent. These include:-

Conference Facilities for up to 550 delegates
Room Rental – Meeting rooms, Lecture Theatres,
Equipment Rental – Computer rooms, Laboratory Equipment

International Office

The international office is part of the External Services function. The main areas of development with thus office are related to the EU Lifelong Learning Program.

In an increasingly global market environment and workplace, Limerick Institute of Technology is very aware of the need to provide opportunities for study and work experience overseas. LIT actively engages in the European Student Mobility programmes across 31 countries.

Since 2002 LIT has been recognised by the European Union as a University Institute.

Erasmus Student Mobility - Study Exchange

This programme gives LIT students the opportunity to study abroad for a period of 3 – 12 months at a higher education institute in another participating country. The time spent in the other country is recognised under the European Credit Transfer System and the student gets full credit for the studies they undertake abroad in their LIT qualification.
Application for these placements is open to LIT students undertaking programmes of study which have prior agreement with programmes in foreign colleges. Funding is dedicated to mobility costs, travel, and a basic subsistence allowance and varies according to the students needs

Erasmus Student Placements – Work

This Programme aims to improve the quality of education by financially supporting a range of transnational partnerships. Erasmus Student Placements are essentially a work experience placement enabling those involved to develop vocational skills and competencies through periods of work based training abroad. These placements provide access to different work practices and new technologies as well as the opportunities to enhance linguistic capabilities, key skills and cultural awareness.

Application for Erasmus student placements are open to LIT Students undertaking Ab-Inito Degree programmes of study with a compulsory work placement in year three. Placements typically range from 3 to 12 months. Funding is dedicated to mobility costs, travel, insurance, and a basic subsistence allowance and varies according to the students needs.

LIT also participates and encourages exchanges under a variety of other International exchange programmes such as IASTE (the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) and Government Embassy Scholarships.

Marketing and Public Relations

The Institute has an integrated marketing and Communications Strategy with Marketing and Public relations within the remit of the External Services office.

Marketing

The Institute has a Marketing Plan that is agreed at Senior Management Meeting to outline the Activities and Deadlines that occur throughout the year.

The Institute produces a range of marketing materials ranging form the Course Handbook to individual course Leaflets and Flyers. These documents must comply with government and EU legislation with regard to languages and display EU and NDP logos.

Similarly all Adverts for staff and courses must comply. The institute has a Design company, an advertising company, and a photographer that it uses for these materials, but all must come through the External Services Office to ensure compliance. The institute has an Identity Manual which outlines the ways in which the LIT Corporate Logo is to be used in our marketing materials

Public Relations

It is vitally important that the Institute is represented in the media in as positive as manner as is possible. All press releases have to be issued through External Services so that the media have one point of contact.

If you feel that you have an event or a story of interest contact the Externals Services to discuss it further.

LIT uses a monitoring a media service to identify what stories are appearing in the press about it.