Professor Hegarty Marks 30 Years of Engagement with China
Professor Diarmuid Hegarty, President of Griffith College, is in Beijing this week as part of the Irish Higher Education delegation attending a series of high-level engagement events with Chinese partners.
Professor Hegarty was photographed yesterday (pictured below) alongside Kevin Geoghegan, Director of Griffith College’s Global Engagement Office, during meetings with President Yang Weikun and Director of the International Office Huijuan Zhao at Hebei Finance University. The visit forms part of ongoing efforts to deepen academic collaboration and student mobility between Ireland and China.
Today, the delegation was joined by Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the Sino-Irish Transnational Education Showcase, highlighting Ireland’s commitment to international education partnerships.
The visit marks a significant milestone, commemorating 30 years since Griffith College began developing links with Chinese institutions to support Chinese students pursuing third-level education in Ireland.
As part of his longstanding engagement with China, Professor Hegarty was awarded an honorary professorship by the Beijing Information Science & Technology University (BISTU), recognising his contribution to building educational ties between Ireland and China. The honorary title, conferred in 2012, reflects deep academic collaboration and the enduring relationship Griffith College has cultivated with Chinese higher education partners over many years - a story covered by SiliconRepublic.com in 2012: Read more: Irish academic awarded honorary professorship in China
During his visit, Taoiseach Micheál Martin is also expected to hold in-depth discussions on trade and economic cooperation with Li Qiang, as Ireland works to strengthen strategic ties with the world’s second-largest economy amid evolving China–European Union relations.
Reflecting on three decades of engagement, Professor Hegarty noted: “Griffith College is proud of its long-standing association with Chinese universities and of our contribution to China’s national training and development objectives.”
Over the past 30 years, Professor Hegarty and Griffith College have played a significant role in building sustainable educational partnerships across China, reinforcing Ireland’s reputation as a welcoming destination for international students and a trusted partner in global higher education.