Global Activity 2026

January 2026

Our Winter International School welcomed 21 3rd and 4th year General Nursing students from the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania. The two‑week programme delivered a mix of clinical observation, academic engagement, and cultural experiences, culminating in a lively student debate. Enthusiasm for the 2027 programme is already strong. Special thanks to Prof Barbara Buxton, who will retire next year after more than a decade of commitment to our international partnership.

Our Director of Global Engagement met with a senior delegation from Kyung Hee University, South Korea, to advance research collaboration and international exchange. Discussions with Professor Jong‑Bok Kim, Provost for External Affairs, and Ms Sophia Laurie Kim focused on developing joint research initiatives and expanding student and staff mobility between both institutions.

February

Our Director of Global Engagement visited the University of Queensland and the University of Sydney to accelerate international relationships and collaboration with academic and clinical partners. At the University of Queensland, there was engagement with Professor Peter Lewis, academic and clinical staff, and  2nd year students to strengthen partnerships and share best practice. 

At the University of Sydney, discussions with Professor Jacqueline Bloomfield, academic leaders, Department of Health staff, clinical partners, and students focused on deepening collaboration, expanding partnership opportunities, and advancing joint audit and knowledge‑exchange initiatives. 

From Rossie to Aussie – with Jackie at just the right moment. Our alumnus Fergal Guinan arrived in Sydney in February 2026, completing an extraordinary 30,000km cycling journey across 28 countries and three continents. Setting off from his native Arigna, Fergal’s two‑year challenge has raised over €200,000 for the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation and North West STOP. Such an inspiration and story of endurance, resilience and purpose.

We were delighted to welcome General Nursing students from the University of Malta and Turku University, who have joined us through the Erasmus programme, strengthening international collaboration during their clinical placements in our partner hospitals from February to April.

March

Strengthening global partnerships. 🌍 Midwifery and General Nursing students from the University of Malta and Lund University arrived to begin their Erasmus mobility placements, fostering international collaboration across our partner hospitals from March to May.

Sincere thank you to Audrey Byrne, Trinity Global, for her invaluable support to our Course Coordinators in progressing Postgraduate Master’s applications.  

April

Professor Sinéad Ryan, Dean of Research, officially launched the inaugural School of Nursing and Midwifery Global Research Impact Report, marking a celebratory milestone for the school. The launch recognised the collective achievements of our research community and showcased the School’s outstanding contribution to advancing health outcomes, shaping policy, and supporting sustainable development on a global stage.

We were delighted to welcome Professor Sheree Smith from Adelaide University to the School to discuss potential research collaborations between our two institutions. Professor Smith is an internationally recognised researcher in respiratory care and leads a program of acute care and primary health services research.

May

Students from The University of Hong Kong and the University of Pittsburgh joined us in May for our annual Summer International School experience in order to learn about nursing, midwifery, healthcare and research in Ireland.

Students from the University of Pennsylvania also joined us as part of the Penn GRIP programme, and they will be completing an 8 week internship with the research teams of Prof Eilish Burke, Dr Martin McMahon and Philip Hardie.