Edward M. Walsh
Encyclopedia
Edward M. Walsh (born 1939) is the Founding President of the University of Limerick
, the first new university established by the Republic of Ireland
. He held that post from its inception as the National Institute for Higher Education
, Limerick
,when he was appointed as Chairman of the Planning Board and Director in 1970, through its transformation to a university in 1989 until his retirement in 1998. He retains the title of Founding President.
He is a native of Cork
.
and holds Masters and Doctorate qualifications in nuclear and electrical engineering from Iowa State University
where he was an Associate of the US Atomic Energy Commission Laboratory in Ames, Iowa
.
and the European Investment Bank
and developing a new university that contributed much to Ireland. Walsh mounted an international fundraising campaign that secured the support of major philanthropists such as Chuck Feeney
and Lewis Glucksman
and permitted the University of Limerick
to expand significantly at a time when government capital grants were being handed out scarcely. The University introduced to Ireland many of the academic and administrative systems used in leading US universities such as continusous assessment, the weighted Grade Point Average and cooperative education
. At the outset it introduced Ireland's first degree in European Studies and fostered international placement of students through European Union
schemes such as the ERASMUS programme
.
. He serves on the boards of a number of organisations
Walsh is a Freeman of the City of Limerick, a Member of the New York Academy of Science and the Royal Irish Academy
, a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and an honorary member of the Royal Hibernian Academy
. He holds honorary doctorates from five universities.
Walsh is a chartered engineer and registered silversmith.
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
, the first new university established by the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. He held that post from its inception as the National Institute for Higher Education
National Institute for Higher Education
A National Institute for Higher Education was a category of higher education institution established in the Republic of Ireland to provide higher level technical education above the standard of the then established Regional Technical College system but at university level...
, Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
,when he was appointed as Chairman of the Planning Board and Director in 1970, through its transformation to a university in 1989 until his retirement in 1998. He retains the title of Founding President.
He is a native of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
.
Education
Walsh is a graduate of the National University of IrelandNational University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
and holds Masters and Doctorate qualifications in nuclear and electrical engineering from Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
where he was an Associate of the US Atomic Energy Commission Laboratory in Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
.
Tenure as President
Walsh is credited with securing funding from the World BankWorld Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
and the European Investment Bank
European Investment Bank
The European Investment Bank is the European Union's long-term lending institution established in 1958 under the Treaty of Rome. A policy-driven bank, the EIB supports the EU’s priority objectives, especially European integration and the development of economically weak regions...
and developing a new university that contributed much to Ireland. Walsh mounted an international fundraising campaign that secured the support of major philanthropists such as Chuck Feeney
Chuck Feeney
Charles F. Feeney , is an Irish American businessman and philanthropist and founder of The Atlantic Philanthropies, one of the largest private foundations in the world. He made his fortune as a co-founder with Robert Warren Miller of the Duty Free Shoppers Group...
and Lewis Glucksman
Lewis Glucksman
Lewis L. Glucksman was a former Lehman Brothers trader and former chief executive officer and chairman of Lehman Brothers, Kuhn, Loeb Inc.-Life:...
and permitted the University of Limerick
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
to expand significantly at a time when government capital grants were being handed out scarcely. The University introduced to Ireland many of the academic and administrative systems used in leading US universities such as continusous assessment, the weighted Grade Point Average and cooperative education
Cooperative education
Cooperative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience. A cooperative education experience, commonly known as a "co-op", provides academic credit for structured job experience...
. At the outset it introduced Ireland's first degree in European Studies and fostered international placement of students through European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
schemes such as the ERASMUS programme
Erasmus programme
The Erasmus Programme , a.k.a. Erasmus Project is a European Union student exchange programme established in 1987...
.
Other Activities
Walsh has served as founding Chairman of the Irish Council for Science Technology and Innovation, the National Technological Park, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, and the National Self–Portrait Collection of Ireland. He has also served as Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities and Vice President of the International Association of University PresidentsInternational Association of University Presidents
The International Association of University Presidents is an association of university chief executives from higher education institutions around the world...
. He serves on the boards of a number of organisations
Walsh is a Freeman of the City of Limerick, a Member of the New York Academy of Science and the Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
, a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and an honorary member of the Royal Hibernian Academy
Royal Hibernian Academy
The Royal Hibernian Academy is an artist-based and artist-oriented institution in Ireland, founded in Dublin in 1823.-History:The RHA was founded as the result of 30 Irish artists petitioning the government for a charter of incorporation...
. He holds honorary doctorates from five universities.
Walsh is a chartered engineer and registered silversmith.