Research – Flexible & Professional Learning Athlone Campus

The Faculty of Continuing, Professional, Online, and Distance Learning at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) is committed to advancing research that addresses the evolving challenges and opportunities in lifelong learning, digital education, professional development, and industry engagement.

Our faculty research spans higher education strategy, learner engagement, digital literacy, sustainability, quality management, and business innovation, ensuring that our academic offerings remain industry-relevant and future-focused.

Research Area & Publications

Our research focuses on lifelong & adult learning technologies, regional industry & community engagement, online delivery methods for academic/professional programs, skill foresight, flexible program design & quality assessment, student support & retention, Universal Design for Learning, staff training & CoP, work-based learning, and transversal skill development. For details about faculty research interest please click the button below.

Faculty Research Areas

Faculty Research Compendium

Our Research Compendium showcases the depth and breadth of postgraduate research within the Department of Lifelong Learning, highlighting work that bridges academic enquiry with real-world, industry-based challenges. It reflects a strong commitment to applied, work-based learning, collaboration with industry, and research that delivers practical impact across business, engineering, science, and education. Collectively, it demonstrates how lifelong learning can drive innovation, professional practice, and economic and societal development.

Department of Lifelong Learning Research Compendium

Industry Collaboration

Faculty of Continuing, Professional, Online, and Distance Learning at TUS maintains strong collaboration with industry through its work-based learning model, engaging part-time students who are employed across diverse industrial sectors. Research theses & work-based learning project are grounded in real workplace challenges brought forward by these students. This approach ensures that research remains relevant, practical, and directly applicable to industry needs. By supporting students to explore topics such as sustainability, digitalisation, employee retention, productivity, etc. and many more, the department fosters innovation while reinforcing its role as a vital bridge between academic learning and professional practice. The word cloud provides a visual summary of the key domains in which the department has collaborated with industry over the past few years.