The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) has issued a call for expressions of interest from individuals interested in serving as external members of its Governing Body, offering an opportunity to help shape the future of one of Ireland’s newest and fastest-growing universities.
Since its establishment in 2021, TUS has rapidly emerged as a university of international standing with strong regional ambition and links to industry and research, serving communities across the Midlands and Midwest.
Spanning seven campuses, TUS serves more than 15,500 students and employs almost 2,000 staff.
The university graduates between 3,500 and 4,000 students each year, contributing significantly to the talent pipeline supporting economic and social development across the regions it serves.
For the third consecutive year, graduates of TUS have been rated the most employable in Ireland in the Graduate Outcomes Survey published by the Higher Education Authority.
Chairperson of the TUS Governing Body, Josephine Feehily, said the university’s progress in a short period reflects both its ambition and its strong commitment to widening participation in higher education.
“The Technological University of the Shannon is a young university, built on strong foundations. In a very short time it has established itself as an institution of international standing with national and regional ambition and remarkable momentum.
“At its core is a simple but powerful conviction — that access to an outstanding university education should never depend on where someone comes from or the circumstances they were born into.”
Expressions of interest are now invited from suitably qualified individuals for upcoming vacancies on the TUS Governing Body. Appointments will commence in September 2026 and September 2027, with members serving terms of up to four years.
TUS President, Professor Vincent Cunnane said the university’s student-centred ethos is a defining feature of the TUS experience.
“At the heart of this university is a student-centred ethos that is not aspirational — it is structural. Small class sizes, wraparound academic and personal support, and a deep commitment to inclusivity mean that every student is known, valued, and supported from the moment they arrive. This is a university that opens doors.”
TUS has achieved a QS 5-Star rating, the highest rating possible, receiving maximum stars across all categories assessed and becoming the first Irish university ever to receive five stars in the Arts and Culture category. This places TUS among the highest-rated universities globally.
In January 2024 the university became the first Irish institution to lead a European University Alliance, assuming the presidency of the Regional University Network – European University (RUN-EU), a partnership connecting nine institutions across seven countries with a combined student and staff community of more than 100,000.
The pace of development across TUS campuses has also accelerated. In the past year alone the 6,000-square-metre Mary Ward Centre of Science opened on the Athlone campus, building on the earlier opening of the Coonagh Campus in Limerick, while construction continues on the Applied Science and Information Technology (ASIT) Building at the Moylish Campus.
Established under the Technological Universities Act 2018, TUS is governed by a 19-member Governing Body. As a registered charity, external members also serve as trustees, helping ensure the university operates to the highest standards of governance and accountability.
External members typically commit up to 20 days per year, including participation in Governing Body meetings and committees supporting the university’s governance and strategic development.
As a regional technological university, TUS plays a key role in supporting economic, social and cultural development across the Midlands and Midwest.
The university is particularly interested in individuals with experience in areas such as governance, enterprise and industry, strategy and organisational development, finance and legal expertise, technology and innovation, and civic or community leadership.
Further details on the application process are available on the TUS website. Applications should be submitted by email to gbsecretariat@tus.ie.
Closing date for expressions of interest: Friday, April 17, at 12pm.
Chairperson of the TUS Governing Body, Josephine Feehily, with President of TUS, Professor Vincent Cunnane, and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, at the opening of the Mary Ward Centre for Science at the Athlone Campus.