Research News
Posted 25 August 2009
AIT Researchers Explore Ireland-Canada Business Links
Ways in which the Irish-Canadian diaspora can assist businesses in the country will be the focus of a research trip to Toronto this autumn by two accountancy students at Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT).
Shane McCaul and Stefano Dellai are both postgraduate students on the MA in Accounting and have been awarded scholarships under the auspices of the Ireland Canada University Foundation (ICUF) and sponsored by Atlantic Corridor Ireland, which is based in Tullamore.
According to Mr McCaul and Mr Dellai, this is an area which offers considerable potential for business growth. “The Department of Foreign Affairs has recently undertaken a review of Irish-US relations which found that ties between Ireland and America needed to change in order to develop business, economic and technology links. Our research reflects that framework, but seeks to apply it in the context of Canada, which has also been a popular destination for generations of Irish,” said Mr Dellai.
Mr McCaul said that they were looking forward to applying their professional training to an area that could yield significant dividends for Irish enterprise. “This is an exciting opportunity to gain international research experience and to utilise the knowledge and expertise which we have acquired. It will hopefully also prove to be a primer in terms of how Ireland can maintain a meaningful relationship with the millions of people around the globe who claim a connection with this country,” he said.
Originally from Turin, Italy, Stefano Dellai has been a student at AIT for the past four years. Having transferred from the Politecnico di Torino as an Erasmus student in 2005, Stefano successfully graduated with a first class honours business degree at AIT last year. He is currently undertaking a Master of Arts in Accounting at AIT.
Shane McCaul is the son of Athlone businessman Paddy and Eileen McCaul. Having completed a BComm International with German at NUI Galway, he is currently on a PricewaterhouseCoopers scholarship on the MA in Accounting at AIT.
John Cusack, Head of the Business School at AIT, said that Stefano and Shane were the latest in a growing line of AIT students to go to Canada on an Atlantic Corridor/ICUF scholarship. “This is a valuable scheme that rewards imaginative research proposals that have the potential to foster international links between Ireland and North America. We are very grateful to the Atlantic Corridor in Tullamore for once again supporting this initiative and for their support of business research at AIT,” he said.
Jackie Gorman, CEO of Atlantic Corridor said: “Atlantic Corridor is delighted again this year to support the ICUF scholarships in the Midlands. This scholarship scheme provides young researchers with opportunities in word-class locations in Canada. This year, we are particularly pleased that the research is focusing on the benefits of connecting with the Irish-Canadian diaspora and focusing on links that may benefit business and education links between Ireland and Canada.”
The work of the Atlantic Corridor in the Midlands is focused on seeking out and attracting projects and enterprises that will assist in supporting sustainable development; encouraging higher educational attainment; and working with partners to identify, develop and implement projects which are mutually beneficial and strengthen the corridor itself. The project offers opportunities across the business, education, culture and health sectors. Atlantic Corridor (Ireland), based in Tullamore, is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Promoting Ireland Abroad division. Further information about Atlantic Corridor can be found online at www.atlanticcorridor.ie.
The Ireland-Canada University Foundation is a non-profit making organisation, established in 1993, for the purpose of encouraging and facilitating links between scholars in Ireland, and institutions and scholars in Canada. Its concern is particularly focused upon emerging scholars and its operation is primarily directed towards the provision of scholarships covering travel costs and short-term visits. Further details about the Ireland Canada University Foundation can be found online at www.icuf.ie.
