Institutions of higher education can play a transformative role in the economic sustainability of the regions that they call home, yet the reality of the economic development potential of an institution often doesn’t effectively translate into regional prosperity. Colleges and universities need to take the economic realities of their hometowns seriously and position themselves to create thriving ecosystems based on legacy industries and the emerging technologies that will define how those industries transition into viable 21st-century operations.
Beyond Programs: Leadership Lessons from Ireland’s Inclusive Universities
During a recent sabbatical studying inclusive postsecondary education in Ireland, I visited four universities—University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and Mary Immaculate
Ashley Rodrigues
July 20, 2026
