DIT and University of Connecticut to build links

Dean David G Woods, Dr Catherine Jarjisian, Dr Frank Mc Mahon, Prof Karen Ryker and Dr William Halpin. 30th August 2010

DIT Director of Academic Affairs, Dr Frank Mc Mahon, and Dr William Halpin, Head of the Conservatory of Music and Drama visited the campus of University of Connecticut last week to meet with faculty members and to discuss future cooperation between the two institutions. University of Connecticut is regarded as the number one public university in New England, with a student population of some 25,000.



Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, Dr. Mc Mahon said “We hope to foster cooperation at all levels, including student and staff exchanges. For example, the Conservatory of Music and Drama in DIT and the School of Fine Arts in University of Connecticut offer degree programmes and postgraduate studies in both music and drama. This agreement envisages the possibility of collaboration in performance, joint seminars, and potentially joint or dual degrees. Collaboration at all levels would enrich the experience of students from both institutions.”

While initial collaboration may take place in the field of music and drama, Dr. McMahon hopes that this will extend to other fields of study too. Among the top 30 public universities in the nation, UConn has its own Schools of Law, Social Work, Medicine, Pharmacy, Business and Engineering. Its fourteen schools and colleges offer undergraduate degrees in more than 100 majors, and the University grants graduate degrees in more than 90 fields of study. The University was founded in 1881 and its main campus is located in Storrs. One member of faculty in UConn is already well-known to DIT – Professor Karen Ryker came to DIT as a Fulbright Scholar two years ago and during her time with us directed the highly-acclaimed production of The Magic Flute.