SETU-led initiative pioneers advanced learning, digital upskilling, and accredited progression routes for Irish Defence Forces personnel. This is a project of national significance that will strongly impact the future of Ireland’s Defence Forces.
Launched today by South East Technological University (SETU) and Óglaigh na hÉireann, the ‘System Performance Framework 2023–2028: Education Pathways for Defence Forces Personnel’ project received funding of €1million from the Higher Education Authority (HEA). It is set to redefine how Ireland educates, trains, and empowers its military workforce.
The scale and ambition of the project is remarkable as it is the first time a technological university will work with the Defence Forces to create bespoke, accredited higher-education pathways for personnel, building on the existing collaboration between the two partners.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Veronica Campbell, President of SETU, described the national significance of this milestone. She said, “This project is one in which educational innovation, public service transformation, and national security priorities come together.
SETU’s partnership with Óglaigh na hÉireann builds on two decades of collaboration that is culminating in our increased capacity to provide educational access to DF personnel. This access will support them in becoming more agile and equipped for a world in which there is deep geopolitical and technological change. I would like to thank our partners and the Higher Education Authority for their commitment and support.”
Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy, Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, said “I warmly welcome the launch of this landmark initiative with South East Technological University, which represents a significant investment in the people of Óglaigh na hÉireann. This €1 million HEA-funded project will strengthen accredited education pathways, recognise the depth of skills our personnel develop through service, and further embed lifelong learning across the Defence Forces. It directly supports the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces and the Joint Professional Military Education Strategy, ensuring our organisation remains agile, professional and equipped to meet evolving security challenges at home and overseas.”
With over 20 years of collaboration, this SETU and Defence Forces partnership has successfully provided Leadership, Management and Defence Studies (LMDS) programmes to enlisted personnel. From these programmes, over 2,000 DF members have graduated, with an 88% uptake among eligible learners and a 75% career-progression rate.
Many graduates describe the opportunity as having a significant impact on their quality of life. One retired regimental sergeant major said that earning his degree through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) with SETU was a “passport” to a new future.
The new framework takes this success further. It introduces five interconnected work packages, including the creation of a digitalised platform for work-based learning, blended learning opportunities, and a suite of new academic programmes, focusing on innovative areas such as military policing.
A key research component will explore how future military learners acquire skills in an era of new technological advancements, cyber threats, and evolving security demands.
The initiative aligns with key national strategies, including the White Paper on Defence (2019), Better Public Services, and the National Skills Strategy. It also responds directly to the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces (2022) and the Joint Professional Military Education Strategy 2025–2028. The project will create a replicable model for education projects internationally.
The project offers long-term benefits to personnel beyond their service. DF members will have enhanced employability, professional recognition, and access to higher education in ways that may not have been accessible before.
