West Virginia–Ireland Education Alliance awards $225,000 to expand international education partnerships
Six partnerships will strengthen academic, cultural and workforce connections between West Virginia and Ireland
The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) today announced the inaugural grant awards through the West Virginia–Ireland Education Alliance, awarding $225,000 to six partnerships designed to expand academic, cultural and workforce connections between West Virginia and Ireland.
Created through House Bill 4087 in 2026, the West Virginia–Ireland Education Alliance brings together West Virginia’s four-year institutions and community and technical colleges with higher education partners in Ireland. The initiative is designed to create lasting institutional partnerships while opening new opportunities for West Virginia students and faculty to engage internationally.
“The West Virginia–Ireland Education Alliance is about creating meaningful opportunities for our students while building relationships that will benefit our state for years to come,” said Chancellor Sarah Armstrong Tucker. “These inaugural awards are an important first step. By bringing our colleges and universities together with partners in Ireland, we are creating new pathways for students and faculty to learn, collaborate and build connections that strengthen both education and workforce development in West Virginia.”
The initiative offers two funding pathways. Development Awards of up to $25,000 help institutions establish partnerships, strengthen their capacity and prepare for future programming. Implementation Awards of up to $50,000 support partnerships ready to undertake more substantive activities and direct student and faculty engagement, including faculty-led study abroad programs beginning in 2027.
FY2027 Development Awards – $25,000 each
- Bluefield State University and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
- Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community and Technical College
- Glenville State University and Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College
FY2027 Implementation Awards – $50,000 each
- Fairmont State University and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
- Marshall University and Mountwest Community and Technical College
- Shepherd University and Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
Together, the three Implementation Award partnerships anticipate sending 44 students to Ireland through faculty-led programs, providing students with international academic experiences while deepening collaboration between West Virginia and Irish institutions.
“These partnerships begin with education, but their potential extends well beyond the classroom,” said Dr. Clark Egnor, Director of International Programs for WVHEPC. “By building lasting relationships between institutions in West Virginia and Ireland, we can create new connections among faculty, students, employers and industries that prepare students for a global workforce and, over time, strengthen the economic and trade ties between our two regions.”
The Commission will continue working with each recipient throughout the grant period, providing post-award capacity-building support focused on successful implementation, coordination among partner institutions, student access and the long-term sustainability of the partnerships.
“These awards are the beginning of the work, not the end,” Tucker said. “Our goal is to help these partnerships grow into sustainable relationships that give more West Virginia students access to transformative experiences while strengthening the educational, workforce and economic ties between West Virginia and Ireland.”
The West Virginia–Ireland Education Alliance reflects a broader commitment to developing durable international partnerships that expand opportunities for students and faculty and create connections with long-term value for West Virginia.
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