New Initiative to support skills development in Academia

€11.5 million technology system, including an IBM z17 mainframe, to a leading Irish university to support skills development in Ireland as part of its 70th anniversary celebrations in the country. The IBM z17 is installed at South East Technological University (SETU) through an educational loan agreement. This initiative, welcomed by the Irish Government and IDA Ireland, will help to continue to position Ireland at the forefront of technology education.
Supporting skills development
The IBM Z mainframe powers approximately 70% of global transactions by value[1], and, through this initiative, students across computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, data and AI will gain hands-on access to the system. In doing so, they will have the opportunity to develop skills aligned with real?world enterprise technology environments, typically only available in large commercial organisations, helping them develop skills aligned to everyday use cases.
At SETU, the z17 mainframe and software will support teaching, learning, and research across the university, with more than 60 existing research and student resource servers being consolidated onto a single mainframe system. By consolidating existing resources into a single platform, the system will enhance how students learn about systems administration, programming and AI in a practical, real-world environment – including the introduction of Level 9 Certificates in Mainframe Technologies and Artificial Intelligence, benefitting more than 1000 computing students across a broad range of modules.
In addition, researchers across the university will benefit from enhanced computing capacity to support modelling, simulation, and secure data management. The system will also provide student-led technology societies with access to dedicated learning environments, enabling hands-on experience in areas such as systems administration, programming and AI within a real-world, enterprise-class setting.
Taoiseach Mícheal Martin said: "For 70 years, IBM has contributed to Ireland's growth by investing in technology, skills and innovation. This latest support to boost education and research will help equip the next generation with the capabilities required for the AI era, whilst strengthening Ireland's position as a hub for advanced enterprise technology. This commitment by IBM reflects Ireland's ambition to build long-term, sustainable leadership in digital innovation."
The initiative builds on IBM's continued commitment to deliver positive impact to the Irish economy through job creation and by strengthening specialist skills and expertise throughout the country. In the last two years IBM has announced over 850 high?tech roles across Dublin, Cork and Waterford. These roles cement Ireland's position as a globally strategic location for the company and span R&D, IBM Z development, IBM Consulting operations and sales.
IBM's 70th anniversary in Ireland reflects decades of partnership with Irish industry, academia and the public sector, with a continued focus on building skills to help enterprises compete and grow in an increasingly AI-led economy.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said: "Ireland's future competitiveness will be shaped in part by how well we equip people with the skills needed for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and trusted digital infrastructure. IBM's collaboration with South East Technological University demonstrates the value of strong industry-academic partnerships in building talent, strengthening economic resilience and preparing students and graduates for the technologies that will drive Ireland's next phase of digital growth."
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