The topic of the EU-CONEXUS Student Research Hub was “Exploring strategies for a greener, more sustainable Rosslare Europort” and provides students with a unique opportunity to assess sustainability practices.
The EU-CONEXUS Student Research Hub recently offered students from the MSc in Construction Project Management and MsC in Sustainable Energy Engineering a unique opportunity to explore sustainability at Rosslare Europort, one of Ireland’s key maritime gateways to Europe. Led by Dr Derek Sinnott from the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, SETU and co-ordinated by Michelle Maher, Lecturer in Sustainability, SETU; students engaged in a hands-on research experience focused on strategies for green innovation and adaptation.
To kick off the project, students embarked on a site visit to Rosslare Europort, where they were introduced to the port's ambitious Masterplan, focusing on sustainability, modernising and digitalisation. Students attended engaging presentations from Heidi Hopper Duffy, Operations Environmental & Sustainability Manager, Irish Rail; John Murphy, Head of Operations, Port Management, Rosslare Europort and Carl Coates, ICT Business Relationship Manager, Rosslare Europort and Rail Freight. Touring the facilities, they observed ongoing infrastructure developments and digitalisation projects, gaining firsthand insights into how the port is evolving into a smart, eco-friendly hub.
“Practical, hands-on experiences like this are essential for equipping students with the green skills needed in today’s evolving workforce,” said Michelle Maher. “When students engage directly with sustainability challenges in real industry settings, they not only deepen their technical understanding but also gain the confidence and systems thinking needed to lead change in their future careers".
These collaborative industry-academic experiences are vital in shaping the next generation of professionals in construction project management and sustainable energy engineering.
Dr Derek Sinnott, Lecturer at Department of Architecture and Built Environment at SETU
Through focused questions students explored the challenges and opportunities of implementing sustainable practices in an industry setting. Beyond fieldwork, the students engaged in in-depth research, assessing the port’s sustainability initiatives against Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. Through collaborative analysis, they examined aspect of the port’s policies which will culminate in a project, written report and final presentation. This process enables students to apply theoretical knowledge to global challenges, enhancing their understanding of how sustainability principles translate into industry settings. This experience not only strengthened their critical thinking and research skills but also provided valuable industry exposure.
“These collaborative industry-academic experiences are vital in shaping the next generation of professionals in construction project management and sustainable energy engineering,” said Dr Derek Sinnott, Lecturer at Department of Architecture and Built Environment at SETU. “The session offered valuable insight into port capital development, sustainability strategy, and the First of Kind Smart Port Initiative — real-world context that meaningfully informs student research".
SETU commits under our Strategic Plan – Connecting for Impact to develop strong partnerships with our regional stakeholders such as Rosslare Europort. The port is a key strategic asset nationally and in the South East.
Kathryn Kiely, Vice President for External Affairs at SETU
Commenting on the site visit Kathryn Kiely, Vice President for External Affairs at SETU highlighted that “SETU commits under our Strategic Plan – Connecting for Impact to develop strong partnerships with our regional stakeholders such as Rosslare Europort. The port is a key strategic asset nationally and in the South East. Collaborations such as this is a true manifestation of what we mean by connecting for impact, providing an invaluable learning opportunity for our students to gain practical insights into sustainability, digital transformation, and infrastructure management”.
With a focus on real-world impact, this initiative is an example of how the EU-CONEXUS Student Research Hub fosters collaboration between education and industry. By equipping students with practical skills and direct engagement with sustainability challenges, the programme aims to instil systems thinking and social impact.
About EU-CONEXUS
EU-CONEXUS is a fully-fledged transnational European University offering joint education, training and study programmes, joint research and professional development opportunities for all its staff, researchers, and students.
EU-CONEXUS is themed on “Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability”, focusing education, research & innovation, and knowledge-sharing activities on defining, understanding and addressing societal challenges experienced by communities from urban and semi-urbanised coastal regions (rivers, seas and oceans).
Further details can be found on
