Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and Vodafone Ireland have successfully secured €4.6 million in funding from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital Fund to develop digital technologies for new online and on campus apprenticeship courses for engineering and construction students.
In addition to the CEF funding, both ATU and Vodafone Ireland are investing in the initiative, bringing the total investment in Irish education to €6.25 million.
The fund will be used to develop cutting-edge Extended Reality (XR) labs powered by a private 5G standalone network and on-campus edge computing delivered by Vodafone Ireland.
Italian technology company FifthIngenium, part of the consortium, will leverage its expertise in designing cutting-edge educational applications to support the development of the XR experience.
The project was launched by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless earlier today (Monday). The programme application process was supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.
The initiative will be piloted at ATU Donegal, where students will gain access to immersive virtual and augmented reality environments that replicate physical labs and workshops.
This funding will allow students to learn in new and flexible ways, combining classroom teaching with remote and virtual training – making education more accessible, especially for people living in rural areas or those balancing work, study and apprenticeship programmes.
Specifically, the new training tools will include:
Virtual construction labs where students can practice building using digital models.
Immersive learning platforms that simulate real building and construction environments.
3D video streaming to help students learn technical skills through realistic simulations.
The initiative is part of a wider €12.3 million European programme called 5G-SHARE, which encourages universities to work together and share knowledge across borders. ATU and Vodafone will collaborate with universities in Romania and the Czech Republic to test new ways of teaching using 5G.
The fund was secured with the support of Vodafone’s Connected Education programme – a major global Vodafone initiative designed to transform learning experiences through advanced technology and connectivity, creating a more inclusive digital society.
Why this matters for Ireland
The Government’s renewed action plan published in November included a commitment to promote careers in construction including expanding apprenticeships and a 5-year action plan to boost recruitment, improve training opportunities, and build capacity across the construction sector. Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless said: “The Government’s investment to more than double apprenticeship funding since 2020 reflects our ambition to build a stronger, more sustainable Ireland. To realise this vision, we need skilled talent in construction and engineering.
“Innovations and the use of advanced technologies, such as digital learning and connectivity, will accelerate progress and support us in achieving these ambitions across infrastructure, housing, and beyond. By enabling access to high-quality training nationwide, we are ensuring that Ireland is equipped to deliver the projects that will shape our future. We commend ATU, Vodafone Ireland and consortium partners in driving digital innovation in Irish education for the benefit of our students, workforce and our economy.”
Sheila Kavanagh, Network Director, Vodafone Ireland said, “This fund was secured following a shared vision and strong collaboration between ATU, Vodafone and Government and we’re proud to be part of it. This initiative will give us the ability to train people faster and smarter. Access to skills depends on strong digital infrastructure and by leveraging advanced connectivity, remote learning, and the power of 5G, we’re making it possible for people everywhere to upskill and contribute to Ireland’s growth. Our ongoing investment of over €100 million annually in our network underpins this progress, enabling innovation that supports infrastructure delivery, addresses housing challenges, and drives economic development.”
Prof Graham Heaslip of Atlantic Technological University (ATU), has also welcomed the announcement, describing it as a major step forward for students across Ireland, particularly those in rural areas. “This initiative will be transformative for our students, particularly those in rural communities. ATU’s virtual digital labs project has the potential to revolutionise the training of students, both on campus and through remote delivery to support apprenticeships, to help Ireland develop the skilled designers, engineers and trades needed to tackle our housing and infrastructure challenges. This project demonstrates ATU’s ability to attract international industry partners and lead major EU-funded initiatives with the potential for real impactful gains for our communities.”
Roberto Mangano, COO, FifthIngenium said, “Collaborating with Atlantic Technological University and Vodafone Ireland on this initiative is something we’re genuinely proud of. Our goal is to help push Higher Education forward and create a model that other universities across Europe and beyond can build upon. Drawing on our experience in immersive learning, we are developing an Extended Reality (XR) environment that enables teachers to share realistic, interactive content with their students anytime and anywhere.
“Thanks to the integration of Vodafone’s Private 5G EDGE network, the project will deliver scalable, inclusive learning supported by low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity between campuses. This collaboration marks an important step in modernising apprenticeship pathways and giving future engineers and construction professionals the advanced digital skills they’ll need in the years ahead.”
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