The Ireland Canada University Foundation (ICUF) was established in 1993 by the late Dr. Craig Dobbin O.C., and former President of Ireland, the late Dr. Patrick Hillery, to encourage and facilitate scholarship links between Ireland and Canada.

The Foundation operates two principal programmes annually. The first is the Craig Dobbin Scholarship Programme which grants awards of short term visiting scholarships to both Irish and Canadian scholars in support of their research which relates to both countries, and the second is the Irish Language Programme to support the teaching of Gaeilge in Canadian universities

The Ireland Canada University Foundation is chaired jointly by Professor Seamus Smyth, President Emeritus, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and Mr. Mark Dobbin, Chairman of the CHC Helicopter Corporation, and is administered by Professor John Kelly, Registrar Emeritus of University College Dublin. On the Board of the Ireland Canada University Foundation with Professor Seamus Smyth, Mr. Mark Dobbin, and Professor John Kelly, are Mrs. Elaine Dobbin, Dr. Desmond Green, Professor Kenneth Ozmon, Rupert Hamilton, Michael Phillips, Professor William A. Schabas and Professor Vera Regan.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the Ireland Canada University Foundation (ICUF) and the Ireland Fund of Canada (ICF) for the promotion of academic exchanges between Ireland and Canada took place in the Lester Pearson Building in Ottawa on March 18, 2004, at the dinner following the EU Canada Summit meeting. Pictured at this event are: Front L to R: Dr. Craig Dobbin O.C., Chairman (Canada) of ICUF, Professor John Kelly, Director of ICUF, Ms Eleanor McGrath, Director of ICF Back L to R: Taoiseach of Ireland Bertie Ahern, Prime Minister of Canada Paul Martin, Premier of Newfoundland & Labrador Danny Williams.

 

The Foundation advertises its scholarships each year. Valued at €5,000 each, they are designed to assist Irish scholars make short term visits to a Canadian University or institution to undertake research into a topic related to both countries. Since 2004, scholarships, valued at CAD$7,000, are also being offered to assist Canadian scholars make short term visits to Ireland in support of their research in a topic with relevance to both Canada and Ireland.

A Memorandum of Understanding for bilateral scholarship exchanges between Ireland and Canada was signed in Ottawa in March, 2004 by the Ireland Canada University Foundation and the Ireland Fund of Canada, witnessed by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern of Ireland and Prime Minister Paul Martin of Canada, following their meeting at the EU Canada summit. This MOU inaugurates the bilateral scholarships awards programme of 2004, when, for the first time in the history of the two countries, scholarships are being awarded in both directions to support research into projects which have relevance to both Ireland and Canada. You can read more about it here.