Following the new MOU between IUT International Scientific Cooperation Center  of IUT and Limerick University of Ireland (UL), it is informed that University of Limerick has achieved the highest possible standard in the new QS Stars Rating System, the only university in Ireland to achieve this in 2021.

UL joins an exclusive group of universities worldwide to receive the overall five-star status in the ranking, which is considered one of the most influential and credible ratings for universities globally. Also, In addition to the overall rating, University of Limerick earned the highest five-star rating in seven other areas such as Teaching, Employability, Research, Internationalization, Facilities, Innovation, and Inclusiveness.

The five-star rating is valid until March 2024 and follows a rigorous and independent data collection process and anaysis of performance metrics by education analysts Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the world's leading provider of services, analytics, and insight to the global higher education sector.

QS Star ratings are entirely based upon an institution’s performance, rather than how they compare to peer universities. The five-star rating is valid until March 2024 and follows a rigorous and independent data collection process and analysis of performance metrics by QS.

The second of the prestigious awards recently received was in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2021 where UL has been placed 50 out of 1,115 Higher Education institutions globally. This ranking system assesses the impact of a university's performance in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with UL ranking in the top fifty for three of the individual SDGs:

Ranked 10th for SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Ranked 35th for SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

Ranked 39th for SDG17: Partnership for the Goals

The high ranking received is testament to the University's commitment to the SDGs and how these can be implemented to contribute towards a more equitable and sustainable future for all in a way that matches the institution's research and education ambitions.

University of Limerick is consolidating and capturing its activities under the SDGs, with examples including the development of sustainable transport links between the campus and Limerick City, encouraging the participation of staff and students in the governance of UL, and putting Limerick to the forefront of clean technology delivery in Europe through the Cooperative Education Program and involvement in the CityxChange project.

The recent receiving of the awards from both QS and THE is indicative of UL's young, energetic and enterprising position among higher education institutions throughout the world, along with its proud record of innovation in education and excellence in research and teaching.

It should be noted that, In order to promote cooperation, IUT & UL have signed a mutual MOU in March 2021. This may include Research collaboration in areas of mutual interest, Cooperation on international seminars, workshops, summer/winter schools, Development of articulation and progression agreements, Faculty and student exchange, Identification and development of key areas of common interest as stand-alone projects.