Just Transition Academy Logo (showing supporting bodies at the bottom of it)

Funding

Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Just Transition Fund.

Target

Target Audience: Communities in Co. Offaly most affected by the closure of peat production.

Deadline

Project Completion: 31st March 2026.

Model

Inspired By: The “Communiversity” movement, bringing the university into the community.

About the Project

The EU Just Transition Fund’s single specific objective is: enabling regions and people to address the social, employment, economic and environmental impacts of the transition towards a climate neutral economy by 2050.

The TUS Just Transition Academy (JTA) and Research Observatory based in Offaly has a primary objective to expand existing opportunities and implement new education, training, and skills programmes targeted at these communities. The project deadline for completion is 31st March 2026.

The Collaborative Model (Partnership and Strategy)

A Collaborative, Community-Rooted Approach

The JTA is being achieved through a collaborative, partnership approach inspired by the “Communiversity” movement. This model focuses on bringing the university directly into the community to ensure relevant, bottom-up development.

Core Partners:

  • Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) (As the lead JTA partner)
  • Offaly Local Development Company (OLDC)
  • Laois & Offaly Education Training Board (LOETB)
  • Offaly County Council (OCC)

Programme Content

Focus: Skills for Transition

This pillar implements new education, training, and skills programmes specifically targeted at communities in Co. Offaly most affected by the transition to climate neutrality and closure of peat production.

The goal is to engage communities least likely to engage in traditional style education, bringing the university into the community.

Focus: Research & Bottom-Up Development

The project includes a Research Observatory component, rooted in community-based discussions and planning dating back several years.

This ensures the development of a collaborative model of bottom-up development in Offaly, which serves as a model for engagement by a university with its community.

Academic and Project Origins:

The project origins are rooted in comprehensive community-based discussions and planning dating back several years. The collaborative model of bottom-up development in Offaly was informed by research and work undertaken by:

  • Andrea Broughton, Paul Dowling, Cécile Weber and Robert Pollock on behalf of  START in February 2024.

This initiative is also inspired by “The Idea of the Communiversity”, a concept explored by Bradley, Tony & Lessem, Ronnie (2019).

→ Read more about the foundational research here.

Focus: Target Communities & Support

The partnership structure ensures support is provided to the communities and people of Offaly:

  • The project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Just Transition Fund.
  • Support is provided through collaborative partnerships with local agencies and the local authority (OLDC, LOETB, OCC).

Find Out More About the Just Transition Academy

The project origins are rooted in comprehensive community-based planning, ensuring our programmes meet the needs of those most affected by the transition.

Project Enquiries:

For strategic questions about the JTA initiative and collaborative model, please contact the main office:

General Tel: 057 9322 850
General Email: info@offalyldc.ie

*This project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Just Transition Fund.

Contact

The project origins are rooted in comprehensive community-based planning, ensuring our programmes meet the needs of those most affected by the transition.

For strategic questions about the JTA initiative and collaborative model, please contact the main office:

*This project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Just Transition Fund.

Main Office

Offaly Local Development Company

Passionate – Dedicated – Professional

Learn more about what we do.