ATU and PGIM launch strategic collaboration on innovation and research

Roben Dunkin and Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, with ATU and PGIM colleagues. Photo: Clive Wasson

placeholder image — Roben Dunkin and Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, with ATU and PGIM colleagues. Photo: Clive Wasson

The partnership seeks to explore synergies in areas such as leadership development, advanced technology adoption, and the cultivation of innovation mindsets

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and PGIM, one of the world’s leading asset managers, have taken a significant step toward collaboration in innovation, research, and professional development, following a strategic meeting held recently at PGIM’s offices in the IDA Business Park, Letterkenny.

The high-level engagement brought together senior representatives from both organisations, including ATU’s President Dr Orla Flynn, Head of Faculty of Business Michael Margey, Senior Lecturer Vicky O’Rourke, and Lecturer Dr Muslim Jameel Syed. Roben Dunkin, Chief Operations and Innovation Officer led the meeting between the two organisations.

The partnership seeks to explore synergies in areas such as leadership development, advanced technology adoption, and the cultivation of innovation mindsets. The initiative is anchored in the work of ATU’s Neurolab, which specialises in emerging research methods, including neuro-behavioural analytics, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality.

Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU said, “We’re excited by the opportunity to collaborate with a global leader like PGIM. This partnership reflects our commitment to delivering innovation that is both theoretical and at the same time applicable in real-world contexts. Together, we aim to support the development of forward-thinking strategies that empower people and organisations.”

Key themes discussed during the meeting included leadership and culture enhancement, structured knowledge transfer, and the design of joint training programmes to support capacity building in innovation. The collaboration will begin with a series of webinars and action-learning workshops aimed at introducing advanced innovation tools and frameworks.

The initiative has four key pillars for its first year:

Sensemaking and Strategic Foresight: Introducing back casting and methods for navigating uncertainty.

Organisational Culture: Exploring the relational contract and designing productive workplace cultures.

Inspiring Leadership: Developing adaptive leadership for complex environments.

Technological Change and AI: Critiquing and adapting innovation processes in the face of disruptive technologies.

Workshops will follow each online session, allowing participants to apply learning through facilitated, small-group experiences on topics such as change, leadership, and strategic futures.

Michael Margey, Head of the Faculty of Business at ATU Donegal, highlighted the importance of the initiative for the region. “This partnership allows ATU to bring global insights into the local context, supporting both educational excellence and economic development. It’s a two-way exchange—our students, researchers and staff benefit, while PGIM gains from our applied innovation expertise.”