The University has reviewed its relationships with Israeli organisations and can confirm that Maynooth University:
- does not hold any investments in arms manufacturing or distribution companies.
- does not hold investments in any company headquartered in Israel.
- does not have any institutional partnerships with any university in Israel.
- does not have any funded research projects with Israeli universities.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 – 13:30
Dear Students/Colleagues,
Members of Maynooth University community are deeply distressed by the atrocious military campaign Israel has inflicted on Gaza, resulting in tens of thousands of people killed and injured, millions displaced, the destruction of homes, hospitals, universities and schools and acute risk of famine. We fully support the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s positions on the prevention of genocide and unlawful occupation and deplore the escalation of Israel’s military campaign and the intensified blockade of food, medical supplies, and other essentials since March 2025.
We recognise the pain and trauma experienced following the appalling and widely condemned attack by Hamas on 7th October 2023, but neither under international law nor common humanity would this be justification for the immense human suffering being inflicted on the people in Gaza by Israel. Maynooth University stands firmly with the national and international calls for an end to violence and destruction, the release of all hostages, captives and detainees, an immediate and permanent humanitarian ceasefire, and the full and unimpeded flow of aid into Gaza to allow the desperately needed food, fuel and medical aid to save lives.
The University has reviewed its relationships with Israeli organisations and can confirm that Maynooth University:
- does not hold any investments in arms manufacturing or distribution companies.
- does not hold investments in any company headquartered in Israel.
- does not have any institutional partnerships with any university in Israel.
- does not have any funded research projects with Israeli universities.
Our communications to students and staff have sought to highlight supports for anyone personally affected by these horrific events, outline the actions we are taking, and provide updates on our Excellence in Exile initiatives that aim to support asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants coming to Ireland and who want to continue their higher education study and research after fleeing their homeland. We have also been focused on what we can do in our capacity as a university to support our diverse student and staff body, mindful of our role as an educational institution that includes a multitude of perspectives, life experiences and a commitment to academic freedom, freedom of expression and the right of members of our community to engage in peaceful protest.
In addition to the discussion forums and events that our university community has organised this last year, we have been working as a designated University of Sanctuary to promote a culture of welcome for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants from around the world. This includes:
- establishing a MU Global Crisis Forum to build on the work to date and to support the University in identifying further concrete ways and best practice in responding to global crises in a way that values both academic freedom and freedom of expression and creates an inclusive, respectful community where civil scholarly discourse on divisive issues is possible. With representatives from across all three Faculties, our Administrative, Technical and Professional staff, members of University Executive, and from the Maynooth Student Union (MSU), the Forum is exploring ethical/human rights frameworks for partnership development.
- working with external organisations who create pathways for students to be resettled from conflict zones to Ireland through educational scholarship programmes. This includes We Are Not Numbers (a youth-led Palestinian nonprofit project in the Gaza Strip) and the Gaza Scholarship Initiative (GSI).
- developing the MU Online Library Access Initiative in partnership with the New University in Exile Consortium, which coordinates an online Library Access Initiative to provide ‘stranded endangered scholars’ with remote access to the electronic materials available via consortium member institutions.
- doubling the number of MU University of Sanctuary Scholarships. We are now supporting 20 students from a variety of countries (e.g. Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Palestine) who are unable to access Irish state supports for higher education.
- renewing our MU Scholars at Risk (SAR) Fellowship, which has previously supported a refugee staff member to safely transition from Afghanistan to Ireland, and which will now support a new at-risk Fellow to come to Ireland.
- our staff and students are volunteering their time with our MU Community Sponsorship Group to welcome asylum seekers, refugees and migrants into our community and have a ready-made network of contacts to give them a sense of belonging.
We know that many within our university community are finding this to be an incredibly difficult and distressing time. We are conscious that some may have been personally affected, or may have relatives, friends or colleagues who have been affected by these or similar crises around the world. Our university supports are available for all our students and staff however they may be affected.
We would like to acknowledge the Maynooth University Governing Authority in supporting the issuing of an update, and the engagement from students and staff on these issues. We stand in solidarity with those who cherish human rights, international humanitarian law, democracy and peace, and our thoughts are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones and the millions around the world who have been displaced from their homes and are in need of urgent food and medical care.
Le gach dea-ghuí,
Professor Eeva Leinonen Dr Gemma Irvine
Uachtaráin Leasuachtarán do Chomhionannas agus Éagsúlacht
Ollscoil Mhá Nuad Ollscoil Mhá Nuad
President Vice President for Equality and Diversity
Maynooth University Maynooth University