TUS ASAS Affiliate Status highlights commitment to supporting elite student-athletes

At the awarding of the Accreditation for Student Athlete Support (ASAS) Affiliate status at the Sport Ireland campus in Dublin were:  Adam Lennon, TUS; Liam Harbison,  Sport Ireland Institute Director;  Una May, CEO of Sport Ireland; Wayne Fanning, TUS; Jimmy Browne, Chief Operations Officer of TUS; Charlie McConalogue, Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport; Adrian Flaherty, TUS; Gordon Brett; TUS; Emma Saunders, chair of the ASAS Steering Committee, and Ciarán Ó hIarnán, CEO of Student Sports Ireland.

ASAS Affiliate Status highlights TUS commitment to supporting elite student-athletes to succeed in both higher education and high-performance sport

Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) has been recognised nationally for its commitment to supporting student-athletes who combine high-performance sport with higher education.

The Technological University has been awarded Accreditation for Student Athlete Support (ASAS) Affiliate status by Sport Ireland, acknowledging the work underway at TUS to strengthen dual-career supports and create flexible pathways for elite athletes to succeed academically and athletically. Affiliate status recognises institutions that are developing and enhancing their provision as part of a national pathway towards full ASAS accreditation.

The recognition forms part of a newly enhanced ASAS framework introducing Gold, Silver and Bronze tiers, creating a clear progression route for institutions such as TUS to further advance student-athlete provision in the years ahead.

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Welcoming the recognition, Jimmy Browne, Chief Operations Officer at TUS, said, “We are delighted that TUS has been awarded ASAS Affiliate status, recognising our commitment to supporting students who combine higher education with high-level sport.

“Through initiatives such as dedicated scholarship programmes and a CAO 50-point waiver for eligible elite sportspeople, we are helping students succeed both on and off the pitch. The resilience, discipline and drive developed through sport are directly transferable to academic success, and this recognition marks another important step in the continued development of sport at TUS.”

The ASAS programme recognises higher education institutions that demonstrate strong dual-career supports, including academic flexibility, wellbeing services and structured engagement with athletes and sporting bodies.

Delivered annually by the Sport Ireland Institute in partnership with Student Sport Ireland, the scheme is grounded in the principles of equal opportunity and the right to education.

High-performance athletes often face demanding training schedules, international travel and competition commitments alongside their studies.

Recent initiatives at TUS, including the expansion of the CAO Points Waiver Scheme for Elite Sportspersons across all seven campuses, demonstrate the ongoing investment in flexible pathways for high-performing student-athletes.

The refreshed ASAS framework introduces a tiered accreditation model — Bronze, Silver and Gold — designed to support institutions on a developmental journey towards world-class dual-career provision.  As an Affiliate institution, TUS can now work towards Bronze, Silver and ultimately Gold accreditation.

Liam Harbison, Director of the Sport Ireland Institute, said, “At Sport Ireland we place a high importance on supporting athletes and providing student-centred support for dual careers is one of the supports we’re most proud of. ASAS offers athletes real confidence that both their academic and sporting ambitions will be supported.”