The lifetime accomplishments and legacy of Larry Poland, Emeritus Fellow and former head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Cork Institute of Technology, have been recognised through the announcement of the Larry Poland Electronic Engineering Scholarship at Munster Technological University, with the support of the Irish American Partnership.
A hugely respected academic with a deep understanding of the needs of industry and society, Poland pioneered the development of electronic and computer engineering education in Ireland, introducing the first computer engineering programme in the country more than 50 years ago.
Larry Poland, Emeritus Fellow and former Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Cork Institute of Technology.
He joined the Electrical Engineering Department in the Crawford Municipal Technical Institute. This department was subsequently incorporated into Cork Regional Technical College (Cork RTC), Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and Munster Technological University (MTU).
He was also hugely active in developing strong links between academia and industry, and was a founder member of the Cork Electronics Industry Association, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025.
Pivotal role
He is credited with playing a pivotal role in attracting EMC to establish a major facility in Ovens, Co Cork, which today employs thousands of staff members under the Dell Technologies organisation.
The scholarship is generously funded through the Irish American Partnership Scholars Programme by US-based Rob Short, a graduate of Cork RTC, who was a Corporate Vice President with Microsoft for 20 years, and who credits Larry with making a pivotal contribution to his education.
In relation to this scholarship, Rob Short said: “Larry’s contribution to the tech industry in Ireland cannot be overstated. A global IT company was looking for a European site in the early 70s, a US team visited and asked Larry about his courses. His response became famous, ‘Tell me what you need and in a year I’ll have a course for you’.
"This course gave me and so many others a start in a fantastic career. Larry worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between industry and academia long before it became fashionable. Even as he hobnobbed with CEOs and ministers, Larry never lost his passion and focus for his students. Truly an inspiration to all of us.”
President and CEO of the Irish American Partnership, Mary Sugrue said: “In creating the Larry Poland Electronic Engineering Scholarship, the Irish American Partnership honors a true pioneer in Electronic and Computer Engineering education in Ireland.
"This annual scholarship not only recognises Mr Poland’s lasting contributions but also invests in the future of this field by supporting four talented students each year with our partners at Munster Technological University.
'Remains at the forefront of technological advancement'
"Strengthening Electronic Engineering will drive future innovation and economic growth in the Cork and southwest region, and we are delighted to play a role in fostering the next generation of Irish engineers. We are especially grateful to Rob Short for his generosity and commitment. Through initiatives like this, we honour our heritage by ensuring that Ireland remains at the forefront of technological advancement.”
Dr Martin Hill, head of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at MTU, said: “We are delighted to receive this wonderful support from our graduate, Rob Short, and the Irish American Partnership to honour the major contributions made by Larry Poland to the development of electronic engineering in Ireland.
"He drove engagement between academia and industry in new and innovative ways and, in so doing, paved the way for generations of students, graduates and colleagues to follow. We are deeply grateful for the leadership he showed, the benefits of which are still evident in MTU today.”
The Larry Poland Electronic Engineering Scholarship will support students enrolled on the four-year BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering programme in Munster Technological University (MTU).
The award will provide a scholarship of €2,500 per student for four students, totalling to €10,000 per annum. The scholarship will be funded for a five-year period. It will be open for applications from all students enrolled on MTU’s BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering during the academic year 2025/2026.