Cork-based Akari Software becomes Patron member of Learnovate

The Learnovate Centre is delighted to announce Akari Software as a new Patron Member of the global research and innovation centre in learning technologies.

Paraic Hegarty, Chief Technology Officer, Akari Software, email: [email protected] Tel: +353 21 452 0701 www.akarisoftware.com

The industry-led technology centre is funded by Enterprise Ireland and provides thought leadership to the world’s learning and development community on the innovative use of learning technology.

It is based at Trinity College Dublin, and empowers organisations through the exploration and application of transformative technology solutions.

Cork-based Akari Software is the latest company to join Learnovate’s list of Patrons.

This is the highest form of Learnovate membership and Patron members sit on the organisation’s Thought Leaders’ Circle and participate in its Research Working Groups.

Akari is an Irish-owned company which produces a number of digital tools to help higher education institutions manage their curriculum.

The largest provider of curriculum management systems outside the United States, Akari employs over 40 people, the majority of whom are based at the firm’s headquarters in Cork.

Akari was founded in 2011 by Chief Technical Officer Paraic Hegarty and Executive Chairman Eoghan O’Leary.

Speaking about the announcement, Akari Software CTO and co-founder Paraic Hegarty said:

“It’s comforting to think Learnovate is an Irish-based research centre. That makes it easier to participate. The community aspect really attracted us. We’re a small enterprise and it’s difficult for an SME because we don’t have the scale of a multinational. We have to network in order to get access to those resources. Learnovate was a really good way of connecting with people in the research community and in particular in Higher Education, which is our customer base and who we’re selling to all the time. The level of engagement from the other members has been fantastic. What is striking is that people who have been involved a long time remain as enthused and engaged as they were in the beginning – which is a really good sign.”

Learnovate Centre Director Nessa McEniff said:

“We are delighted to have Akari Software join Learnovate as a Patron Member.  Having an organisation with significant experience in the higher education space is invaluable to Learnovate.  We are already engaged with Paraic and the team at Akari at many levels and are looking forward to collaborating on a number of our research projects.”