University presidents in the Republic and Britain have agreed that universities should work together on research, leadership and European issues.
The agreement was reached after a meeting in Dublin on Friday of Universities UK and Universities Ireland, the new body representing the nine universities on the island of Ireland.
Discussions are to be opened by the president of Universities UK, Prof Ivor Crewe, and the chairman of Universities Ireland, Prof Gerry McKenna, to facilitate the participation of all Irish universities in Britain's Leadership Foundation for Higher Education.
The Leadership Foundation was launched by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Gordon Brown, in March to offer "world class development in leadership, governance and management to current and future leaders within higher education institutions".
The meeting agreed that the two university bodies should explore the possibility of joint research projects, with joint applications to the British and Irish governments for funding, as part of the east-west dimension of the Belfast Agreement.
The bodies also agreed that they should develop common approaches on European issues where there were already significant areas of agreement, particularly relating to the Bologna process and research issues.
Universities UK represents over 120 universities. Universities Ireland was set up last year by the presidents of Ireland's nine universities.