Inside this Issue: Page 3 Alumni Awards 2012 Page 5 Ministers Launch ICSG Reports Page 7 Focal ón Uachtarán... and more! The visit took place 50 years after President Higgins was initially enrolled as a mature student at the University and he was welcomed by President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne, NUI Galway’s Dr Geraldine Leader, Director of ICAN and Tom Joyce, Galway University Foundation. Through scientific research, education and services to the community, ICAN is dedicated to ensuring improvements for individuals with autism and their families. President Higgins in his remarks said: “I acknowledge NUI Galway as a leader in civic engagement – a leader in putting its intellectual assets at the disposal of the community. I applaud the move to value academic achievement not just in terms of the number of published articles but also in terms of its social and community impact. I see the research and educational work to be pursued by this new Centre in this broader context. To me it is a prime example of research that is socially aware, socially responsible and that lives up to the highest vision of what a university is for – a constructive agent of change for the good in our society.” Co-funded by Galway University Foundation, the Centre is the first centre of its kind outside North America that uses an integrated approach to the delivery of postgraduate education, research and the delivery of autism support services. President Jim Browne said the establishment of this new centre highlights NUI Galway’s commitment to autism research and underscores the translational dimension of the University’s work. 50 Years in the Making Nuachtlitir Foirne | Staff Newsletter | Earrach 2012 OLLSCÉALA President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, made his first official visit to NUI Galway on 24 February to launch the University’s new Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN). Ollsceala_mar_12b_Layout 1 21/03/2012 12:29 Page 1
Transcript
Inside this Issue: Page 3 Alumni Awards 2012
Page 5 Ministers Launch ICSG Reports Page 7 Focal ón Uachtarán... and more!
The visit took place 50 years after President Higgins was initially enrolledas a mature student at the University and he was welcomed by Presidentof NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne, NUI Galway’s Dr Geraldine Leader,Director of ICAN and Tom Joyce, Galway University Foundation.Through scientific research, education and services to the community,ICAN is dedicated to ensuring improvements for individuals with autismand their families.
President Higgins in his remarks said: “I acknowledge NUI Galway as aleader in civic engagement – a leader in putting its intellectual assets at thedisposal of the community. I applaud the move to value academicachievement not just in terms of the number of published articles but alsoin terms of its social and community impact. I see the research and
educational work to be pursued by this new Centre in this broader context.To me it is a prime example of research that is socially aware, sociallyresponsible and that lives up to the highest vision of what a university is for– a constructive agent of change for the good in our society.”
Co-funded by Galway University Foundation, the Centre is the first centreof its kind outside North America that uses an integrated approach to thedelivery of postgraduate education, research and the delivery of autismsupport services.
President Jim Browne said the establishment of this new centrehighlights NUI Galway’s commitment to autism research andunderscores the translational dimension of the University’s work.
LAPresident of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, made his first official visitto NUI Galway on 24 February to launch the University’s new IrishCentre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research (ICAN).
Director-in-ResidenceAppointedNUI Galway and Druid Theatre have announcedthe joint appointment of Thomas Conway as thefirst Director-in-Residence to be based betweenDruid Theatre and the School of Humanities at theUniversity. The ‘Druid Director-in-Residence’ willparticipate in the development of theatre andperformance education on campus.
Thomas Conway, a practising professionaldirector, will particularly focus on enhancing theundergraduate programmes in drama, includingthe new BA in Drama Theatre and Performance.He will also contribute to the MA in Drama andTheatre Studies as well as expanding theUniversity’s current offerings in these areas. Aswell as teaching on the current drama and theatreprogrammes, Mr Conway will also coordinateworkshops offered to the BA and MA programmesby members of the Druid Theatre Company, andwill direct an annual student production with BAand MA students.
NUI Galway AcademicsAppointed to Council ofState
Professor Gerard Quinn, Director of the Centre forDisability Law and Policy, and Professor GearóidÓ Tuathaigh, Professor Emeritus in History havebeen appointed by President Michael D. Higginsto sit on the Council of State. Judge CatherineMcGuinness, Adjunct Professor of Law has alsobeen nominated by the President.
RIA Gold Medal
International human rights scholar ProfessorWilliam Schabas was recently presented with theRoyal Irish Academy (RIA) Gold Medal.Professor William Schabas, Chairman of the IrishCentre for Human Rights, is one of the leadingscholars in the field of international criminal law.His work is closely linked with a range ofinternational judicial institutions including, theinternational criminal tribunals for the formerYugoslavia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone and theInternational Criminal Court (ICC). His writingsare regularly cited by international courts andtribunals, including the ICC and the EuropeanCourt of Human Rights.
Law Lecturer Appointed toLaw Reform Commission
NUI Galway law lecturer, Donncha O’Connell, hasbeen appointed by the Attorney General, MáireWhelan, SC, to the Law Reform Commission toreplace Mr Justice Donal O’Donnell of theSupreme Court. He will serve as a part-timeCommissioner.
The Law Reform Commission is an independent,statutory body established under the Law ReformCommission Act 1975. Its purpose is to keep thelaw under review and to make recommendationsfor law reform in keeping with the changing natureof Irish society. Donncha was also recentlyappointed by the Minister for Justice and Equality,Alan Shatter, TD, to the new Legal Aid Board.
OLLSCÉALA
Ollscéala is published by theMarketing and Communications OfficeOllscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh. Tel. 091 - 493361 E-mail: michelle.níchróiní[email protected]
Focal ón EagarthóirFáilte romhaibh go dtí eagrán eile d’ Ollscéala.
Our cover story features President Higgins, whovisited the campus in February to launch the IrishCentre for Autism and NeurodevelopmentalResearch. A proud day for the University asPresident Michael D. Higgins was welcomed back50 years after he first stepped foot on campusgrounds as a mature student in 1962.
Another great occasion celebrated former studentswhen An Taoiseach Enda Kenny returned as specialguest at the annual Alumni Awards ceremony andcongratulated those honoured on the night for theirexceptional achievements since their time here oncampus (page 3).
The University has been awarded a five star ratingby the QS Stars rating which President Browne willspeak about (page 7). Many other developmentsacross campus this semester include newprogramme offerings at undergraduate andpostgraduate levels, as well as a new postgraduatescholarship scheme unique to this university (page9).
The first ever Women’s Network has beenestablished on campus (page 10) and there has beenprestigious appointments for our academic staff(page 2). Research outcomes are constant and inthis issue we see advances in cornea transplants andwhere the first Irish report into formulating aNational Strategy for Dementia was launched(page 5).
My sincere thanks for all the contributions and whilewe endeavour to include all submissions space doesnot always allow.
Mo bhuíochas do chách a chur scéalta chugainn doneagrán seo - beidh mé ag súil le go leor scéalta eileuaibh roimh an chéad eagrán eile.
An Taoiseach Celebrates NUI Galway Alumni Awards 2012A celebration of the achievements of NUI Galway’s alumni tookplace in the Bailey Allen Hall on campus in March with special guestAn Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD. Over 450 people gathered for the12th Annual Gala Banquet, a glamorous occasion hosted by RTÉ’sDeputy Director of TV Programmes and NUI Galway graduate,Mairéad Ní Nuadháin. Entertainment for the Gala was provided byinternationally renowned Donegal singer Moya Brennan, formerly ofClannad fame.
Among the guests were alumni, staff, students and friends of theUniversity. The feature of the night was the presentation of theAnnual Alumni Awards to:
• Máire Whelan, Attorney General of Ireland, who received theBank of Ireland Award for Business, Public Policy and Law
• Gerry Kilcommins, VP Global Vascular Operations &General Manager Medtronic Galway and past PresidentAmerican Chamber of Commerce, Ireland who received theBank of Ireland Award for Engineering and Informatics
• Professor Fergal O’Gara, Chair of Microbiology UCC whoreceived the Aramark Alumni Award for Science
• Marie Mullen - actress, Druid Theatre Company co-founderwho received the AIB Award for Arts, Social Sciences and CelticStudies
• Professor Tim O’Brien, Director, Gait Laboratory &Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Central Remedial Clinicwho received the Medtronic Award for Medicine, Nursing andHealth Sciences
• Peadar Mac An Iomaire, Iar-Phríomhfheidhmeannach,Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway whoreceived the Duais Hewlett Packard don Gaeilge
Special guest on the night An Taoiseach and former NUI Galwaystudent, Enda Kenny TD, said: “In honouring the six distinguishedgraduates this evening, we highlight not only their achievements, wealso take the opportunity to recognise the contribution, and indeedthe calibre, of Irish graduates generally. Since its establishment wellover a century and half ago, NUI Galway has always aimed to be oneof Ireland’s foremost centres of academic excellence. Since spendingtime as a student on this campus in the 1970s, I have seen NUIGalway, and indeed the surrounding city, grow and developcontinually. In particular the transformation that has taken placeover the last decade has been remarkable. The campus now offersthe best of facilities for teaching and research and a wealth ofmodern amenities for students.”
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1: (back row, l-r): RTÉ’s MáiréadNí Nuadháin; Professor FergalO'Gara, Gerry Kilcommins,President Browne, Peadar MacAn Iomaire, Sandra Butler.Front row, l-r: Máire Whelan,Professor Tim O'Brien,and Marie Mullen.
2: An Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
3: MC on the night, RTÉ’s Máiréad Ní Nuadháin and Marie Mullen.
4: President Browne, Mayor of Galway, Hildegard Naughton and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
5: Attorney General Máire Whelan and President Browne.
6: Tom Joyce, Galway University Foundation and his wife Ailish,with Professor J.J. Gilmartin, GUH, Galway.
7: Maeve Browne, RTÉ’s Seán O’Rourke and his wife Caroline Murphy, An Taoiseach Enda Kennyand his wife Fionnuala, and President Browne.
ConferencesCross Border Orchestraof Ireland - Galway PeaceProms2,000 children from schools all over Co. Galwaytook part in the very successful Galway PeaceProms held on campus in February. Choirs fromover 40 local primary schools performed withthe internationally acclaimed Cross BorderOrchestra of Ireland (CBOI) to local audiences.The CBOI was established as a peace initiativealmost seventeen years ago and is made up of120 young musicians from all over Irelandincluding Galway.
ANCORIMA range of scientific resources and handbooks tofacilitate better coastal planning were launchedat a national seminar on campus in February.The resources are the result of a three-year, €1.9million project, funded by the EU which hasassessed the extent to which coastal risks arecurrently considered in development plans. Itappears that across Europe’s Atlantic countries,despite guidance from policy documents atnational and European level to includeconsiderations of coastal risks, existingdevelopment plans are lacking in this area.Using existing scientific knowledge andlegislative instruments the ANCORIM project -a collaboration of scientists and decision-makersfrom Ireland, Spain, Portugal and France - hasdeveloped a set of tools to improve the currentsituation.
ConferenceAmbassador ProgrammeIf you are thinking of hosting an InternationalConference you can become a conferenceambassador for NUI Galway. Conferenceambassadors are members of internationalassociations who can influence their colleaguesto host their next conference in their homecountry.
To become a conference ambassador or find outmore on the benefits of bringing conferences tocampus contact the Conference Office; E:[email protected], T: 091 49 3467
Agricultural Biodiversityfor Sustainable Food andAgriculture The Plant and AgriBiosciences Centre recentlyhosted AgBioDiv2012, Ireland’s first AnnualAgroBiodiversity Conference. Agriculturalbiodiversity or agrobiodiversity refers to allbiological and genetic diversity which is directlyrelevant to agriculture and food production.
Conference organiser Professor Charles Spillane,Head of Plant and AgriBiosciences said: “Thetime is right for an annual conference to bringeverybody together to take stock of what has beendone, what can be done and what is necessary todo over the coming years to ensure thatagrobiodiversity contributes to a vibrant andsustainable food and agriculture sector in Ireland.”
DevelopmentEducation DayThe School of Education recently hosted its firstDevelopment Education Day. Organised inpartnership with Self Help Africa and withsupport from Irish Aid, the event was the firststep towards integrating DevelopmentEducation as a more significant componentacross all Initial Teacher Education programmesoffered at NUI Galway.
Launched by President Browne, keynoteaddresses were provided by Sydney Chisi,Director of Youth Initiative for Democracy inZimbabwe, and Ray Jordan, CEO of Self HelpAfrica.
The day provided a forum for those working insecond-level teaching, third-level education andthe non-profit sector to actively engage withemerging issues within Development Educationand included subject-specific workshops whichprovided student teachers with tools to embedDevelopment Education in their subjectteaching.
Gender ARCGender ARC’s (Advanced ResearchConsortium on Gender, Culture and theKnowledge Society) public lecture seriescontinued this semester with Professor Diane
Negra’s lecture ‘Gendering the recession inIreland’. Diane Negra is Professor of FilmStudies and Screen Culture at UniversityCollege Dublin. This was followed by ProfessorJackie Stacey (University of Manchester) whogave a lecture ‘Feminism and the culturalpolitics of Thatcher’s legacy’ in the KemmyBusiness School, University of Limerick inMarch. The lecture series returned to campusfor Professor Diane Elson’s lecture ‘Expenditurecuts and human rights with special reference towomen’s rights’.
First Ever InternationalAutism Conference
The Irish Centre for Autism andNeurodevelopment Research in the School ofPsychology, in partnership with Autism Speaks,Galway University Foundation and TheAmerican Ireland Fund, hosted their firstinternational conference, “Autism SpectrumDisorder: from Clinical Practice to EducationalProvision,” in January.
The audience of over 600 researchers,healthcare professionals, teachers, and parentsfrom around the world was addressed byMinister of Health, Dr James Reilly TD. The conference, which was the first of its kind in Ireland, unveiled the latest research on earlydiagnosis of autism and will focus on providingpractical solutions and approaches to diagnosis,clinical management, education, and adultservice provision. www.nuigalway.ie/ICAN
Pictured is Dr Geraldine Leader, School of Psychologyand Director of the Irish Centre for Autism andNeurodevelopmental Research
Clinicians and Scientists Gather toAdvance Multiple Myeloma ExpertiseIreland has one of the highest incidences in theworld of a blood cancer known as multiplemyeloma, a gathering of clinicians and scientistsheard. The event was a workshop hosted by NUIGalway, on behalf of the Myeloma IrelandConsortium (MIC), with the support of ScienceFoundation Ireland.
MIC was established within the past year with theaim of increasing collaboration between ‘like-minded’ researchers from different academicinstitutions and hospitals in a co-ordinatedapproach to maximise research potential andimprove patient outcomes in multiple myeloma.
Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that arisesfrom plasma cells, the white blood cells thatproduce antibodies. In effect, the cancer causesoverproduction of antibody producing plasma cellsleading to problems such as anaemia, bonedamage, kidney failure and elevated calcium levels.
Professor Frank Giles, who leads the HRB ClinicalResearch Facility in Galway and is Professor ofCancer Therapeutics at NUI Galway and TrinityCollege Dublin discussed Irish early-phase studiesin myeloma in the context of the National ClinicalResearch Framework. An update on currentmultiple myeloma trials being conducted by theall-Ireland Cooperative Clinical OncologyResearch Group (ICORG) was given by Dr PeterO’Gorman, Chair of the ICORG Haematologystudy group.
Professor Micheal O’Dwyer, Professor ofHaematology at NUI Galway and ConsultantHaematologist, University Hospital Galway, whoconvened the event stated: “While treatments haveimproved over the last decade, and most patientsare living longer, multiple myeloma remains anincurable disease. It is vital that scientists acrossthe entire Irish research spectrum work together tofind new treatment approaches and improvepatient outcomes.”
Research BreakthroughShows Promise inOffsetting CorneaTransplant RejectionSuccess rates for cornea transplants could begreatly improved following a major advancein genetically modifying donor corneas.Scientists at REMEDI have determined amethod, in pre-clinical trials, to geneticallymodify donor corneas so that they are lesslikely to be rejected by the host immunesystem.
With more than 100,000 procedures a yearworldwide, cornea transplantation(keratoplasty) is the most frequenttransplant procedure. The cornea is thetransparent, dome-shaped surface of the eye,and accounts for a large part of its focussingpower. Transplantations can restore vision,reduce pain and improve the appearance of adamaged or diseased cornea.
Although keratoplasty is a procedure withgood success rates, incidence of graftrejection still exists. For some high-riskpatients, rejection rates can be as high as50%. Using their breakthrough technique onthe donor corneal tissue before grafting, theREMEDI team showed success in laboratorytrials of decreased inflammatory responseand protection against rejection.
The research team at NUI Galway, fundedby Science Foundation Ireland, was led byDr Thomas Ritter: “What we havesucceeded in doing with the latest molecularbiology techniques is to successfullyencourage the donor cornea to produceample PD-L1. It is known that ProgrammedDeath-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) stops the activityof the body’s fighter immune cells andprohibits their ability to disrupt thetransplantation process. By encouraging thedonor cornea to produce PD-L1, it increasedwhat known as the ‘immune privilege’ orability of the eye to accept the graft.”
Dr Ritter added: “Potentially, what is mostexciting is that these strategies could be ofvalue for other transplant models. It couldbe applied, for example, to protectpancreatic islet cells transplanted for thetreatment of type 1 diabetes.”
A report from the Irish Centre for SocialGerontology (ICSG) that will lay the foundationfor Ireland’s first National Strategy for Dementiawas recently launched by the Minister for Health,James Reilly. The report estimates prevalence ratesof dementia in Ireland; quantifies the economicand social costs of dementia; assesses currentservice availability for people with dementia andbest practice in dementia care nationally andinternationally.
‘Creating Excellence in Dementia Care: AResearch Review for Ireland’s National DementiaStrategy’ is the result of a joint collaborationbetween researchers at the NUI Galway’s ICSG,Trinity College Dublin and St James’s Hospital.The report was funded by Atlantic Philanthropies.`
In another report from the ICSG, it was found thatwhile growing old in rural areas can be a positiveexperience, there are also a number of factorswhich may lead to older people experiencing socialexclusion.
The report, ‘Social Exclusion and Ageing inDiverse Rural Communities’, is the first of its kindon the `island of Ireland. It takes an in-depth lookat exclusion for older people living in rural settingsacross Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was writtenby the ICSG’s Dr Kieran Walsh, Professor EamonO’Shea and Professor Tom Scharf.
Ireland’s Minister of State for Disability, Equality,Mental Health and Older People, Kathleen LynchTD, and Northern Ireland’s Minister forAgriculture and Rural Development, MichelleO’Neill MLA visited NUI Galway to officiallylaunch the report.
Minister Lynch, Minister O’Neill and President Browneat the launch of Social Exclusion and Ageing in DiverseRural Communities Report.
Researchers Win Wounds AwardCainéal iTunes U de chuidCOGG le seoladh beo arRTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
Dónall Ó Braonáin, Príomhfheidhmeannach, Acadamh nahOllscolaíochta Gaeilge; Séamas Ó Concheanainn, Riarthóir,Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, Carna agus Edel NíChuireáin, Ceannaire RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta le linnseoladh Chainéal iTunes U – COGG in Áras Shorcha NíGhuairim, Carna.
Sheol Ceannaire RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Edel NíChuireáin áis fhoghlama úrnua atá forbartha ag Acadamh nahOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh do bhunscoileannaGaeltachta agus lán-Ghaeilge, le déanaí. Chraoladh anseoladh beo ar an gclár Ardtráthnóna ar RTÉ Raidió naGaeltachta.
Is éard atá sa Chainéal nua iTunes U - COGG (AnChomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta)ná cnuasach saibhir d’acmhainní físe agus fuaime aroghnaíodh go cúramach ó Chartlann RTÉ Raidió naGaeltachta agus ó Chartlanna Ollscoil na hÉireann,Gaillimh féin, mar chuid de thionscadal taighde atá curtha igcrích ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Áiríonn anCainéal 300 mír fhoghlama ina bhfuil amhráin a gcasadh,dánta á n-aithris, scéalta spraíúla á n-insint, eolas á roinntagus míreanna staire á gcur i láthair i gcanúintí éagsúla. Tána míreanna dírithe ar shealbhú agus ar shaibhriú na Gaeilgei measc daltaí i mbunscoileanna Gaeltachta agus lán-Ghaeilge, go háirithe daltaí Rang 5 agus 6. In éineacht leis nahacmhainní féin, tá plean foghlama deartha a bheidh mar áissa seomra ranga ag múinteoirí bunscoile agus iad ag úsáid namíreanna foghlama. Tá acmhainní foghlama atá feiliúnachdo spriocghrúpaí eile ar fáil ar an gCainéal freisin.
Thar ceann fhoireann an tionscadail in OÉ Gaillimh deirRiarthóir Ionad an Acadaimh, Carna, Séamas ÓConcheanainn: “Tionscnamh eiseamláireach é seo adhaingníonn tábhacht an taighde ar an gceathrú leibhéal lefreastal ar riachtanais chomhaimseartha múinteoiríbunscoileanna trí acmhainní digiteacha teagaisc den scoth achur ar fáil don seomra ranga. Cuireadh an togra i gcrích abhuíochas den saineolas sna daonnachtaí digiteacha atá ásaothrú in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge trí chéile achgo háirithe in Ionad na hOllscoile anseo i gCarna. Cothaíonnsaothrú an léinn nua-aoisigh agus an chultúir traidisiúnta inéineacht deiseanna ar leith don sealbhú teanga agus tacaíonnan tionscadal taighde seo go láidir mar sin le ceann dephríomh chuspóirí an Ionaid, sé sin an Ghaeilge a bhuanúagus a threisiú sa Ghaeltacht agus ar fud na tíre.”
Researchers at NUI Galway have recently beenawarded a prestigious Wounds UK Award for apresentation given at the 2010 Annual WoundsUK Conference, on a new electronic medicaltechnique which aims to assist in therestoration of sensory function lost, due toaging and disease, particularly due to diabetes.The Wounds UK awards “recognise theoutstanding achievements of those in who areimproving standards in wound prevention andmanagement, through research, clinical auditand practice development”.
The NUI Galway team have observed that lostsensation in the feet (which is known to lead toloss of balance, foot ulceration and ultimatelyto amputation), may be partially restored byapplying low voltage electrical noise to theaffected nerves, through the skin, viaelectrodes.
The new technique relies on the principle thatthe nervous system is in fact an electricallynoisy transmission system. The team have
found that applying a ‘noisy’ electrical signal tothe affected nerves, resulted in theenhancement of the associated nerve signalsand their transmission.
If the transmission characteristics of nervesignals can be enhanced through the use of awearable electrical device, then there is thepotential to treat a wide range of medicalconditions.
Currently there is no treatment available torestore neural function lost due to aging anddiabetes. With the current dramatic rise in bothof these populations, the need for suchtreatments is greater than ever.
This work, funded by the Health ResearchBoard, brings together a multidisciplinaryresearch team including Dr Paul Breen andProfessor Gearóid Ó Laighin (Electrical &Electronic Engineering,), Dr CarolineMcIntosh (Podiatry), Dr Sean Dinneen(Diabetes & Endocrinology, UHG & School ofMedicine), Dr Leo Quinlan (Physiology) andProfessor Jorge Serrador (Dept. of VeteransAffairs, NJ, USA and Neurology, HarvardMedical School).
According to Professor Gearóid Ó Laighin:“This work which is funded by the HRB andwhich was facilitated by an SFI WaltonFellowship, shows the potential for producinghighly innovative, medical solutions, when ateam of researchers from such diversedisciplines as Engineering, Medicine, Podiatryand Physiology, pool their expertise to solvecomplex medical problems.”
From left to right Dr Paul Breen, Dr CarolineMcIntosh, Professor Gearóid Ó Laighin, Dr LeoQuinlan, Claire O’ Tuathail
Taoiseach launches medical academyprogramme at Mayo General HospitalMayo General Hospital, in a unique partnershipwith NUI Galway and GMIT in Castlebar, haslaunched a new medical academy for thetraining of doctors at the Castlebar site. Theprogramme was officially launched by AnTaoiseach Enda Kenny. The academy receivedits first intake of 20 student doctors in January,and a further 20 students will arrive inSeptember. These 20 students will spend a totalperiod of 20 weeks at Mayo General.
The majority of the medical students rotatedfrom NUI Galway and the hospital alsodeveloped considerable linkages with universities
in Germany. The arrangements, as such, weregenerally informal and contact was usuallyinitiated by students to individual consultants.
The content of the teaching programme is laiddown by the School of Medicine NUI Galway.The plan is to reproduce the exact teachingprogramme at Mayo General in order to ensureconsistency and preparation for studentexaminations. All clinical specialties at MayoGeneral will become involved in the teachingprogramme over time as the teachingprogramme is rolled out gradually and in acoordinated manner.
The year has got off to avery encouraging startwith NUI Galwayawarded a 5 star ratingfrom the latest QS Starsrating system. Our
University recorded top marks in this newinternational rating, designed as an alternative touniversity rankings.
Three Irish universities were rated in the first everglobal university rating system and NUI Galway joinsUCC in securing the overall 5 star rating. NUIGalway was rated five out of five overall, receivingmaximum ratings in areas including research,teaching, internationalisation, facilities, engagementand innovation.
This excellent news acknowledges the developmentsthat have taken place at our University in recent years.The 5 Star rating represents a validation of ourperformance in teaching, research and other activities,and positions us well alongside other internationaluniversities on a global stage. It rewards the vision bythe University to prioritise capital development andhighlights the strength of our industrial partnershipsand commercialisation activity. Our achievement incommunity and civic engagement is also recognised.In a growing competitive market, I am especiallyhappy about our 5 star rating in internationalisationas this again reaffirms our position within highereducation globally.
The first international assessment of its kind, QS Starshas been devised by the research team behind theannual QS World University Rankings. The opt-inscheme assesses an unlimited number of universitiesin a greater range of areas than any existinginternational ranking. Unlike rankings, QS Starsmeasure universities against preset internationalstandards, drawing on 30 criteria. As well as an overallrating of zero to five stars, universities that take partare rated in up to eight areas including research,teaching, graduate employability, access andinnovation.
Designed to cover areas currently beyond the scopeof university league tables, experts regard the QS starsas an important new development in the business ofhigher education. “QS Stars has the potential torevolutionise the way we measure universityperformance”, says John O’Leary, editor of TheTimes Good University Guide. “It covers areas thathave proved to be beyond the scope of internationalrankings, such as teaching, employment rates andaccess, as well as strength in specialist disciplines.”
Honouring President Higgins – ‘Fear ón Iarthar taghta chun chinn’On 25 January, at a ceremony in Dublin Castle, I hadthe privilege of giving the introductory citation for theconferring of an honorary degree on the President ofIreland, His Excellency, Michael D. Higgins. It was anhonour to mark the historic achievement of ‘one ourown’. As a graduate, a highly respected lecturer andan adjunct professor of this University, we share aninstitutional pride in his assuming the office of FirstCitizen.
Following the conferring, President Higginsaddressed the gathering on The Role of theUniversity in a Time of Intellectual Crisis. The largeattendance in St Patrick’s Hall includedrepresentatives from Government, the Council ofState, the judiciary, the diplomatic corps, in additionto members of the four NUI constituent universitiesand other Irish universities. Notable amongst theattendance were many former colleagues of PresidentHiggins from NUI Galway, where he lectured in theSchool of Political Science & Sociology for over thirtyyears.
It is a longstanding tradition of the NationalUniversity of Ireland to confer an honorary degree onthe President following his or her inauguration. DrDouglas Hyde received an honorary degree from theRoyal University of Ireland in 1906. NUI hashonoured all Presidents since 1952 with the exceptionof Eamon de Valera, who was Chancellor of theUniversity while in office.
The NUI will publish the text of the IntroductoryCitation and President Higgins’ Speech which canalso be found at www.nuigalway.ie/president
Almost a month later, on 24 February, President andMrs Higgins made their first official visit to theUniversity when President Higgins formally launchedthe Irish Centre for Autism and NeurodevelopmentalResearch (see p.1 cover story). Marking the occasion,which also co-incided with the 50th anniversary of hisentering the University as a mature student in 1962, Ipresented the President with a speciallycommissioned limited edition print of TheQuadrangle.
Focal scoirIn recent months we have seen many colleagues retiredue to Government measures allowing public servicestaff to retire on pre-cut salary pensions before end ofFebruary 2012. In bidding farewell to manycolleagues, I’m conscious that we also say goodbye tovaluable knowledge, experience and institutionalmemory, as well as some wonderful co-workers. Iwish those colleagues who have retired recently everyhappiness, health and fulfillment in the years aheadand I hope that they will continue to remain vitallyconnected to the life of this campus community.
Gabhaim buíochas leo siúd uilig a chuaigh ar scor ledéanaí mar chomhaltaí foirne de chuid OÉ Gaillimh,de bharr an tseirbhís dhílis atá tugtha acu donOllscoil. Guím saol fada, sona, sásta orthu.
Le gach dea-ghuíJames J. Browne PhD, DSc, MRIA, C.EngUachtarán – President
Tá Focal ón Uachtarán le fáil ar line agus go dátheangach: www.nuigalway.ie/president/reports
Focal ón Uachtarán
Pictured from left Vice-Chancellor of NUI and President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne; President of Ireland,Michael D. Higgins; and Chancellor of NUI, Dr Maurice Manning. At a ceremony in Dublin Castle, the Chancellorof the National University of Ireland, Dr Maurice Manning conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD)on the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins.
OLLSCÉALAStaff and Student AwardsMajor US Research Awardfor Professor Frank Barry
One of Ireland’s leading scientists working in thefield of stem cell therapy received the 2012Marshall R. Urist Award for Excellence in TissueRegeneration Research. Professor Frank Barry,Director of the NCBES was given the award bythe Orthopaedic Research Society. This is thefirst time the award will go a scientist workingoutside of the US.
The Marshall R. Urist, MD Award was created in1996 and is sponsored by John Wiley & Sons,Inc. This prestigious award honours aninvestigator who has established him/herself as acutting-edge researcher in tissue regenerationresearch, and has done so with a sustainedongoing body of focused research in the area oftissue regeneration as it relates to themusculoskeletal system.
Harry A. McKellop, Chair of the Awards andRecognition Committee of the OrthopaedicResearch Society, said: “The Urist Awardhonours investigators who have made significantcontributions to research in tissue regeneration.It is presented to Professor Barry in recognitionof his outstanding achievements in the field ofcell mediated therapies in bone and joint repair,and the impact of his research on improving theunderstanding of tissue regeneration and jointmetabolism.”
Commenting on the announcement, ProfessorBarry said: “It is an extraordinary honour for mepersonally to receive this award and I am verygrateful to the Orthopaedic Research Society forrecognising the research I have been involved inover the last number of years. I am fully awarethat research of this nature involves teams ofscientists and I have been very fortunate to workwith many talented and innovative researchers inthe US and especially now at NUI Galway.”
Students ScoopWatts MedalFour NUI Galway Medical students wererecently presented with prizes from the HealthResearch Board (HRB). The overall winner ofthe Watts Medal was fourth-year medical studentDympna O’Dwyer from Mullagh, Co. Clare, withsecond place going to Sarah Cormican fromOranmore, Co. Galway, a third-year medicalstudent at the University.
Fourth-year medical student UrszulaDonigiewicz from Carrigtwohill, Co. Sligo waspresented with first place in the Watts Postercompetition and third place was awarded tothird-year medical student Maria Duignan fromBoyle, Co. Roscommon.
The Watts Medal is an annual prize awarded forthe best presentation of scientific work to a layaudience. Undergraduate students who win aHRB Summer Scholarship are entitled to enter.Their entries are reviewed by scientists, and thebest entries are selected for entry into the WattsPoster competition, with the top projects fromthat selected to compete for the Watts Medalproper.
Professor Fidelma Dunne, Head of the School ofMedicine, hopes to build further on this outcomeby encouraging clinical and biomedical researchas an integral part of undergraduate medicaleducation. She said: “Research is an extremelyimportant component of disease specificknowledge and treatment but also contributessignificantly to population health and healthservices research. The awards have occurred as aresult of the commitment of undergraduatestudents to research, the supervision andmentoring of students by staff within the school,and the high calibre of the research beingconducted.”
NFB Researchers ReceivePrestigious Travel Awardsin DistinguishedLaboratoriesFour researchers at the Network of Excellence forFunctional Biomaterials (NFB), have beenawarded Short-Term Travel Fellowships byScience Foundation Ireland (SFI). Bill Daly,Mohammad Abu-Rub, Dr Xuejun Hu and Shane
Browne will travel to prestigious researchinstitutes in the US and China to progressingNFB ambitions in the cardiac, neural and wound-healing fields.
International MedicalGeology AssociationDr Chaosheng Zhang, Head of the newlyestablished geographic information system (GIS)Centre at Ryan Institute has recently beenelected as a new councillor of InternationalMedical Geology Association (IMGA). IMGAwas established in January of 2006 like a “policyneutral” organization that looks for facilitatinginteractions between geoscientists andbiomedical / public health researchers inaddressing human and animal health problemscaused by geologic materials or geologicprocesses. The association currently has nearly500 members from 73 countries worldwide. DrZhang is also Councillor of SEGH (Society forEnvironmental Geochemistry and Health) and aMember of the Editorial Board of The Science ofthe Total Environment; as well as CoordinatingEditor of Environmental Geochemistry and Health.
HSA Award
A team of engineering students won second placein the Health and Safety Authority’s (HSA)‘Safety in Design and Construction’ third-levelcompetition. The NUI Galway team consistedof: Kevin Carney, a fourth year BSc in Projectand Construction student from Frenchpark, Co.Roscommon; fourth year BE in Civil Engineeringstudent Grant Deeney from Ballaghaderreen, Co.Roscommon; Conor Higgins a fourth year BE inCivil Engineering student from Wicklow Town;and Joanne Harmon, Education Manager, HSA.
OLLSCÉALA100 Good Reasons to Choose NUI Galwayfor Postgraduate StudiesNUI Galway has recently announced a new scholarships scheme for PostgraduateStudents. This is the first scheme of its kind in Ireland, in which 100 new scholarships willbe awarded at €2,000 per student. The new initiative is open to postgraduate students,applying for a fulltime Taught Masters programme due to commence in autumn 2012.
This scholarship scheme is completely unique to NUI Galway, with no other universityoffering this level of support to prospective postgraduate students. Dr Jim Browne,President of NUI Galway, has said the new scholarships were developed in direct responseto the recent cuts in maintenance funding for postgraduate students, “We know that moreand more students are looking to postgraduate study as a means of enhancing their skillsand their employability, but financial constraints are a big problem. We believe that thesescholarships will enable more of the brightest and most committed students to progress topostgraduate study.”
The scholarships will be awarded to students who fulfil the criteria as outlined by theUniversity.
New Courses
Theatre and PerformancePictured is Dr Patrick Lonergan with students at the launch ofthe new BA degree in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies,which is designed for students with a keen interest in all aspectsof drama and performance. It is a world-class programme,providing a unique opportunity to study drama, theatre andperformance from a practical, theoretical and historicalperspective. The first intake of students for the new BA in Drama,Theatre and Performance Studies will be in September 2012.“Our students benefit from the University’s unique combinationof groundbreaking academic expertise, professional practice andaccess to some of Ireland’s leading artists. This new course is awonderful opportunity for students to explore all aspects ofperformance from theatre to film, storytelling and new media”,commented the programme director, Patrick Lonergan.
In the CloudA new Master of Science degree in Cloud Computing Research,in collaboration with Hewlett-Packard, has been announced. TheMSc in Cloud Computing Research is a one-year fulltime or atwo-year part-time research-based course, commencing inSeptember 2012. Entry to the course will be based on personsalready working in the ICT sector or within a technology-relatedrole in other sectors with a qualifying degree or relatedexperience, or persons with an undergraduate degree containinginformation systems, technology management or equivalent.
Information TechnologyFor those looking to transfer into the IT sector, NUI Galway alsooffers an innovative industry-focused Higher Diploma inSoftware Design and Development. This goal of this one-yearpostgraduate conversion course, co-designed with industryexperts, is to increase the supply of skilled graduates to meet theneeds of Ireland’s high-growth software industry. It will providegraduates with a fast-track, focused computing qualification, andpresents them with an opportunity to obtain valuable industrywork experience.
Léann Teanga & CumarsáidNUI Galway has also just announced two new MA coursesthrough Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, MA/DioplómaIarchéime (Léann Teanga) and MA Cumarsáidwww.nuigalway.ie/acadamh
Biomedical ScienceA new one year MSc course in Cancer Research will commencein September 2012. Designed to equip participants withextensive knowledge and the most advanced technologies tomeet this challenge, this modular course consists of 30% taughtmaterial and a 70% research element.
Mature Students to Benefit from €60,000 in ScholarshipsThe University has also announced details of new scholarships scheme for maturestudents. In total, 30 new scholarships will be awarded, consisting of €2,000 perstudent for every year of their study. Dr Martina Ní Chúlain, Admissions Officer atNUI Galway, explains: “The new Scholarships for Mature Students are an incentive toattract more of the brightest and most committed students, and to support their returnto full-time education. Mature students bring so much to the campus and to theirclassmates, and we hope to offer the scholarship as a support in making the transitioninto third-level education easier.”
Minister Bruton launches Ennis InnovateMr Richard Bruton TD, Minister forJobs, Enterprise and Innovation,officially launched Ennis Innovate,Regional Innovation Centre earlier thisyear. The Innovation Centre, anNUI Galway supported initiative,provides support to start-up companiesas they progress from business ideastage to commercialisation. Based inEnnis, Co. Clare, the Centre willsupport and guide companies throughthe start-up process and providecompanies with introductions and linkages to relevant support bodies and processes,ultimately improving their chance of success.
Ennis Innovate will be a resource for all start-up companies providing entrepreneurswith business skills, networks, facilities and supports necessary to navigate the businessstart-up process. The centre will provide participants with business acumen, conceptdesk space, mentoring, networking and facilities required to run a new business.Participants should have a business idea with growth potential or be a small businessrequiring assistance in commercialisation.
President Browne, said: “Universities have a major role to play in developingentrepreneurship and innovation in the Irish economy. NUI Galway is delighted tojoin with our Alliance partner, the University of Limerick, to support Ennis Innovate.This initiative will enable entrepreneurs in the West and Mid-West regions to gainaccess to the support and skills they need to bring their businesses to the next level.”
Séamus O’Grady, Gearóid Ó Conluain,Jerry Maloney, President Browne, Minister Bruton,Finbar Brougham and Professor Terry Smith.
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Launch of First Women’s Network
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OLLSCÉALAOlder Women Lose out in Pension Provision
Following the call from the Vice-President for Performance and Innovative aproposal to develop the Youth Academy at NUI Galway was successful. TheYouth Academy will aim to work with high ability primary school children inthe local community to support their learning and academic development.The programme aims to inspire entry into university by introducing childrenand their families to university life and by creating positive perceptions of theuniversity and its’ academic programmes. It will also make efforts to engageyoung people who may not have a history of third-level education in theirfamily such as children from more disadvantaged backgrounds. The YouthAcademy is a collaboration between Dr Mary Dempsey (School ofEngineering & Informatics), Dr Caroline Heary (School of Psychology),Lorraine McIlrath (Community Knowledge Initiative) and Dr Colm O’Reilly (Centre for Talented Youth, Ireland, DCU).
The roll-out of this proposed programme will be multi-disciplinary in natureand will take place on campus during April and May 2012 on Saturdaymornings. For further information on the project please [email protected]
Another Bright Idea –The NUI Galway Youth Academy
A new University Women’s Network has been launched within NUIGalway. The network seeks to support professional development andnetworking among its members towards achieving individual careergoals and contributing to the development of vibrant research, teachingand supporting service communities. Renowned author and researcherProfessor Susan Vinnicombe (OBE) delivered the keynote address atthe launch which took place in The View. Recognised for her work onwomen’s leadership styles, and the issues involved in women developingtheir managerial careers, her keynote address focussed on the ‘Benefitsof Networking in the University’.
The chair of the Women’s Network, Professor Kathy Murphy, School ofNursing and Midwifery commented: “We are very excited about theLaunch of the Women’s Network. The Network will provide a forum todiscuss debate and propose solutions to some of the issues that impacton the professional development and career progression of women. Thenetwork will seek to promote a better gender balance in leadershippositions in both academic and administration communities in theUniversity, through various mechanisms including networkingopportunities, relevant seminars, and mentoring.”
The annual NUI Galway Postgraduate Open Day took place in Februaryand showcased over 400 of NUI Galway’s full-time and part-timepostgraduate programmes, including taught and research masters, anddoctoral research options. With in excess of 1,500 attendees, includingcurrent students and visitors, 84 exhibition stands highlighted NUIGalway’s postgraduate programmes, information sessions ran throughoutthe day, and a CV Clinic was also a feature.
Pictured l-r, President Jim Browne; Valerie Leahy, Postgraduate AdmissionsOfficer; and John Hannon, Head of Career Development Centre.
Pictured is Professor Susan Vinnicombe , OBE
Postgraduate Fair showcasesover 400 Programmes
Fewer than one in three female pensioners in Ireland receive the maximumcontributory pension and two-thirds rely on the non-contributory pension,leaving many women disadvantaged in later life, says a new report from NUIGalway. The report ‘Older Women Workers’ Access to Pensions:Vulnerabilities, Perspectives and Strategies’ was written by Dr Nata Duvvury,Dr Áine Ní Léime and Aoife Callan of NUI Galway, in conjunction withcolleagues in Queens University Belfast and with funding from the Centre forAgeing Research and Development in Ireland.
The research highlights the issue of gender inequality in pension provision inIreland, north and south. It underlines the vulnerability of older women andexamines the factors that contribute to lower pension incomes amongwomen, including level of labour force participation and time spent caring fordependants. The report also looks at strategies used by older women andfinds many depend on partners’ or husbands’ incomes for a secure future,even though they may well outlive them as women tend to have longer lifeexpectancies.
Dr Nata Duvvury, co-Director of the Global Women’s Studies Programme atNUI Galway, one of the lead investigators of the report commented:“Women are often the holders of low pay and part-time jobs which willdramatically affect their ability to build pensions. With the economic crisis,this particular group in society is being put under even more financialpressure and the long-term result looks set to be financial insecurity in olderage.”
Dr Áine Ní Léime, co-principal investigator at the Irish Centre for SocialGerontology at NUI Galway, added: “While pension policy in Ireland, northand south, has begun to address some of the obstacles to women’s access topensions, there is a clear need for a coherent approach across the policy areasof employment, taxation and social welfare, as well as pensions to ensure thatwomen have an adequate income in later life.”
EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation andScience, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, met researchersfrom the Centre for Disability Law and Policy(CDLP) at a meeting in Brussels arranged by theCDLP as part of its EU FP7 DREAM (DisabilityRights Expanding Accessible Markets) InitialTraining Network. Professor Quinn and theDREAM consortium offered the Commissioner anoverview of their project and the Commissionerspoke to the group about research funding in theEU and, in particular, the incoming Horizon 2020funding phase.
Fionnula FlanaganInspires Film Students
Acclaimed actress Fionnula Flanagan held anacting workshop and a public interview about herfilmmaking career at the Huston School of Film &Digital Media in February after being honouredwith the Irish Film and Television Academy(IFTA) Lifetime Achievement Award at the 9thAnnual IFTA Awards in Dublin. The Guard, inwhich she stars, was nominated for a BAFTAaward in London. She has had a long career,nationally and internationally, in theatre, film andtelevision and received an honorary degree fromNUI Galway in 2008.
EXPLORE
NUI Galway and the Students’ Union have joinedforces to introduce a new model for students anduniversity staff to work in equal partnership todeliver innovation on campus. The first scheme ofits kind in the Irish third-level sector, theEXPLORE Innovation Initiative takes studentengagement to a new level. Students and staff team
up, devise an innovative, sustainable project, applyfor €1,000 funding and, where successful, deliverthis project within a six-month time frame.
EXPLORE is inspired by successful studentengagement initiatives at a number of UKuniversities. Whereas the UK focus has mainlybeen around strengthening learning and teaching,EXPLORE firmly emphasises innovation andturning ideas into reality. The scheme is currentlybeing piloted but the hope is that it will be rolledout and become a permanent feature of universitylife, subject to interest and availability of funding.
Irish Syllabus
The third and final year of the national syllabusproject for Irish was recently launched. Theproject is led by Dr John Walsh, Irish, School ofLanguages, Literatures and Cultures in associationwith Professor Máirín Nic Eoin of St. Patrick’sCollege in Dublin. 17 third level institutions bothnorth and south are involved in the project, whichwas supported by the national language bodyForas na Gaeilge. €200,000 was provided by Forasover three years to employ a project manager whowas based at St. Patrick’s College. As well as syllabifor the three years of the BA or BEd in Irish, awide selection of audiovisual and text resourceswas also created and is available atwww.teagascnagaeilge.ie. The syllabus is beingimplemented in the Departments of Irish inseveral institutions throughout Ireland.
SaotharThe current edition of Saothar, Journal of the IrishLabour History Society, is edited by NUI Galwaylecturers, John Cunningham, History, and MaryClancy, Global Women’s Studies. Saothar 36, aspecial edition on women, shows the potential ofwomen and labour as a research category.
The articles cover a range of experience, includingwomen war workers, early trade unionism andsocialism, working conditions and the politics ofkeeping house. Saothar is an INT2 level journal inthe European Reference Index for the Humanities,and has scholarly significance and visibility atinternational level.
Reception for Eleven US Fulbright ScholarsPresident Jim Browne and GMIT President,Michael Carmody, welcomed eleven US FulbrightAwardees at a reception held recently to mark thecommencement of Inter-changes: an OrientationProgramme for 2011 – 2012 hosted by NUI Galway.
This academic year (2011-2012), 14 FulbrightAwardees from the US are based in HigherEducation Institutions around Ireland studying,researching and lecturing in disciplines rangingfrom American History and animation tojournalism and civil engineering. Two of theFulbright awardees are based in Galway, DrKathryn Laity in NUI Galway and ProfessorGurram Gopal in GMIT.
Pictured, back row (l-r): Dr Kathryn Laity, MichaelMurphy, Dr Mark Shaurette, Michael Falk, Dr William F.McComas and Vanessa B. Cruz. Front Row (l-r): MichaelCarmody, President GMIT; Mayor of Galway City,Hildegarde Naughton; Dr Timothy Meagher; Dr GurramGopal; Dominique Brooke Dodge; Dr Jill Simone Gross;Suzanne McBride; Colleen Dube, Executive Director,Fulbright Commission; and President Browne.
Library Charter Pictured l-r at the recent launch of theLibrary Customer Charter are an tOllamhNollaig MacCongáil, Registrar; EmmettConnolly, SU President; and John Cox,University Librarian. The James HardimanLibrary is committed to achieving the higheststandards in the provision of informationresources and services to advance teaching,learning and research, and to foster lifelonglearning. The Charter, launched recentlyoutlines these commitments and is availableto consult on the Library website:http://www.library.nuigalway.ie/charter/
The 7th annual Teddy Bear Hospital tookplace again this January. The event sawover 1,300 sick teddy bears admitted tothe hospital, accompanied by theirminders, 1,300 primary school children.The event is organised by the SláinteSociety, the NUI Galway branch of theInternational Federation of MedicalStudents Associations, and up to 200medical and science students will diagnoseand treat the teddy bears. In the process,they helped children, ranging in age from3-8, feel more comfortable around doctorsand hospitals. Over the years, childrenhave come along with teddy bearssuffering from an imaginative range ofsore ears, sick tummies and all kinds ofothers weird and wonderful ailments. Pictured are Tara Ní Fhloinn, Seaic Ó Mainnín and Seán Ó Coistealbha, Naíonra Iognáid (Jes).
The NUI Galway Access Programme has re-launched its Uni 4 Uprogramme. The Uni 4 U programme brings pupils from two local primaryschools and NUI Galway students together in a fun and relaxedenvironment. The primary schools that are taking part in the programme areScoil Bhride in Shantalla, St. Michael’s Boys School Mervue and Holy TrinityGirls School in Mervue. Sixty children from 4th, 5th and 6th class in eachschool have been specially selected to participate on the programme.
Uni 4 U began i February and it will run for six weeks. The programme runsfor three days each week n February taking in 40 primary school pupils perday. Each week the children meet with their mentors to get help andguidance with school work as well as taking part in a wide range of sportingactivities delivered by the staff of the Kingfisher Sports Centre. The pupilshave the same mentor each week in order to develop positive relationships aswell as forming a sense of routine.
The Access Programme and the Uni 4 U programme focuses oncontinuity, working with the same group of students over several years tobreak the mentality that University is not accessible to everyone. The mainaim of the Uni 4 U programme is to help primary school children developpersonally by building their self-esteem, confidence, communication skillsand social behaviour through team games and sport activities in addition totheir educational attainment, especially in improvement in numeric andliteracy skills.
Teddy BearHospital
Múscailt, NUI Galway's week-long Spring Arts Festival, took place in Februaryand was a great success. Revolving around the theme of Illumination/Soiliú,this year Múscailt hosts a superb line-up of art, music, performance andsculpture. Pictured is James Fleming of Colour Street Theatre, Poet Rita AnnHiggins, and Fionnuala Gallagher, Arts Officer.
