The Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway has officially welcomed this year's Bank of Ireland Fellowship Scholar, Dr. Abou Abass from Mauritania. Since 2001, the Fellowship has allowed the Centre to host scholars from developing countries. The aim of the fellowship is to support academically gifted individuals, providing them with an environment in which they can undertake research and increase their knowledge in the field of Human Rights and International Criminal law. At the Irish Centre for Human Rights, Dr. Abass will pursue research on the subject of Africa and the International Criminal Court, while lecturing a course on Gender and Human Rights. Dr. Abou Abass holds a PhD in Law from the University of Paul Cezanne in Aix-en-Provence, France. Prior to taking office as Bank of Ireland fellow, Dr. Abass has spent six months at the Hague, the Netherlands, working as a Law Clerk at the Legal Advisory Section of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. According to Kathleen Cavanaugh of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway, "Since 2001 the Bank of Ireland Fellowship Scholar scheme has supported five scholars from countries such as Mauritania, Nigeria, Ghana and Bangladesh. Through this support, uniquely talented and gifted people have benefited from working with the Irish Centre for Human Rights in Galway. In equal part, we have gained much from the scholarship programme and look forward to working this year with Dr. Abass." The Irish Centre for Human Rights is one of the world's premier university-based institutions for the study and promotion of human rights and humanitarian law. Since its establishment in January 2000, the NUI Galway Centre has developed a global reputation for excellence in the field of human rights teaching, research and advocacy, which has enabled the institution to attract high quality students to its acclaimed Masters programmes and to build a thriving community of doctoral researchers. The Irish Centre for Human Rights presently offers LL.M. programmes in International Human Rights Law, and International Peace Support Operations and has a Cross-Border Programme in Human Rights Law (LL.M.) and Human Rights and Criminal Justice (MSSc/LL.M.), in conjunction with Queens University of Belfast. This year the Irish Centre for Human Rights offers a new LL.M. programme in International Criminal Law. -ends-

NUI Galway is offering a new Masters Degree through Irish in Conference Interpreting (MA Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála), the first of its kind in Ireland. The course has been designed in direct response to Irish becoming an official language of the European Union and the resulting demand for professionals with recognised qualifications in Irish language interpreting and translation. The M.A. programme will be taught through Irish and, in addition to Irish and English, students with a high level of French and Irish will have the opportunity to use French while studying this M.A. The course is based on the European Masters in Conference Interpreting, a programme developed in conjunction with institutions of the European Union and offered in 18 universities across Europe. Devised by Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway's dedicated structure for the provision of third level courses through Irish, the M.A. will be delivered in An Cheathrú Rua in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht. Eoin Ó Droighneáin, Programme Director, believes the career prospects for graduates will be very good, "The European Union urgently needs to recruit highly trained and qualified Irish language interpreters. The MA Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála is designed to educate and prepare students for a career as a professional conference interpreter. Students will also be trained in the specialised skills of interpreting, leaving them in a strong position to secure prestigious employment on completing the course". The subjects covered in the MA Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála will include Conference Interpreting, simultaneous and consecutive Interpreting, the European Union and International Organisations, as well as the Theory and Practice of Interpreting. The programme will also cover memory exercises, sight translation, note-taking skills, mock conferences, glossaries for technical meetings, voice coaching, and booth etiquette. Students will have the opportunity to visit EU institutions to see at first hand the work of international interpreters. Applications are now being accepted for this full-time one-year course which will begin in September 2008 with a maximum intake of 12 students. Other postgraduate courses in Irish on offer at NUI Galway, include the: M.A. in Language Planning; M.A. in Teaching Methodology (An Ghaeilge); Higher Diploma in Drama; and the Higher Diploma in Applied Communications. In addition to the taught programmes, the NUI Galway's Acadamh offers a research scholarship programme in Information Technology. - ends -

Tá Céim Mháistreachta nua trí Ghaeilge san Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála le tosú in OÉ Gaillimh – an chéad chúrsa dá leithéid in Éirinn. Cinneadh an cúrsa seo a thairiscint de bhua stádas oifigiúil a bheith ag an nGaeilge san Aontas Eorpach agus an t-éileamh atá ann ar lucht gairme le cáilíochtaí aitheanta san ateangaireacht agus san aistriúchán Gaeilge. Is trí Ghaeilge a mhúinfear an clár M.A. agus le cois Gaeilge agus Béarla, beidh deis ag mic léinn le Fraincis agus Gaeilge den scoth, Fraincis a úsáid mar chuid den chúrsa M.A. Tá an cúrsa seo bunaithe ar an gCéim Mháistreachta Eorpaigh in Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála, clár a forbraíodh i gcomhar le hinstitiúidí an Aontais Eorpaigh agus clár atá ar siúl in 18 n-ollscoil ar fud na hEorpa. Is é Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge – coláiste de chuid OÉ Gaillimh atá dírithe ar chúrsaí tríú leibhéal trí mheán na Gaeilge a sholáthar – atá i mbun an chúrsa seo agus is ar an gCeathrú Rua, i gcroílár Ghaeltacht Chonamara, a bheidh an cúrsa ar siúl. Deir Eoin Ó Droighneáin, Stiúrthóir an Chláir, go gcreideann sé go mbeidh an-deis ag céimithe an chúrsa seo poist mhaithe a fháil agus gur "gá anois ateangairí Gaeilge ardoilte agus ardcháilithe a earcú san Aontas Eorpach. Is é atá mar aidhm leis an M.A. (Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála) mic léinn a oiliúint agus a ullmhú ionas gur féidir leo poist mar ateangairí comhdhála a fháil. Lena chois sin, cuirfear oiliúint ar mhic léinn sna sainscileanna ateangaireachta, rud a chinnteoidh go mbeidh ar a gcumas poist mhaithe a fháil nuair a bheidh an cúrsa críochnaithe". I measc na n-ábhar a chlúdaítear mar chuid den M.A. (Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála) tá Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála, Ateangaireacht Chomhuaineach, Ateangaireacht Leantach, an tAontas Eorpach agus Eagraíochtaí Idirnáisiúnta, mar aon le Teoiric agus Cleachtas Ateangaireachta. I measc na ngnéithe eile den chúrsa áireofar cleachtaí cuimhne, aistriúchán le hamharc, scileanna breacadh nótaí, bréagchomhdhálacha, gluaiseanna do chruinnithe teicniúla, oiliúint ghutha, agus dea-bhéas botha. Beidh deis ag mic léinn cuairt a thabhairt ar institiúidí an AE chun taithí phearsanta a fháil ar an obair a bhíonn ar siúl ag ateangairí idirnáisiúnta. Táthar ag glacadh le hiarratais anois don chúrsa lánaimseartha bliana seo a bheidh ag tosú i mí Mheán Fómhair 2008. Tá áit ar an gcúrsa do 12 mac léinn. I measc na gcúrsaí iarchéime Gaeilge eile atá ar fáil in OÉ Gaillimh tá: M.A. i bPleanáil Teanga; M.A. i dTeagasc Teangacha (An Ghaeilge); Ard-Dioplóma sa Drámaíocht; agus Ard-Dioplóma sa Chumarsáid Fheidhmeach. Chomh maith leis na cúrsaí múinte, tá scoláireacht taighde sa Teicneolaíocht Faisnéise á tairiscint ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. - críoch -

The NUI Galway Teaching Careers Fair takes place on Wednesday, 27 February, 2008, from 5-7pm in Áras na Mac Léinn. The event is aimed at those interested in a career in teaching, whether they are graduates, current or prospective students of the Postgraduate Diploma in Education. Over 20 exhibitors will attend, including employers such as County Galway VEC, County Wicklow VEC and Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh. UK employers including Red Teachers, MPS Education, Mossbourne Community College, Protocol Education and UTeach Recruitment are also travelling to the event to showcase employment opportunities for the next academic year. NUI Galway's exhibition stand will provide information on the Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme. Education providers from the UK, such as St. Mary's College in Twickenham, will be available to discuss vacancies on Postgraduate Certificate in Education courses in the UK. Deirdre Sheridan, of NUI Galway's Career Development Centre, says this is an excellent one-stop-shop for those interested in teaching, "For graduates and current students, employers will be taking CVs on the day as well as hosting interviews on campus in the days following the event. For those considering undertaking a postgraduate teaching qualification, there will be presentations highlighting the different entry routes to a career in teaching from both an Irish and UK perspective." Information providers will also have a presence at the event with the Teaching Council, and ASTI, the second level teachers union, listed to attend. For a full list of exhibitors visit www.nuigalway.ie/careers -ends-

From Galway to Lisbon – What's in it for Ireland? The NUI Galway Political Discussion Society (PDS) will host a debate on the EU Reform Treaty Debate entitled 'From Galway to Lisbon – What's in it for Ireland?' The debate is to take place on Monday, 25 February, 2008 at 8pm in the O Flaherty Theatre at NUI Galway. The event includes a line-up of national speakers: Leader of Fine Gael, Deputy Enda Kenny T.D.; Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív T.D.; President of the Labour Party, Deputy Michael D. Higgins T.D.; Leader of the Socialist Party, Joe Higgins; Declan Ganley of the Libertas Campaign; and Patricia McKenna of the People's Movement. The panel discussion will be chaired by President of NUI Galway, Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh. The society hopes that this debate, which will be the largest to be held in Ireland to date on the matter, will encourage awareness among students and the general public on the key issue of the EU Reform Treaty. The meeting will be free and open to both students and public alike. As capacity is limited, those wishing to attend the meeting are advised to come early to avoid disappointment. Ends