May 2017 NUI Galway’s Career Development Centre Win Employability Award 2017

NUI Galway’s Career Development Centre recently won the Employability Award 2017 for their innovative programme piloted this year called ‘EmployAbility – Transition to Employment’. The event was part of the Association for Higher Education Career Services (AHECS) and GradIreland Awards that were recently held in the Mansion House, Dublin.

The AHECS is a professional association of careers advisory and placement professionals in higher education in Ireland. The Association provides higher education careers services across the 27 universities and Institutes of Technology in Ireland.

EmployAbility is an award winning programme that supports students with disabilities and mental health issues. The programme prepares students for the world of work and transition towards fulfilling careers. The programme was a result of the collaboration between NUI Galway’s Career Development Centre, Disability Support Service, Student Counselling and all units within Student Services. The programme was led by Careers Advisers, Marie Laffey and Ananda Geluk.

Dr Pat Morgan, Vice President for Student Experience who formally launched the programme in January said: “This programme has been a wonderful success and reflects NUI Galway’s and specifically Student Services commitment to supporting the personal development and employability of all our students.”

The programme featured in the Student Services Smart Study, Smart Life programme and was also funded by the Student Project Fund. Aspects of the programme included collaboration with external partners such as AHEAD (Association for Higher Education Access & Disability) and employers such as the ESB and Google who support and promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities.

The judging panel were very impressed with the submission and said: “NUI Galway’s Career Development Centre showed great initiative and drive to creatively engage with and support a specific cohort of students with a clear vision and strong employability deliverables.”

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