November

NUI Galway has secured approval and funding for a new Professor role under the Government's plan to improve gender balance in higher education. The new Professor of Chemistry post is one of 10 positions announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D. under Cycle 2 of the Senior Academic Leadership Initiative (SALI). NUI Galway was approved for two posts in the first round in January 2020.  The goal of the SALI initiative is to accelerate progress in achieving gender balance at the senior academic level in higher education institutions. President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “Our own work on gender equality in NUI Galway is unfinished but through dedication and excellent work we are building in the right way. “I would like to congratulate all those involved in securing posts for NUI Galway as part of the SALI initiative. “Along with our success on receiving Athena SWAN Bronze awards earlier this year and also the €1million from Government in Performance Funding to drive the University’s strategy and improvements in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, we recognise the huge endeavour and commitment to advancing equality to all our staff and students in line with our values of openness and respect.” First launched in 2019, the Government’s SALI plan forms part of a suite of initiatives to progress gender equality in higher education, as set out in the Gender Equality Taskforce Action Plan 2018-2020. Ends

Pupils invited to follow footsteps of 18th century Royal Navy surgeon as part of START 2022 competition National school pupils and their teachers are being urged to enter a competition to create their own randomised trial in the classroom. The call is being made as part of the Schools Teaching Awareness of Randomised Trials (START) competition for 2022. Now in its fifth year, the competition is open to children in from 4th, 5th and 6th class and urges them to follow the example of the Royal Navy surgeon James Lind who is credited with running comparative trial of the most promising cure for scurvy in the 18th century.  The initiative is run by the Health Research Board - Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN) based at NUI Galway, collaborating with their university partners: University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork and University of Limerick. It helps students become aware of the clinical trial process and create their own fun randomised trial in the classroom. Dr Sandra Galvin, HRB-TMRN Programme Manager at NUI Galway, said: “This is an exciting initiative and the first of its kind to bring awareness of clinical trials to the younger community. Schoolchildren and their teachers are so creative and we’re really looking forward to seeing what innovative ways teachers and pupils go about designing and reporting their trial. Previous years have really set such a high standard, and young students are pushing the boundaries of what we think they can understand, in fact, they are teaching us.” Randomised trials are a type of research study often used to find out if a new medicine or treatment works. START invites pupils and their teachers to plan, carry out and report their own randomised trial and encourages children to learn more about healthcare decisions and how we can improve healthcare and wellbeing by learning about randomised clinical trials. Professor Declan Devane, Scientific Director of the HRB-TMRN at NUI Galway, said: “We started this competition for two reasons - first, we wanted to raise awareness of the importance of randomised trials with children and secondly, we wanted to harness the creativity and imagination of children in the design, conduct, analysis and reporting of trials. “The high standard and variety of applications we receive each year demonstrates that the START competition has indeed raised the awareness of randomised trials and capitalised on children’s innate ability to explain difficult concepts clearly and in a fun way. We are very proud of all our applications and wish everyone the very best on the 20th May in Galway.” The competition is open until 22 April 2022. The top three shortlisted schools will be invited to NUI Galway on Friday, 20 May 2022 where they will be presented with the START Trophy 2022. Pupils are asked to choose a simple, easy to answer question. Resources and information is available on www.startcompetition.com. Questions can be practical and fun - Can using coloured paper for written spelling tests improve results? Does 10 minutes of dancing every morning before classes improve attention? The findings from each trial can be reported in any format such as a podcast, video, website, report format, collage or poster. Registration is open at https://startcompetition.com/trial-registration-form, or by email hrb-tmrn@nuigalway.ie, or by post to: Room 235, 1st Floor, Áras Moyola, School of Nursing and Midwifery, NUI Galway. Ends

NUI Galway will host a free one-day webinar conference, Archives and Human Rights: Memory, Truth-Telling and Institutional Records, on Thursday, 18 November from 9.30am to 6pm. The conference will examine current issues regarding the ethical, legal and professional management of records and archives relating to institutionalisation and family separation in Ireland. It has particular relevance in light of the Government’s announcement yesterday that it will establish a National Memorial and Records Centre: an initiative that will be progressed by a Group chaired by the Secretary General to the Government. The conference aims to facilitate greater public awareness of: The relevance of records access and preservation to truth-telling and transitional justice. The existing gaps in legislation, policy and practice. Human rights-based approaches to records management and archiving that might be drawn upon by civil society, records holders and policy-makers. Organised by Dr Maeve O’Rourke from the Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway and Dr Barry Houlihan, Archivist, NUI Galway Library Archives, the conference brings together an international field of leading scholars, academics, archivists, survivors, activists, artists, and human rights experts. The conference will consider the management of institutional 'care' and family separation records and archives from international, human rights-based and lived perspectives. Keynote speakers include: Dagmar Hovestädt, head of the department for communication and research of the Stasi Records Archive in the Federal Archives, Germany. The Stasi Records Archive has become a best practice example of how a country and society have opened up sensitive records in the process of transitional justice where people can request and access files relating to them and what information was covertly collected about them by the Stasi and others. Richard Ovenden, Bodley’s Librarian, University of Oxford, will talk about his research and his recent multi award-winning book, Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack, and will discuss how societies suffer when records and archives have been altered and destroyed by Governments, or by war and conflict. Dr Maeve O’Rourke, of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway, said: “Recent events have continued to highlight the need for sustained and critical evaluation of how “truth-telling” investigations operate in Ireland. Save to a very limited extent the archives of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, McAleese Committee, and Mother and Baby Homes Commission remain inaccessible to survivors and to the public. “Access to information is the first thing that any reparative process should provide; yet secrecy is still the default mode in Ireland. This conference offers an important opportunity to learn from international and human rights-based best practice, and to listen to the views of people still searching for the basic truth about their experiences of abuse.” Dr Barry Houlihan, Archivist at NUI Galway, said: "This conference will bring together a range of Irish and international perspectives, from survivors to academics and archivists, on shared matters relating to archives and records of institutions, state care, and family separation. “The discussions will help share international experience and practice and inform future needed work, policy, and legislation here in Ireland so that Survivors and those directly affected may be listened to, acknowledged, and be able to access their own records and identity within a process of open and transparent truth-telling." A number of survivors and activists will also participate and provide perspectives on their own personal experiences. They will comment on the current status of access to personal records and archives and the issues around current and proposed legislation governing access to records. They include; Rosemary Adaser, founder of Mixed Race Ireland; Mary Harney, an Activist and PhD student at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway; activist and writer, Noelle Brown; and Elizabeth Coppin, a survivor of three Magdalene Laundries whose case against Ireland is currently proceeding before the UN Committee Against Torture. The conference also draws together an international body of experts from around the world, including Catriona Crowe, former Head of Special Projects, National Archives of Ireland; Professor James Smith, Boston College; Raymond Frogner, Head of Archives, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, University of Manitoba, Canada; and Dr Cate O’Neill and Kirsten Wright of the Find and Connect project, an Australian government funded project providing online access to information on Australian orphanges, residential schools and institutions. Register for the conference at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/archives-and-human-rights-truth-telling-memory-and-institutional-records-tickets-195122194737?keep_tld=1 -Ends-

ReelLIFE SCIENCE video competition prizes awarded to Galway, Dublin, Mayo, Limerick, Clare and Roscommon schools and youth groups Tuesday, 16 November, 2021: Short science videos made by young Irish filmmakers were honoured at the ReelLIFE SCIENCE Video Competition Awards on Friday as part of Science Week 2021 and the Galway Science and Technology Festival. The videos ranged from debunking the Five Second Rule to exploring The Digestive System, and from measuring The Weight of the World to finding a Home for Bees. Almost 500 short science films were entered into the competition by over 3,000 science enthusiasts from 135 schools and youth groups in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Winning videos were selected by a panel of guest judges including NASA astronaut Colonel Greg Johnson, UCD Professor of Zoology Emma Teeling and the 2021 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition winner, Greg Tarr from Bandon Grammar School in Cork. A group of 18 fifth class students from Gaelscoil Riabhach in Loughrea, Co. Galway, along with their teacher Brian Ó Meacháin, won the €1000 first prize at Primary School level for their Irish language video ’An Córas Díleá (The Digestive System)’. Primary school runners-up were Scoil Phádraig from Westport, Co. Mayo, while Scoil na nAingeal Naofa from Boyle, Co. Roscommon finished third. Transition year students from Le Chéile Secondary School in Tyrellstown, Dublin 15, led by teacher Sean Creedon, claimed the Secondary School €1000 award, for their distinctive animated short ‘The Science of Colour Vision’. Secondary school runners-up were Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ from Limerick, while Coláiste Ghobnait from Inis Oirr, Co. Galway were awarded third place. ‘Are Aliens Real?’ by Coláiste Muire, Ennis transition year students won best Science Song as voted by the public. The Foróige Hub Castlebar, with support from youth worker Ruairi Kelly, won the €1000 Youth Organisation first prize for their video ‘A Home for Bees’. The Finglas Youth Resource Centre came second, while third place went to Adanna Okoye of the Eastside Youth Service Foróige, Galway. Addressing the young filmmakers at the awards ceremony, Professor Emma Teeling, said: “It has been such a fantastic pleasure to view all of your videos – they’re wonderful! It really gives me hope for our future if the youth of Ireland are studying science and understanding science and producing these videos that can communicate science to the world.” Speaking about ReelLIFE SCIENCE, Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Science for Society at Science Foundation Ireland, said: “I’d like to congratulate all the young people, teachers and youth workers from all over the country who submitted videos to ReelLIFE Science. “SFI are delighted to support this initiative, which encourages young people to be creative and connect with science and technology. I hope you enjoyed the experience and will continue to take other opportunities to explore STEM.” The ReelLIFE SCIENCE programme challenges young people in schools and youth groups around Ireland to engage with science and technology by producing short educational videos, while developing their communication and digital skills. Since being launched in 2013 by Dr Enda O’Connell from the College of Science and Engineering in NUI Galway, and a team of volunteer scientists, this challenge has been met by more than 20,000 participants in over 600 schools and youth groups around Ireland. The winning videos can be viewed at www.reellifescience.com and https://youtu.be/JUV5TTLiXPg. -Ends-

NUI Galway is proud to announce that three academic researchers have been named on the annual Highly Cited Researchers 2021 list from Clarivate. Professor Henry Curran, Professor Donal O’Regan and Professor Patrick W. Serruys, have once again joined the prestigious list of 6,600 researchers from across the globe who demonstrated significant influence in their chosen field or fields through the publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade.   The highly anticipated annual list identifies researchers whose names are drawn from the publications that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and publication year in the Web of Science citation index. About the three Highly Cited Researchers: Professor Henry Curran, listed in the Engineering category, is Director of the Combustion Chemistry Centre at NUI Galway’s School of Chemistry and of the Energy Research Centre in the Ryan Institute. His research looks at the study of the chemistry of how fuels burn in combustors in order to increase efficiency and reduce emissions for a cleaner world. This is his eight successive year being named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher. Professor Donal O'Regan, listed in the Mathematics category, is an Established Professor of Mathematics in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. He is an internationally recognised expert in the field of Nonlinear Analysis, Differential Equations, and Fixed Point Theory. He has written over 1,500 peer-reviewed mathematical articles, making him one of the most prolific authors in the history of mathematics in the world. This is his eight successive year being named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher. Professor Patrick W. Serruys, listed in the Clinical Medicine category, is Established Professor of Interventional Medicine and Innovation, Director of the CORRIB Research Centre for Advanced Imaging and Core Laboratory at the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. He is a world-renowned expert in interventional cardiology and imaging with more than four decades experience in clinical trials and innovation in medicine. He has pioneered several interventional procedures and devices as well as imaging techniques. Professor Serruys has over 4,000 publications and almost 200,000 citations. President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “I would like to congratulate our three Highly Cited Researchers on being included once again this year on such a prestigious global list. Excellence for the public good in our research and teaching is a strategic focus for NUI Galway. “Our strategy is grounded in the values of our University - our commitment to respect, sustainability, excellence, and openness. Our academics on this year’s Clarivate list are pioneering leaders and innovators in their respected fields and I wish them sustained success in their endeavours to address the world’s most challenging needs.” Professor Jim Livesey, Vice President for Research and Innovation, NUI Galway, said: “I wish to extend my warmest congratulations to Henry, Donal and Patrick on being included in the Clarivate top 1% of Highly Cited Researchers list in the world. I commend them for their ongoing contribution to innovative and sustainable research that has been recognised in this way by their global peers. “Our capacity to address complex issues is based on the rigor and insight of our fundamental research. This recognition underlines the importance of sustaining ambition across all domains, and our capacity to turn insight into impact.” David Pendlebury, Senior Citation Analyst at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate, said: “It is increasingly important for nations and institutions to recognise and support the exceptional researchers who are driving the expansion of the world’s knowledge. “This list identifies and celebrates exceptional individual researchers at NUI Galway who are having a significant impact on the research community as evidenced by the rate at which their work is being cited by their peers. The research they have contributed is fueling the innovation, sustainability, health and security that is key for our society’s future.” The full 2021 Highly Cited Researchers list and executive summary can be found online here. Follow online: on Twitter @ClarivateAG #HighlyCited2021. -Ends-

 University’s marks legacy of Dr Anna O’Coinne with dedication of facility in Lambe Institute An Taoiseach Micheál Martin T.D. has unveiled a commemorative plaque at NUI Galway in honour of Dr Anna O’Coinne, former chairperson and honorary president of National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI). Dr O’Coinne passed away on October 6 2020 after a lifetime of outstanding contribution to supporting breast cancer research through the NBCRI and its commitment and financial support for the Lambe Institute for Translational Research at NUI Galway. The plaque marks the dedication of a special seminar and meeting room in the Lambe Institute in honour of Dr O’Coinne’s legacy and memory. Among those who attended the event were Dr O’Coinne’s daughters Gillian and Susan, President of NUI Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Caroline Loughnane, Secretary for Governance & Academic Affairs at NUI Galway and Chairperson of the NBCRI, Miriam Hand, Director National Breast Cancer Research Institute, Professor Michael Kerin, Research Director of NBCRI and Director of the Saolta University Healthcare Group, Cancer Managed Cancer Academic Network, Professor Pat Nash, Chief Clinical Director of the Saolta University Healthcare Group and Tony Canavan, Chief Executive of Saolta University Healthcare Group. The plaque commemorates Dr Anna O’Coinne for her leadership and contribution to breast cancer research through the NBCRI and the outstanding legacy of support for breast cancer research at the Lambe Institute, NUI Galway, where it hangs. An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “It is a privilege to be in NUI Galway to commemorate Dr Anna O’Coinne and her life’s work and efforts that she made in the arena of breast cancer awareness, treatment and research for the benefit of women and their families across the west of Ireland.” President of NUI Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “Dr Anna O’Coinne’s endeavours and legacy epitomises the values of respect and excellence that we hold so dearly in NUI Galway. The impact of her stewardship of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute and its commitment to research at the Lambe Institute is immeasurable and as a research-led University we are indebted.” Caroline Loughnane, Chairperson of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute, said: “Anna was the heart of the NBCRI and her great kindness, energy and commitment inspired so many; today we celebrate her tremendous legacy of support for breast cancer research at the Lambe Institute.  Dr O’Coinne’s dedication and leadership over many years is a symbol of what can achieved in the field of cancer research but also acts as an inspiration to those who follow as we strive to secure better outcomes for patients and their families today.” Professor Michael Kerin said: “The ambition, energy and enthusiasm that Anna dedicated to the vision for cancer research is embodied in the Lambe Institute. Her success in advancing the National Breast Cancer Research Institute continues to underpin our cancer programme which recently achieved membership to the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes.” Ends

Ainmníodh OÉ Gaillimh mar Ollscoil na Bliana 2022 san eagrán nua den Good University Guide de chuid The Sunday Times. Dúradh gurb é OÉ Gaillimh an t-iarrthóir ba mhó a sheas amach agus an gradam mór le rá seo á bhronnadh. Mhol The Sunday Times an Ollscoil as an eiteas pobalbhunaithe atá againn, as an tacaíocht a thugaimid do na healaíona agus don chultúr agus as an bhfreagra taighde a thugamar i leith Covid-19 lena n-áirítear an cur chuige daonnúil agus atruach in iarracht cuid de na tionchair mhothúchánacha agus fhisiciúla ba mheasa den phaindéim a mhaolú. Mhol an nuachtán muid chomh maith as an ról ceannasach a ghlacamar sa phleanáil straitéiseach agus san ullmhúchán do phaindéimí na todhchaí. Is é seo an ceathrú geábh ag OÉ Gaillimh an teideal seo a thabhairt leis le 20 bliain. Agus é ag cur fáilte roimh ghradam Ollscoil na Bliana 2022, dúirt Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Táimid ag fáil aitheantais mar Ollscoil na Bliana tar éis bliain a bhí thar a bheith dúshlánach do chách a chur dínn. Is iad an daonnacht agus an cineáltas atá léirithe ag ár bpobal na tréithe ba mhó a chur OÉ Gaillimh chun cinn. “Is toradh rathúil an gradam seo ar ár straitéis, a seoladh díreach roimh Covid, nuair a thugamar gealltanas oibriú ar son leas an phobail. Teist atá ann ar ról OÉ Gaillimh laistigh den phobal agus ar son an phobail, agus ar a thiomanta atáimid dár n-áit féin trí bhreathnú níos faide i gcéin le fiosracht agus le huaillmhian. “Tá lúcháir orm dár gcuid mac léinn agus dár gcomhghleacaithe agus tá mé thar a bheith buíoch díobh go bhfuil an gealltanas seo á chur i gcrích, agus go dtugann an gradam seo aitheantas dó.” Cuireadh béim ar thrí ghné dár bhfreagra taighde Covid-19 sa Good University Guide 2022 de chuid The Sunday Times. Ba í an léachtóir sinsearach oinigh agus comhairleoir ICU, an Dr Bairbre McNicholas a bhí i gceannas ar an tionscadal taighde domhanda maidir le hothair a bhí thar a bheith tinn le Covid san ICU a chur ina luí ar a mbolg. Ba iad an Dr Aoife Murray agus Irial Conroy a bhí i gceannas ar an tionscadal IBM-CISCO FamilyLink, a thug deis do theaghlaigh a raibh duine muinteartha leo san ICU, othair Covid ina measc, labhairt agus breathnú ar a chéile trí ghlaonna físe fad is a bhí srianta cuairteoirí i bhfeidhm. Tá an tOllamh Máire Connolly i gceannas ar an tionscadal AE Pandem II atá i mbun pleanála agus ullmhúcháin do phaindéimí na todhchaí. Thréaslaigh OÉ Gaillimh le GMIT chomh maith agus bua eile tagtha chuig an iarthar de bharr gradam Institiúid Teicneolaíochta na Bliana a bheith bronnta air ag The Sunday Times. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Ollamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Déanaim comhghairdeas le gach duine in GMIT agus go háirithe leis an Dr Orla Flynn, Uachtarán GMIT. Is ardú meanman dár réigiún go bhfuil éiceachóras oideachais tríú leibhéal chomh láidir, chomh huaillmhianach agus chomh hiomaíoch againn agus is iontach an spreagadh é chomh maith agus GMIT ag cur tús lena aistear nua i dtreo stádais mar Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta.” Críoch

NUI Galway has been named University of the Year 2022 in the new edition of The Sunday Times Good University Guide. In securing the prestigious award, NUI Galway was described as the standout candidate. The Sunday Times credited the University for our community-based ethos, our support of the arts and culture and our Covid-19 research response including the humanitarian and compassionate approach to trying to alleviate some of the worst emotional and physical impacts of the pandemic and our lead role in the strategic planning and preparation for future pandemics. It is the fourth time that NUI Galway has won the title in 20 years. Welcoming the University of the Year 2022 award, NUI Galway President Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “We are being recognised as University of the Year after a year which was particularly challenging for us all. The elements that distinguished NUI Galway have a humanity, a kindness, our people at their core. “Our success reflects our stratgey, launched just before Covid, where we committed ourselves to the public good, reflecting the sense at NUI Galway of being in and for our community, the commitment to our place by looking beyond our place with curiosity and ambition. “I am delighted for and grateful to all our students and our colleagues that this commitment is being realised, and is recognised in this award.” The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 highlighted three elements of our Covid-19 research response. Honorary Senior lecturer and ICU consultant Dr Bairbre McNicholas spearheaded the global research project on awake prone positioning, where critically-ill Covid patients are treated in ICU while lying on their front. Dr Aoife Murray and Irial Conroy led the IBM-CISCO FamilyLink project, which allowed families of ICU patients, including Covid patients, to connect and see and hear their loved ones on video calls while visitor restrictions were in place. Professor Máire Connolly leads the EU-wide Pandem II project which is planning and preparing for future pandemic risks. NUI Galway also toasted GMIT and a second success for the west of Ireland after the Sunday Times awarded it the title of Institute of Technology of the Year. Professor Ó hÓghartaigh said: “Congratulations to everyone at GMIT and particularly to Dr Orla Flynn, President of GMIT. It is a tremendous boost for our region to see such a strong, ambitious and competitive third level education ecosystem and it is equally a great boost as GMIT embarks on its new journey to Technological University status.” Ends

A NUI Galway graduate has been named Law Student of the Year at the Irish Law Awards 2021. Cassie Roddy-Mullineaux, from Rosscahill, Co Galway, graduated with a BA and Bachelor of Laws (LLB), placing first in her year, before graduating with a first class honours LLM in International Human Rights in 2020. The Law Student of the Year award recognises and celebrates the academic legal achievements and other overall achievements of a student studying law in a third level college or university. Ms Roddy-Mullineaux was awarded the accolade in recognition of her outstanding achievements while studying at NUI Galway’s School of Law and the University’s Irish Centre for Human Rights (ICHR). She said: “I am over the moon to have won the award for Law Student of the Year at the Irish Law Awards 2021. Completing the LLM in International Human Rights completely changed my outlook on legal practice and how I wanted to contribute as a lawyer. I'm extremely grateful to the Irish Centre for Human Rights and NUI Galway School of Law for the generous support of the staff and community who afforded me so many opportunities during the LLM and have truly helped to shape my legal career.” Professor Martin Hogg, Head of NUI Galway’s School of Law, said: “This award is incredibly well deserved and the Law School is delighted for Cassie. Cassie was an outstanding member of our LLM in International Human Rights class, not only distinguishing herself in her studies and research but making impactful contributions in a range of projects on which she worked with her classmates, our staff, and NGOs. We hope that her achievements will inspire current and future students to aim as high as she has.” Since graduating, Ms Roddy-Mullineaux has been working as a lawyer with AWO, a new data rights agency, at the intersection of data rights and human rights. She advises clients on a wide range of data and privacy issues. In collaboration with Article Eight Advocacy, Ms Roddy-Mullineaux continued to work with the new cohort of students in the Human Rights Law Clinic at the University’s Irish Centre for Human Rights throughout 2020-2021 on the Mother and Baby data protection hub, an online resource to help survivors of the Mother and Baby Homes request their personal data from the bodies that hold it. Interim Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, Professor Ray Murphy, said: “Cassie embodies the perfect mix of academic scholarship and human rights activism. We are delighted with the richly deserved recognition this prestigious award gives her.” Ms Roddy-Mullineaux was involved in a number of projects during her studies at NUI Galway, including: Being part of the ICHR representative team at Ireland’s United Nation's CERD (Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination) review in Dec 2019. She spoke to the CERD Committee in Geneva on Ireland’s climate racism. She also contributed to and helped compile the ICHR’s shadow report. Being part of the ICHR’s Human Rights Law Clinic, directed by Dr Maeve O’Rourke, she worked on the My Data Rights project, an online resource to help survivors of historical and institutional abuses in Ireland use GDPR to access their personal data. Working with environmental group, Safety Before LNG, she co-wrote a legal opinion on the compatibility of a legal ban on fracked gas imports with EU and WTO trade laws. Completing a legal research placement with the Global Legal Action Network working on business-related human rights abuses. Assisting NUI Galway’s Dr Padraic Kenna with researching European Convention on Human Rights arguments relating to the Case of the Century (climate litigation) in France. Ends

Ground-breaking report systematically explores alternative educational provision  Report presents critical challenges, findings and a call to action for more equal and diverse future education in Ireland for all young people Social Return on Investment value generated for project beneficiaries was just over €68 million A groundbreaking report by NUI Galway has documented for the first time that the average progression rates of students in seven alternative education programmes (who complete QQI levels 3 to 6 qualification)  amounted to 80% between January 2018 to July 2020. The progression rate reached in excess of 90% for some projects. Whilst Ireland has a high post-primary school completion rate, with 92.3% of students completing the Senior Cycle in both 2018 and 2019 (DES, 2020), school completion rates in schools serving areas of acute economic disadvantage are statistically and significantly lower than in schools serving more affluent populations (Houses of Oireachtas, 2019). A significant proportion of the 8% of pupils not completing post-primary education avail of alternative or second-chance education. Apart from Youthreach, which is a state-provided programme of second-chance education, very little systematic, robust, scientific information has ever been gathered on Ireland’s alternative educational provision landscape. This is aggravated even further by at least a three-year delay in the publication by the Department of Education of a formal review of Alternative Education. To address this gap in knowledge, the report focused on seven projects awarded funding under Rethink Ireland’s €7.5 million Education Fund (2017-2020). The research investigated the extent to which practices used by these projects can serve as models of excellence in overcoming inequality in education. The Fund was open to projects focused on improving educational outcomes for those experiencing educational disadvantage, supporting students to progress from Levels 3–6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The seven projects (six in Dublin, one in Cork) involved were An Cosán VCC; iScoil, Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities; Aspire2; Citywise Fast Track Academy; Cork Life Centre; and Trinity Access 21. The average progression rates amounting to 80% over the course of the three-year study, shows that in most cases, people in these projects had significant success in progressing their education and is comparable with the completion rates of those within the mainstream system. The study also found that the total Social Return on Investment value generated for project beneficiaries was just over €68 million with a total cost of €7,790,285 for the seven awardee projects over three years. For every one euro invested in the seven projects, €9 of social value was created. Social value return and benefits include increased independence, maturity, increased self-confidence, and a more positive future outlook. Some 55% of the social value was directly created by Rethink Ireland’s Education Fund investment of €4,302,479, where every euro invested in the seven projects, €12 of social value was created. The report also presents critical challenges, findings and a call to action for a more equal and diverse future education in Ireland. The research team led by Dr Cormac Forkan from the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre in NUI Galway carried out the three-year academic evaluation of the Education Fund. Dr Forkan says: “Our work allowed us to look inside the ‘black box’ of how these projects support their learners. This model shows how the projects developed and implemented innovative approaches (called ‘actions’) to address various areas of the five strategic goals in the Action Plan 2016–2019. We found that progression is of course about participants moving along Levels 3 to 6 of the QQI framework of qualifications and achieving ‘hard outcomes. “However, our data and subsequent model shows that it is also about their personal transformation and development of their ‘soft outcomes’, like increased independence (maturity), increased self-confidence, and a more positive future outlook. Our new evidence-based model on Educational Progression and Transformation, recognises that awardee projects provide critical and enabling actions for their participants in both of these domain areas and ultimately address better wellbeing for participants.” Martina von Richter, Impact and Operations Director, Rethink Ireland, said: “Rethink Ireland is delighted with the results of this thorough and innovative academic evaluation. The work of the Education Fund awardees is outstanding and we now have proof that their alternative models of education work and have a far reaching and sustainable positive impact on their learners. “Every young person should be supported to reach their full potential and the evaluation demonstrates clearly the need for substantial change in Ireland: the alternative education sector in Ireland needs to be recognised and supported by the government, and integrated into the mainstream education sector so that all learners have the opportunity to benefit from them. “Young people don’t come in one size fits all, and neither should their education.” Recommendations for policy Develop a cross departmental strategy on tackling educational disadvantage by tackling the social and economic inequalities facing children, young people and their families, using the learning on what works from this study on alternative educational provision. The Department of Education to formally recognise Alternative Education provision as educational providers in their own right and fund them in the same way as the formal education system. Create a forum for mainstream and alternative education providers to exchange evidence-based knowledge and experiences to support all students. Organise a showcase where the learning about actions and processes used by the awardee projects to tackle education inequality can be shared with mainstream and alternative education providers and with broader society. A student from the Aspire 2 project, said: “It’s the mind-set of ‘oh you go to this particular school so that means you can’t do things’. The support and the funding that they’re giving us, it makes me feel like I’m not just someone that goes to a DEIS school. I can go to college. I can do things that I want to do because of the Aspire 2 programme.” A student from An Cosán project, said: “Some of our lives are crashed and An Cosán can support us to help us to construct our lives once again. It has been very supportive and has given us a different meaning to our lives. When you get a certificate, because not so many colleges around here would accept an application from asylum seekers but An Cosán (does).  So, it is a backbone of what we are doing, and we are grateful.” Read the full report here: https://rethinkireland.ie/reports/ -Ends-

Five NUI Galway Irish Traveller students and the University’s Traveller Education Officer Owen Ward have been honoured with National Educational Achievement Awards. The presentation was made by Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris T.D. at a ceremony at Exchange House in Dublin. The five students, Anne Marie Ward, Jason Sherlock, Anna Keane, Rebecca Sherlock, and Ann Marie Ward are currently undertaking a Mature Student Access programme, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at NUI Galway. The Exchange House Ireland National Educational Achievement Award is presented to Irish Travellers who have completed Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate, GCSE or A-level examinations or third level courses, in recognition of the hard work and commitment shown by the recipients in reaching their goals. The awards highlight role models for other Irish Travellers who may be considering formal education and are proactive in promoting the value of formal education. Speaking after the ceremony, NUI Galway student Ann Marie Ward said: “I’m currently in my second year of an undergraduate degree and work part time with the STAR project in Tuam, Co Galway. I’m very fortunate that I can apply what I learn in my degree and put it into practice while supporting Irish Traveller youth and families in the community. It was an honour to be recognised and to receive this award.” Dr Mary Surlis, Senior Manager of NUI Galway’s Access Centre, said: “We are hugely proud of our students and congratulate them on their achievements to date and on this recognition from Exchange House. Supporting Irish Travellers to access higher education is a key aspect of the Access programmes work for over two decades and NUI Galway is committed to not only enabling members of the Irish Traveller community to access third level education but to succeed when they do.” Owen Ward, NUI Galway’s Traveller Education Officer, received an award for his commitment to supporting Irish Traveller students in education, his educational achievements and for commencing a part time PhD at the University this year. Mr Ward said: “The award acknowledges the students’ commitment to education and as Traveller Education Officer, I am very proud of all their achievements and know that they will make a strong contribution to society as they complete their studies. All the awardees are currently supported by the Mincéirs Misl'd in Education project and act as inspirational role models to others.” Ends

NUI Galway earns Gold rating for sustainability  STARS programme recognises achievements and improvements since 2018  University rated among global top tier of higher education institutions NUI Galway has joined an elite group of universities around the world by being recognised with a STARS Gold rating for sustainability achievements. The standard of excellence was earned following a review by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) under its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). NUI Galway is one of just 133 universities worldwide to earn the STARS Gold rating for sustainability.The achievement comes on the back of several years hard work, from the establishment of the Community and University Sustainability Partnership (CUSP) in 2015 under the direction of the Deputy President and Registrar Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, to the appointment of the University’s inaugural Sustainability Officer in 2019, Michelle O’Dowd Lohan, to the roll-out of a wide ranging sustainability strategic framework, led by the CUSP chair Professor Jamie Goggins, to the student voice and to the inclusion of sustainability as a core value in the University strategy 2020-2025, Shared Visions, Shaped by Value.  President of NUI Galway, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “Sustainability is one of our core values at NUI Galway and we should look upon the Gold rating for our work in this area as testament to our endeavours in that regard. I often speak about our University being here for the public good - as the world meets in Glasgow, recognition of this nature, putting us at NUI Galway on a par with some of the most high-profile institutions in the world for our work which is so critical for the future of our planet, now … not tomorrow, now.” Róisín Nic Lochlainn, NUI Galway Students’ Union President, said: “Students have a long history of tackling major issues facing our society, and sustainability is something that they are hungry to pursue. I am delighted with the contribution students have made to the STARS Gold rating and I look forward to continuing our work on developing our long terms sustainability goals.”  Professor Jamie Goggins, chair of NUI Galway’s Community University Sustainability Partnership (CUSP) board, said: “The STARS Gold rating is tremendous. It is to be celebrated and it should also be used to spur us on to the next challenge and for all of us at NUI Galway to push ourselves to deepen our focus on sustainability and ensure efforts are redoubled for the young people of today and the next generation.”Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, NUI Galway Deputy President and Registrar and Chair of the University Sustainability Advisory Board, said: “The STARS Gold rating is an outstanding success. Huge credit should go to all those who put the issue of sustainability on the agenda in our University, to those who developed the strategy to embed it in our work and practice and to those who pursue the right decisions to make it a living value of NUI Galway.” More than 1,000 institutions have registered to use the STARS Reporting Tool, of which 678 have earned a STARS rating and 133 currently hold a Gold rating. STARS assesses environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability across five areas: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership. NUI Galway was recognised for initiatives including academic staff embracing sustainability as part of curriculum, research addressing sustainability challenges and using the campus as a living lab for applied student learning for sustainability. The University was also recognised for its Green Campus Ireland award; leadership in the area of sustainable energy and renewable energy technologies; protecting and enhancing biodiversity sites on campus; receiving the first Green Lab Certification in Europe; community partnership; and strong governance and whole of institution framework for progressing sustainability on the campus and beyond. Ends

Aitheantas tugtha ag clár STARS do na héachtaí agus don dul chun cinn atá déanta ó 2018   An ollscoil rangaithe i scothshraith dhomhanda na n-institiúidí ardoideachais Tá OÉ Gaillimh ar cheann de ghrúpa ollscoileanna eisceachtúla ar fud an domhain a bhfuil rangú Órga STARS déanta orthu as a bhfuil bainte amach acu ó thaobh na hinbhuanaitheachta de. Bhain an ollscoil an caighdeán feabhais amach i ndiaidh don Chumann chun Inbhuanaitheacht san Ardoideachas a Chur Chun Cinn (AASHE) athbhreithniú a dhéanamh uirthi faoina Chóras Traiceála, Measúnaithe & Rangaithe Inbhuanaitheachta (STARS).  Tá OÉ Gaillimh ar cheann de 133 ollscoil ar fud an domhain a ghnóthaigh rangú Órga inbhuanaitheachta STARS. Tá obair chrua déanta ag an Ollscoil le cúpla bliain ag iarraidh an gradam a bhaint amach, ó bunaíodh Comhpháirtíocht Inbhuanaitheachta Pobail agus Ollscoile (CUSP) in 2015 faoi stiúir an Uachtaráin Ionaid agus Meabhránaí, an tOllamh Pól Ó Dochartaigh, nó gur ceapadh an chéad Oifigeach Inbhuanaitheachta, Michelle O’Dowd Lohan, san Ollscoil in 2019 chun creat straitéiseach inbhuanaitheachta leathan a chur i bhfeidhm, faoi cheannas chathaoirleach CUSP, an tOllamh Jamie Goggins, chun guth na mac léinn agus chun an inbhuanaitheacht a áireamh mar chroíluach i straitéis na hOllscoile 2020-2025, Fís Roinnte, Múnlaithe ag Luachanna. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Tá an inbhuanaitheacht ar cheann de bhunluachanna OÉ Gaillimh agus is fianaise é an rangú Órga ar an méid atá déanta againn ar mhaithe leis an inbhuanaitheacht. Is minic a deirim gur ar mhaithe leis an bpobal atá an Ollscoil anseo. Tá ceannairí an domhain ag teacht le chéile i nGlaschú i láthair na huaire, agus is aitheantas é seo a chuireann OÉ Gaillimh ar comhchéim le cuid de na hinstitiúidí is airde próifíl ar domhan as ár gcuid oibre, a bhfuil tábhacht as cuimse léi maidir lena bhfuil i ndán don phláinéad seo, anois ... ní amach anseo, ach anois." Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Róisín Nic Lochlainn, Uachtarán Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn in OÉ Gaillimh: “Is fada na mic léinn ag tabhairt faoi mhórcheisteanna na sochaí, agus tá díocas ar leith orthu agus iad ag dul i ngleic leis an inbhuanaitheacht. Tá ríméad orm faoin méid a rinne mic léinn le rangú Órga STARS a bhaint amach agus táim ag tnúth le leanúint lenár gcuid oibre lenár gcuspóirí inbhuanaitheachta fadtéarmacha a fhorbairt." Dúirt Jamie Goggins, cathaoirleach bhord Chomhpháirtíocht Inbhuanaitheachta Pobail agus Ollscoile OÉ Gaillimh (Cusp): “Is iontach an rud é rangú Órga STARS a bhaint amach. Is údar ceiliúrtha é agus ba cheart go spreagfadh sé muid le tabhairt faoin gcéad dúshlán eile agus brú a chur orainn féin le béim níos láidre a chur ar an inbhuanaitheacht agus a chinntiú go ndéantar a dhá oiread iarrachtaí ar mhaithe le daoine óga sa lá atá inniu ann agus don chéad ghlúin eile.” Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Ollamh Pól Ó Dochartaigh, Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí OÉ Gaillimh agus Cathaoirleach Bhord Comhairleach Inbhuanaitheachta na hOllscoile: “Is éacht amach is amach é rangú Órga STARS a bhaint amach. Tá buíochas ar leith ag dul dóibh sin ar fad a chuir béim ar an inbhuanaitheacht san Ollscoil, dóibh sin a d’fhorbair an straitéis agus a leabaigh í inár gcuid oibre agus inár gcleachtas agus dóibh sin a chinntigh go ndearnadh na cinntí cearta chun go mbeadh luach beo leis an inbhuanaitheacht in OÉ Gaillimh.” Chláraigh níos mó ná 1,000 institiúid chun Uirlis Tuairiscithe STARS a úsáid. Thuill 678 díobh rangú STARS agus tá rangú Órga tuillte ag 133 díobh go dtí seo. Déanann STARS measúnú ar ghnéithe comhshaoil, sóisialta agus eacnamaíocha na hinbhuanaitheachta i gcúig réimse: lucht acadúil, rannpháirtíocht, oibríochtaí, pleanáil agus riarachán, agus nuálaíocht agus ceannaireacht. Tugadh aitheantas do OÉ Gaillimh as tionscnaimh lena n-áirítear gur ghlac an fhoireann acadúil an inbhuanaitheacht chucu féin mar chuid den churaclam, go ndearna siad taighde a thugann aghaidh ar dhúshláin na hinbhuanaitheachta agus gur úsáideadh an campas mar shaotharlann bheo d’fhoghlaim fheidhmeach inbhuanaitheachta na mac léinn. Tugadh aitheantas don Ollscoil chomh maith nuair a fuair sí gradam Champas Glas na hÉireann; as a ceannaireacht i réimse na dteicneolaíochtaí inbhuanaithe fuinnimh agus fuinnimh in-athnuaite; as suíomhanna bithéagsúlachta ar an gcampas a chosaint agus a fheabhsú; as an gcéad Deimhniú Saotharlainne Glaise san Eoraip a fháil; as comhpháirtíocht phobail; agus as rialachas láidir agus creat na hinstitiúide trí chéile as an inbhuanaitheacht a chur chun cinn ar an gcampas agus níos faide i gcéin. Críoch

Seolann OÉ Gaillimh Speak Out do mhic léinn agus don fhoireann Uirlis cheannródaíoch ar líne bunaithe chun go mbeidh daoine in ann foréigean, bulaíocht agus ciapadh gnéasach a thuairisciú gan ainm Sheol OÉ Gaillimh uirlis ar líne Speak Out do mhic léinn agus don fhoireann chun foréigean agus ciapadh a thuairisciú gan ainm. Is cuid de thionscnamh náisiúnta é an t-ardán Ollscoile atá á chur i bhfeidhm in institiúidí ardoideachais i mbliana chun go mbeifear in ann eachtraí a chur ar an taifead agus monatóireacht níos mó a dhéanamh orthu chun eachtraí eile a chosc, agus tacaíocht agus tuairisciú a fhorbairt. Ligeann Speak Out do mhic léinn agus don fhoireann bulaíocht, cibearbhulaíocht, ciapadh, idirdhealú, coireacht fuatha, iompar/smacht comhéigneach, stalcaireacht, ionsaí, ciapadh gnéasach, ionsaí gnéis, agus éigniú a chur ar an taifead. Dúirt Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh: “Tá ríméad ar OÉ Gaillimh tacú leis an tionscnamh tábhachtach seo, a thagann lenár luach straitéiseach féin maidir le meas agus a léiríonn ár bhfócas ar a chinntiú go gcomhlíonfaimid freagrachtaí ar mhaithe le leas an phobail. “Is pobal measúil, oscailte muid, atá tiomanta fáilte a chur roimh na buanna go léir agus iad a chothú go mbeidh barr feabhais ag baint leo i gcónaí. Tá sé de cheart ag gach duine i bpobal na hOllscoile staidéar a dhéanamh nó oibriú i dtimpeallacht atá saor ó bhulaíocht, ciapadh agus ciapadh gnéasach. Tugann Speak Out an cumas dár bpobal eachtraí den sórt sin a thuairisciú. Molaim dóibh é sin a dhéanamh agus aghaidh a thabhairt ar na gnéithe sin den tsochaí nach bhfuil fáilte rompu agus a bhfuil athrú de dhíth dá mbarr.” Tá an uirlis Speak Out ar fáil do mhic léinn agus don fhoireann in OÉ Gaillimh ag https://nuig.speakout.ie/ Forbraíodh é d’earnáil ardoideachais na hÉireann. Tá sé faoi stiúir na gComhairleoirí Síceolaíochta in Ardoideachas na hÉireann (PCHEI), agus faigheann sé tacaíocht ón Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta agus ón Údarás um Ardoideachas. Úsáidfear na sonraí a bhailítear trí Speak Out chun bonn eolais a chur faoi pholasaithe agus tionscnaimh spriocdhírithe oideachais. Is é aidhm PCHEI uirlis a chur ar fáil le bunús tráma a thabharfaidh seirbhísí tacaíochta d’úsáideoirí atá ábhartha dá dtaithí. Is tionscnamh ceannródaíoch é an tionscadal seo a bhfuil éiteas comhoibrithe tras-institiúideach leis mar gheall ar eachtraí den sórt sin in institiúidí ardoideachais. Dúirt Gemma MacNally, ó Sheirbhís Comhairleoireachta na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh: “Táimid bródúil an uirlis Speak Out a chur ar fáil do phobal, do mhic léinn agus d’fhoireann na hOllscoile. Is cuid thábhachtach dár bPlean Gníomhaíochta institiúideach é a chinntiú go mbíonn foréigean gnéasach agus ciapadh níos sofheicthe agus go bpléitear iad go hoscailte. Is rogha nua an uirlis Speak Out do dhaoine chun an méid atá le rá acu a bheith le cloisteáil. Idir an dá linn, leanfaimid orainn ag obair ar pháirteanna eile dár bPlean Gníomhaíochta, mar shampla oideachas agus oiliúint ar iompraíochtaí dearfacha, tacaíochtaí, agus an cóimheas a chaithfidh a bheith mar bhonn agus mar thaca le heispéireas OÉ Gaillimh.” D’fhoilsigh an Rialtas an cháipéis treorach in 2019 maidir leis an gcaoi ar cheart do choláistí freagairt do thoiliú, foréigean gnéasach agus ciapadh ('An Creat le haghaidh Toilithe in Institiúidí Ardoideachais: Slán, Measúil, Tacúil agus Dearfach – Ag cur Deireadh le Foréigean agus Ciapadh Gnéasach in Institiúidí Ardoideachais na hÉireann'). Rinneadh cur síos ann ar an ngá atá le sonraí a bhailiú ar rátaí minicíochta ciaptha ghnéasaigh agus foréigin ar fud na hearnála. Is cuid amháin den straitéis sin é Speak Out, mar aon le tuairiscí oifigiúla ó mhic léinn agus ón bhfoireann agus suirbhéanna ar mhórscála. Soláthraíonn Speak Out eolas freisin ar thacaíochtaí agus ar nósanna imeachta tuairiscithe atá ar fáil tríd an Ollscoil, chomh maith le heolas faoi sheirbhísí speisialtóra sa phobal. Rinneadh Suirbhé ar Eispéiris Ghnéasacha 2020 faoi stiúir fhoireann OÉ Gaillimh ar an Toiliú Gníomhach* agus Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn i 14 institiúid ardoideachais. Ba é a thoradh sin go raibh gá le roghanna nua chun tacú le daoine an méid a tharla dóibh a nochtadh. Sa Suirbhé Náisiúnta ar Eispéiris Ghnéasacha, thuairiscigh thart ar an gcúigiú cuid (22.8%) de na mic léinn a ghlac páirt sa suirbhé gur tharla treá neamh-chomhthoiliúil dóibh. Fiafraíodh díobh ar inis siad do dhuine ar bith faoin méid a tharla dóibh – dúirt thart ar aon trian de na mná (35%) agus beagnach leath de na fir (49%) a thuairiscigh gur tharla a leithéid dóibh nár inis siad do dhuine ar bith gur tharla sé sular chomhlánaigh siad an suirbhé. Cinntíonn an uirlis Speak Out go mbeidh mic léinn agus an fhoireann in ann tuairisc gan ainm a dhéanamh, rud a chabhróidh leis an Ollscoil a threorú i dtreo tacaíochtaí agus nósanna imeachta níos fearr a bheith aici bunaithe ar thaithí dhíreach. Críoch

NUI Galway launches Speak Out for students and staff  Groundbreaking online tool set up for people to anonymously report experience of violence, bullying, and sexual harassment NUI Galway has launched its Speak Out online tool for students and staff to anonymously report violence and harassment. The University platform is part of a national initiative being rolled out in higher education institutions this academic year to allow for increased recording and monitoring of incidents which will then be used to develop prevention, support and reporting. Speak Out allows students and staff to record bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, discrimination, hate crime, coercive behaviour/control, stalking, assault, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape. NUI Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, said: “NUI Galway is delighted to support this important initiative, consistent with our own strategic value of respect and symbolic of our focus on ensuring we fulfil responsibilities for the public good. “We are a respectful, open community, committed to welcoming and sustaining, in excellence, all the talents. All members of the University community have the right to study or work in an environment free from bullying, harassment and sexual harassment. Speak Out empowers our community in reporting such incidents. I encourage them to do so and to confront those elements of society that are unwelcome and unwelcoming and therefore in need of change.” The Speak Out tool is available for students and staff at NUI Galway at https://unigalway.speakout.ie/ Developed for Ireland’s higher education sector, it is led by the Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education Ireland (PCHEI), with the support of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Higher Education Authority. The data collected through Speak Out will be used to inform policy and targeted educational initiatives. It is the goal of PCHEI to provide a trauma-informed tool which will provide users with support services relevant to their experience. This project is a groundbreaking initiative underpinned by an ethos of cross-institutional collaboration in response to such incidences within higher education institutions. Gemma MacNally, from the NUI Galway Student Counselling Service, said: “We are proud to make the Speak Out tool available to our University community of students and staff. It is an important part of our institutional Action Plan to ensure that sexual violence and harassment become more visible and openly discussed. The Speak Out tool provides a new option for people to have their voices heard. Meanwhile, we will continue to work on other parts of our Action Plan, such as education and training on positive behaviours, supports, and the mutual respect that must underpin the NUI Galway experience.” The Government published the guiding document in 2019 for how colleges should respond to consent, sexual violence and harassment (‘Framework for Consent in Higher Education Institutions: Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive – Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions’) outlining the need to collect data on incidence rates of sexual harassment and violence across the sector. Speak Out is one part of that strategy, along with official reports by students and staff and large scale surveys. Speak Out also provides information on supports and reporting procedures available through the University, as well as information on specialist services in the community. The 2020 Sexual Experiences Survey led by the NUI Galway Active* Consent team and the Union of Students in Ireland was carried out in 14 higher education institutions. It found that new options were needed to support people to disclose what happened to them. In the national Sexual Experiences Survey, about one fifth (22.8%) of students who took part in the survey reported experiencing non-consensual penetration. They were asked whether they had told someone about what had happened to them - about one third of the women (35%) and almost half of the men (49%) who reported having had this experience said they had not disclosed the incident to anyone prior to completing the survey. The Speak Out tool ensures that both students and staff will be able to make an anonymous report, helping to guide the University toward having better supports and procedures founded on direct experience. Ends

Baill Fóirne Ollscoil na hÉireann Gaillimh agus stair a dteaghlach sa Dara Cogadh Domhanda Cúntaisí úrnua ar an gCogadh ó léachtóirí OÉ Gaillimh ó thart timpeall na hEorpa  Nochtann baill fóirne de chuid OÉ Gaillimh stair a dteaghlach féin i rith an Dara Cogadh Domhanda in imleabhar nua-eisithe. Sa leabhar, ríomhtar an tionchar a d’imir sé ar na glúinte a tháinig i ndiadh san chomh maith. Sa chnuasach eisíoch seo, tá réimse suntasach scéalta ó scéal phílóta Éireannach san RAF a gabhadh ina phríosúnach san Iúgsláv, go poblachtánach Spáinneach ag gníomhú ar son Résistance na Fraince go beirt chailín Ghiúdach gafa suas i dtubaist léigir mhóir Leningrad, maraon le scéalta eile nach iad.  Beirt staraithe de chuid OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr Róisín Healy agus an Dr Gearóid Barry, a chnuasaigh na scéalta sa leabhar úrnua Family Histories of World War II: Survivors and Descendants,le saineolas acu ar nua-stair na Gearmáine is na Fraince idir an bheirt acu. Ag croí an leabhair, tá 13 chuntas spleodrach ar fhíor-scéalta cogaidh ó bhaill fóirne, idir Éireannaigh is eachtrannaigh, ní amháin ar 1939-45 ach ar an mbrí a baineadh as chuimní an chruatan an tréimshe sin sa chlann ó aimsir an Chogaidh i leith. Mar a dúirt an Dr Róisín Healy: “Agus taighde déanta agam sa Ghearmáin agam leis na blianta, bhí sé de phribhléid agam aithne a chur ar roinnt mhaith Gearmáineach is scéalta a muintire a chlos,” ar sise.  “Rith sé liom go mbeadh a macasamail de scéalta suimiúla ag an-chuid daoine eile, fiú ag daoine ina gcónaí in Éirinn. Leag mé geall air gurbh fhiú dúinn áiteamh ar phobal OÉ Gaillimh, is ar ar a bhfoireann ilnáisiúnach. Fós féin, chuir téagar na bhfreagraí ionadh orm,” arsa an Dr Healy. Cuireann comheagarthór an leabhair, an Dr Gearóid Barry, le seo, ag rá: “Ní raibh sinn ag súil leis go raibh tionchar chomh cumhachtach sin ag an Cogadh ar na chomhleacaithe béaldorais lena rabhamar ag plé leo ó lá go lá.” I measc na scéaltaí pearsanta sa chnuasacht tá na samplaí seo: Scéal Hans-Walter Schmidt-Hannisa, Ollamh le Gearmáinis agus Consal Onórach na Gearmáine in Iarthar na hÉireann, a d’fhás suas ag smaoineamh go raibh a chlann níos cosúla le híospartaigh an chogaidh ná le fealladóirí go dtí go bhfuair sé amach gurbh duine ciníoch ceart é a sheanathair a bhí fós gan náire tuarimí Naitsíocha a fhógairt, rud a chuir alltacht ar an údar. Scéal grá inste ar bhealach eisceachtáil ag Sheena Fennell agus a máthair Gill, iníon is gariníon an lánúna. Is teicneoir sinsearach sa mhuireolaíocht ag OÉG í Sheena Fennell. D'fhág Cecil McCall and Patricia Fox cathair Chorcaí sa bhliain 1940 le páirt a ghlacadh i bhfeachtas cogaidh na Breataine. Chaith Cecil seal mar phríosúnach cogaidh sa Ghearmáin fad is a bhí Patricia ag obair mar thiománaí otharlchairr in Aberdeen le linn na ruathair Luftwaffe ar an mbaile san. Misneach agus greann a chabhraigh leo teacht slán ón gcruatan go dtí gur phós an bheirt acu sa bhliain 1945. D’fhás Enrico Dal Lago, atá ina ollamh le stair Mheiriceá in ÓE Gaillimh, suas san Iodáil sna 1970í. Chuaigh cuimhní a dtuismitheoir óna n-óige féin ar fhorghabháil na Naitsithe ar an Iodáil sna blianta 1943-45 go mór i bhfeidhm ar Enrico óg. Is as clann tuathánach bródúil ó oirthuaisceart na tíre é Olinto Dal Lago, athair Enrico nach raibh ach 10 bliana d’aois nuair a thosaigh sé ag cabhrú leis an Resistenza Iodálach. Bhí cúthail tráth ar Chiara Boylan, céimí dochtúireachta sa Stair is múinteoir sa Ghaillimh, mar gheall ar sheirbhís a seanathar in éide Shasana agus é inar oifigeach fiachlóireachta san airm san le linn an  Dara Chogadh Domhanda. Ag direadh na coimhlinte, bhí an Méisear J.J. McNamara, ó Co. an Chláir ó dhúchas, orthu siúd a rinne comhaireamh ar mhéad na marbh i gcampa géibhinn Bergen-Belsen ar bhunús fiacla na gcorpán. Ní fhaca sé teannas ar bith idir Éireannachas agus a sheirbhís míleata sa Chogadh agus le himeacht aimsire thuig a ghariníon na fáthanna gur liostáil sé ann. Spáinneach agus Léachtóir le h-eolaíocht is ea Sara Farrona. De sheans a tháinig ar sean-léarscáil Gearmáineach dena réigiún dúchais féin den Spáinn, rud a spreag í scéal a seanuncail Luís Cortés Farrona, iarshaighdiúr a throid i gCogadh na Spáinne agus mar chuid de Résistance na Fraince sa Dara Chogadh Domhanda, a iniúchadh. Mar Chumannach, theith Luís ó réimeas Franco chun na Fraince díreach roimh don tír sin teacht faoi smacht Hitler. Ar deoraíocht ón Spáinn suas go 1980, tugtar cur síos sa scéal seo ar Luís mar uncail ionúin a d’fhill ar a thír féin agus é amach san aois – is an scéal grá a mheall ar ais ann é. Tógann Irina Ruppo, léachtóir le Béarla, chun cuimhne a beirt sheanmháthair, na deirfiúracha Lucia agus Raisa Greenberg a tháinig slán ó Léigear na Naitsíothe ar Leningrad (1941-44), eachtra ina bháisigh ós cionn 1 milliún duine. Tar éis dóibh éalú ón gcathair a bhí faoi léigear sa bhliain 1942 bhí orthu aghaidh a thabhairt ar aistear crua ar bord traenach chun na Sibéire: lena linn, dhiúltaigh máthair na gcailiní glan duine den mbeirt a bhí breoite a fhágaint ina diadh. Scéal shaighdiúra Mheiriceánach is an clann Iodálach a shabháil é is ábhar don bhfíor-scéal á aithris anseo ag beirt deirfiúr Colleen Williamson agus Maureen Maloney, ó Phittsbrugh Pennsylvania sna Stáit Aontaithe ó dhúchas. Sa bhliain 1987 amháin a tháinig eachtraí cogaidh a n-athair Thomas Joyce Moloney chun solais. Píolóta san US Army Air Corps a bhí ann: bhí iachaill air parasiútáil amach dá eitleán sna hAlps le linn ruathair ar thuaisceart na hIodáile i Feabhra 1945.  Ar éigean a bheadh sé beo seachas coimirce chlann sa dúiche idir sin agus teacht fhórsaí na Comhghuaillíochta mar fhuaiscilteoirí roinnt míosa ina dhiadh. 45 bhliain níos déanaí reachtáladh cruinniú céilúrtha nuair a rinne Joyce athchuairt ar am mbaile beag úd. Léachtóir le Fraincís is ea Sylvie Mossay a dhéanann cur síos anseo ar thaithí uasfásach a seanthuismitheoirí Basyl Marczuk agus Aleksandra Doronko, tuistí a máthair as an Úcráin, a chuir aithne ar a chéile is iad ina sclábhaithe sa Ghearmáin i rith an chogaidh, is a d’imigh mar theifigh chun na Beilge i ndiadh san gan castáil ar a gclanna féin ar ais san Úcráin ach amháin sa bhliain 1972. Léiríonn an leabhar seo na bealaí éagsúla inar shealbhaigh sliocht na ndaoine seo cuimhní a sinsir ar an gCogadh. Air seo, dar leis an Dr Healy,  tá ilghnéitheacht ann: “I gcásanna áirithe, bhí cuimhní cogaidh go mór i mbéal an chomhluadair, cur i gcás an sampla againn ó bhaile bheag sa Ghréig. Uaireanta eile, is blianta fada i ndiadh san a tháinig cuimhní chun cinn, go minic mar thoradh ar fhiosracht an aos óig sa chlann.” Thug an cnuasacht cuimhní cinn seo deis do na scéalaithe macnamh a dhéanamh ar thionchar fad-théarmach an mhéid a thit amach dá sinsear ar an gclann trí chéile a mheas. Arsa an Dr Barry: “Thar aon rud eile, tá ilghnéitheacht suntasach ann. Ar lámh amháin, d’iompaigh scéal seanathair a thacaigh leis na Naitsíothe amach ina ualach trom a srac clann as a chéile. Ar an lámh eile de, áfach, i gclann eile, rinneadh scéal spreagúil ar acmhainneacht an dhuine aonair as scéal athar a tháinig slán ó bhraighdeanas na Naitsíocha dá iníon agus í i ngleic le fadbhanna pearsanta.” Tá Family Histories of World War II foilsithe ag Bloomsbury Academic, is tá an leabhar ar fáil ón 4 Samhain 2021. Staraithe aitheanta is faoi ghradam iad na h-eagarthóirí.  Sa bhrollach comhthéacsaithe sa leabhar, cíorann said luach na staire teaghlaigh i scríobh staire an Chogaidh is an léargas a thugann sé ar rian an Chogaidh ar na glúnta a lean é. Tuilleadh eolais ar https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/family-histories-of-world-war-ii-9781350201958/ Do fhiosraithe ó na meáin is d’eolas ar ghriangrafanna féach leagan Béarla den bpréas-ráiteas seo.Críoch.

NUI Galway staff recount family histories of World War II  Academics record wartime stories from colleagues across Europe   Staff at NUI Galway have shared personal family histories of World War II in a book which recounts the impact on those who lived through it and generations which followed. The remarkable collection of stories ranges from an Irishman who flew for the Royal Air Force and was captured in Yugoslavia, to a Spanish communist working for the French Resistance, to two young Jewish girls caught up in the Siege of Leningrad.  Family Histories of World War II: Survivors and Descendants was compiled by NUI Galway historians Dr Róisín Healy and Dr Gearóid Barry, specialists in modern Germany and France respectively. It is made up of 13 fascinating accounts of individual wartime experiences from Irish and international staff at the University and their meaning for subsequent generations. Dr Róisín Healy said: “After many years as a researcher in Germany, I got to know many Germans and had the privilege of hearing their families’ experiences of World War II."  “It struck me that many others, including people living in Ireland, have war stories of their own. My hunch was that an approach to colleagues at NUI Galway, which now has a very international staff, would yield many such stories. I was bowled over by the response.” Co-editor Dr Gearóid Barry, said: “We had no idea how deep an impact the war had on people we are working with every day.” The collection of stories and personal history includes: Professor of German and Honorary Consul for Germany in the West of Ireland Hans-Walter Schmidt-Hannisa grew up under the impression that his family were more like victims of war than perpetrators only to discover his maternal grandfather was a racist and an inveterate Nazi. In a unique mother-daughter essay senior technician in oceanography Sheena Fennell and her mother Gill wrote the wartime love story of grandparents/parents Cecil McCall and Patricia Fox. The engaged couple left Cork city in 1940 to join Britain’s war effort. Cecil was taken prisoner of war in Germany while Patricia worked as an ambulance driver in bombed-out Aberdeen. Grit and humour helped them survive until they were reunited and wed in 1945. Professor of American history at NUI Galway Enrico Dal Lago grew up in Italy in the 1970s. His parents’ childhood memories of the Nazi occupation of 1943-45 haunted the imagination. Enrico’s father Olinto Dal Lago is from a proud peasant family in north-eastern Italy. Aged 10, he became a boy helper of the Italian Resistance. Ciara Boylan, who has a PhD in History and teaches in Galway, once found her grandfather’s service as a dental officer to British soldiers in World War II problematic. Major J.J. McNamara, a native of Co Clare, also helped estimate the numbers killed at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. He saw no contradiction between his nationality and his military service. His granddaughter came to appreciate his motives. Sara Farrona, a scientist and lecturer from Spain, made a chance discovery of a mysterious wartime German map of Spain which led her back to her granduncle Luís Cortés Farrona, a veteran of both the Spanish Civil War and of the French Resistance during World War II. A Communist refugee, Luís escaped Franco only to see France occupied by Hitler. Exiled from Spain until 1980, Luís’ story is one of the return of a beloved uncle - and finding love a second time in old age. English lecturer Irina Ruppo recalled her Russian-Jewish grandmothers, sisters Lucia and Raisa Greenberg who survived the Nazi Siege of Leningrad (1941-44), in which an estimated one million people died. They escaped the city in 1942 to face an arduous journey by train to Siberia: their mother refused to leave one sickly daughter behind. The story of an American soldier and the Italian family who saved him. Sisters Colleen Williamson and Maureen Maloney, from Pittsburgh in the US Pennsylvania, only discovered the wartime adventures of their father Thomas Joyce Maloney in 1987. A pilot in the US Army Air Corps, he was forced to parachute into the Alps during a mission in northern Italy in February 1945. A local Italian family rescued and protected him until the Allied liberation. Some 45 years later there was a reunion with the villagers. Lecturer in French Sylvie Mossay recounts the traumatic experiences of her maternal grandparents, Basyl Marczuk and Aleksandra Doronko. The couple met as Ukrainian slave labourers in wartime Germany, sought refuge in postwar Belgium, and reunited with family in Ukraine only in 1972. The book reveals the many different ways in which descendants of these war witnesses came to learn of these stories. Dr Healy added: “In some cases, memories of the war were popular topics of postwar conversations, as in one Greek village active in the resistance. In other cases, memories emerged only decades later, often prompted by the curiosity of younger family members.” The collection also allowed the contributors to reflect on the long-term impact of their ancestors’ experiences on subsequent generations.  Dr Barry said: “Again the variety is notable. The story of a grandfather who served the Nazis became a burden that divided one family while the story of a father who survived Nazi captivity became a lesson in resilience for a daughter with personal difficulties.” Family Histories of World War II is published by Bloomsbury Academic, and is available from today 4 November 2021.  The editors, well established historians of modern Europe, provide an introduction which describes the upsurge in interest in family history in recent decades and its value for both illuminating wartime experiences of ordinary people and understanding its legacy for subsequent generations. Further information https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/family-histories-of-world-war-ii-9781350201958/ Ends

New national network launched to embed patient involvement in research PPI Ignite Network, headquartered in NUI Galway - a significant milestone for research, for public and patients and for carers  Minister of State for Disability Anne Rabbitte T.D. has today officially launched the PPI Ignite Network, a new national collaborative initiative putting patients at the centre of decision-making in research. PPI - Public Patient Involvement - leads to research that is more transparent and relevant, answering questions that matter to the people who are the focus of the research, with greater impact on policy and society. Headquartered at NUI Galway, the PPI Ignite Network has programme offices at seven universities across Ireland. It has a network of local, national and international partners, an expanding group of PPI contributors and it will operate on an all-island basis. Launching the PPI Ignite Network at NUI Galway, Minister Rabbitte said: “’Nothing about us, without us’ resonates strongly with me and I particularly welcome the emphasis across the PPI Ignite Network on including historically marginalised groups in co-designing research. Involving people who have not had a voice previously can help shape a different and healthier future for so many people in the coming decades. The PPI Ignite Network really is an investment in future health for all in this country.” The focus of the PPI Ignite Network is to provide leadership in PPI in research and to provide increased opportunities for the public, patients and carers to be at the centre of research decision-making, working with researchers to decide what issues are important to prioritise and how best to carry out research. Professor Seán Dinneen, Consultant Endocrinologist with the Saolta University Healthcare Group and National Lead for the PPI Ignite Network, said: “The PPI Ignite Network will drive excellence and inspire innovation, by embedding a culture of meaningful involvement of the public and patients in research. “We are excited to drive PPI as an integral part of the research culture. It will help researchers develop the required skills and knowledge and it will help to broaden the number and diversity of active PPI contributors and enable the development of genuine and sustained partnerships between research teams and community organisations and charities.” The PPI Ignite Network will have a strong focus on education and training, providing supports to researchers and PPI contributors, built around an online hub of case studies, information and resources. An online portal will go live later this year to help researchers and members of the public who are interested in getting involved in PPI to connect with each other. Dr Anne Cody, Head of Investigator-Led Grants, Research Careers and Enablers at the Health Research Board, said: “For over five years we have been championing PPI in research, and our work is clearly illustrating that people’s insights and life experience can inform research in ways researchers operating in isolation can’t. The PPI Ignite Network is bringing together key stakeholders committed to embedding involvement at the core of Irish research, a collaboration capable of facilitating significant positive change.” What is PPI? PPI is Public Patient Involvement. It is the concept of involving people, who are not researchers, in the research. It seeks their input to shape and guide research. It is about moving their role from one of participant to one of partner. The aim of PPI is to improve research quality, to ensure it is relevant, useable and in the best interests of the patient and general population. What is the PPI Ignite Network and why has it been set up?  The PPI Ignite Network is a collaboration involving seven Irish universities and dozens of partner organisations, including patient groups, working together at a national and local level. The aim of the network is to ensure that people and patients are involved at every stage of health and social care research in Ireland, right from the start. What organisations and institutions are involved?  The PPI Ignite Network national office is in NUI Galway. The other university partners are Trinity College Dublin, UCC, DCU, UCD, UL and RCSI. It is funded by the Health Research Board and the Irish Research Council. The national partners are Tusla Child and Family Agency; HSE Research and Development; Health Research Charities Ireland; Irish Platform for Patient Organisations, Science  and Industry; Structured Population and Health Services Research Education; HRB Trials Methodology Research Networl; Campus Engage; Maynooth University; Queen’s University Belfast; the International Collaboration for Participatory Health Research (ICPHR). What is the action plan? The PPI Ignite Network is funded for five years. Its key objective is to promote research undertaken ‘with’ or ‘by’ members of the public rather than ‘to’, ‘about’ or ‘for’ them. It will develop and deliver PPI education and training to undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, the public, patients and community organisations, policymakers and research funders. It will explore ways of making it easier to involve patients and the public in research, how to identify what is good PPI and how to measure its impact. It will ensure voices of marginalised and disadvantaged groups are heard. It will establish an online PPI hub and events to share examples of good PPI, resources, knowledge and experience so researchers, students, the public, patients and all those involved or who are impacted by research can learn from each other. Ends

Scéim iasachta ríomhairí glúine OÉ Gaillimh fógartha Is féidir le mic léinn ó theaghlaigh atá ar ioncam íseal iarratas a dhéanamh ar ríomhaire glúine dá gcuid staidéir Tá sé curtha in iúl ag Ionad Rochtana OÉ Gaillimh go raibh an-éileamh ar an scéim iasachta ríomhairí glúine do mhic léinn agus tá an scéim á reáchtáil arís acu. Bhain breis agus 730 mac léinn san Ollscoil leas as an scéim áirithe seo anuraidh. Ón lá inniu go dtí Dé hAoine, 26 Samhain 2021, is féidir le mic léinn iarratas a dhéanamh ar ríomhaire glúine ar iasacht go fadtéarmach fad a bheidh siad ag staidéar in OÉ Gaillimh. Dúirt Imelda Byrne, Ceann an Ionaid Rochtana in OÉ Gaillimh: “Ba léir dúinn an tionchar a bhí ag an deighilt dhigiteach anuraidh. Bhí mic léinn go leor ó theaghlaigh faoi mhíbhuntáiste nach raibh teacht acu ar ríomhairí glúine. “Chinntigh an scéim iasachta ríomhairí glúine go raibh muid in ann cúnamh a thabhairt do ghrúpa mór de mhic léinn in OÉ Gaillimh. “D’fhéadfadh an costas atá ar ríomhaire glúine bac suntasach a chur ar mhic léinn ó theaghlaigh ar ioncam íseal agus fuaireamar aiseolas an-dearfach ó mhic léinn a bhain leas as an scéim. Chuir an scéim seo ar a gcumas páirt níos gníomhaí a ghlacadh ina gcuid staidéir agus ní raibh airgead mór le híoc acu ar ríomhaire.” Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Súan Hanafey, mac léinn Rochtana a fuair ríomhaire glúine ón scéim in 2020: “Níl aon tacaíocht airgid agam ach an méid airgid a shaothraím féin agus ba mhór agam an scéim seo. Ní raibh orm imní a bheith orm níos mó faoi airgead a shábháil le ríomhaire glúine maith a cheannach agus anois níl aon deacracht agam freastal ar ranganna ar líne, an micreafón a úsáid, agus físeáin a roinnt. Sula bhfuair mé an ríomhaire glúine seo bhí mé ag cailleadh codanna de ranganna agus bhí sé deacair na léachtóirí a chloisteáil agus bhí sé deacair ar dhaoine eile mise a chloisteáil. Tugtar tús áite sa scéim iasachta ríomhairí glúine do mhic léinn ó theaghlaigh ar ioncam íseal agus ó spriocghrúpaí aitheanta eile. Tá tuilleadh eolais anseo faoin scéim agus an próiseas iarratais: https://bit.ly/3nLueYn. Críoch

NUI Galway laptop loan scheme opens Students from low income households can apply to receive a device for their studies NUI Galway’s Access Centre has revealed the scale of one of its supports for students as it announced plans to re-run the successful laptop loan scheme. More than 730 students at the University benefitted from the dedicated support last year. From today, until Friday, 26 November 2021, students can apply for the long-term loan of a device for the duration of their studies at NUI Galway. Imelda Byrne, Head of the Access Centre at NUI Galway, said: “We saw the effects of the digital divide last year, with many students from disadvantaged backgrounds not having access to devices. “The laptop loan scheme ensured we could make a huge difference to a large cohort of NUI Galway students. “The cost of a laptop can be a significant barrier for those in low-income households and the feedback we got from students who benefitted from the scheme was overwhelmingly positive. Not only did this scheme enable them to participate more fully in their studies but it also relieved them of a significant cost.” Súan Hanafey, an Access Student who received a laptop under the scheme in 2020, said: “I am my only financial support so this meant a lot to me. I no longer had to worry about gathering funds to buy a good laptop and now I have no difficulty accessing classes online, speaking over the microphone, sharing video. Whereas, before getting this new laptop I was missing some moments of class and was having trouble hearing and being heard.” Eligibility for the laptop loan scheme is prioritised on a needs basis for students from low-income households and identified target groups. For more information on the scheme and application process visit: https://bit.ly/3nLueYn. Ends

NUI Galway academic sets out recommendations for action to improve hospitality work Whitaker Institute webinar to outline research findings on the lived experience of people employed in the sector A NUI Galway academic whose research has helped to lay bare the lived experience of hospitality workers has set out a series of recommendations for Government to improve employment conditions and welfare in the sector. Dr Deirdre Curran, Lecturer in Management at the J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics, said legislation on tips, a salary pathway, opportunities for professional development and the introduction of a basic set of industry HR standards should be progressed without delay. Dr Curran will highlight her research at a special webinar hosted by the Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway at 1pm on Wednesday 3 November 2021.The event will also hear from Dr Mary Farrell, an Executive Head Chef who completed her PhD at TUDublin on gender inequality in the chef profession,  Registration for the webinar is open at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Vq32jyDpS72xs0P2FFQWuw Dr Curran said: “The hospitality sector was uniquely impact by the Covid-19 pandemic. Many businesses were shut for more than 16 months and staff were out of work. But reopening has been fraught with recruitment challenges. We have limited research on the reasons for this but the wide range of issues and suggestions for improvement now provide Government with the opportunity for root and branch reform of the sector for the benefit of the workers.” Dr Curran outlined recommendations recently to the Oireachtas at the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media, including: :: A basic set of standards for treatment of hospitality workers that are monitored and enforced, initially through a targeted campaign. :: Legislation on workers’ tips to be introduced without delay. :: A salary pathway. Workers should not be retained on the minimum wage. :: Incentives for good practice in the sector, including links to Government funding. :: Ethical leadership from employer bodies and a stronger voice for workers. :: Review of apprenticeships to prevent them being a source of cheap labour. Courses and outcomes should be linked to employment rights eg how to use your voice; how to deal with bullying and harassment. The Whitaker Institute webinar will see presentations from Dr Curran and Dr Farrell, shedding some light on the current challenges facing the hospitality sector, and open the debate on how the sector could be reformed to make it a more attractive job/career choice. There will be a discussion with a panel of hospitality sector stakeholders, including Julia Marciniak, Hospitality and Tourism Organiser with Unite trade union; Liam Lally, former hotel general manager with four decades of industry experience; Khristina Ridge from weraizup.com; and Andrew Leech, former chef and hospitality employer. Ends

NUI Galway showcasing new postgraduate opportunities at Virtual Open Day  NUI Galway has unveiled new postgraduate programmes in Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, business, hospitality and international development as part of this year’s virtual open day. The University is urging professionals, graduates and current undergraduates who are looking to advance their qualification, broaden their skills-set and improve their job prospects and earning potential to consider further study options. NUI Galway’s virtual Postgraduate Open day takes place at midday Tuesday 16 November 2021 showcasing more than 400 taught and research study opportunities on offer for 2022. Prospective postgrads can book their place and view the open day schedule at http://nuigalwaypostgraduateopenday.ie/ The event will allow people to tune into live talks and panel discussions, engage directly with Programme Directors to explore courses, possible career opportunities and emerging trends across a host of sectors. Among the new programmes being offered for entry in 2022 and showcased at the virtual open day are: :: The online Artificial Intelligence for Managers, with fees subsidised by ITAG Skillnet, enabling graduates to strategise, envision projects and hire and manage teams without needing to study programming :: Three new business and hospitality programmes with Shannon College, including the Postgraduate Certificate in Hospitality and Leadership. :: MA in International Development Practice :: Postgraduate Certificate in Cybersecurity and Business Sarah Geraghty, Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach, NUI Galway, urged people who are considering further study to start exploring options early. She said: “You may be looking for a course to develop specific specialist skills and expertise, or you may be aiming to change career paths and move to a new industry. Whatever your objective, it’s important to invest time early in finding out as much as possible about how to apply for and secure a place on the course that best suits your needs and also plan for how you can fit postgraduate studies into your life.” NUI Galway’s postgraduate virtual open day will also bring together key staff in the University who can provide support and information to assist prospective students, including on fees, funding and scholarships, the value of a postgraduate qualification in the jobs market and plenty of tips for making a successful application. Applications are now open for enrolment in 2022, and for many courses, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Ends

Iarchéimeanna nua le cur i láthair ag Lá Oscailte Fíorúil OÉ Gaillimh  Tá cláir iarchéime nua le cur ar bun ag OÉ Gaillimh in Intleacht Shaorga, cibearshlándáil, gnó, fáilteachas agus forbairt idirnáisiúnta agus beidh cur síos orthu ag lá oscailte fíorúil na bliana seo. Tá an Ollscoil ag moladh do ghairmithe, do chéimithe agus d’fhochéimithe reatha atá ag iarraidh cur lena gcáilíochtaí, a gcuid scileanna a leathnú agus a ndeiseanna fostaíochta agus a gcumas tuillimh a fheabhsú smaoineamh ar thabhairt faoi staidéar breise. Beidh Lá Oscailte Fíorúil Iarchéime OÉ Gaillimh ar siúl ag meán lae Dé Máirt, an 16 Samhain 2021. Beidh cur síos i rith an lae ar níos mó ná 400 deis staidéir teagaisc agus taighde a bheas ar fáil in 2022. Is féidir le hiarchéimithe ionchasacha áit a chur in áirithe agus sceideal an lae oscailte a fheiceáil ag http://nuigalwaypostgraduateopenday.ie/ Tabharfaidh an ócáid deis do dhaoine éisteacht le cainteanna beo agus díospóireachtaí painéil, teagmháil dhíreach a dhéanamh le Stiúrthóirí Cláir chun cúrsaí, deiseanna gairme féideartha agus treochtaí atá ag teacht chun cinn ina lán earnálacha a iniúchadh. I measc na gclár nua atá á dtairiscint le haghaidh iontrála in 2022 agus a chuirfear i láthair ag an lá oscailte fíorúil tá: :: Beidh teastas iarchéime ar siúl ar líne Computer Science–Artificial Intelligence for Managers, a mbeidh na táillí fóirdheonaithe ag ITAG Skillnet chun a chur ar chumas céimithe straitéis a chur le chéile, tionscadail a shamhlú agus foirne a fhostú agus a bhainistiú gan gá le staidéar a dhéanamh ar ríomhchlárúchán :: Trí chlár nua gnó agus fáilteachais le Coláiste na Sionna, lena n-áirítear Postgraduate Certificate in Hospitality and Leadership. :: MA in International Development Practice :: Postgraduate Certificate in Cybersecurity and Business Mhol Sarah Geraghty, Stiúrthóir Earcaíochta Mac Léinn agus For-rochtana, OÉ Gaillimh, do dhaoine atá ag smaoineamh ar staidéar breise tosú ag breathnú ar roghanna go luath. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá aici: “B’fhéidir go bhfuil tú ag lorg cúrsa chun sainscileanna agus saineolas ar leith a fhorbairt, nó b’fhéidir go bhfuil tú ag iarraidh do ghairm a athrú agus bogadh go tionscal nua. Cibé cén cuspóir atá agat, tá sé tábhachtach an t-am a chaitheamh go luath chun an t-eolas ar fad a fháil faoin gcóras le hiarratas a dhéanamh agus áit a fháil ar an gcúrsa is fearr a oireann do do riachtanais agus pleanáil freisin don chaoi ar féidir leat am a dhéanamh don staidéar iarchéime i do shaol.” Tabharfaidh lá oscailte fíorúil iarchéime OÉ Gaillimh comhaltaí foirne lárnacha san Ollscoil le chéile a thugann tacaíocht agus eolas do mhic léinn ionchasacha maidir le táillí, maoiniú agus scoláireachtaí, an luach a bhaineann le cáilíocht iarchéime i margadh na bpost agus neart leideanna chun iarratas rathúil a dhéanamh. Is féidir iarratas a dhéanamh anois ar chúrsaí a thosóidh in 2022, agus i gcás go leor cúrsaí, déantar iarratais a mheas ar bhonn rollach. Críoch