Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway, 10th – 15th June 2006 The Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway, with be the location of this year's Summer School on Minority Rights & Indigenous Peoples. Now in its sixth consecutive year, the event has become a permanent fixture in the international human rights calendar, attracting a high level of interesting participants and a host of international speakers from a range of countries. This year the summer school will draw on experts from India, Iran, Ireland, Chile, Canada, Nigeria, South Africa, Greece, Belgium and the United Kingdom. Participants will include: Professor Patrick Thornberry who is one of the 18 independent experts on the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – the committee that analyzed Ireland's submission last year; Ms Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh – a Muslim feminist from Iran who was imprisoned for two months during a crackdown on civil society by the government. According to Dr. Joshua Castellino, Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway, "Over the past five years this event has met with excellent reviews due to the scope of experience of the participants and the blend of interests. Again this year, we are looking forward to the participation of both Geneva based institutions as well as local and national NGOs, thus allowing for a high-caliber event where the international meets the national in an intensive learning process." Several analogous events are planned around the summer school which will be open to the general public. This includes two book launches of work undertaken by staff at the Irish Centre for Human Rights and a special showing of the Irish film Pavee Lackaen with opportunities to interact with those involved in its making. More information is available from Dr. Joshua Castellino on +353 91 49 3725 - ends -

NUI Galway's Department of Health Promotion is hosting the 10th Annual Health Promotion Conference on 8-9th June. This event will bring together an international group of health promotion practitioners, academics and policy makers to debate the future of health promotion in Ireland. The 10th Annual Health Promotion Conference is taking place just when the re-organisation of the Irish Health Service poses opportunities and challenges for health promotion, and the future development and growth of health promotion within these new structures. Margaret Barry, Professor of Health Promotion and Public Health at NUI Galway, commented, "This is an exciting opportunity to learn about international developments in how best to promote the health of our population. This conference provides us with the forum to debate the best way forward for Ireland". One of the key-note speakers, Dr. Tang Kwok-Cho from the World Health Organisation, will discuss the Bangkok Charter for Health Promotion in a Globalised World, and what needs to be done in countries to achieve health for all. According to Dr. Kwok-Cho, "The Bangkok Charter for Health Promotion in a Globalised World urges all sectors to act together to achieve health for all by addressing the determinants of health through commitments to make the promotion of health central to global development". At the conference, Dr Claude Rocan, from the Public Health Agency of Canada, will discuss how the environments in which we live are as important to our health as our lifestyles. In Canada, the concept of health promotion has evolved over time, with an early focus on individual behaviour followed by a move to how our environment, in the broadest sense, impacts on health status and health outcomes. Dr Rocan will emphasise the importance of having good evidence for the decisions we make within the health services. The impact of globalisation on health will be addressed by Dr. Peadar Kirby of the Centre for International Studies at Dublin City University (DCU). He will discuss the Irish experience of globalisation and shifting political power, including the social and health impact of globalization. The conference will showcase best practice examples of health promotion across Ireland. Speakers from throughout the country will present projects that aim to improve the health and well-being of the community. These include the impact of the Smoking Ban as well as initiatives to improve health in the workplace, in schools and in local communities. Participants from across Ireland and abroad will debate the future of training, accreditation and standards for people working in the health promotion field. Maria Lordon-Dunphy from the Population Health Directorate, Health Services Executive will discuss the current population health approach within the HSE and the vision of the HSE to enhance the health of people living in Ireland. -ends– For further information contact, Ms Natalie Walsh, Health Promotion Research Centre, Department of Health Promotion, NUI Galway. Tel + 353 91 492722 Email: Christina.Costello@nuigalway.ie

31 July 2006: Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway, is expanding its range of translation studies through the medium of Irish. A new M.A. in Translation Studies has come on stream to meet the rapidly growing demand for professional Irish translators at home and abroad. Applications for the two-year, full-time masters course, the highest accredited course in this discipline ever to be offered in the country, will be accepted until 04 August. The course is also available over one year as a Postgraduate Diploma. "The demand for translators with third-level qualifications has been on the increase since the Official Languages Act which has effectively made all public bodies bilingual. Highly skilled translators are also in demand in Brussels, following the newly-acquired status of Irish as an official working language of the European Union", commented Eoin Ó Droighneáin, Department Head, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway. Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge is NUI Galway's national institute pioneering third-level education through the Irish language. A range of diploma and higher diploma translation courses has been on offer for five years at the Acadamh. The new M.A. in Translation Studies complements the existing offering but also takes the level of accreditation higher. Eoin Ó Droighneáin added, "Acquiring professional translation skills and achieving a recognised third-level qualification is becoming an important career move. Our translation courses are designed to suit people's needs, whether it's a worker who wants to study part-time to improve their career path or someone who wants to study full-time to embark on a new career in Brussels." Part of the Acadamh's agenda is to bring the University to the people and to empower communities in Gaeltacht areas. Its two-year, part-time diploma in translation studies will be held in September in Ráth Cairn, Co. Meath; Gleann Cholm Cille, Co. Donegal; and in An Cheathrú Rua, Co. Galway. In addition to translation courses, NUI Galway's Acadamh offers a growing range of courses through Irish including: Communications; TV & Radio Skills; Language Planning; Drama; and IT. Applications are now being accepted for all courses. For more information, telephone Cassie Ní Chathasaigh in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUI Galway, on 091 869 022 or e-mail aistriuchan@oegaillimh.ie -end-

31 Iúil 2006: Tá Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh, ag leathnú a raon cúrsaí trí Ghaeilge i Léann an Aistriúcháin. Tá M.A. nua i Léann an Aistriúcháin ann anois chun an t-éileamh ar aistritheoirí gairmiúla Gaeilge in Éirinn agus thar lear, éileamh atá ag fás go tapa, a shásamh. Is é an cúrsa M.A. lánaimseartha thar dhá bhliain seo an cúrsa is airde creidiúnaithe dar cuireadh ar fáil riamh in Éirinn san aistriúchán Gaeilge. Glacfar le hiarratais go dtí an 4 Lúnasa. Tá an cúrsa ar fáil freisin mar Dhioplóma Iarchéime, thar bhliain amháin. "Tá an t-éileamh ar aistritheoirí a bhfuil cáilíochtaí tríú leibhéal acu ag méadú ó tugadh isteach Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, a dhéanann cuideachta dhátheangach de gach cuideachta phoiblí in Éirinn. Tá éileamh ar aistritheoirí a bhfuil ardscileanna acu sa Bhruiséil freisin mar gur glacadh leis an nGaeilge le déanaí mar theanga oifigiúil oibre de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh", a dúirt Eoin Ó Droighneáin, Ceann an Aonaid Aistriúcháin, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh. Is é Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge institiúid náisiúnta OÉ Gaillimh chun ceannródaíocht a thabhairt i réimse an oideachais tríú leibhéal trí Ghaeilge. Tá raon cúrsaí aistriúcháin ag leibhéal dioplóma agus ard-dioplóma á thairiscint ag an Acadamh le cúig bliana anuas. Cuireann an M.A. nua i Léann an Aistriúcháin leis an méid atá ann cheana féin agus cuireann sé creidiúnú ar fáil atá níos airde ná rud ar bith a bhí ann go dtí seo. Dúirt Eoin Ó Droighneáin freisin, "Is céim chun cinn thábhachtach anois ó thaobh gairme de scileanna gairmiúla aistriúcháin a shealbhú agus cáilíocht aitheanta tríú leibhéal a bhaint amach. Tá ár gcúrsaí deartha le dul in oiriúint do riachtanais daoine éagsúla, m.sh. duine atá ag obair agus atá ag iarraidh staidéar páirtaimseartha a dhéanamh le cur ar a c(h)umas dul chun cinn a dhéanamh ó thaobh gairme de nó duine atá ag iarraidh staidéar lánaimseartha a dhéanamh le bheith in ann tabhairt faoi ghairm bheatha nua sa Bhruiséil." Is cuid de chlár oibre an Acadaimh é an Ollscoil a thabhairt go dtí na daoine agus cumhacht a thabhairt do na pobail sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. Reáchtálfar an dioplóma páirtaimseartha dhá bhliain i Léann an Aistriúcháin i mí Mheán Fómhair i Ráth Cairn, Co. na Mí; i nGleann Cholm Cille, Co. Dhún na nGall; agus ar an gCeathrú Rua, Co. na Gaillimhe. Chomh maith le cúrsaí aistriúcháin, cuireann Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh, raon cúrsaí trí Ghaeilge ar fáil, raon atá ag fás i gcónaí. Áirítear ar na cúrsaí sin: Cumarsáid; Scileanna Teilifíse agus Raidió; Pleanáil Teanga; Drámaíocht; agus Teicneolaíocht Faisnéise. Táthar ag glacadh anois le hiarratais le haghaidh na gcúrsaí ar fad. Is féidir tuilleadh eolais a fháil ach glaoch ar Chassie Ní Chathasaigh in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, OÉ Gaillimh, ag 091 869022 nó ríomhphost a sheoladh chuig aistriuchan@oegaillimh.ie -críoch-

Details of a new degree in Community and Family Studies, to be delivered through distance learning, have been announced by NUI Galway's Community Education Centre. The four-year part-time degree will commence in late September with a closing date for applications on September 15th. This degree is designed to enable participants to further develop and enhance their understanding, knowledge and skills relevant to Family and Community work practice and policy in Ireland or abroad. Areas of study will include community development, family support, adolescence, childcare, health, political and general socio-economics. To accommodate the work and family commitments of adult learners, the course will be delivered through distance learning, which is a combination of workshops, assignments and learning materials. Students will attend around six workshops per year. The workshops will be held at a number of geographic locations throughout Ireland: Galway, Clare/Limerick, Leitrim and Offaly. Deirdre Hardiman, Community Education Officer, NUI Galway, commented, "Following on from the existing success of the Diploma in Community Development Practice, the degree will serve NUI Galway's strategy of supporting the social, economic, educational and cultural needs of Irish Society. The new course has already generated huge interest among development agencies, community activists, social workers and volunteers around the country". The Batchelor of Arts course will be run by NUI Galway's Community Education Centre. Students are awarded an NUI Diploma in Arts: Community and Family Studies upon successful completion of the first two years of the programme and a Bachelor of Arts Community and Family Studies on completion of the four-year cycle. Application forms are available from and should be returned to the Programme Administrator, Community Education Centre, Hygeia Office Block, Nuns Island, NUI, Galway, Tel: 091 495472. Application forms may also be downloaded from: http://www.nuigalway.ie/communityeducation Deadline for Application: Friday, September 15th 2006 -ends-