January 2009 Collaboration Confirmed between NUI Galway and LYIT

(Leagan Gaeilge) NUI Galway and Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) have signed a memorandum of understanding outlining future collaboration between the two institutions. This collaboration represents the culmination of three years work by staff and management from both institutions with a view to identifying ways in which the relative strengths of both institutions could be used for the benefit of the Irish language and Gaeltacht community. A joint degree programme has emanated from this collaboration which meets the recognized need and increased demand from a range of organisations working through the medium of Irish for third level graduates who can function effectively in a bilingual environment. These organisations come from a broad range of sectors including the public sector, the Gaeltacht business sector, the education sector, national and local Irish language organisations, and community development organisations. The new BA Riarachán Gno (Business Administration) is a four year programme taught through the medium of Irish at NUI Galway s external campus in Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal. It aims to provide graduates with the practical and analytical skills necessary to work effectively in a business and administration environment in which Irish and English are used. The programme is provided jointly by staff from LYIT and NUI Galway and is recognized by the Teachers Council for the purposes of teaching Business at Post Primary level. President of NUI Galway, Dr James J. Browne, said: "I would like to congratulate the Joint Working Group which brought this project to its conclusion. I know it is not always easy to overcome the obstacles that emanate from working under different policy regimes and with different structures. However, the Working Group, through their dedication to the project and their ability to work together has managed to overcome these challenges. I am confident that this project will provide the basis for future collaborative projects between LYIT and NUI Galway in the area of Irish language teaching and research". Paul Hannigan, President of LYIT, commented: "We are delighted with this collaboration and the exciting programme which, through a combination of academic studies and training, will provide education to graduate level in the main business and administrative disciplines and develop well educated and highly trained young graduates".

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Comhfhiontar idir OÉ Gaillimh agus LYIT dearbhaithe (View in English) Tá meamram comhthuisceana ina bhfuil cur síos ar chomhfhiontar idir OÉ Gaillimh agus Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Leitir Ceanainn (LYIT) sínithe ag an dá institiúid. Is ann don chomhfhiontar seo i ndiaidh do chomhaltaí foirne agus do lucht bainistíochta ón dá institiúid trí bliana a chaitheamh ag iarraidh bealaí a aimsiú le láidreachtaí an dá institiúid a úsáid chun tairbhe na Gaeilge agus phobal na Gaeltachta. Tá clár céime á thairiscint ag an dá institiúid in éindí mar chuid den chomhfhiontar seo a fhreastalaíonn ar riachtanas agus ar éileamh méadaithe ó eagraíochtaí éagsúla atá ag feidhmiú trí mheán na Gaeilge céimithe tríú leibhéal le Gaeilge a aimsiú, céimithe a bhfuil ar a gcumas feidhmiú go héifeachtach i dtimpeallacht dhátheangach. Áirítear i measc na n-eagraíochtaí seo eagraíochtaí as earnálacha éagsúla lena n-áirítear an earnáil phoiblí, earnáil gnó na Gaeltachta, an earnáil oideachais, eagraíochtaí náisiúnta agus áitiúla Gaeilge, agus eagraíochtaí forbartha pobail. Clár ceithre bliana é an BA i Riarachán Gnó atá á theagasc trí mheán na Gaeilge ar champas seachtrach OÉ Gaillimh i nGaoth Dobhair, Co. Dhún na nGall. Tá sé mar aidhm leis an gclár na scileanna praiticiúla agus anailíseacha riachtanacha a thabhairt do chéimithe ionas go mbeidh ar a gcumas feidhmiú go héifeachtach i dtimpeallacht gnó agus riaracháin ina bhfuil Gaeilge agus Béarla in úsáid. Beidh an clár seo á theagasc ag comhaltaí foirne ó LYIT agus ó OÉ Gaillimh araon agus tá aitheantas aige ón gComhairle Mhúinteoireachta a chuirfidh ar chumas na gcéimithe Gnó a theagasc ag leibhéal iar-bhunoideachais. Dúirt an Dr James Browne, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh: "Is mian liom tréaslú leis an gComhghrúpa Oibre a d'oibrigh ar an tionscadal seo. Is eol dom nach mbíonn sé éasca i gcónaí constaicí a shárú – constaicí a eascraíonn as a bheith ag obair faoi réir beartais éagsúla agus struchtúir dhifriúla. D'éirigh leis an nGrúpa Oibre, áfach, an tionscadal a fhorbairt agus na dúshláin seo a shárú trí bheith ag obair i dteannta a chéile. Táim lánmhuiníneach go bhfeidhmeoidh an tionscadal seo mar bhunús le tionscadail chomhoibritheacha eile bunaithe ar theagasc agus ar thaighde na Gaeilge idir LYIT agus OÉ Gaillimh". Dúirt Paul Hennigan, Uachtarán LYIT: "Cúis áthais dúinn a bheith ag obair i dteannta OÉ Gaillimh ar an gclár nua seo. Níl amhras ar bith orm, trí staidéar agus oiliúint acadúil, go mbeidh ar ár gcumas oideachas a chur ar chéimithe sna príomhdhisciplíní gnó agus riaracháin agus céimithe óga oilte, láncháilithe a sholáthar". -Críoch-