September 2009 NUI Galway is University of the Year for a Second Time

(Leagan Gaeilge) NUI Galway has been named 'University of the Year 2009' in the Sunday Times University Guide, securing the prestigious accolade for a second time. Outperforming 21 other third-level institutions, NUI Galway's strong record in graduate employability, research commercialisation, and this year's 11% increase in CAO applications were among the reasons for the Award. NUI Galway won the inaugural University of the Year in 2002, and this year was noted as the number one university mover in The Sunday Times annual league table to 4th position. The award is not only based on league table position but on an assessment under 22 criteria on the university's role on a local, national and international level. NUI Galway has produced six spin-out companies in the first half of 2009 and 27 patents, while research income increased by a third last year, despite the economic downturn. The University was lauded for its industry collaboration, specifically in the area of medical device technologies for which the Galway region has an international reputation. The University's research in biomedical engineering and regenerative medicine is an integral support to the local medical device industry cluster. Many of the newer courses at NUI Galway, which added to the rise in first-choice applications, have been designed to be responsive to the changing needs of the employment market and meet the needs of Ireland's Smart Economy. New courses in Energy Systems Engineering will support the renewable energy market; Electronic Engineering Innovation will deliver business-savvy entrepreneurial graduates; while the range of new BA Connect degrees reflect areas of research growth in the Humanities. Alastair McCall, Editor of The Sunday Times University Guide 2010, said: "NUI Galway is the epitome of what third level education should be about. It provides a first-rate student experience with modern cutting-edge facilities. Its graduates are sought after throughout Ireland and beyond, and the NUI Galway name is synonymous with high quality. "The university is a key driver of the local economy in the west of Ireland and its commercial exports and spin-offs span the globe. It has forged a reputation in digital enterprise and the medical device industry that allows NUI Galway to punch way beyond its weight. Even the president of the United States is benefitting from innovations made in Galway. Making NUI Galway our Irish University of the Year was one of the easier decisions to make". Speaking about the announcement, President of NUI Galway, Dr James J. Browne, said: "It is very gratifying to be recognised as University of the Year. NUI Galway has been rapidly developing world-class facilities on our 250-acre riverside campus, through a €320 million building programme. Our new Sports Centre and swimming pool opened last year; a state-of-the-art concert hall and conference facility opened this month, and construction has just begun on a new €40 million Engineering Building". Dr Browne continued: "The University offers our students world-class teaching and encourages active engagement with the learning experience through opportunities such as volunteering, work placement, international exchange programmes, sports clubs and vibrant student societies. Our focus on student engagement contributes to our leading retention rate among universities and strong employment figures for our graduates". He added: "On a national level, our institutional agenda engages with the needs of the economy and the government's strategy for the Smart Economy. Our strong record of industry collaboration and world-class research in fields such as biomedicine, renewable energy, and internet technologies feed into and support the national agenda and economy". In terms of research, The Sunday Times also noted the internet technology deployed by the Obama Administration's Recovery.gov website to bring an unprecedented level of transparency to the US Government, which was developed at NUI Galway's Digital Enterprise Research Institute. With over 16,000 currently registered at the University, NUI Galway will welcome prospective undergraduate students and their families to the campus from 2-3 October, during its Autumn Open Days. To view The Sunday Times article please click here.

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Gradam Ollscoil na Bliana ag OÉ Gaillimh den Dara hUair (View in English) Ainmníodh OÉ Gaillimh mar 'Ollscoil na Bliana 2009' in The Sunday Times University Guide, an dara huair di an gradam measúil seo a thuilleadh. D éirigh le OÉ Gaillimh, thar 21 institiúid tríú leibhéal eile, an gradam seo a bhaint amach agus ar na cúiseanna ar éirigh léi an Gradam a bhaint bhí tóir a bhíonn ag fostóirí ar chéimithe ó OÉ Gaillimh, tráchtálú taighde, agus an méadú 11% ar líon na n-iarratas CAO i mbliana. Bhuaigh OÉ Gaillimh an chéad ghradam Ollscoil na Bliana in 2002, agus i mbliana d éirigh léi a bheith ar an ollscoil is airde a léim ar thábla sraithe bliantúil The Sunday Times nuair a bhain sí an ceathrú háit amach. Ní amháin go bhfuil an gradam bunaithe ar an áit a fhaigheann an ollscoil ar an tábla sraithe ach bíonn sé bunaithe chomh maith ar mheasúnú de réir 22 critéar ar ról na hollscoile ar leibhéal áitiúil, náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta. Tá sé fhochomhlacht bunaithe ag OÉ Gaillimh agus tá 27 paitinn cláraithe aici sa chéad leath de 2009, agus mhéadaigh an t-ioncam taighde inti d'aon trian anuraidh, ainneoin lag trá an gheilleagair. Moladh an Ollscoil as a comhpháirtíochtaí tionscail, i réimse na dteicneolaíochtaí feistí leighis go háirithe, réimse a bhfuil cáil idirnáisiúnta ar Ghaillimh as. Is taca lárnach do ghrúpa tionscail áitiúil na bhfeistí leighis an taighde atá ar bun ag an Ollscoil in innealtóireacht bhithleighis agus sa leigheas athghiniúnach. Go leor de na cúrsaí nua in OÉ Gaillimh a chuir leis an méadú ar iarratais chéadrogha, leagadh amach iad ag freagairt do riachtanais mhargadh na fostaíochta atá ag athrú agus tá siad ag teacht le riachtanais Gheilleagar Glic na hÉireann. Tacóidh cúrsaí nua in Innealtóireacht Córas Fuinnimh le margadh an fhuinnimh in-athnuaite; cuirfidh an cúrsa nua i Nuálaíocht Innealtóireachta – Leictreonach céimithe fiontraíochta a bheidh ina saineolaithe gnó ar fáil; agus léiríonn an rogha nua céimeanna BA Connect an fás atá ar réimsí taighde sna Daonnachtaí. Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Alastair McCall, eagarthóir The Sunday Times University Guide 2010: "Is sampla den scoth OÉ Gaillimh ar an rud is oideachas tríú leibhéal ann. Cuireann sí taithí den scoth ar fáil don mhac léinn mar aon le háiseanna ceannródaíocha nua-aimseartha. Tá tóir ar a cuid céimithe ar fud na hÉireann agus thar lear, agus samhlaítear ardchaighdeán leis an ainm OÉ Gaillimh. "Tá an-tionchar ag an ollscoil ar an ngeilleagar in iarthar na hÉireann agus tá a cuid onnmhairí tráchtála agus a fochomhlachtaí le fáil ar fud na cruinne. Tá cáil bainte amach aici di féin san fhiontraíocht dhigiteach agus sa tionscal feistí leighis, réimse a bhfuil OÉ Gaillimh ar thús cadhnaíochta ann. Tá uachtarán Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá, fiú, ag baint tairbhe as earraí nuálaíocha a dhéantar i nGaillimh. Bhí sé ar cheann de na cinntí ab éasca againn OÉ Gaillimh a ainmniú mar Ollscoil Éireannach na Bliana." Ag labhairt dó faoin ainmniúchán, dúirt Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr James J. Browne: "Is cúis mhór áthais dúinn gur tugadh aitheantas dúinn mar Ollscoil na Bliana. Tá OÉ Gaillimh ag forbairt áiseanna den chéad scoth go tapa ar ár gcampas 250 acra ar bhruach na habhann, trí chlár tógála €320 milliún. D'oscail an tIonad Spóirt agus an linn snámha nua anuraidh; d'oscail halla ceolchoirme agus áis comhdhála den chéad scoth an mhí seo, agus táthar díreach tar éis tosú ar Fhoirgneamh Innealtóireachta €40 milliún." Lean an Dr Browne air: "Cuireann an Ollscoil teagasc den scoth ar fáil dár mic léinn agus spreagann sí iad le bheith rannpháirteach go gníomhach sa taithí foghlama trí dheiseanna amhail obair dheonach, socrúchán oibre, cláir mhalartaithe idirnáisiúnta, clubanna spóirt agus cumainn bhríomhara mac léinn. Cuidíonn an bhéim a leagaimid ar rannpháirtíocht na mac léinn linn líon ard mac léinn a choinneáil thar ollscoileanna eile agus cuireann sin leis na figiúirí arda fostaíochta i measc ár gcéimithe." Chomh maith leis sin, dúirt sé: "Ar leibhéal náisiúnta, téann ár gclár oibre institiúideach i ngleic le riachtanais an gheilleagair agus le straitéis an rialtais maidir leis an nGeilleagar Glic. Cuireann an obair atá curtha i gcrích againn maidir le comhoibriú tionscail agus taighde den scoth i réimsí amhail bithleigheas, fuinneamh in-athnuaite, agus teicneolaíochtaí gréasáin leis an gclár oibre náisiúnta agus le geilleagar na tíre." Ó thaobh taighde de, luaigh The Sunday Times chomh maith an teicneolaíocht idirlín a forbraíodh in Institiúid Taighde na Fiontraíochta Digití in OÉ Gaillimh agus atá á húsáid ag láithreán gréasáin Lucht Riaracháin Obama, recovery.gov, chun go mbeadh Rialtas SAM níos trédhearcaí ná mar a bhí riamh. Tá breis agus 16,000 mac léinn cláraithe in OÉ Gaillimh, agus fáilteoidh an Ollscoil roimh dhaltaí ar spéis leo céim a dhéanamh san ollscoil agus roimh a dteaghlaigh chuig an gcampas, ar na Laethanta Oscailte, an 2 agus an 3 Deireadh Fómhair. -Críoch-