A student at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway, Sarah Bassiouni, was one of five students whose thesis was selected for publication by the European Inter-University Institute for Human Rights and Democratisation recently. The award was announced on 26 September at a ceremony in Venice attended by NUI Galway President James J Browne and Professor William Schabas, Director of the Irish Centre for Human Rights at NUI Galway. The thesis was entitled 'Our Progressive Nature: The Environment & the Right to Enjoy the Benefits of Scientific Progress and its Applications'. It deals with the long-neglected human right to the benefits of scientific progress, taken from the perspective of the protection of the environment. The thesis was supervised by Professor William Schabas. "Sarah's thesis is really cutting edge, and it was selected not only for its overall quality but also for its great originality and its contemporary importance", said Professor Schabas. "We hosted an international seminar on the subject two years ago in Galway, and we are thrilled to see that students are now picking up the issue and developing research in new areas." The European Inter-University Institute for Human Rights and Democratisation operates a Master's Degree programme in Human Rights and Democratisation for students throughout the European Union, as well as a limited number from elsewhere in the world. It is based in Venice, where students take a semester of courses. During the second semester, beginning in February, students are assigned to participating Universities throughout Europe. The National University of Ireland, Galway has been involved in the programme since 2001. Typically, it receives four or five students from the 90-student cohort each year. "The Venice Human Rights programme is an important initiative, and I am delighted both by the involvement of our University and by the performance of our students", said President Browne. 'Both in Europe, and elsewhere, one of the trademarks of our University is its excellence in Human Rights teaching and research,' he said, adding that the Irish Centre for Human Rights is one of the largest University-based Human Rights units in the world. ENDS

NUI Galway recently hosted a Graduation Ceremony for students who completed a Joint NUI Galway/GMIT Foundation Course in Science, Engineering, Technology and in Commerce/Business. 70 students received their Certificates on the night with many progressing to full and part-time degree programmes at both NUI Galway and GMIT. These foundation courses are pre-entry preparation programmes for third-level with students attending lectures and laboratory sessions on both campuses. This joint venture was set up 12 years ago and has proved successful with many participants going on to study at either institution. If students pass all modules on the programmes they can apply through the CAO and may be accepted to study at a full-time level in NUI Galway or GMIT. Trish Hoare, Mature Students Officer with NUI Galway, said: "I would like to congratulate the students on their achievement and wish them every success in their full-time studies at NUI Galway and GMIT." According to Deirdre O'Connor, Access Officer with GMIT, "The current economic climate has resulted in a substantial increase in the numbers of mature students wishing to gain entry to third level education and these courses prepare students to progress to full-time degrees in Science, Engineering, IT and Business." Both courses are due to commence in early October 2010. Those interested in finding our more should contact Trish Hoare, NUI Galway at 091 492695 or maturestudents@nuigalway.ie, or Deirdre O'Connor, GMIT at 091 742129 or deirdre.oconnor@gmit.ie -Ends-

Postgraduate students in Information Systems at NUI Galway recently showcased voluntary work that benefited local organisations in Galway. The showcase is the culmination of compulsory project work completed by the students as part of the MSc (Information Systems Management). The project component of the MSc requires students to analyse the operations of an organisation, focus in on a problem area, design a solution to that problem in consultation with the users, and develop and implement that solution. This year, a total of 20 projects were submitted, all involving a substantial amount of voluntary work where students applied their skills to address the needs of local organisations. The clients included, Cancer Care West, SAP Galway, HSE-North West, Youth Work Ireland, Defence Forces, COPE Galway, Connacht Rugby, Fitzgerald Design Ltd., Brothers of Charity, Teddy House Creche, Oxfam, Bushy Park National School and NUI Galway. "The field of Business Information Systems is primarily about helping organisations to solve real problems and grasp opportunities," explains MSc in Information Systems Management Programme Director Michael Lang. "Many people do not fully understand how innovative IT applications can be potentially very beneficial within their workplace, often because they are not aware of the capabilities of technology. This is where our postgraduate students can help." The aim of the projects undertaken by students is to enable them apply the skills they learn on the programme, such as database design, user interface design, applications programming, Web development, business systems analysis, project management, security planning, and e-business strategic thinking, as well as skills such as teamwork, interpersonal communications, and presentation skills. It also affords the opportunity to be involved in civic engagement and volunteering. Professor Chris Curtin, Vice-President for Innovation & Performance at NUI Galway, said, "It is wonderful to see how the students of the MSc in Information Systems Management have demonstrated very impressive innovative capabilities in producing such excellent and creative projects. NUI Galway places a high value on the importance of civic engagement and volunteering, and service learning is very much a core aspect of our teaching and learning strategy." Support for NUI Galway's service learning strategy is centrally provided by the office of the Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI), which also oversees the ALIVE student volunteering programme. Combining classroom theory with community practice, service learning is a teaching tool aimed at connecting students with their community through practical work and has given students the opportunity to see the impact that civic engagement has for the communities they work with, their own learning and the wider society. -Ends-

An exhibition of a collection of diary drawings by Artist Bobby Baker will be launched at NUI Galway Wednesday, 6 October at 5pm. The exhibition will run from 6 October to 30 October, in Aras na Mac Léinn and the foyer of the Arts Millennium Building in the University. It is one of a number of events organised as part of Mental Health Week, 10 to 17 October, 2010. The Exhibition entitled "Mental Illness and Me, 1997 – 2008", depicts Bobby's experiences of day hospitals, acute psychiatric wards, 'crisis' teams and a variety of treatments, while coping with personal mental illness. The drawings chart the ups and downs of her recovery, family life, work as an artist, breast cancer and just how funny all this harrowing stuff can be. Bobby Baker, who is based in England, will give an illustrated talk on Wednesday, 13 October at 8pm at the Bank of Ireland Theatre. She will explore how painting, breathing and madness led her to create the remarkable series of drawings on which the exhibition is based. The collection of drawings on display in NUI Galway is part of a larger exhibition that is currently on display in Dr Guislain Museum, Belgium. The smaller collection of Bobby's diary drawings are being shown in a variety of galleries, hospitals and educational settings, including NUI Galway to make them accessible to the wider public. Speaking about the exhibition, NUI Galway's Arts Officer Fionnuala Gallagher says, "It is a rare and wonderful thing to view Bobby Baker's Diary Drawings. Bobby has exposed her deepest fears and at the same time has interpreted them for the audience with a subversive wit that makes you laugh and wince simultaneously, at the plight of the human mind, at war with itself." The exhibition and illustrated talk is organised by The Arts Office in association with the Health Promotion Service and Student Services at NUI Galway as part a number of events to take place during Mental Health Week at the University from 10 to 17 October. The theme of NUI Galway's Mental Health week is "Building Resilience - to protect mental health and wellbeing", encouraging students and staff to – "Sign up, Link in, Get involved", to build resilience in their lives. Health Promotion Officer at NUI Galway, Cindy Dring comments, "It is important to look after our mental health as well as our physical health in our everyday life. The theme of Mental Health Week, 'Building resilience', is even more relevant than ever before during these economically challenging times. Resilience - the ability to cope with life's ups and downs can be learned, and will help us to see past today's difficulties and enjoy life more. Research has found a strong link with community participation and resilience. Here at NUI Galway there is plenty of opportunity to build resilience and to have lots of fun while doing it by getting involved in volunteering, joining a club or society, or signing up for a workshop in the Mind, Body & Soul programme." -Ends-

A Conference on the subject 'Ireland and Biafra' will be held in the Moore Institute, NUI Galway, this Thursday, 30 September and Friday, 1 October. The Conference will focus on the events surrounding the Nigeria-Biafra war 1967-70. Speakers include Nigerian academics, Godfrey Uzoigwe, who will discuss the run-up to the war and Michael Echeruo, who will discuss the literature that was published as a result of the war. In addition to the background, there will be a personal account of the experience of a child refugee in Ireland following the surrender of Biafra; memories from missionaries who experienced events in Nigeria and Biafra; an interview with the founders of Concern; a screening of the Radharc documentary Night Flight to Uli, introduced by one of the Radharc team. Dr Dom Colbert of the Irish Red Cross and Dr Noel Dorr, who was in the Department of Foreign Affairs, will also be in attendance. The full programme is available at www.nuigalway.ie/mooreinstitute/site/view/761/ and all are welcome to attend. -Ends-