NUI Galway will be honoured at Music for Galway's 30th Anniversary Fundraising Gala Reception and Concert which takes place on Saturday, 16 October in the Town Hall Theatre. Proceedings start with a pre-concert reception at 7.15pm followed by the concert at 8pm. The Music for Galway 30th Anniversary Fundraising Gala Reception and Concert will celebrate all that is best in music in Ireland West and beyond, and marks three decades of international concert seasons in Galway. On this milestone occasion, honours will be conferred on NUI Galway for its 30 years of generous support, and on Erika Casey, founder member of Music for Galway. Operatic arias and duets will be performed by Metropolitan Opera baritone Rodion Pogossov who will be joined by soprano Evelina Dobraceva and pianist Dearbhla Collins. John Behan RHA has donated a bronze cast sculpture, 'Cellist', inspired by Adrian Mantu, cellist with Galway Ensemble in Residence ConTempo Quartet, and this sculpture will be auctioned off on the night along with jewellery donated from Cobwebs. Raffle prizes include an original John Behan print, a night at the Renvile House Hotel, and tickets to the Live from the MET at the EYE cinema including champagne from the g hotel. Tickets are €30 and are available from the Town Hall Theatre booking office at 091 569777 or www.tht.ie. For further details please contact Music for Galway at 091 705962 or info@musicforgalway.ie. -Ends-

NUI Galway is delighted with the news that it has retained its position in the Sunday Times University Guide. Having won the inaugural Sunday Times University Guide 'University of the Year' in 2002 and again in 2009, NUI Galway cites success in CAO figures and in the recent PRTLI Awards as contributors to its position in the University Guide. Speaking about the announcement, President of NUI Galway, Dr James J. Browne, said: "It is very gratifying to have held our position, following our designation last year as University of the Year and coming in the same week as we have increased our position in the QS World University Ranking. This validation of the work and reputation of NUI Galway has been further substantiated by our recent funding success in the Irish Government s recent Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) and by the significant increases in demand for our courses, as evidenced in our CAO figures. Our initiatives to build strategic alliances with partners such as University of Limerick and Georgia Institute of Technology highlight our commitment to engaging with the needs of our region, the national 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 are proof of this commitment". Dr Browne continued: "In a difficult economic climate, with significant staff and budget cuts, I am proud that NUI Galway continues to build on our international reputation for academic excellence". NUI Galway extends their congratulations to Dublin City University on being named the 'Sunday Times Irish University of the Year 2010', to Cork IT on being named the best Institute, and to IT Sligo, named 'most improved' Higher Education Institution and wishes them all every success for the year ahead. -Ends-

"Developing a New Paradigm- Trust and Confidence in Children's Services" NUI Galway will host a seminar entitled "Developing a New Paradigm- Trust and Confidence in Children's Services" which will take place on Tuesday, 28 September at 6pm. The seminar will be comprised of a panel and open discussion exploring the challenges and solutions of child and family services in Ireland. The seminar is jointly hosted by the University's Masters in Social Work and the Child and Family Research Centre at the School of Political Science and Sociology. The panel of Irish experts in the field of children's services who will offer their reflections on future directions of children's services include: Michelle Clarke, Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; Geoff Costello, Social Worker; Fergus Finlay, Barnardos Children's Charity; Jennifer Gargan, Irish Association of Young People in Care (IAYPC) and Ursula Kilkelly, founder member of the Irish Youth Justice Alliance and Law Lecturer in UCC. The panel discussion will be opened to the audience which will be composed of frontline practitioners, managers, academics and other stakeholders and will be followed by a structured question and answer session. The seminar will be of relevance to anyone with an active interest in or for those working in the child and family sector in Ireland. It will offer a space to reflect on the challenges at a time when the sector faces both criticism and change. The session will be chaired by NUI Galway's Professor of Social Work, Bríd Featherstone. Commenting on the event, Professor Featherstone says: "This is a tumultuous time for child and family services in Ireland. At NUI Galway, we want to contribute to current debates and try and think a little differently about future directions. We are particularly concerned that, in times of financial constraint, we use resources wisely and that they are primarily focused on ensuring that families receive timely and appropriate help from skilled and well supported practitioners". -Ends-

The ninth annual NUI Galway Volunteering Fair will take place on Wednesday, 29 September, in the Bailey Allen Hall, Áras na Mac Léinn from 1-5pm. With over 2,000 students, staff and members of the general public expected to attend, the Fair will be officially opened Galway City Mayor Michael Crowe. Over 70 charities and community organisations will showcase the wide range of volunteering opportunities. The Fair is part of a week-long celebration of volunteering at NUI Galway, the culmination of which will coincide with the National Day of Volunteering on Friday, 1 October. Lorraine Tansey is the Student Volunteer Coordinator at NUI Galway: "Students are actively seeking volunteering prospects with homework clubs in local schools, fundraising for national charities, befriending people with a disability, or volunteering abroad. Students benefit enormously from getting involved and gain valuable experience, while bringing energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn". Exhibitors at the Volunteering Fair will include: Big Brother/Big Sister, Foróige, Galway Simon Community, Enable Ireland, Brothers of Charity, COPE Galway and Positive Mental Health. Lorraine Tansey added: "We are delighted to not only welcome community organisations to highlight their work and opportunities for volunteers but also to welcome members of the public onto campus". Through NUI Galway's volunteer programme, ALIVE, students can access an online database of volunteering opportunities. The programme also includes a series of workshops to help students make the most of their volunteering experience. At the end of the academic year students can apply for an ALIVE Certificate which is awarded by NUI Galway President, Dr James J. Browne, at a special ceremony in recognition of their commitment to volunteering. To book a stand or for further information, please contact the ALIVE office on 091 493823 or email alive@nuigalway.ie. -Ends-

NUI Galway student Melanie Hennessy, from Cloughleigh, Co. Clare, has been selected by the Junior Chamber International as one of their 2010 JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World. JCI honours 10 outstanding people under the age of 40 each year and Melanie will receive her award in the category of Humanitarian and/or Voluntary Leadership. Melanie, a 21 year-old medical student, has helped set up a school in Nepal. She also established her own University society, Draíocht, to generate funds to build an orphanage for the children of Nepal where she is currently working on improving the lives of these children. She also set up another charity TEAM Nepal, which she runs with a friend. Melanie returned to Nepal earlier this year with a group of 17 volunteers where they created Walking Hospitals, where volunteers walk with the local doctors to different villages to help those in need. After her initial nomination by NUI Galway earlier this year, Melanie was named as one of Ireland's Outstanding Young People of the Year, before being selected as a 2010 JCI Outstanding Young Person of the World. Speaking about Melanie's achievement, NUI Galway President, Dr James J. Browne, said: "Through her activities as a dedicated humanitarian and an advocate for the welfare and protection of orphans in Nepal, Melanie has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to volunteering activities. As a medical student at NUI Galway, her studies and her voluntary work show a real concern with improving human suffering. Volunteerism and service learning are hallmarks of a NUI Galway education. NUI Galway is the first Irish university to introduce Service Learning to its curriculum. Students such as Melanie, from all disciplines, avail of opportunities to volunteer, and in many cases gain credit for their civic engagement activities. Melanie, in her fundraising work and in her efforts to improve the medical and social conditions of children in Nepal, has shown a commendable energy and talent for social action and I would like to congratulate her on this tremendous achievement". Melanie and the nine other awardees will be recognised at the 2010 JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons ceremony at the JCI World Congress in Osaka, Japan this November. -