This year, as a further effort to enhance access and participation opportunities for unemployed and low income groups, NUI Galway has approved a Scholarship Scheme to reduce fees for applicants in receipt of Job Seekers Benefit, Job Seekers Allowance and One-Parent Family Payment, who wish to enrol for part-time degree and diploma courses provided by the University, and who meet Department of Social Protection income thresholds. One of the programmes to benefit from this welcome announcement is the BA in Community and Family Studies. This distance learning programme is a four year, part-time honours degree programme in Community and Family Studies.  Community Education Officer at NUI Galway, Deirdre Hardiman, says: “It is designed to enable participants to further develop and enhance their knowledge and skills relevant to Family and Community work practice and policy inIrelandor abroad. This includes a study of the community, voluntary and Irish state sector’s roles in supporting community and family life in a rapidly changing Irish society.  Areas of study include community development, family support, adolescence, childcare, health, political and general socio-economic studies.” Students are awarded a Diploma in Arts in Community and Family Studies on successful completion of the first two years of the programme and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Community and Family Studies on completion of the four-year cycle. Helen Casey, Community Education Officer, NUI Galway, also added: “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 (held Friday/ Saturday) will be provided at a number of geographic locations throughoutIreland.” Formal academic qualifications are not required to commence the BA in Community and Family Studies but applicants must meet the University’s requirements for mature students entering higher education. Other programmes to benefit from the scheme for the unemployed and low-income groups include part-time blended learning programmes in the Science and Technology area of Medical Device Design, Environmental Sustainability, Lean and Quality System, Software Engineering and Database Technologies, Technology Management and a number of part-time Diploma programmes in French, Italian and Spanish. Further information and application forms on the BA Community & Family Studies are available from the Programme Administrator, Community Education Centre, Hygeia Office Block, Nuns Island , NUI Galway Tel: 091 495472/495786 and may also be downloaded from: http://www.nuigalway.ie/communityeducation A full list of all part-time Adult Education Programmes is available at: www.nuigalway.ie/adulteducation. As closing dates vary, prospective students are encouraged to apply immediately.

BioInnovate Ireland, a specialist training programme in medical device innovation, modeled on Stanford University’s prestigious Biodesign Programme, was officially launched at NUI Galway today (2 August). The BioInnovate Ireland Fellowship Programme has been jointly developed and delivered by a consortium of five Higher Education Institutions which include NUI Galway,UniversityofLimerick, Royal College of Surgeons inIreland,DublinCityUniversityand University College Cork. The overall aim of the programme is to train graduates to support the creation of new, cost-effective medical devices that improve patient care through a collaborative approach that focuses on the needs of patients, physicians and the health care industry as a whole. The impetus for the development of this specialist training programme emerged from the 2010 Innovation Taskforce Report. The new programme aims to hot-house, in the space of 10 months, talented individuals with multidisciplinary backgrounds to explore and develop in teams, opportunities for innovative medical devices. Programme participants will experience an intensive clinical immersion in teaching hospitals to help identify potential medical device development opportunities. Throughout the 10-month period, they will avail of the expert advice, direction and guidance from dedicated industrial mentors and serial entrepreneurs, along with clinicians with an interest in enhancing patient care through medical device innovation. Research students in the BioInnovate consortium will have access to modules as part of their structured PhD programmes to broaden their education and expose them to the process of bringing ideas from concept to commercialisation. This initiative has received funding fromEnterpriseIrelandand also support from several medical device development and service companies including: Medtronic, Creganna-Tactx Medical, Lake Region Medical Ltd and Steripack, Ltd. It is envisaged that the BioInnovate Ireland Fellowship Programme will act as a catalyst for enhancing innovation in medical device development withinIreland. Speaking about the programme, the newly appointed Fellowship Director, NUI Galway’s Dr Mark Bruzzi, said: “Our mission is to educate the next generation of leaders in innovation and to support the future of the medical device technologies sector inIreland. The academic partners driving the development of the BioInnovate Fellowship Programme are committed to support innovation and entrepreneurship and to evolve the academic component of the Irish Medical Technologies ecosystem to ensure that the needs of the industry are met.” After an arduous application process, the eight successful applicants in the programme’s inaugural year, have now been split across two teams in Galway and Dublin. Commencing immediately, both teams will work within the clinical are of Cardiology, focussing on interventional and surgical procedures. The group of eight candidates come with a wealth of experience across the disciplines of medicine, engineering, business, law, science and information technology The search for elite candidates with a strong interest in becoming leaders in medical device innovation through participation in the 2012 cycle of the BioInnovate Ireland Fellowship Programme will commence in the Autumn. -ENDS-

20 UScitizens have been awarded grants for the Irish Language Summer Study Awards from the Ireland - United States [Fulbright] Commission for Educational Exchange. These new awards enableUS citizens, currently studying Irish in theUnited States, to participate in Irish language courses in the Gaeltacht this summer. Half of the total scholarship awardees,  supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs and the National Lottery,  will study at NUI Galway’s Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in An Cheathrú Rua. Successful candidates have received a monetary award to cover travel to and fromIrelandand tuition in the course of their choice. Those studying at NUI Galway’s Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge in An Cheathrú Rua include: Mr Kevin Clark, a Fair Haven, New Jersey attorney and security consultant, served over thirty-five years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Jersey State Commission of Investigation and Ocean County Prosecutors Office.  A member of Daltaí na Gaeilge atBrookdaleCommunity College,Middletown,NJ, he has attended Irish Summer Colleges with Oideas Gael, NUI Galway and Rath Cairn. He will spend a month studying at Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Ms Kerri Farrell holds an MA in Irish and Irish American Studies fromNew YorkUniversity and is currently working towards an MA in Irish Literature and Culture atBostonCollege.  She will spend two weeks in an Irish Intensive course with NUI Galway. Ms Lynnasha Galbreath is a student of Graphic Design at the University of Kansas. Lynnasha studied Irish for one year at Haskell Indian Nations University and will spend one week at Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Ms Jacqueline Geleta is a rising senior studying at theUniversity ofPittsburgh inPennsylvania. Ms Geleta has studied Irish for 12 months in Carraroe as well as at theUniversity ofPittsburgh. She will spend four weeks in Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge again this summer Ms Ciara Grogan is a full-time student entering her final undergraduate year atCUNYQueensCollege.  She will graduate in spring 2012 with a BA in speech-language pathology.  She has been studying Irish for three semesters and will spend four weeks in NUI Galway. Mr Garth Lambson is a graduate student fromIdahoStateUniversity based inPocatello,Idaho. Mr Lambson has studied Irish for a year withLehmanCollege, City University of New York and will spend four weeks in NUI Galway. Ms Edyta Lehmann is a native of Poland. She currently lives in Boston, writing her PhD dissertation at the Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures at Harvard University.  She will spend four weeks studying Irish at Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge. Ms Molly Loesche is currently writing her History Master's thesis, Rural Women and the Irish Ireland Movement, at theUniversity ofNebraska,Omaha. She has been studying Irish for just over one year, and is looking forward to spending four weeks at NUI Galway in An Cheathrú Rua furthering her studies. Mr Lucas Miller is a faculty member atHaskellIndianNationsUniversity inLawrence,Kansas,USA.  He has studied Irish for one year under the tutelage of an Irish Fulbright Scholar, and will be studing in An Cheathru Rua for one month this summer. Mr Ed Shevlin is a NYC Sanitation Worker who holds an AA in Historical Studies from Empire State College. Mr Shevlin is pursuing a BA in Irish Studies from the same institution, while taking Gaeilge classes atLehmanCollege. Ed began his Gaeilge studies at NUI Galway in the summer of 2009 and will undertake the Intermediate level course this summer. Commenting on the awards, the Minister of State with responsibility for the Irish language, Dinny McGinley T.D. said: “I am delighted that my Department was in a position to provide funding to the Fulbright Commission for this very worthwhile initiative. I am particularly pleased that an increasing number of students who study Irish in theUSand in many other parts of the world, continue their studies here inIrelandand as a consequence, can now be seen attending courses in the Gaeltacht. This results in bonds of friendship and a lifelong interest and understanding of the rich language and culture of this country. Is ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann muid!” Speaking about the candidates, Ms Colleen Dube, Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission, said: “We were delighted, though not surprised, by the response to this new program which confirms the diversity of reasons and places that Americans are learning Irish.   Recent research that we have conducted has identified just over 80 third level and community based institutions across theUSthat are teaching Irish.  The applications revealed that Americans are learning Irish not just to re-connect with their Irish roots but to assist their PhD research in anthropology, religion, history and comparative literature.  Irish is seen by several applicants as not just a hobby or luxury but an essential academic skill. “Awardees’ backgrounds are varied, cross disciplined and stem from all walks of life.  We have students from a wide range of American universities includingBostonCollege, City University of New York, Emory, Harvard, Haskell Indian Nations, Idaho State College,UniversityofConnecticutand Yale. We hope these successful candidates will share their experiences with others on their return to theUSand encourage more to learn Irish in theUSandIreland.” Other successful awardees will attend the following courses: Oideas Gael, Glencolmcille, Donegal Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne, Ballyferriter, Kerry FEICIM, Inis Oírr,Galway The Irish Language Summer Study Awards are not Fulbright Awards but a separate initiative of theIreland - United States Commission for Educational Exchange (The Fulbright Commission) and are supported by the Irish Government Department of Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht Affairs and the Irish National Lottery. For more information visit www.fulbright.ie.

Over 600 debaters, from over 140 institutes right across Europe and further afield includingQatar,RussiaandIsrael, will descend onGalwayfor the European Universities Debating Championships hosted by NUI Galway. This is the first time this week-long championship will place inGalwayand will run from 7 to 12 August. The NUI Galway Law Society and the Literary and Debating Society are hosting the championships, which will cover debate topics such as economic policy, international relations and philosophy. The exact motions of the debates will not be released to the delegates until 15 minutes before each heat starts. Each team will debate in English but will be split into two categories, those who have English as a first language and those who speak it as a second language; there will be two finals under these categories. Nollaig Ó Scannlain, Chief Organiser and NUI Galway student, said: “We are very proud to be hosting this prestigious European event. It is a great opportunity for us to showcase the debating talents of NUI Galway students and to show many other European institutes the facilities that the University has to offer. Throughout the week’s activities, debaters will get a taste ofGalwayand Irish traditions and we are very much looking forward to learning from the diverse group of students who will be visiting.” First held in 1999, the European Universities Debating Championships is an annual debating tournament for teams from universities across Europe, although teams from theMiddle Eastand central Asian institutions are eligible pending the formation of similar competitions in their regions. For more information on the European Debating Universities Championships visit www.galwayeudc2011.ie.   ENDS

Joint Programmes established to tackle Smart Economy Skills Shortage  The NUI Galway – University of Limerick Strategic Alliance is proud to announce the establishment two new joint MSc programmes which will address strategic R&D requirements for the country. The programmes, MSc Finance and Information Systems and MSc Sustainable Resource Management: Policy and Practice are significant in that they are the first joint programmes to be delivered through an Irish university alliance.   Smart Economy Skills Shortage – MSc Finance and Information Systems Finance and economics graduates looking to upskill can now avail of a new joint programme delivered by the Kemmy Business School, UL and the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, NUI Galway. The new programme builds on the strengths of strategic alliance partners, NUI Galway and the University of Limerick, to deliver a programme in response to the market demand for graduates with ICT and financial management skills. The programme addresses a number of the skills shortage areas that have been identified in Forfás’ Guiding Principles for Submission of Proposals, Forfás’ 2011 document Guidance for Higher Education Providers on Current and Future Skills Needs of Enterprise, and the Government’s Building Ireland’s Smart Economy. While covering key future skills needs, the programme provides students with an opportunity to update, build and improve key strengths and capabilities, redirect their careers or consider how they can create their own employment or develop new routes to employment. The programme aims to provide essential ICT technical skills, but equally aims to deliver the financial management skills and financial decision making acumen – critical for employees in the targeted industrial sectors and core to the success of Ireland’s future economic growth. Professor Donal Dineen, Dean of the Kemmy Business School, UL, said: “This is an exciting new programme that combines the complementary expertise of the academic staff of the Business Schools of both NUI Galway and UL; the skill shortages being addressed are critical to the requirements of the emerging Smart Economy in Ireland.” Professor Willie Golden, Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law, NUI Galway, said: “This programme has been designed to meet the needs of the marketplace by providing graduates with knowledge of both finance and information systems, something which is actively sought by employers in the marketplace.”   Boost to Green Economy – MSc Sustainable Resource Management: Policy and Practice Implementing correct policies to grow Ireland’s green economy will be given an important boost with the launch of the first MSc in Sustainable Resource Management: Policy and Practice delivered jointly by the Strategic Alliance Partners. This programme has been developed in response to market demand for graduates with technical knowledge of the environmental sector plus an understanding of the range of policies currently implemented in Ireland and elsewhere which will enhance our performance in advancing our green economy. This will allow us to meet the crucial goals of reducing our reliance on imported fuels, creating additional employment, and ensuring compliance with EU directives. Strongly research led, the programme is unique in that it combines the expertise of both institutions and is geared to the requirements of key industry and government organisations. UL offers modules on material flow analysis and urban sustainability, while NUI Galway offers modules on landscape and habitat conservation. Speaking of the MSc Sustainable Resource Management: Policy and Practice, Brian Keville, Company Director and Senior Environmental Consultant, McCarthy Keville O'Sullivan Ltd, who himself studied Environmental Science at NUI Galway, said: “This new MSC will give graduates a detailed insight into the natural and built environment and the all-important interactions between both, across a wide variety of important subject areas that are increasing relevant in commercial, conservation, industrial and public policy fields. Many opportunities exist within the greening of the economy as governments, NGOs and companies work to meet environmental targets set within international agreements. Other opportunities exist to introduce green technologies and management strategies into Ireland, which have been successful in other EU states. Graduates will acquire translational and multidisciplinary skills in the environmental entrepreneurship and sustainability sector enabling them to take on managerial roles within an industrial / corporate setting, or within a regulatory body or consultancy firm.  Careers such as Sustainability Officers, Ecological Consultants, and Environmental Advisors exist within public and private sectors in Ireland and elsewhere. In addition, there may be opportunities for further research leading to the degree of PhD. Professor Richard Moles of UL explains the importance of the establishment of a new programme: “This programme brings together in one programme of study technical understanding, policy options available, and best practice in Ireland and elsewhere. It provides participants with the skills, knowledge and experience that are needed to pursue successful careers in managing environmental resources sustainably, and in finding novel ways to grow our green economy to reduce the need for expensive imports and create additional jobs at home.” Established in 2010, the NUI Galway - UL Strategic Alliance has established a number of joint programmes and shared modules which provide students with a unique opportunity to gain access to the research and teaching two of Ireland’s leading institutions. For further information about the NUI Galway – UL Strategic Alliance go to www.nuig-ulalliance.ie Course Applications are online at www.graduateschool.ul.iet ENDS