The 16th annual Health Promotion conference will take place at NUI Galway on Thursday, 21 June. The conference entitled, Embracing New Agendas for Health Promotion Action: Developing workforce competencies for effective practice, will be comprised of plenary lectures, workshops, panel discussions and both poster and oral presentations. Current public health challenges demand new and changing competencies and skills for effective Health Promotion practice. This year’s conference considers the competencies required for effective Health Promotion action on non-communicable diseases, including adopting a settings approach and addressing the social determinants of health and health inequalities. Keynote speakers will include: Professor Michael Sparks, President of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education; Professor Sylvie Stachenko, Dean of School of Public Health, University of Alberta; and Professor Stephan Van den Broucke, Professor of Health Psychology and Prevention, University of Louvain. Key partners involved in the CompHP Project - Developing Competencies and Professional Standards for Health Promotion Capacity Building in Europe, a European project funded by the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers will also present at the conference. In addition to building consensus on core competencies and quality standards for Health Promotion practice, the CompHP project also developed a framework for an accreditation system for health promotion practitioners and education and training courses. Such work will ultimately ensure best practice and will strengthen the capacity of health systems to address health challenges and improve population health, both nationally and at a European level. Professor Margaret Barry, CompHP Project Leader and Director of the Health Promotion Research Centre at NUI Galway, said: “The work of the CompHP Project creates a new dimension in European Health Promotion by establishing the means and methods by which agreed core competencies and quality standards for Health Promotion can be implemented across Europe to stimulate innovation and best practice, thereby strengthening the capacity of health systems to deliver on improved population health.” The conference will address the need to redirect resources to health promotion and prevention and prioritise health promotion as an essential function of the Department of Health and the health service. The need for renewed investment in the implementation of health promotion policies and practices will be addressed, including workforce development, in order to ensure that the health promotion workforce is prominently placed and equipped with the core competencies to implement current knowledge, policies and practice. -ENDS-

NUI Galway recently hosted the first Annual Synergy Project event which provided a platform for the University’s postgraduate research students to present their research in the form of a poster presentation to a wider audience. The event highlighted over 30 postgraduate research projects from across the five Colleges and was attended by approximately 80 students and staff members from NUI Galway. The overall Synergy Project 2012 Poster Award was presented to PhD student Inga Reich, from Germany, for her poster on ‘The impact of forestry management practices on the distribution of the Kerry Slug Geomalacus maculous Allman and the investigation of other possible factors limiting its distribution’.  The runner-up was PhD student Christine Fitzgerald, from Limerick, for her poster on ‘Towards a new future? A mixed methods study of Community Meals’. The Synergy Project provides a forum for promoting academic collaboration within, and across NUI Galway disciplines to add value and build upon the current practices with a view to enhancing the scope and quality of the research production process. According to Professor Chris Curtin, NUI Galway’s Vice-President for Innovation and Performance: “NUI Galway is committed to improving the University performance by bringing about change through innovation. Synergy is exactly the type of projects the University is fostering which will showcase the research ideas and potential of today whilst providing a platform for both our student and staff human capital to transform and shape our tomorrow.”  Richéal Burns, Synergy Project Leader, said: “The Synergy Project is about challenging the way we think about research in Universities while acting as a catalyst for igniting a higher level of interest in student and academia peer research alike thus increasing the research output across the University.” For more information:  http://www.nuigalway.ie/bright-ideas/thesynergyproject.html -ENDS-

Television broadcaster and RTÉ newsreader, Siún Nic Gearailt, has launched a new MA in Communications (MA sa Chumarsáid) at NUI Galway.  The one-year MA course, the first of its kind to be offered entirely through the medium of Irish, emphasises practical tuition from radio and television production to presenting, journalism, and acting. The course is offered by the University’s Irish language centre, Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta in An Cheathrú Rua in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht. Students specialise in one of four streams: visual studies, applied journalism, digital media or acting for the screen. Describing how the course, previously the Higher Diploma in Applied Communications through Irish, helped lay the groundwork for a successful career in broadcasting, Siún said: “The course was very hands-on and covered a lot of the skills you need to build a career in broadcasting. The fact that it was in Irish was a huge plus, at a time when TnaG/TG4 was just taking off and there were a lot of new production companies setting up in the Gaeltacht and indeed around the country.” “The new MA will give students a real eye-opener on the media industry. If you think all that’s involved is sitting in front of a camera or a microphone and letting fly, you’ll soon change your mind. There is a vast amount of work going on in front of and behind the camera, in the control room, in the edit suite and, of course, in compiling the daily news. The structure of the MA sa Chumarsáid is designed to give the student a good understanding of some of the practical issues as well as a solid grounding in theory and ethics.” The MA sa Chumarsáid is a one-year fulltime Level 9 course (90 ECTS credits). Applications may be made through the PAC online postgraduate application system at www.pac.ie/nuigalway. Full details may be found at: www.oegaillimh.ie/acadamh. For more information contact Dr Seathrún Ó Tuairisg at 091 595101 or email cursai@oegaillimh.ie. -ENDS-   Seolann Siún Nic Gearailt ó RTÉ Cúrsa Nua sna Meáin in OÉ Gaillimh Is í an phearsa teilifíse agus léitheoir nuachta RTÉ, Siún Nic Gearailt, a sheol an cúrsa nua MA sa Chumarsáid ag ócáid in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, le déanaí. Cúrsa lánaimseartha bliana is ea an MA sa Chumarsáid ina leagtar béim ar obair phraiticiúil i réimse leathan ábhar a bhaineann leis an gcraoltóireacht raidió agus teilifíse, leis an iriseoireacht, agus leis an aisteoireacht don scáileán. Is é an chéad chúrsa MA dá chineál atá á thairiscint go hiomlán trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá an cúrsa seo á thairiscint ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge agus beidh sé lonnaithe in Ionad an Acadaimh ar an gCeathrú Rua i gConamara.  Déanann na mic léinn speisialtóireacht le linn an chúrsa i gceann de na réimsí seo leanas: staidéar na físe, iriseoireacht fheidhmeach, na meáin dhigiteacha agus drámaíocht sna meáin. Agus an MA nua á sheoladh aici, labhair Siún Nic Gearailt ar a taithí mar mhac léinn ar chúrsa eile de chuid an Acadaimh, an tArd-Dioplóma sa Chumarsáid Fheidhmeach, atá ag teacht chun deiridh anois agus an MA sa Chumarsáid ag teacht ina áit. “Bhí an cúrsa an-phraiticiúil agus bhain sé le go leor de na bunscileanna a theastaíonn chun bunús agus blaiseadh a fháil le gairm a fhorbairt sna meáin,” a dúirt sí. “Buntáiste ar leith a bhí ann gur trí mheán na Gaeilge a bhí sé, ag tráth a raibh TnaG/TG4 ag teacht ar an bhfód agus a raibh go leor comhlachtaí léiriúcháin nua á mbunú sa Ghaeltacht agus ar fud na tíre.” Dúirt Siún gur ‘oscailt súl’ a bheadh sa chúrsa do mhic léinn ar thionscal na meán. “Má cheapann tú nach gá duit ach suí os comhair ceamara nó micreafóin agus labhairt, beidh thiar ort,” a dúirt sí. “Bíonn an t-uafás oibre ar bun ag daoine os comhair agus taobh thiar den cheamara, sa seomra stiúrtha, ar an deasc eagarthóireachta agus gan dabht ag cur scéalta an lae le chéile.  Ag féachaint ar an leagan amach atá ar an gcúrsa seo, tá na haon chuma air go dtabharfaidh an MA sa Chumarsáid léargas agus tuiscint mhaith duit ar na ceisteanna praiticiúla, chomh maith leis an teoiric agus cúrsaí eitice.” Cúrsa lánaimseartha bliana is ea an MA sa Chumarsáid ag Léibhéal 9 (creidmheas 90 ECTS).  Is féidir iarratais a dhéanamh ar líne tríd an gcóras iarchéime PAC ag www.pac.ie/nuigalway. Tá na sonraí go léir ar fáil ag www.oegaillimh.ie/acadamh. Tá a thuilleadh eolais ar fáil freisin ón Dr Seathrún Ó Tuairisg ag 091 595802 nó trí ríomhphost a chur chuig cursai@oegaillimh.ie. -CRÍOCH-

  The fourth International Summer School at the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, NUI Galway, was launched today (Monday, 18 June) by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins. The Summer School, co-hosted by the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, will run from 18-23 June. Speaking at the Summer School, President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins commended the University for their active scholarship and the Centre of Disability Law and Policy for the vital contribution it makes to informed thinking on disability related policy and issues in this country: “I am delighted to be here with you today to launch the 4th International Summer School in partnership with the Harvard Law School Project on Disability, which this year deals with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. "This, as you know, is a convention that I strongly support and which, as a public representative, I called upon successive Governments to ratify.  This summer school and the other educational opportunities that you afford to students will educate them in the policies and reforms required to ensure that people with disabilities can be treated as Equal Citizens in Irish Society and that once ratified the requirements of the Convention will become the benchmark for all disability related policies.”  The Summer School is designed to equip participants with the insights and skills necessary to translate the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into tangible reform for persons with disabilities. President Higgins has a great interest in disability issues and has been a tireless campaigner throughout his long political life for the rights and interests of persons with disabilities in Ireland and internationally. The teaching faculty for the School includes high profile senior academics, practitioners and policy makers from around the world who have been directly and actively engaged in drafting and implementing the Convention. The estimated 100 attendees will similarly be from around the world and will include people with disabilities, their families, representatives from civil society groups as well as advocates for disability law reform, lawyers, policy makers and policy analysts. The School is directed by Professor Gerard Quinn of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the School of Law, NUI Galway along with and Professor Michael Stein of Harvard Law School. Professor Quinn is a co-drafter of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and internationally recognised as a leader in the field of advancing the right of disabled people. Professor Gerard Quinn said: “This Summer School is all about power – restoring power to persons with disabilities over their own lives and giving them knowledge and skills based on the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Above all the School belongs to the people affected and is structured in such a way as to enable people explore for themselves the relevance of the Convention in their own lives and in the process of change.” Speaking at the event, President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne, welcomed visitors and delegates from 29 different countries: “I know of the deep links between Harvard and our Centre for Disability Law and Policy and am delighted to acknowledge this wonderful, continuing collaboration at this the fourth International Summer School held by the Centre. “The impact of this Summer School is truly global.  The faculty and speakers include experts who were active in drafting the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as leading thought-leaders from around the world.  This Summer School serves to give delegates the tools to implement this very important treaty and is a wonderful example of scholarship in action.”  Further information, including the programme and speaker profiles is available from the Summer School website at: http://www.nuigalway.ie/cdlp/summer_school/2012/welcome.html On the last day of Summer School, Saturday, 23 June, the Centre for Disability Law and Policy will also host a one day international conference Mental Health Law Reform: New Perspectives and Challenges. This event will be held in conjunction with Amnesty International and will examine issues relevant to the review Mental Health Act 2001 including Ireland’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as it moves towards ratification.  The conference is aimed at experts by experience, legal practitioners, mental health professionals, advocates, academics, policy makers, politicians, NGOs and any person or organisation interested in mental health law and policy. There is a €20 conference fee. Places are limited so early registration is advisable. Fee waiver available for students and unwaged persons. For registration details: http://conference.ie/Conferences/index.asp?Conference=173 ENDS

Mayo County Council to host Civic Reception in honour of Maureen Dowd NUI Galway in association with Mayo County Council is delighted to announce an ‘Evening of Conversation’ with New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd and journalist and author Niall O'Dowd.  The special event will take place on Monday, 25 June at 6:30pm at the Museum of Country Life, Turlough Park House, Castlebar, Co. Mayo and coincides with Maureen Dowd’s conferral with an honorary degree by NUI Galway later in the week. The event will be followed by a Civic Reception, to be attended by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, honouring Ms Maureen Dowd in Turlough Park House, Castlebar, Co. Mayo Maureen Dowd is a 1999 Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and Op-Ed columnist of The New York Times since 1995. Previously, she served as its Washington bureau correspondent where she covered two Presidential campaigns and as White House correspondent, gaining a wide following for her witty, incisive and acerbic portraits of the powerful. Ms Dowd joined The Times as a metropolitan reporter in 1983 having begun her career in 1974 with the Washington Star where she later became a sports columnist, metropolitan reporter, and feature writer.  Dowd is the author of two bestselling books, Bushworld: Enter at Your Own Risk (2004) and Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide (2005). Ms Dowd lives in Washington. Her father, Mike, worked as a DC Police Inspector while her mother, Peggy, was a homemaker. She traces her Irish heritage to Co. Clare and Co. Mayo, from where her mother’s family, the Meenahans of Ballinrobe, emigrated. Niall O’Dowd is the founder of IrishCentral as well as of Irish America Magazine and Irish Voice newspaper. He founded the Wall Street 50, Top 100 Irish Americans, Business 100 and more recently the Top 50 Women in Business as well as the Irish Legal 100. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by University College Dublin for his work on the Irish peace process which was a subject of a book Daring Diplomacy and a PBS Special 'An Irish Voice' He is also adjunct professor at Columbia University journalism school. The event is open to the public however as places are limited those interested should contact the Alumni Office at NUI Galway on 091-492721 or email alumni@nuigalway.ie ENDS