Ireland’s two UNESCO Chair holders came together today to launch a joint Commentary on the proposed referendum on the rights of the child in Ireland.  The 16-page document, ‘Children’s Rights and the Family’, forms a major part of the work of the Children and Youth Programme, an independent academic collaboration between Professor Alan Smith at the University of Ulster and Professor Pat Dolan from NUI Galway.  Speaking today Professor Dolan, who is Director of the Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway, and holds the UNESCO Chair in Children, Youth and Civic Engagement stated: “As the two UNESCO Chairs on the island of Ireland, we welcome the commitment by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD to hold a referendum on the Rights of the Child in Ireland in 2012, and we look forward to engaging positively in the debate to come over the next number of months.” The Commentary is intended as a helpful stimulus to that debate, in particular, on the issue of children’s rights and their interplay with the family. According to Professor Dolan: “The referendum is an important opportunity to strengthen children’s rights in Ireland and we hope that all parties approach the campaign in an open and honest way, making arguments based on evidence, and always with the best interests of children as the primary motivating concern. This is the basis on which we hope to proceed. As members of the UNESCO International education network, the authors of the commentary strongly believe that incorporating a stronger commitment to children’s rights in the constitution would build a stronger culture of children’s rights in Irish society and is in keeping with the state’s international obligations. Professor Dolan continued: “We are also clear that it poses no threat to the rights of others in society. We hope to show that it is an approach underpinned by clear and consistent obligations that will cherish all children equally. A stronger culture of children’s rights in Ireland could also serve to ensure that all children equally have their rights respected, irrespective of their family status. We want to be clear from the outset that the rights and well-being of children, parents and society are inextricably linked and complementary. Our perspective is simple, what is good for children is good for their parents and ultimately to the benefit of civic society. 2012 can be a defining year for children and young people in Ireland. And it needs to be – the best legacy that we can leave the next generation is a commitment that their rights are protected and enhanced, that they have some certainty in an increasingly uncertain world.” ENDS To view the full report visit http://www.childrenandyouthprogramme.info/cyp_reports/human_rights.php#Publications

Over 50 students were recognised by NUI Galway today (Thursday, 22 March) at a special ceremony when they were conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from NUI Galway President, Dr Jim Browne. One student, Elizabeth Mary Gosling, was also conferred with a DSc on Published Work. Degrees on published work awarded by the NUI are higher doctorates and are the highest qualifications awarded by the University. They are awarded to scholars who have, over a sustained period, published a substantial body of ground-breaking and influential work in a field of specialisation and who have achieved outstanding distinction internationally in that field. All Colleges of the University were represented at the ceremony, with graduands from the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, the College of Business, Public Policy and Law; the College of Engineering and Informatics; the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences; and the College of Science. NUI Galway President Dr Jim Browne said: “I would like to congratulate each graduate on their achievement in earning their doctorate degrees. We in NUI Galway are determined that this University will play its full part in producing the graduates and the leaders who will create the future. We have significantly increased our number of PhD graduates in recent years as we strive to meet the needs of the knowledge and innovation economy.” The next conferrings to take place at NUI Galway will be the summer conferring on Thursday, 21 June and the conferring of Honorary Degrees on Friday, 29 June. -ENDS- _______________________________________________________________________   Searmanas Bronnta PhD in OÉ Gaillimh Ag searmanas speisialta in OÉ Gaillimh inniu (Déardaoin, 22 Márta), bhronn Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh, an Dr Jim Browne, Dochtúireacht san Fhealsúnacht (PhD) ar bhreis agus 50 mac léinn. Chomh maith leis sin, bronnadh DSc as Saothar Foilsithe ar mhac léinn amháin, Elizabeth Mary Gosling. Is ard-dochtúireachtaí iad céimeanna a bhronnann OÉ Gaillimh as saothar foilsithe, agus is iad na cáilíochtaí is airde a bhronntar san Ollscoil iad. Bronntar iad ar scoláirí a bhfuil bailiúchán de shaothar úrnua agus cumhachtach i réimse speisialtóireachta foilsithe acu, thar thréimhse áirithe, agus a bhfuil aitheantas den scoth bainte amach acu go hidirnáisiúnta sa réimse sin. Bhí céimithe ó gach Coláiste san Ollscoil i measc na gcéimithe sin ar bronnadh PhD orthu, Coláiste na nDán, na nEolaíochtaí Sóisialta agus an Léinn Cheiltigh; Coláiste an Ghnó, an Bheartais Phoiblí & an Dlí; Coláiste na hInnealtóireachta agus na hIonformaitice; Coláiste an Leighis, an Altranais agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte; agus Coláiste na hEolaíochta.  Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Dr Jim Browne, Uachtarán OÉ Gaillimh: “Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le gach céimí as a gcáilíocht dochtúireachta a bhaint amach. Cuirimidne in OÉ Gaillimh romhainn go ndéanfadh an Ollscoil seo a cion féin le céimithe agus ceannairí a chur ar fáil a mhúnlóidh an todhchaí. Tá méadú suntasach tagtha ar líon na gcéimithe PhD le blianta beaga anuas chun freastal ar riachtanais an gheilleagair eolasbhunaithe agus nuálaíochta.” Beidh an chéad searmanas bronnta céimeanna eile ar bun in OÉ Gaillimh i rith an tsamhraidh – Déardaoin, an 21 Meitheamh agus is ar an Aoine, an 29 Meitheamh, a bhronnfar na Céimeanna Oinigh. -CRÍOCH-

A new interactive Equality and Diversity eLearning programme (LEAD) will allow staff in the university sector to consider their role in building an inclusive environment.  The LEAD programme was launched by Minister Fergus O’Dowd this week at a joint Irish Universities Association (IUA) Equality Network and Equality Authority event supported by the Workplace Diversity Initiative led by the Department of Justice and Equality. Developed by six of the Irish Universities Equality Network member institutions, TCD, DCU, NUI Galway, UCC, UCD and UL, in conjunction with Aurion Learning, the aim of the LEAD project is to introduce a tailored eLearning programme covering all nine grounds of discrimination under Irish Equality Legislation as part of a blended approach to generating mainstream staff engagement with equality and diversity issues in the workplace. The LEAD programme is a self-paced modular learning tool that features an intuitive navigation system with core content split into five modules of learning.  Module topics cover ‘Understanding diversity’, ‘What’s it got to do with you?’, ‘From compliance to commitment’, ‘Recruitment and Selection’ and ‘Dignity and Respect’.  Each section contains video and multimedia stories and scenarios including interviews with university staff and students, interactive games and quizzes, and online instant assessments to offer staff valuable feedback on their learning.  By using this interactive and multimedia resource, staff will have the opportunity to consider and reflect on the part they play in building an inclusive culture across the university sector. Delivered online, one of the key elements of the LEAD programme is the development of tailored content that addresses issues unique to the third level sector.   The eLearning programme can reach a wider audience of approximately 16,000 staff in the Universities and has the potential to be rolled out to other institutions in the higher education sector.    The LEAD programme was part funded by the Equality Authority Equality Mainstreaming Unit and by each of the six participating Universities.  Recently LEAD was awarded Outstanding Achievement in the category of Most Innovative Use of Technology at the IITD National Training Awards. -ENDS-

NUI Galway’s Executive MBA celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and a series of information evenings have been scheduled around the country for students wishing to join the programme in September 2012. The first of these information evenings will take place on Wednesday, 4 April, at 6.30pm in CA117 in the Cairnes Building, NUI Galway.  Organised by the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at NUI Galway, the information evenings will give prospective students the opportunity to meet programme faculty, as well as current MBA students.  The MBA is the one of the most prestigious business degree with global appeal and the NUI Galway MBA is one of the leading MBA programmes in the country.  Recent innovations include an international study trip to Fordham University in New York, input on personal innovation and creativity from the Burren College of Art, and dedicated Masterclass events with leading national and international speakers.  Dr Alma McCarthy, Programme Director of the MBA at NUI Galway, said: “Our Executive MBA has a very strong focus on career and professional development and we have an excellent bespoke mentoring programme for MBA students with key business leaders from the locality.” Current NUI Galway MBA student and Sales Manager with Dycon, an Irish manufacturing and distribution of construction and DIY products company, Brendan Galvin, said: “The MBA programme at NUI Galway has amassed immense benefits for me personally and professionally from day one. The lecturers are extremely approachable and the camaraderie experienced through fellow classmates has given me deep-rooted networks which I suspect will last throughout my career.” Further Executive MBA information events will take place in Dublin on 26 April, Sligo on 2 May and in Athlone on 3 May. For further information, visit http://www.cairnes.nuigalway.ie/mba/ -ENDS-

The James Hardiman Library in NUI Galway is hosting a photographic exhibition entitled Through a Swedish Lens celebrating the contribution made by four Swedish folklorists, who were also competent photographers, to Irish culture in the first half of the twentieth century. The twenty photographs taken by Äke Campbell, Albert Eskeröd, Carl von Sydow and Harriet Wetterström portray Irish people at work and play and illustrate beautifully the interiors and exteriors of Irish houses at that time. This exhibition mirrors the folklore being collected in Ireland in the 19th Century by Coimisiún Béaloideasa Éireann (Irish Folklore Commission) and which continues to the present day. This collection, now kept at the Archives Department of UCD, is available for viewing in microfilm format in the James Hardiman Library. The personal library of Séamus Ó Duilearga, Director of the Irish Folklore Commission 1935-71, containing over 4,000 volumes on folklore, folklife and celtic studies material is held as part of the Special Collections material in the James Hardiman Library. Professor Ó Duilearga undertook a study trip to the Scandanavian countries in the late 1920s where he made contact with some of the scholars whose work is represented in this exhibition. This personal library includes a significant collection of offprints received by him from academic colleagues throughout the world. The current exhibition also links with photographic material in other collections held in the James Hardiman Library such as the Balfour Album which is now available online at http://archives.library.nuigalway.ie:8080/balfour/,  the Ritchie Pickow collection, also available online at http://call.library.nuigalway.ie:8180/Pickow/index.jsp and the Heinrich Becker Collection. The photographs in this exhibition are on loan from the National Folklore Collection, UCD. The exhibition is located in the foyer of the James Hardiman Library and continues until Friday, 27 April 2012. The opening hours are available at www.library.nuigalway.ie ENDS