July Artificial Intelligence is Major Theme of NUI Galway Summer School

Over 30 second level students recently attended this year’s annual Computer Science and Information Technology Summer School in NUI Galway, where they were treated to a host of guest lectures and workshop activities across a range of themes.

One of the many highlights throughout the Summer School involved the recurring theme of Artificial Intelligence and how it is directly contributing to our daily lives across a range of applications. Students were shown how NUI Galway students are leading the way in developing the next generation of AI related applications which can transform how we interact with technology. The benefits of training as a programmer, and software development professional is clearly one of the most crucial career paths open to the next generation as we require more and more expertise in in so many aspects of society.   

Academic Coordinator Dr Enda Howley, said: “The annual event was another major success, with a wide range of schools in the region in attendance from Counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, Louth and Carlow. We always look forward to the opportunity of welcoming second level students onto the campus and giving them a sense of university life alongside the huge potential of studying Computer Science. The job opportunities are limitless and industry employers simply cannot get enough software developers at the moment. Young people see this as a career that offers huge opportunities to achieve the ultimate work life balance, with endless opportunities to control the trajectory of your career around your own circumstances. The enthusiasm and energy of these mostly Transition Year students is almost infectious and we are already looking forward to our 2019 Summer School.”

A large number of prizes were distributed throughout the day for a range of fun and interactive activities. The Summer School was organised by staff and students in the Discipline of Information Technology which included Dr Enda Howley, Tina Earls, Karl Mason, Rachael Shaw and Fionnuala O’Malley. NUI Galway’s Dr Josephine Griffith and Dr Des Chambers hosted an interactive Q&A session on applying to university via the CAO and options for studying Computer Science and Information Technology at NUI Galway.

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