December

University of Galway has announced the 2024 Tarpey Scholarship recipients – Mental Health Nursing student Meghan Murphy and Medicine student Rayna Cox. The scholarship honours the enduring legacy of the late Hazel and Tanya Tarpey – two remarkable sisters whose lives inspired countless healthcare workers during their treatment for a rare genetic autoimmune disease. The Tarpey family established the scholarship in memory of the sisters to support the development of future healthcare professionals. It is awarded to outstanding students committed to enhancing their professional skills through additional studies, beyond the regular curriculum. In addition to the scholarship, the Tarpey family provides a Tarpey Bursary. This private award, first introduced in 2022, is given annually to two additional students from the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at University of Galway who face financial challenges and might otherwise struggle to continue their studies.             Tim and Mary Tarpey, parents of Hazel and Tanya, said: “It is a pleasure to give back to the medical community who did so much. We look forward to this event every year to meet the new recipients and reconnect with the friends and healthcare workers who cared so diligently for Hazel and Tanya. This scholarship and bursary ensure that their memory lives on, supporting the future of compassionate healthcare professionals.”             Professor Tim O’Brien, Established Professor of Medicine at University of Galway and Consultant Physician in Endocrinology at HSE West and North-West, and who treated Hazel and Tanya during their time in the hospital said: “The Tarpey Scholarship and Bursary embody the Tarpey family’s extraordinary commitment to supporting students and advancing healthcare. Hazel and Tanya’s legacy lives on through this generosity, ensuring that the next generation of healthcare professionals is equipped to make a meaningful difference in their communities.”             Meghan Murphy, a Bachelor of Nursing Science (Mental Health) student from Mervue, Galway, and recipient of the 2024 Tarpey Scholarship, said: “I am honoured to receive this scholarship in memory of the exceptional Tarpey sisters. This award is a testament to their enduring legacy and inspires me to continue striving for excellence in my studies and future career.”             Rayna Cox, a fourth-year Medicine student from Trinidad and Tabago and recipient of the 2024 Tarpey Scholarship, said: “This scholarship is a powerful encouragement to continue advancing my clinical and academic aspirations. I am deeply grateful to the Tarpey family for their support, which motivates me to contribute meaningfully to the field of healthcare.” The Tarpey family’s contribution ensures that students at University of Galway have the opportunity to excel in their fields while carrying forward the legacy of Hazel and Tanya’s inspiring lives. Ends

More than 40 families of children with additional needs have been given a unique opportunity to enjoy the magic of Christmas with a special visit to a Sensory Friendly Santa’s Grotto. The two-day event was facilitated by staff and students from the School of Psychology at University of Galway, who took on the important roles of elves and Santa’s helpers. The annual Sensory Friendly Santa's Grotto has been a highlight of the year at University of Galway since 2017 and has grown to a two-day weekend event, giving 40 children with additional needs and their families the opportunity to visit Santa. The organisers hope to build on that, by setting a goal to create a freely available "How to Guide” on running similar inclusive and accessible Santa's Grotto events. The aim is that it will encourage other businesses and organisations across Ireland to provide this unique opportunity for more families of children with additional needs to experience the magic of meeting Santa. Dr Ciara Gunning from the School of Psychology coordinates the event with a team of volunteer staff and students from the PhD and MSc in Applied Behaviour Analysis and the BSc Psychology program at University of Galway. The team transform rooms into a winter wonderland to ensure children and their families have a magical visit. Children receive individualised, sensory-friendly gifts from Santa and have photos taken, creating special Christmas memories. Dr Ciara Gunning, Lecturer in Applied Behaviour Analysis, School of Psychology, University of Galway, said: “Visiting Santa is a very special part of every child's Christmas, but it can be difficult for children with additional needs to visit Santa Grottos in busy shopping centres with lots of noise, bright lights and queues. The Sensory Friendly Santa's Grotto at University of Galway provides a unique, magical Christmas experience for children with additional needs and their families. For some families attending, this is the first time that they have had a chance to visit Santa.” “The event is set up to be accessible and inclusive with some tweaks to the Grotto and the environment. Santa and the team connect with the families attending in advance to support each child to enjoy their visit at their own pace and in their own way. It is truly a team effort with our Santa, elves and helpers working very hard behind the scenes - making real life magic. "A huge credit goes to all those who volunteer - our staff and students at the School of Psychology. We are also so grateful to our incredibly generous sponsors from Galway and across Ireland, as well as the School of Psychology and College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies for supporting the event.” The event coordinators continued their annual tradition to collect for COPE's Christmas appeal with visitors and volunteers donating items for Christmas hampers for those in need.  Businesses from Galway and around Ireland sponsored the 2024 event and their generosity plays a critical role in making the magic of the event happen. Sponsors include, Liberty IT, Galway Camera Shop, Little Lane Coffee Company, Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, 56 Central, Cregal Art, The White Gables, The Galmont, Magpie Bakery, Esquires Coffee, Gourmet Tart, The Salthill Hotel, Prátaí, Irish Socksciety, Ground and Co, Déanta Studio, Dunnes Stores, Peter Murphy Electrical, Galway Bay Hotel, Citylink, Smyths Toys Superstores, Art & Hobby, Aplomb, Supermac’s, Cava Bodega, Sheridans Cheesemongers and Lidl. Ends

 Survey carried out by Ulster University and the University of Galway describes staff experiences, knowledge, engagement, and perceptions in Higher Education institutions North and South Call for greater collaboration between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland Higher Education sectors to enhance protections for staff and support for change   The COSHARE North-South survey report outlines key findings from the first all-island study of Higher Education staff members’ experiences of consent, sexual violence, and harassment in Higher Education in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (RoI). The survey was responded to by staff members in HEIs in the North and South of Ireland with 236 (45%) of respondents in an HEI in NI and 285 (55%) in ROI. Some 75% of respondents identified as female. The research found that, of the 364 staff who opted to respond to questions on their experiences of sexual violence and harassment, 43% have experienced some form of this behaviour in their work or personal lives in the last year and 66% in the last five years. In the context of this research, SVH is a collective term that includes physical contact or non-physical conduct of a sexual nature that occurs in the absence of clear, knowing and voluntary consent. This collaboration by Ulster University and the University of Galway seeks to understand these experiences and bring workplace culture and wellbeing into the conversation by assessing knowledge of policies and confidence in their institution.  Funded by the Higher Education Authority under the North-South Research Programme, COSHARE survey asked Higher Education staff about consent and sexual violence and harassment (SVH) attitudes, knowledge and experience, their awareness of how their institutions address consent, and mental wellbeing. Participants answered questions about themselves, their campus, their experiences of SVH and perpetration, the extent to which this impacted their mental wellbeing and ability to work, and their engagement with information and education or training initiatives on the subject. Questions on SVH included staff members’ experience of sexist harassment, unwanted sexual attention, unwanted/uncomfortable touching, sexualised comments, and attempted non-consensual sexual activities. COSHARE Findings Campus Culture and Climate: 14% of those surveyed agreed that SVH among staff was a problem at their HEI, 40% had a neutral opinion on these issues or said that they did not know whether SVH was a problem, while 46% disagreed that it was a problem. Policy: less than half (46%) of the participants agreed their HEI proactively addressed issues of SVH, while one third (36%) saw their HEI senior management as visible on this issue. A clear majority of survey participants agreed that they were aware of staff policies (76%), and agreed that these were clear and explicit (60%) with 35% agreeing that they were effective. Training and Awareness: 30-40% of staff said that they had received particular forms of information from their HEI relevant to consent, sexual violence and harassment. The rate of engagement was notably higher for seeing posters on consent / SVH (78%). Two thirds (65%) of respondents agreed that they felt a responsibility to engage with SVH at their HEI. There are encouraging signs that staff want to contribute through being involved in training: 80% displayed willingness to support initiatives and 65% said they would take an active role in delivery.   Survey respondents were presented with questions referring to their experiences in both their personal and professional lives, not just within the HEI where they worked, across the past 12 months, five years, and more.   Sexual harassment: Almost two thirds of 364 participants (64%) had experienced sexual harassment in the past five years. This included 57% who had experienced sexist hostility in last 5 years (27% in last year), 23% with an experience of electronic or visual sexual harassment (last 5 years, 11% in last year), 34% who experienced sexualised comments (last 5 years, 19% in last year), 31% who had experienced unwanted sexual attention (last 5 years, 13% in last year, and 5% with an experience of sexual coercion.   Sexual violence: One quarter of 364 participants (26%) experienced some form of sexual violence in the past five years, in their personal or professional lives: almost a quarter of staff participants had been touched in a way that made them feel uncomfortable,16% indicated unwanted attempts of stroking or kissing; and 10% had been made to touch, stroke or kiss someone when they did not want to do so.   Professor Pádraig MacNeela, Co-Lead of the Active* Consent programme, University of Galway, said: “The qualitative responses that staff gave in the COSHARE survey make for interesting reading. Some staff said that significant progress had been made in the Higher Education sector, citing more resources, education and training that have been put in place. Others saw progress as more mixed, and as trying to remedy a low baseline in the past when harassment was relatively acceptable.” “The final group of staff said that things had not changed – they were worried that students and staff do not seem to have access to investigations that are fit for purpose, the career impact of bringing a complaint, and continuing nature of everyday sexist harassment.”   “We also found that staff want to get involved in helping to create culture change in their universities. The vast majority (over 80%) said they were willing to take part in training on bystander intervention, disclosure skills, and consent, while 65% agreed that they would take an active role in delivering such training”.   Dr Susan Lagdon, Senior Lecturer in Psychology (Mental Health) at Ulster University said: “Sexual violence and harassment is pervasive in all walks of our lives but it should not be.  These findings demonstrate concerning patterns of sexual violence and harassment experienced by staff in higher education in both their personal and professional lives. While this behaviour should never be tolerated, we are grateful to our own Higher Education Institutions Ulster University and the University of Galway for their support and encouragement to progress with this important work. “We’re pleased that our institutions already proactively work with us on a range of initiatives that look to end violence and harassment in the workplace and are looking at the recommendations from this research. We are also grateful to our wider Higher Education colleagues who supported and facilitated dissemination and awareness raising of this research, ensuring that those who wished to contribute, had their say.” The full COSHARE report is available to read here: https://www.consenthub.ie/research/coshare-north-south-survey-report-2024/ The research follows the Irish Government’s ‘Safe, Respectful, and Positive: Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions’ framework, launched in 2019 to set a culture change across HEIs by engaging individuals at all levels. Comparatively, in Northern Ireland, recent years have seen a surge of statutory agency activity, with the launch of The Executive Office’s Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, the Ministries of Health and Justice’s Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Tackling VAWG Action Plan.  Ends

Active* Consent and Galway Rape Crisis Centre report shows disclosure management skills training enhances confidence in supporting survivors   An evaluation of the ‘First Point of Contact’ Disclosure Management Skills Training has been published today, demonstrating how universities and other education providers can enable staff and students to receive informal disclosures of sexual violence or harassment (SVH). The training is a collaboration between the Active* Consent programme at University of Galway and Galway Rape Crisis Centre. First Point of Contact is a 12-hour psychotherapist-led training programme that prepares participants to receive disclosures of sexual violence and harassment and to signpost to relevant supports and services. It teaches people how to create a safe, informed, and supportive space for disclosures to be made. The 2021 Higher Education Authority (HEA) national survey of staff in the sector showed that only about one fifth agreed that they were well informed about how to respond effectively to a disclosure. Approximately 300 participants from the Higher Education, Further Education & Training (FET) sectors, and other organisations have completed the training so far.  Gemma MacNally, Clinical and Therapeutic Lead of the Active* Consent programme, University of Galway, said: “The training was valued as a source of knowledge and skills by participants with minimal previous experience as well as those with previous training. First Point of Contact disclosure skills training sessions have hosted people across different backgrounds, from teachers, researchers and academics to students and professional support staff.”  Dr Helen Maher, Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at University of Galway, said: “The training was flexible enough to be delivered online and in-person, to both our students and staff. Participants learned practical skills for how to respond to someone who is distressed, they felt safe during the training, and grew in confidence. We have had a sustained interest from people wanting to take part for three years now.” Key findings from the report include:  Skill Development: 98% of survey respondents said they felt prepared to receive and respond to a disclosure after the training, using empathic communication and trauma-informed skills.  Widespread Satisfaction: 97% of survey respondents recommended the training to colleagues, citing its confidence-building and empowering approach.  Sustainability Needs: The report outlines strategies to enhance support for participants post-training, including refresher courses, peer networks, and clearer institutional policies Recommendations for the future include maintaining psychotherapist-led delivery of the disclosure skills training; increasing the coverage of diversity, cultural change, and complex disclosure scenarios in the training; and formalising the First Point of Contact role in organisations so that young people and staff members can access informal support when they wish to make a disclosure of sexual violence or harassment.  Professor Pádraig MacNeela, Co-Lead of the Active* Consent programme, University of Galway, said: “On completing their training, participants felt prepared to receive disclosures within the boundaries that had been set out. Those who later received disclosures were able to describe their use of techniques learned during the training. Further to this, individuals who took part typically said that they would like to have a continuing role receiving disclosures."   Cathy Connolly, Director of the Galway Rape Crisis Centre, said: "The First Point of Contact programme places survivors’ experiences at the heart of its design. By equipping individuals with the tools to provide supportive, non-judgmental responses, this collaboration with Active* Consent ensures that victims and survivors are met with empathy and respect."  The full ‘First Point of Contact’ report is available to read here: https://www.consenthub.ie/research/first-point-of-contact-disclosure-management-skills-training-research-evaluation-study/   Ends  

Medtronic, the global leader in healthcare technology, and University of Galway, an internationally recognised leader in biomedical research and innovation, are proud to announce that their Signature Innovation Partnership has been named Best Collaboration at the prestigious MedTech Rising Awards 2024, hosted by the Irish Medtech Association.  This award celebrates the power of collaboration in driving impactful healthcare solutions. University of Galway spin-outs were also recognised with LUMA Vision winning Medtech Company of the Year and Galenband receiving the Digital Health Innovation of the Year award. The Medtronic Signature Innovation Partnership was launched in 2023, as an ambitious expansion to a long and trusted partnership between the University and the global healthcare technology company. Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, said: “The MedTech Rising Awards celebrate the finest in the industry, and this recognition is a testament to the transformative impact of partnerships like ours. We have always had a rewarding relationship with Medtronic and the ambition in our strategic partnership takes this to a new level as we pursue greater excellence in teaching and learning, and research and innovation, all of which will ultimately benefit medtech, healthcare and people in the Galway region, Ireland and around the world.” Sean Salmon, Executive Sponsor of the Signature Innovation Partnership and Executive Vice President at Medtronic, added: “We’re honoured to receive this award. At Medtronic, we know that solving the world’s greatest healthcare challenges requires bold ideas and strong partnerships. The collaboration with the University of Galway enables us to achieve more than we could alone, combining the best of academic talent with industry expertise to further develop the world class medtech hub in the west of Ireland; broaden our STEM initiatives and partner on research that truly make a difference in patients’ lives.”   The 5 year €5 million Medtronic Signature Innovation Partnership with University of Galway has created unique opportunities for students, fostering a robust talent pipeline for the medtech sector.   Irish MedTech Association’s recognition for this collaboration demonstrates Ireland’s leadership in medtech, showcasing how strategic partnerships can position the country as a hub for transformative healthcare solutions.   Ends

The HSE West North West – University of Galway Cancer Network is delighted to announce that it has been accredited by the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI). OECI is an organisation of European cancer centres founded in 1979 to provide patients equal access to high quality cancer care through cooperation and knowledge exchange.  HSE West North West – University of Galway Cancer Network is only the 20th such network to achieve cancer centre accreditation across Europe. The highly sought after accreditation follows several years of rigorous review and engagement with the European team including a peer review visit which took place last May. This saw a panel of European experts visit a number of hospitals across our region to assess all elements of the cancer programme. The OECI team evaluated 345 standards across our Regional Cancer Programme. This process has helped to strengthen our clinical pathway, improve patient’s outcomes through enhanced processes and will ultimately help to increase the numbers of patients participating in clinical trials. The European body has now confirmed that the HSE West North West –University of Galway Cancer Network met the quality standards for cancer care and research and has been designated as an OECI Cancer Centre. The OECI Accreditation and Designation programme is considered internationally as the gold standard for cancer care. It focuses on enabling a complete quality system for cancer diagnosis, care, education and research. In gaining this prestigious accreditation the HSE West North West – University of Galway Cancer Network has committed to ongoing quality improvement in cancer care through research, innovation, partnership and patient empowerment. Professor Michael Kerin, Director of the HSE West North West – University of Galway Cancer Network welcomed the announcement adding: “This acknowledgement is a testament to the hard work of our incredible staff. This took an enormous amount of work across our hospitals and a huge amount of support from the voluntary organisations working in our region.  “We were evaluated on 345 standards and we will now focus on the 33 point quality improvement plan which will deliver a fit for purpose cancer centre for the West and North West region. This was a commitment of the National Development Plan and we now need to ensure we have the resources, national support and infrastructure to deliver a fully accredited cancer network.  The fact that we have been given cancer centre status is hugely valuable and our ability to recruit, retain and develop our staff and deliver really good care has been enhanced by this process,” he added. Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer, HSE West and North West said: "I want to extend my congratulations and thanks to everyone involved in getting us to this point. This has been a lengthy process but what we have seen over the course of the journey is a level of self-examination of our own services that shines a light on good practice and highlights areas where we need further work. “This is a major programme across Europe and we are the 20th cancer centre to be accredited in this programme.  This acknowledges our ongoing commitment to improving outcomes and delivering better care to our population in a research and education driven environment,” he added. The network is a clinical academic partnership between HSE West North West and the University of Galway and is aligned with the strategic priorities of the National Cancer Strategy (2017-2026) Prof Martin O’Donnell, Dean of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences University of Galway added: “Our collaborative ambition is to create a centre of excellence delivering the highest international standards in cancer treatment, research and education and the OECI accreditation process is critical to achieving this goal. Congratulations to Prof Kerin and HSE West North West for their dedication to developing patient-centred cancer care.” The HSE West North West cancer programme provides a wide range of cancer services to a population of 830,000 people across the region. In line with the national model of care (a hub and spoke model), complex care is located at University Hospital Galway with satellite centres delivering care closer to home in Letterkenny University Hospital, Sligo University Hospital, Mayo University Hospital and Portiuncula University Hospital. Ends

Findings will aid space exploration and earth health   A groundbreaking study by researchers from University of Galway, in collaboration with Arizona State University, has revealed vital molecular insights into muscle atrophy - one of space travel’s most critical health risks.   The findings not only have implications for long-term space missions but can also help with a better understanding of muscle-wasting conditions on Earth.   As space travel becomes more common, the unique environment of microgravity presents challenges to the body, particularly affecting muscles, bones, and the immune system. In microgravity, muscles weaken over time, leading to a condition known as muscle atrophy, which is a significant concern for astronauts, especially on longer missions.   The study, published in Nature Microgravity, investigated the molecular changes in muscle atrophy using data from NASA’s GeneLab, an open-access platform for biological spaceflight data.   The research team was led by Professor Lokesh Joshi and Dr Anup Mammen Oommen of the University of Galway and Professor Phil Stafford of Arizona State University.   The team focused on specific genes linked to muscle loss, that helped refine their analysis and find molecular patterns connected to muscle weakening. By grouping genes with similar activity and analysing their functions, the team uncovered key biological pathways linked to muscle breakdown in space.   One of the key findings was the impact of microgravity on glycosylation—a process vital for protein stability. The study found that alterations in glycosylation under microgravity suggest possible strategies to prevent muscle loss in astronauts by targeting these pathways.   Professor Lokesh Joshi, Stokes Professor of Glycosciences of University of Galway, said: “While these findings address a critical issue for space explorers, the implications extend to terrestrial health. Muscle atrophy also affects aging populations, post-menopausal women and patients with chronic illnesses, such as cancer or heart disease. Understanding how muscle loss occurs in space could lead to better treatments for these conditions on Earth.   “This study underscores the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of platforms like NASA’s GeneLab, which enable global researchers to build on each other's work.   “As humanity ventures further into space, ensuring astronaut health remains one of the greatest challenges. These findings represent a significant leap forward in space medicine, with far-reaching benefits for people on Earth as well."   The research methods applied allowed the team to map out the critical pathways involved in muscle deterioration during extended space missions. It also highlighted the role of glycosylation, a type of post-translational modification where sugars are added to molecules like proteins, which helps stabilise them and influence their functions in the body.   This discovery paves the way for potential interventions aimed at mitigating muscle loss in astronauts through the regulation of glycosylation pathways and provides insights for people on Earth who experience muscle atrophy.   The full study in Nature Microgravity is available at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41526-024-00434-z   Ends  

 Twelve teaching, learning and research collaboration projects at University of Galway are to be supported by the European University Alliance - ENLIGHT and the Higher Education Authority (HEA).      ENLIGHT is an alliance of 10 universities, in 10 European countries, including University of Galway, which is supported by the European Commission and the HEA as it works towards the creation of a European University.    As part of the 12 ENLIGHT projects at University of Galway, academics will work in collaboration with their counterparts in eight countries on areas such as ageing, plastic pollution impacts, decolonising higher education, human rights and sustainability.    The projects are a result of a €4m fund being made available by ENLIGHT for collaborative projects in teaching, learning, research and outreach across the alliance, with more than €500,000 funding being allocated to support the 12 initiatives involving University of Galway and our ENLIGHT partners.     The funding was announced as part of the ENLIGHT general meeting which took place last week at the University of Bern in Switzerland. The focus of the meeting was on embedding the alliance in each partner institution.       Presidents from all ENLIGHT universities participated in discussions on priorities for the first half of 2025, including key topics such as increasing mobility, embedding education initiatives, supporting research and education collaborations, lifelong learning including Micro Credentials, sustainability, and impact of the alliance as a whole.      Interim President of University of Galway Professor Peter McHugh said: “ENLIGHT is a hugely positive initiative and one that has gone from strength to strength in the last few years, not least with the significant support of the European Commission and the HEA. As our meeting last week sought to embed the opportunities for collaboration in excellence in teaching, learning and research it is a tremendous statement to be able to combine that agenda with the announcement of support for 12 research projects in partnership with our ENLIGHT partners.”      Interim Deputy President and Registrar Professor Becky Whay said: “The focus of the ENLIGHT general meeting in Bern is on embedding the European University in each partner institution and in each country - our 12 projects are a wonderful symbol of just that, and the opportunities that our membership can bring. We look forward to seeing the collaborations with thanks to support at both the European and national level.”      The 12 collaboration projects supported are:   Kasia Whysall, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, in collaboration with Bern, Groningen, Ghent, Tartu, University of the Basque Country - REACT - Research and Education in Ageing Collaborative Team   Olivier Thomas, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Science & Engineering in partnership with Gent University; Groningen, University of the Basque Country on H2OPE: Human Health, Ocean Preservation and Food Ecosystems     Liam Morrison, School of Natural Sciences, College of Science & Engineering, in partnership with University of the Basque Country, Bordeaux, Ghent, Groningen, Bern, Tartu – on Fate and Impact of Plastics - from Macro to Nano - on Planetary Health     Manigandan Chockalingam, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, in collaboration with Uppsala University on - ECCHOT: Beyond Boundaries: Exploring Intercultural Competence and Cultural Humility in Occupational Therapy     Illan Wall, School of Law, College of Business, Public Policy & Law in partnership with Ghent University, Bordeaux, Tartu on - CLS: Educational Network Teaching and Studying the Basics     Muriel Grenon, Biological and Chemical Sciences, College of Science & Engineering in partnership with University of Bordeaux and University of the Basque Country on SHARE: Supporting Higher Education and Research through Engagement     Laura Loftus, Office of the Vice-President Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, in partnership with Comenius University Bratislava and University of the Basque Country, on GELIE: Gender Equality and LGBT+ Inclusive Environments     Dr Helen Maher, Vice-President Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, with Ghent, Groningen, University of the Basque Country and Bordeaux, on DecCur: Decolonising and Diversifying our Curriculum, Research and Partnerships     Roisin Mulgrew, School of Law, College of Business, Public Policy & Law, with Uppsala, Groningen, Ghent, on WoSHuR2025: Workshop on the Online School on Human Rights 2025     Emma Holian, School of Mathematics and Statistical Sciences, College of Science & Engineering with Gottingen, Comenius University Bratislava on FOY (Figuring Out Y)     Michelle Comber, School of Geography and Archaeology, College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies with Uppsala and University of the Basque Country on ITEM: International Training Excavation Module   Richard Manton, Director Sustainability, Office of the Deputy President and Registrar, with Gottingen, Bordeaux, Comenius University Bratislava on GreENLIGHT: Engaging Students on Sustainability.     In 2023, the European Commission announced ENLIGHT would be supported with a four-year, €14.4 million investment, with the intention that a significant portion of the funding would go towards academic initiatives, emphasizing the project’s commitment to supporting scholars.     University of Galway’s involvement in the European University Alliance is also supported nationally by the HEA.     The ENLIGHT alliance is made up of of 10 universities, in 10 European countries, with the shared goal of the creation of a European University. It includes: University of Galway; Comenius University, Bratislava (Slovakia); University of Groningen (Netherlands); University of Bordeaux (France); Gent University (Belgium); University of Tartu (Estonia); University of Gottingen (Germany); University of the Basque Country (Spain); Uppsala University (Sweden); and University of Bern (Switzerland).   Ends 

 Tá a tríú tuarascáil bhliantúil maidir le Rannpháirtíocht a Leathnú seolta inniu ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, mar aon lena céad láithreán gréasáin riamh don Champas Céadfach.    Tá an tuarascáil á foilsiú agus Ionad Rochtana na hOllscoile i mbun ceiliúradh i mbliana ar na 25 bliain atá caite acu ag tacú le mic léinn ó na grúpaí sin a raibh rátaí rannpháirtíochta níos ísle acu go traidisiúnta, agus le mic léinn atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste socheacnamaíoch. Tá breis agus 3,500 duine tagtha trí chláir Rochtana i gcaitheamh na tréimhse sin, agus leas bainte acu as deiseanna staidéir san ollscoil nach mbeadh ar fáil dóibh murach na cláir sin a bheith ann.   Léirítear i dTuarascáil Leathnaithe Rannpháirtíochta 2024 go bhfuil líon iomlán na mac léinn ó na grúpaí sin faoi ghannionadaíocht go traidisiúnta ag méadú i gcónaí agus cuirtear síos ann ar iarrachtaí na hOllscoile cur le comhionannas deiseanna do gach mac léinn.   Féachann Ollscoil na Gaillimhe leis na constaicí atá rompu siúd atá ag iarraidh rochtain a fháil ar ardoideachas a shárú, agus an éagsúlacht a chothú laistigh dá pobal, trí chláir for-rochtana spriocdhírithe, scoláireachtaí agus seirbhísí tacaíochta a chur chun feidhme. Tugtar léargas sa tuarascáil ar thionchar na dtionscnamh seo, mar shampla rátaí cláraithe agus rátaí coinneála níos airde i measc na ngrúpaí imeallaithe.   Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Ollamh Ciara Meehan, Déan na Mac Léinn in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Is ceart dúinn ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar a bhfuil bainte amach againn maidir le deiseanna a chruthú do dhaoine staidéar in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe chomh maith lenár gcuid mac léinn agus na daoine a dhéanann éascaíocht do na deiseanna sin. Is san Ionad Rochtana a thosaigh an clár chun Rannpháirtíocht a Leathnú ach le comhpháirtíocht san Ollscoil trí chéile, ar gné ríthábhachtach í sin le go n-éireoidh leis an gclár do mhic léinn. Tá ag éirí linn ar bhonn leanúnach deiseanna a éascú dóibh siúd arb as grúpaí faoi ghannionadaíocht san ardoideachas iad agus léiríonn sé sin a luachmhaire is atá an obair seo do phobal iomlán na hollscoile agus don phobal níos leithne.”   Seo a leanas roinnt de na torthaí a tháinig chun solais sa Tuarascáil maidir le Rannpháirtíocht a Leathnú:      Sa tréimhse ón mbliain acadúil 2019/20 go dtí 2023/24, d’éirigh le isteach is amach le 595 mac léinn áit a fháil san Ollscoil trí mhodh iontrála na hearnála Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (ar méadú níos mó ná 50% é sin ar fhigiúirí na gcúig bliana roimhe sin) Bhí méadú 29% sa tréimhse ó 2010 go dtí 2023 ar líon na mac léinn a bhain áit san ollscoil amach trí bhealaí a bhain le Leathnú Rannpháirtíochta – e.g. roghanna do mhic léinn lánfhásta; Breisoideachas agus Oiliúint; an clár Rochtana do Lucht Fágála Scoile; HEAR - an scéim iontrála do dhaltaí ardteistiméireachta atá faoi 23 bliain d'aois agus a bhfuil a gcúlra eacnamaíoch nó sóisialta san earnáil ardoideachais faoi ghannionadaíocht; agus DARE - an scéim iontrála do dhaltaí ardteistiméireachta atá faoi 23 bliain d'aois a raibh tionchar diúltach ag a míchumas ar a n-oideachas meánscoile. Chláraigh 739 mac léinn in 2023 do chúrsaí staidéir trí Ionad Rochtana na hOllscoile – an leibhéal is airde go nuige seo. Bhí méadú 163% i líon na mac léinn a chláraigh le Seirbhís Tacaíochta Míchumais an Ionaid Rochtana, ar seirbhís í atá ar fáil do mhic léinn a dteastaíonn tacaíocht uathu nó cóiríocht réasúnta i ngeall ar an tionchar atá ag míchumas orthu, nó riocht sláinte fisiciúil nó meabhrach, nó saindeacracht foghlama.   Seo mar a labhair Imelda Byrne, Ceannasaí an Ionaid Rochtana, faoin tuarascáil: “Tá an-áthas orainn a bhfuil bainte amach ag an Ionad Rochtana, agus ag an Ollscoil féin ar bhonn níos leithne, chun rochtain a éascú agus rannpháirtíocht a mhéadú dóibh siúd is lú a ghlacann páirt san ardoideachas a roinnt lenár gcomhpháirtithe Ollscoile agus ár gcomhpháirtithe seachtracha. “Tarraingítear aird sa tríú tuarascáil seo ar roinnt de na gníomhaíochtaí ar tugadh fúthu chun Rannpháirtíocht a Leathnú, tugtar sonraí inti maidir le bealaí iontrála malartacha agus dul chun cinn mac léinn trína gcúrsaí staidéir agus ar chúrsaí fostaíochta ina dhiaidh sin. Léirítear sa tuarascáil na cúiseanna a bhfuil cáil ag teacht ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe as bheith ina hinstitiúid ina leagtar béim ar Rannpháirtíocht a Leathnú. Táimid buíoch den rialtas seo, agus de na cinn a chuaigh roimhe, as an infheistíocht atá déanta acu. Ní mór leanúint leis an infheistíocht chun bearnaí rannpháirtíochta a laghdú agus chun timpeallacht chuimsitheach a chothú ina dtugtar tacaíocht do gach mac léinn rochtain a fháil ar an ardoideachas agus páirt a ghlacadh ann go rathúil.”   Dúirt an Dr Daniel Savery, Oifigeach don Leathnú Rannpháirtíochta in Ionad Rochtana na hOllscoile: “Díríonn Plean Rochtana Náisiúnta an Údaráis um Ard-Oideachas go príomha ar a riachtanaí is atá sé sonraí iontaofa a bhailiú maidir le rochtain a éascú agus rannpháirtíocht a leathnú le go gcinnteofaí go mbeidh bonn láidir fianaise faoin obair atá ar siúl ag Institiúidí Ardoideachais sa réimse seo. Tá an bonn fianaise tábhachtach seo curtha ar fáil ag tríú tuarascáil seo an Choiste maidir le Rannpháirtíocht a Leathnú de chuid Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus cabhraíonn sé le cinntiú go mbeidh ár n-institiúid ar thús cadhnaíochta ó thaobh rochtain a leathnú agus rannpháirtíocht a mhéadú dóibh siúd is mó atá faoi ghannionadaíocht sa tsochaí.”   Tá taispeántas speisialta grianghraf seolta ina léirítear an staid ‘roimhe’ agus ‘ina dhiaidh’ i gcomhthráth le foilsiú thuarascáil Leathnaithe Rannpháirtíochta an Ionaid Rochtana.   Taispeántar ann na bacainní inrochtaineachta a tháinig chun solais mar thoradh ar an tionscadal Crowd4Access a rinne Mapáil ar Chosáin an Champais a reáchtáil Ionad Anailísíochta Sonraí Insight SFI agus an tIonad Rochtana, mar aon leis na feabhsuithe atá déanta ag Oifig Foirgneamh agus Eastát na hOllscoile chun an campas a dhéanamh níos inrochtana do chách, agus go háirithe dóibh siúd atá faoi mhíchumas.                Dúirt Denis O'Connor, an Stiúrthóir Foirgneamh agus Eastát in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Bhí a fhios againn go díreach céard a bhí le déanamh chun an campas a dhéanamh níos inrochtana tar éis dúinn sonraí ón tionscadal Crowd4Access a fháil mar aon le léargas na mac léinn siúd a mbíonn bacainní inrochtaineachta rompu. Cabhróidh sé seo linn ár spriocanna a bhaint amach faoin bPlean Gnímh don Dearadh Uilíoch agus Inrochtaineacht agus dul chun cinn a dhéanamh chun campas atá deartha do chách a chur ar fáil.”   Tá treoir ar Láithreán Gréasáin nua an Champais Chéadfaigh maidir leis na spásanna agus saoráidí céadfacha siúd, laistigh agus lasmuigh, agus tugann sé spreagadh do mhic léinn úsáid a bhaint as Mapa Céadfach agus Folláine an Champais. Cuireadh an mapa nuálaíocha seo i dtoll a chéile i gcomhpháirtíocht le hailtirí tírdhreacha agus mic léinn néara-éagsúla, agus cabhróidh sé le gach duine a bhíonn ar an gcampas, agus an pobal néara-éagsúil go háirithe, sólás céadfach a fháil ar thailte áille Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.   Is féidir teacht ar an tuarascáil iomlán ag www.universityofgalway.ie/accesscentre/publications/.  Críoch

University of Galway has today launched its third annual report on Widening Participation, along with its first ever Sensory Campus Website.     The report is being published as the University’s Access Centre this year marks 25 years of supporting students from traditionally underrepresented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds. In that time, more than 3,500 people have come through Access programmes, securing opportunities to study at university that might otherwise not have been open to them.    The 2024 Widening Participation report shows the overall number of students from traditionally underrepresented groups continues to grow at University of Galway and it outlines the University's efforts to increase the equality of opportunity for all students.    By implementing targeted outreach programmes, scholarships, and support services, University of Galway seeks to remove barriers to education and foster diversity within its community. The report showcases the impact of these initiatives, such as increased enrolment and retention rates among marginalised groups. Professor Ciara Meehan, Dean of Students at University of Galway, said: “It is hugely important to celebrate our achievements in creating opportunities for people to study at University of Galway, as well as our students and the people who make that happen. Widening Participation has its foundation in the Access Centre, but with partnership across the University - which is crucial for student success. Our continual success in opening doors for people from underrepresented groups is testament to the value of embedding this work across our entire university community, for the benefit of the wider community.”   Findings from the 2024 Widening Participation report include:      From 2019/20 to 2023/24, some 595 students progressed to the University through the Further Education and Training entry route (more than double the figures on the previous five years) From 2010 to 2023, the University saw a 29% increase in students entering through Widening Participation routes - eg Mature student options; Further Education and Training; School Leavers Access programme; HEAR - Higher Education Access Route admissions scheme for Leaving Certificate students under 23 whose economic or social background are underrepresented in higher education; and DARE - Disability Access Route to Education admissions scheme for school-leavers under 23 whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education. Some 739 students registered to study through the University Access Centre in 2023 - the highest level recorded. A 163% increase in students registering with the Access Centre Disability Support Service, which is available to students who need support or reasonable accommodations due to the impact of a disability, ongoing physical or mental health condition, or a specific learning difficulty.  Speaking about the report, Imelda Byrne, Head of Access, said: “We are delighted to share with our University partners and our external partners in the wider community the powerful work of the Access Centre and the University more broadly, in widening access and participation for those most under-represented in higher education.  “This third report highlights several Widening Participation activities, data on alternative pathways, student progression through their studies and into employment. This report illustrates why the University of Galway is becoming increasingly known for being a Widening Participation institution. We are grateful to successive governments for their investment, which must continue in order to narrow participation gaps and to create an inclusive environment that supports all students’ to access and successfully participate in university.”    Dr Daniel Savery, Widening Participation Officer at the University’s Access Centre, said: “A key focus of the Higher Education Authority’s National Access Plan 2022-28 is the need for robust data in the area of the widening access and participation to ensure there is a strong evidence base for the work individual Higher Education Institutes do in this area. University of Galway’s third annual Widening Participation Committee report continues to provide this important evidence-base and helps to ensure that our institution is at the forefront in terms of developing widening access and participation initiatives for the most underrepresented in society.”    To coincide with the publication of the Access Centre’s Widening Participation report, a special photo exhibition has been launched of “before and afters”.   It shows accessibility barriers identified through the Crowd4Access Campus Footpath Mapping project, which led by the Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytic and the Access Centre, and improvements made by the University’s Buildings and Estates Office to transform the campus for the benefit of all, particularly people with disabilities.   Denis O' Connor, Director of Buildings and Estates at University of Galway, said: "The data from the Crowd4Access project, combined with insights from students who experience accessibility barriers, allowed us to pinpoint exactly what needed to be done to make the campus more accessible. This helps us to meet our targets under the Universal Design and Accessibility Action Plan and progress towards a universally designed campus."    The new Sensory Campus Website showcases indoor and outdoor sensory friendly spaces and facilities and encourages students to use the Sensory and Wellbeing Campus Map. This innovative map was developed in partnership with landscape architects and neurodivergent students, and supports all campus users, particularly the neurodivergent community, to find sensory solace on the beautiful grounds of University of Galway.    The full report is available at www.universityofgalway.ie/accesscentre/publications/.   Ends