News

2021/22 News and Events

First ISN Annual General Meeting

The first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the International Staff Network took place on Friday, Nov 5^th, 2021.

The AGM schedule included a panel discussion on international staff experiences at NUI Galway, followed by an update on the operations of the ISN for the past year, and discussion of strategy for the coming year.

ISN Celebration of Spring

The International Staff Network invite you to a Celebration of Spring

After a long time of online events, we are very pleased to invite you to our get together on campus. All are welcome, and if you know an international staff member who has not yet joined, be sure to invite them! Lunch (sandwiches, finger food and tea/coffee) will be provided.

When: Wednesday, 27^th April 2022,  12:00-13:50
Where: The Hardiman Building THB-G010

Welcome
Tina-Karen Pusse, Co-Chair ISN
Raghav Srinivas, Co-Chair ISN
Helen Maher, Vice President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The event is free, please register via the following link: Registration link

2020/21 News and Events

ISN Planning Coffee Morning

The ISN Executive hosted an informal coffee morning on June 22^nd, 2021 to engage with members on planning for the network. All members were invited to join for a chat, and a chance to discuss planning for the ISN over the next academic year. The Executive used this opportunity to hear member ideas for events, initiatives, or supports needed within NUI Galway.

 ISN Marks One Year Anniversary

On May 7th 2020, the ISN was established with the support of the Vice President for Equality and Diversity to represent and articulate both the interests and concerns of international staff. The ISN represents staff at all levels and in all professional capacities who work on the NUI Galway campuses. The ISN celebrated our one year anniversary in May 2021, with 141 members from 36 countries.

International Perspectives: Celebrating Women in Research Webinar

To mark International Women’s Day 2021, the ISN hosted ‘International perspectives: Celebrating Women in Research’ on March 12^th, 2021. The ISN are committed to exploring and highlighting how diverse socio-cultural backgrounds inform and underpin individual research viewpoints, and how this shapes the unique and nuanced perspectives we bring to our University community.

Our panel of speakers included:

Dr. Nata Duvvury, Senior Lecturer and Director, Centre for Global Women’s Studies, Co-Leader Gender and Public Policy Cluster at Whitaker Institute, Member Lancet Commission on Gender Based Violence and Maltreat of Youth, Committee Member of Trocaire’s International Programmes Advisory Committee. Research interests are gender and development with special focus on economic and social costs of violence against women; women and ageing including pension access; women, work and Covid-19.

Dr. Katarzyna Goljanek-Whysall (Polish), Senior Lecturer in Physiology and Irish Research Council Laureate, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, British Society for Research into Ageing Committee. Research interests in the biology of skeletal muscle ageing and disease.

Dr. Ioanna Tourkochoriti (Greek), Lecturer Above the Bar, School of Law. Research Interests in comparative law, human rights, jurisprudence, legal/political theory.

Adriana Cardinot (Brazilian), 4th year PhD student, School of Physics. Educational coordinator of the Making Space Programme funded by the Royal Astronomical Society, Volunteer in a number of physics and astronomy outreach projects, such as Soapbox Science and Astro for All. Research interests include astronomy education and outreach, game-based learning, affective learning, and conceptual change.

ISN Holiday Gathering

On Dec 30^th, 2020 the ISN Executive hosted a social gathering during the university holiday closure period. As travel and celebrations have changed this year due to Covid-19 implications, the ISN developed this event in the spirit of support and networking. The event provided a way for members to stay in touch and have a bit of fun before the end of the year.

University Governance Town Hall

The Executive of the ISN hosted a town hall on University Governance on November 20^th, 2020. The meeting highlighted some of the highest governing committees in the University, Academic Council and Údarás na hOllscoile, as well as the University Offices which manage their operation: The Office of the Deputy President and Registrar and the Office of the Secretary for Governance and Academic Affairs. Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh and Ms Caroline Loughnane joined to review the structure, role, and influence of these bodies in the decision-making of the University.

This event is part of a targeted initiative by the ISN to encourage representation and engagement of international staff with the governance of the university. The event was useful to all international staff, including researchers and newly joined staff, in terms of understanding the highest decision-making bodies in the University, and becoming more engaged with their operations, including the process of nominating candidates or running for election in the upcoming Údarás elections.

Member Hosted Event: Day of the Dead Festival

ISN member Gloria Avalos invited network members to join in celebrating the links between Ireland and Mexico through festivities developed in Co Galway and online marking the Day of the Dead. This event was in conjunction with Galway 2020 and further information can be found here.

First ISN Town Hall Event

On Oct 16^th, 2020 the ISN hosted the first network town hall event for members. ISN Co-Chair, Dr Raghav Srinivas, opened the meeting with introductory remarks, joined by speakers: Prof Anne Scott, VP Equality & Diversity, NUI Galway, and Dr Frank Conaty, IHREC Commissioner and Lecturer at NUI Galway.

This ISN Town Hall allowed members to hear about the development of the ISN, the impact of the Public Sector Duty on international staff concerns, and to discuss the experiences of international staff at NUI Galway.

2019/20 News and Events

Member Hosted Event: Celebrating the 4th of July Trivia Party

On July 3rd 2020, Tonya Watts (Kentucky) and Kristin Horan (New York) hosted a social gathering for Americans, and any colleagues interested in attending, to celebrate the 4^th of July holiday in the USA. We hope this will be the start of members hosting holiday gatherings celebrating the countries represented on campus. If you would like to host a gathering for a specific holiday please contact us: ISN@nuigalway.ie

ISN Call for Action on Racial Discrimination

Following the murder of George Floyd in the United States, and the international movement to address and acknowledge racism and racial discrimination, the ISN Executive developed a call for action letter which was disseminated to all network members as well as the University Management Team on June 12th, 2020. The full statement can be found here.

Launch Coffee Morning Meet & Greet

To celebrate the launch of the ISN, the Executive Committee hosted a virual meet and greet coffee morning on June 3rd, 2020. All were welcome to meet the Executive and discuss any questions about the new Network.

Virtual Launch of the International Staff Network

On May 7th, 2020, following a delay in the official launch of the Network due to the outbreak of Covid-19, the International Staff Network of NUI Galway was virtually launched. All staff receieved an email communication outlining the purpose and aims of the ISN, as well as a launch video on behalf of the NUI Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh.

ISN Launch Video Available Here.

International Staff Networking Event and Panel

The Office of the VP for EDI hosted a networking and panel event for international staff on May 28th, 2019 in the Aula Maxima to open discussion on possible developments for international staff supports. The panel included: Dr Srinivasan Raghavendran, Ms Tonya Watts, Dr Dinali Wijeratne, and Dr András Költő. Participants shared their experiences and it was agreed to move forward with the formal development of a network for international staff at NUI Galway.  Following this event, an expression of interest was circulated in June 2019 and network development was undertaken by a core Development Steering Group.