-
Courses
Courses
Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.
-
University Life
University Life
Each year more than 4,000 choose University of Galway as their University of choice. Find out what life at University of Galway is all about here.
-
About University of Galway
About University of Galway
Since 1845, University of Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.
-
Colleges & Schools
Colleges & Schools
University of Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching across a range of key areas of expertise.
-
Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation
University of Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
-
Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at University of Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at University of Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
-
Alumni & Friends
Alumni & Friends
There are 128,000 University of Galway alumni worldwide. Stay connected to your alumni community! Join our social networks and update your details online.
-
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At University of Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Accessibility & LanguageSDG Week archive
SDG Week 2023
To see this year's SDG Week, please click here.
University of Galway's first SDG Week took place in September 2023.
As a national SDG Champion 23/24, this was an opportunity to act as an advocate and promoter of the SDGs, to raise awareness internally among our community of over 20,000 students and staff and to demonstrate by example that everyone can make a contribution to the UN SDGs. SDG Week 2023 formed part of the wider European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW), held from 18th September to 8th October.
Download the SDG Week 2023 flyer or click below for a day-by-day event listing.
Monday 18 September
11.30am
SDG Poster Presentation by JE Cairnes School of Business & Economics
Reception Area, JE Cairnes School of Business & Economics
Organisers: Dr Ann O’Brien and Dr Johanna Clancy
Coffee & Poster viewing. Posters will remain in place for the duration of SDG week, Monday 18th September to Sat 23rd September
Contact: johanna.clancy@universityofgalway.ie & ann.obrien@universityofgalway.ie
*
3pm-4pm
Action for the SDGs
ALIVE Áras na Mac Léinn
Organisers: Dr. Lorraine Tansey
Workshop: Do you want to make an impact on environment, health, education, equality, and more? Join in this interactive workshop to meet your fellow students interested in action for the SDGs. Together we will make SDG button badges with our in-house badge maker. Plus come along and hear all about the projects available to you, join the award winning Glassary programme, explore the options and get started on making a difference right here in Galway with community groups.
Contact: alive@universityofgalway.ie www.universityofgalway.ie/alive
*
4-5pm
Joint Webinar: The Implementation of the SDGs in Higher Education. UN Academic Impact & UNESCO-ILEC Webinar
Organisers: United Nations Academic Impact
Webinar where pre-registration is necessary https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/briefing-higher-education-and-implementation-sdgs
Through the webinar we will showcase some recent initiatives developed to inspire, guide and support higher education institutions to increase their contribution to the SDGs. First, a set of guidelines for leaders of higher education institutions jointly developed by UNAI and UNESCO-IESALC will be presented. Then, a preliminary version of SET4HEI will be launched, a self-assessment tool developed by UNESCO-IESALC to improve how higher education institutions evaluate the contribution to the 2030 Agenda. In addition, a selection of good practices cases compiled by UNAI will be explained, showing outstanding contributions of higher education institutions to the SDGs. The webinar will include testimonies, from faculty, staff, and students and will conclude with a Q&A session.
Contact: john.caulfield@universityofgalway.ie
*
5pm-6pm
EcoSprint: Designing a Sustainable Campus for your Future
IDEAS LAB- Next door to Smokey’s Café on Main Concourse
Organisers: Ideas Lab & University of Galway Students' Union
Information Session: Are you a University of Galway student? Would you like to develop ideas to address a sustainability challenge on campus? Be in with a chance to win €500 to put your solution into action. Find out more at the EcoSprint Information Session in IdeasLab, taking place part of SDG week
Register for the Information Session. Booking link: https://acesse.one/EcoSprintRegistration
*
Tuesday 19 September
11am -12.30pm
Sustainable Food Systems & the SDGs
Aula Maxima Lower
Organisers: Dr Anne Mullen, Sustainable World Section, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences
Panel Discussion: A discussion on the challenges contemporary food systems pose to human and planetary health, technological innovations to address these challenges from the forefront of research, and the mechanisms for driving science into political decision-making on food. With experts from international development, food security, environmental engineering, marine resources, and policy development, we look to the SDGs as a framework for structuring food systems change and, importantly, we'll ask if all food systems actors have the appetite for change.
Register for this event.
Booking Link:
*
12noon - 1pm
Construct Innovate Webinar on Sustainability Planning in Construction
Organiser: Prof Jamie Goggins in conjunction with Engineers ireland West
Open to ALL
Details: The webinar will be hosted on Zoom. You need to register for this free event The webinar will include the following topics: What are the SDGs and how do they relate to design and construction in the built environment. Speaker: Prof Jamie Goggins, Director of Construct Innovate; Delivering Sustainable Infrastructure. Speaker: Conall Boland, Sustainability Lead, RPS; Build Up Skills Ireland 2030 national Roadmap. Speaker: Gloria Callinan, TUS Project Officer, Development Unit, Thurles campus.
Register for this event at Construct Innovate Webinar Series: Sustainability Planning in Construction (engineersireland.ie).
*
12.30pm -2pm
Lunchtime Lightning Talks - How Data Science is making an Impact on the SDGs
Conference Room, Data Science Institute / Insight, IDA Business Park, Postcode H91 AEX4
Organiser: Brian Wall
A series of 10min talks, Bring your own brown-bag lunch.
Hear a series of talks covering projects that include SHAREPAIR; Translators without Borders: Sensing Air; Life Multi-Peat; WaterLANDS; and Mapping University of Galway's Research to SDGs
Contact: brian.wall@universityofgalway.ie
*
1pm -2pm
Land, Housing & the SDGs
Máirtín O Tnuthail Theatre (AMB 1023)
Organisers: Professor Padraic Kenna
Lecture:Open to University of Galway Students and Staff
Contact: padraic.kenna@universityofgalway.ie
*
1pm -4pm
SDGs @ First Year Societies Day
Bailey Allen, Áras na Mac Léinn
Organisers: Adam Mullins, founder of University of Galway Student Pantry
Exhibition Stand: Are you a student interested in sustainability and the SDGs. Hear from Adam Mullins , founder the Student Pantry, winner of the University of Galway Sustainability Leadership Awards at his Exhibition Stand as part of Societies Day.
Contact: socs.universityofgalway.ie
*
5.30pm 7.30pm
ROAMing Citizen Science Workshop
Location: IdeasLab
Organisers: Dr Jessamyn Fairfield
Workshop & Free Pizza: We are a team of University of Galway researchers running a project called 'We Built This City on Rock and Coal', which combines theatre, citizen science and sustainability workshops to empower people to take action on climate change. We want to test out potential citizen science experiments and would love to hear what you think. The workshop will run for maximum two hours and this work is approved by the University of Galway Research Ethics Committee.
Contact: jessamyn.fairfield@universityofgalway.ie
*
7pm
Students’ Union SDG Quiz Night, Corrib Room - Sult
Organisers: SU Sustainability Officer, Molly Hickey
Format: Quiz
Wednesday 20 September
12pm -3pm
SDGs @Clubs Day
Venue: Kingfisher Sports Club
Organisers: Adam Mullins
Exhibition Stand: Are you a student interested in sustainability and the SDGs. Hear from Adam Mullins , founder the Student Pantry, winner of the University of Galway Sustainability Leadership Awards at his Exhibition Stand as part of Clubs Day.
*
1pm -2pm
Enter Net Zero with Deloitte
Careers Seminar Room, Arts/Science Concourse Briana Madden, Career Development Centre
Employer Skills Event in Workshop format
Join Deloitte for a fun immersive workshop hosted by Deloitte’s World Climate Sustainability Leader Caitlin Flanagan! Take part in a game that will help you understand the challenges facing companies and investors as we move to a world of net zero. This event is run in association with the Career Development Centre’s Employability Award Sustainability Pathway
You must register in advance on Careers Connect as places are limited
*
3pm -4pm
Spotlight on the SDGs: Commerce Students as Change Makers
Kirwan Theatre & D'arcy Thompson Theatres - Main Campus
Organisers: Dr Johanna Clancy & Dr Áine Ní Léime
Interactive Awareness Seminar: Open to All First Year University of Galway Commerce (all Comm cohorts) Students
Contact: johanna.clancy@universityofgalway.ie ainenileime@universityofgalway.ie
*
5-6pm
LIFT Leadership Facilitator Training
Áras na Mac Léinn
Organisers: Dr Lorraine Tansey
Workshop: Grow your leadership skills in a small group and join the LIFT programme. You do not need to be in a particular role or have experience, LIFT is here to support you and give you a new opportunity – all welcome to join in!
Registration required. Book at this link https://www.universityofgalway.ie/student-life/campus-activities/leadership/
Thursday 21 September
Starting 9am Thursday 21 September
Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Summit
Thomond Park, Limerick
Organisers: UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre and the Prevention and Early Intervention Network (PEIN)
Summit: Aligned with SDG 3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre and the Prevention and Early Intervention Network (PEIN) are hosting a Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Summit in Thomond Park, Limerick on September 21st- 22nd. The PEI Summit will provide dedicated time and space for all those working in and/or with a keen interest in prevention and early intervention services for children, young people, parents , families and communities to come together, exchange ideas, hear inspiring keynotes, inputs and stories, and enhance the collective voice. Under the prevention and early intervention theme, Dr Carmel Devaney & Professor John Canavan from the University of Galway will help explore what PEI means, what it looks like in practice, why it needs to be prioritised, how it meets the needs of children and families and the direction it needs to take in Ireland. The event is co-funded by Tusla- Child and Family Agency and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) What Works initiative.
Contact: carmel.devaney@universityofgalway.ie or email summit@pein.ie to register
*
10am to 4pm
FREE WEEE Recycling Day for batteries, electric and electronic waste
Orbsen Car Park
Lead: Lorraine Rushe
WEEE Collection lorries parked at Orbsen Carpark
Open to students, staff and members of the public
Find out more: lorraine.rushe@universityofgalway.ie
*
11am-12 noon
The SDGs & my volunteer work experience
Mairtin O’ Tnuthail Theatre
Organisers: Megan Milne-Thompson
Presentation and Discussion: The role of the SDGs in volunteer work undertaken in Mexico with E.I.L – Intercultural Learning. EIL Intercultural Learning (EIL/AFS) is an Irish “not for profit” educational organisation which provides intercultural learning opportunities through study abroad, youth leadership. Find out more at www.eilireland.org
Contact: M.Milne-Thompson1@universityofgalway.ie
*
11.30am - 4.30pm
Seed collection and Sowing event
Meeting at the Park and Ride Carpark in Dangan
Organisers: Dr Caitriona Carlin
Open to ALL
University of Galway students and staff along with industry partners will collect from plants with ripe seeds and sow them in the grounds of the new student accommodation area. There are biodiverse meadows on campus, some are classified as rare calcareous grasslands. The plan is to investigate the potential of creating new grasslands using plants nearby from the calcareous plots. Participants will receive a short talk and demonstration before being allocated to a team to collect seeds from specific calcareous grassland plants.
Contact: caitriona.carlin@universityofgalway.ie
Friday 22 September
11am – 3.30pm
Student-led Environmental Summit
The Cube, Áras na Mac Léinn
Organisers: Molly Hickey
The event includes workshops on environmental issues, a panel discussion and a presentation from Let’s Do it India.
*
2pm-3pm
Speech and Language Therapy and The SDGs: Community and University Collaborations
Venue: Room 225 Áras Moyola and zoom link https://universityofgalway-ie.zoom.us/j/94183812626?pwd=aHFvMHRXaDI5Z2FTYmV2STBkdFNrUT09
This event aims to showcase a special issue publication by Speech Pathology Australia entitled Communication, Swallowing and the SDGs edited by Prof Sharynne McLeod and Prof Julie Marshall (International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (Volume 25, Issue 1). The event will showcase the article by Dr. Clare Carroll, Ita Fitzgibbon and Mari Caulfield from the Discipline of Speech and Language Therapy, University of Galway. The event will include authors Dr. Clare Carroll and Ita Fitzgibbon, and Ita’s son Tom and they will share how their collaboration involved the SDGs.
Contact: c.carroll@universityofgalway.ie
Saturday 23 September
10am - 1pm
Just 3 X SDGs - Take part in our volunteer pledge
An Nead (volunteer HQ), Terryland Forest Park, Sandy Road, Galway City. Google Maps Link.
Organisers: International Office/Global Galway
For SDG Week 2023, we are calling on all international students to take the ‘Just 3’ pledge and volunteer just 3 hours of their time with Terryland Forest Park. Join Tuatha volunteers of Terryland Forest Park on Saturday, 23 September at 10am for a morning of activities including planting fruit bushes, litter picking, removal of invasive species and hazelnut harvesting.This is a fantastic opportunity for international students to get to know Galway City and the surrounds, connect with the community, spend time in the outdoors and meet other students, as well as working towards the SDGs.
Register at ‘Just 3’ on www.yourspace.universityofgalway.ie and start your ‘Just 3’ journey
Contact: sorcha.nicaodha@universityofgalway.ie
*
11am - 1pm
Guided Biodiversity and Heritage Walk of the University of Galway Campus Grounds
Meeting at the Quad Archway, University of Galway to walk the Biodiversity Trail and surrounding trails
Organisers: Dr Caitriona Carlin in conjunction with An Taisce
Booking link: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/sdg-week-biodiversity-heritage-trail-guided-walk-tickets-717009283067?aff=oddtdtcreator
Contact: caitriona.carlin@universityofgalway.ie
SDG Week in Shannon College
To mark SDG week Shannon College of Hotel Management will launch its Sustainability Committee which will include staff and students.
Each 1st year student will be introduced to a new system installed in our practical production kitchens. We are delighted to partner with Positive Carbon affording our students the opportunity to see the latest developments in food waste tracking and management in operation. Positive Carbon provides customers with a system which autonomously monitors food waste and generates AI Powered insights accessible through a mobile or web app. This will create savings to food bills by reducing the quantity of food waste. Through analysis of the data students can identify problem areas and formulate solutions for surplus therefore reducing our food waste. This system underpins our commitment to sustainability within the college and the hospitality industry by exposing the managers of the future to best practice.
Organiser: Helena Doody, College Manager, Shannon College of Hotel Management
