31 October 2006: Building on the success of last month's Volunteering Fair, the Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) at NUI Galway has organised a series of discussions entitled 'Conversations with Community' in order to continue to foster communication and partnership with community organisations. Kick starting this discussion series will be a seminar discussing the experience of asylum seekers in Galway on Wednesday the 8th of November from 3.00pm – 5.00pm at NUI Galway. Hosted by the CKI, this first discussion will take place with Brendan Smith, of the University's Digital Enterprise Research Institute and members of the Eglington Centre who will talk about their experiences working with asylum seekers in Galway and what asylum seekers experience here. This seminar is part of a series of informal discussions and talks with community organisations and is organised by the CKI in order to generate more discussion and communication with community. The CKI will also host: Linda Keane, Galway Association and Kathy Heffernan, NAD on Wednesday the 10th of January, 3.00pm – 5.00pm - Barriers & Opportunities facing the disabled in Ireland. Sean Regan, Community Worker Wednesday on the 7th of February, 3.00pm - 5.00pm - Community work in Ireland - managing poverty and injustice or working for social change? Colin McIlrath, Irish Wheelchair Association and John Hannon, Careers Services, NUI Galway on Wednesday the 7th of March, 3.00pm - 5.00pm - Careers in the Community Sector - Insights from Professionals . The Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) is a project at NUI Galway that promotes partnership with communities and endeavours to enhance social commitment within communities. Funded by philanthropic donations, the CKI hopes to reinvigorate the civic mission of higher education in Ireland, putting communities at the centre of debate. For further information, please contact Lorraine McIlrath, CKI Project Coordinator at 091 495234 or email lorraine.mcilrath@nuigalway.ie. Information from Christina McDonald Legg, christina.legg@nuigalway.ie - ends -

27 October 2006: A full week of conferring ceremonies concludes today at NUI Galway with President Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh awarding degrees, diplomas and certificates to over 4,770 graduates, in the largest ever conferring ceremony held at the campus. From the Arts Faculty, the largest faculty in the University, with over 6000 students, a total of 2059 students graduated. From the Faculty of Commerce 639 students graduated, with 570 from the Faculty of Science, 280 from the Faculty of Engineering and 427 from the Law Faculty. Further conferring ceremonies will take place on 28 November from the Medical and Health Sciences Faculty. Among those conferred were 795 adult learners, reflecting the University's commitment to life-long learning opportunities. There were also a number of graduates who had come through the Access and Foundation courses for both school leavers and mature learners, especially for less advantaged students. The international nature of the campus was reflected by the many graduates from around the world, including Brazil, Kenya, Moldova, Nigeria and Russia. Commenting on the graduation, NUI Galway President Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, said: "It is always a proud moment to witness students who have spent some of their formative years here with us at NUI Galway being honoured with such high accolades. I wish them every success in their future careers and am confident that they will be proud to call NUI Galway their alma mater and will remain instrumental in supporting and celebrating the continued success of our University." Among the highlights of the week was the conferring of eight academic staff with Postgraduate Certificates in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, which highlights the importance to the University of continually improving the quality of teaching and the student learning experience. Dr. Ó Muircheartaigh added: "NUI Galway aims for excellence in teaching, the promotion of world-class research, commitment to and engagement with our region, support for third level education through Irish, and above all ensuring the University places the student at the centre of all its activities." During the week, a Master of Arts (honoris causa) was conferred on John Cunningham, Editor, Connacht Tribune Newspapers and a Master of Literature (honoris causa) on Dónall Ó Luanaigh, former keeper of Collections at the National Library of Ireland. - ends -

Tháinig deireadh le seachtain iomlán de shearmanais bhronnta céime in OÉ Gaillimh inniu, seachtain inar bhronn Uachtarán na hOllscoile, an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh céimeanna, dioplómaí agus teastais ar bhreis is 4,770 mac léinn – an líon is mó mac leinn riamh a bhain dindiúirí amach le chéile. Is í Dámh na nDán an dámh is mó san Ollscoil, a bhfuil 6000 mac léinn cláraithe léi, agus bronnadh cáilíochtaí ar 2059 mac léinn díobh sin. Bronnadh céim ar 639 mac léinn as Dámh na Tráchtála, ar 570 mac léinn as Dámh na hEolaíochta, ar 280 mac léinn as Dámh na hInnealtóireachta agus ar 427 mac léinn as Dámh an Dlí. Reáchtálfar searmanais eile bronnta cáilíochtaí an 28 Samhain a bhainfidh le Dámh an Leighis agus na nEolaíochtaí Sláinte. As na mic léinn sin ar fad ar bronnadh céim orthu, b fhoghlaimeoirí fásta 795 duine díobh, rud a léiríonn a mheáite is atá an Ollscoil ar dheiseanna foghlama ar feadh an tsaoil a chur ar fáil do dhaoine. Bhí roinnt mac léinn ina measc freisin a raibh cúrsaí Rochtana agus Fondúireachta do lucht fágála scoile agus d'fhoghlaimeoirí fásta déanta acu, go háirithe cúrsaí do mhic léinn atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste. Chonacthas a idirnáisiúnta is atá an campas le líon na gcéimithe ó áiteanna i gcéin, lena n-áirítear an Bhraisíl, an Chéinia, an Mholdóiv, an Nigéir agus an Rúis. Agus é ag trácht ar bhronnadh na gcéimeanna, is é a bhí le rá ag an Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh: "Is cúis bróid i gcónaí é mic léinn a chaith laethanta múnlaithe a saoil anseo linn in OÉ Gaillimh agus céimeanna den scoth á mbaint amach acu le bród agus le mórtas. Gúim gach rath orthu le pé gairm a roghnóidh siad amach anseo agus táim cinnte gur cúis bhróid dóibh alma mater a thabhairt ar OÉ Gaillimh agus go mbeidh siad páirteach linn i gcónaí ag tacú agus ag ceiliúradh rath leanúnach na hOllscoile seo." I measc bhuaicphointí na seachtaine bhí bronnadh Teastas Iarchéime i dTeagasc agus i bhFoghlaim an Ard-Oideachais ar ocht mball foirne acadúil, rud a léiríonn an tábhacht a chuireann an Ollscoil le feabhsú leanúnach chaighdeáin an teagaisc agus na foghlama don mhac léinn. Dúirt an An Dr Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, freisin: "Tá OÉ Gaillimh meáite ar scoth an teagaisc a bhaint amach, ar thaighde ar chaighdeán domhanda a chothú, ar a cion a dhéanamh don réigiún agus páirt a ghlacadh ann, ar thacú leis an oideachas tríú leibhéal trí Ghaeilge, agus, thar aon ní eile, ar dheimhin a dhéanamh de go mbíonn an mac léinn i lár gach gníomhaíochta de chuid na hOllscoile." I rith na seachtaine, bronnadh Máistreacht sna Dána (honoris causa) ar John Cunningham, An tEagarthóir, Connacht Tribune Newspapers agus Máistreacht sa Litríocht (honoris causa) ar Dhónall Ó Luanaigh, iarchoimeádaí na mBailiúchán le Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann. - críoch -

26 October 2006: Following a competitive process administered by the Higher Education Authority, the Minister for Education and Science has announced the award of 14 projects, across the third-level sector, to a total value of over €42m. NUI Galway has been awarded one of the largest individual amounts, a significant €7.3m, and is an active partner in eight of the other successful projects. Minister Hanafin's announcement is part of the Government's new €300m Strategic Innovation Fund aimed at supporting restructuring and reform in the Irish Third Level Sector in order to enhance the quality of higher education teaching and research. The funds awarded to NUI Galway are earmarked to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in the University; to enhance the infrastructure underlying post-graduate education and research; to support the restructuring of academic units underway in the University; to enhance the successful access programmes; and to further develop innovative service learning and student volunteering activities. Speaking following the announcement by the Minister, Dr. Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, President of NUI Galway, said, "I am delighted to welcome the announcement by Minister Mary Hanafin. NUI Galway's success in this competition reflects well, and indeed vindicates, the approach this University has taken to reform and restructuring at both third level and fourth level. Our ability to work effectively as a team inside the University and to develop strong, enduring and effective collaborations with partner institutions in the University and Institute of Technology sectors has been rewarded with our success in this programme. In particular, we welcome the success of our partnership with the Institutes of Technology in the BMW region, which will greatly expand our already successful and innovative access programme." -ends-

Galway, 24 October 2006 – A series of high profile keynote speakers will address issues that are facing Ireland's communities today during a keynote seminar series at NUI Galway. Set to occur between November 2006 and September 2007, this keynote series will focus on themes related to civic engagement and active citizenship. Organised and sponsored by the Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) at NUI Galway, this keynote series is a response to the increased alienation and declining social commitment that is common in today's communities and will host high profile people who are knowledgeable in these areas. Members of the public are invited to attend the free seminars and tickets will be available from CKI. KEYNOTE SEMINAR SERIES SCHEDULE: Dr Garret Fitzgerald, Ret. Leader and Chancellor of the NUI, Tuesday, November 14th, 3.00pm - 4.00pm. Speaking on Civic Republicanism and Public Morality Mr. Alan Kerins, Alan Kerins African Projects, Thursday, 25th January 2007, 3.00pm - 4.00pm. Speaking on his work with the Cheshire House, volunteering and how important it is today. Mrs. Mary Davis, Chair of the Taskforce on Active Citizenship, Thursday, 22nd February 2007, 3.00pm - 4.00pm. Speaking on her work with the Taskforce on Active Citizenship, the Special Olympics and active citizenship in Ireland today Mr. Alan Rusbridger, Editor of the Guardian, Friday, 9th March 2007, 3.00pm - 4.00pm. Speaking on his work with the Guardian, as well as Journalism, New Media and Democracy. Mr. Maurice Mullard, University of Hull, Reader in Social Policy, Thursday, 19th April 2007, 3.00pm - 4.00pm. Speaking on his work with the University of Hull, citizenship, social policy and the war on terror. Ms. Caroline Casey, The Aisling Foundation, Thursday, 27th September 2007, 3.00pm - 4.00pm. Speaking on her work with the Aisling Foundation and active citizenship, as well as the role that volunteering plays in community. The Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) was launched at NUI Galway in June 2001 as a project to promote partnership with communities and to enhance social commitment within communities. Funded by philanthropic donations, the CKI hopes to reinvigorate the civic mission of higher education in Ireland, putting communities at the centre of debate. "We very much hope that this keynote seminar series will serve as a means of reinvigorating the civic mission of universities as well as promote the concept of civic responsibility and service within higher education," said Lorraine McIlrath, CKI Project Coordinator. For further information, please contact Lorraine McIlrath, CKI Project Coordinator at 091 495234 or email lorraine.mcilrath@nuigalway.ie. Information from Christina McDonald Legg, christina.legg@nuigalway.ie - ends -