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OllscÉala - DECEMBER 2009

President's Message - Focal ó Uachtarán (Leagan Gaeilge)

Deaths of Four Students

On November 17 the NUI Galway community was shocked to learn of the deaths of four students who were killed tragically in a road traffic accident on the N17 near the Galway Mayo border. The four deceased students are:

Teresa Molloy (19), a third-year BA student in Gaeilge agus Léann an Aistriúcháin (Irish and Translation Studies) from Leitir Móir, Co. Galway;

Marie Stephanie Conneely (19), a third-year BA student in Gaeilge agus Léann an Aistriúcháin (Irish and Translation Studies) from Baile na hAbhann, Co. Galway; and

Sorcha Rose McLoughlin (19), a second-year BA Geography & Applied Mathematical Science and Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge (Diploma in Irish) student from Mulgannon, Co. Wexford.

Sarah Byrne (20) a third-year BA student of Gaeilge and Geography from Cordarra, Headford, Co. Galway;

A fifth student: Michelle O’Donnell (21), a third-year BA student in Gaeilge and Léann an Aistriúcháin (Irish and Translation Studies) from Cill Éinne, Inis Mór, Co. Galway was critically injured and is still in hospital with serious injuries. On behalf of the entire University community I extend our condolences to the families, friends and neighbours of the four young students. We continue to hope and pray for the recovery of Michelle O’Donnell.

In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy we were heartened by the many messages of sympathy received from other institutions, from our alumni and members of the public, and in particular those from President of Ireland, Mary McAleese; An Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Cardinal Sean Brady.

In view of the very difficult circumstances I believe that the institution responded well with a co-ordinated response led by the Chaplaincy and the Office of the Vice President for Student Experience. Ongoing support is available to students through the University’s chaplaincy and counselling services, as well as through the support being provided by academic and other staff.

Strategic Plan 2009–2014

Following its publication in October 2009, the Strategic Plan has been issued to the Minister for Education & Science and the Higher Education Authority in compliance with the Universities Act 1997. You should by now have received your copy of the specially prepared summary of the Strategic Plan for staff, entitled Vision 2014. With a formal launch scheduled for 16 December, the next phase of the strategic planning process is now underway, and will see the development of an institutional operational plan. In a related development, our University Management Team will meet with the GMIT Management Team this month, to share and discuss our Strategic Plans and to explore joint collaboration opportunities.

NAIRTL Award

In October 2008 I had the pleasure of presenting Dr Aisling McCluskey, School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Maths with a President’s Award for Teaching Excellence. This year, on 18 November, she was presented with a National Teaching Award by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese in recognition of her talent as a teacher committed to creating an exciting learning environment for her students. The NAIRTL (National Academy for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning) Awards recognise teaching of the highest calibre in Irish Higher Education and Aisling was one of only five Award Winners nationally this year. Congratulations Aisling!

Galway University Foundation

The US Board of Galway University Foundation held its 3 ^rd Annual Gala Banquet in the US on 18 November as part of its mission to raise funds for NUI Galway's programmes and activities from a range of private individuals and institutions. This event, which honoured Irish singer-songwriter, Paul Brady, was a tremendous success and raised close to $100,000 for the University. It also provided an important opportunity to build alumni relations and to network with key national and international opinion formers, thereby raising awareness of NUI Galway and its activities and successes.

Conferrings and Awards

Since the last issue of Ollscéala, over 4,800 students were awarded with degrees, diplomas or certificates during the Autumn and Winter conferrings on campus. At the October conferrings honorary degrees were conferred on: Frankie Gavin; Tommie Gorman; Eamon ’Chick’ Deacy; Br Seán MacConmara; Fr Raymond Browne. At the conferrings on 25 November, honorary degrees were conferred on John Lynch, musical director of the Kilfenora Ceilí Band and Tony Barrett, regional development activist. I also had the pleasure of visiting St Angela’s College, Sligo to confer degrees at their ceremonies on 4 December. At these ceremonies, degrees of Master of Arts and Master of Music, honoris causa, were also conferred on Sr Pius O’Gara, in recognition of her loyal service to St Angela’s College, and on Peter Horan, for his contribution to Irish traditional music in Sligo.

In October, Entrance Scholarships were presented to 63 students in recognition of the high points they achieved in the Leaving Certificate Examination. This year’s recipients reflect a wide geographical spread: from 13 different counties and from 47 individual second-level schools. 29 students also received new Sports Scholarship Awards, joining the existing 19 scholarship holders in the High Performance support system.

Marketing Award

I’d like congratulate NUI Galway’s Marketing & Communications Team on their success in winning the Marketing Team of the Year Award and the Overall Marketing Award for 2009 at the Marketing Institute West’s Annual Awards recently. The Team was chosen from 80 entrants to the Awards and saw off competition from 10 regional winners of each category, including Volvo Ocean Race organizers ’Let’s Do It Galway’, to win the Overall Marketing Award.

This year our Marketing Team led a major brand development project with the aim of repositioning the University and creating a strong visual identity to differentiate NUI Galway from its competitors. As a result of these marketing efforts, and the efforts of our staff in visiting schools and promoting our programmes, including new programmes, NUI Galway saw a substantial increase of 13.1% in CAO First Preference applications - a growth of more than double that of the university sector and the highest year-on-year increase of all the universities. Well done to Caroline Loughnane, Director of Marketing and Communications and her talented team!

As 2009 draws to a close, I’d like to thank all staff for their continuing hard work and commitment in what has been a very challenging year in many ways. Despite this, 2009 has been a highly successful year for this University. We are the Sunday Times University of the Year 2009/10; more and more of our academic staff are active in research as measured by the increasing numbers of staff supervising graduate students, winning research funding and publishing scholarly works; all staff including support staff continue to provide excellent service to students and colleagues despite the growth in student numbers and the decline in staff numbers due to the restrictions on recruitment.

I offer my renewed thanks to all of you for your continuing efforts. May I wish each and every staff member a peaceful and happy Christmas and every good wish for 2010. Beannachtaí na Nollaig,

James J. Browne Ph.D., D.Sc., MRIA, C.Eng
Uachtarán – President

Focal ó Uachtarán

Bás Ceathrar Mac Léinn

Ar an 17 lá de mhí na Samhna baineadh croitheadh as pobal OÉ Gaillimh nuair a chualamar faoin gceathrar mac léinn a maraíodh go tragóideach i dtimpiste bóthair ar an N17 in aice ar theorainn na Gaillimhe le Maigh Eo. Ba iad an ceathrar a maraíodh:

Teresa Molloy (19), mac léinn sa tríú bliain den BA i nGaeilge agus Léann an Aistriúcháin as Leitir Móir, Co. na Gaillimhe;

Marie Stephanie Conneely (19), mac léinn sa tríú bliain den BA i nGaeilge agus Léann an Aistriúcháin as Baile na hAbhann, Co. na Gaillimhe;

Sorcha Rose McLoughlin (19), mac léinn sa dara bliain den BA i dTíreolaíocht & Eolaíocht Mhatamaiticiúil Fheidhmeach agus an Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge as Fotharta, Co. Loch Garman agus

Sarah Byrne (20) mac léinn sa tríú bliain den BA i nGaeilge agus Tíreolaíocht as Cor Dharach, Áth Cinn, Co. na Gaillimhe;

Tá an cúigiú mac léinn, Michelle O’Donnell (21), mac léinn sa tríú bliain den BA i nGaeilge agus Léann an Aistriúcháin as Cill Éinne, Inis Mór, Co. na Gaillimhe go dona tinn in ospidéal. Thar ceann phobal na hOllscoile ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le teaghlaigh, le cairde agus le comharsana na gceathrar mac léinn óg. Táimid ag guí go dtiocfaidh biseach ar Michelle O’Donnell.

Aimsir na tragóide, fuaireamar go leor teachtaireachtaí comhbhróin ó institiúidí eile, ónár n-alumni agus ón bpobal, teachtaireachtaí a chuidigh linn in am an ghátair, go háirithe na teachtaireachtaí a tháinig ó Uachtarán na hÉireann, Máire Mhic Ghiolla Íosa, An Taoiseach Brian Cowen agus an Cairdinéal Seán Brady.

I gcás an-chrua creidim gur dhéileáil an institiúid go maith le freagra comhordaithe ón tSéiplíneacht agus ó Oifig an Leas-Uachtaráin um Eispéireas na Mac Léinn. Tá tacaíocht ar fáil i gcónaí do mhic léinn trí sheirbhísí séiplíneachta agus comhairleoireachta na hOllscoile agus tá tacaíocht ar fáil ón bhfoireann acadúil agus eile.

Plean Straitéiseach 2009 – 2014

Foilsíodh an Plean Straitéiseach i nDeireadh Fómhair 2009 agus tá sé curtha ar aghaidh chuig an Aire Oideachais & Eolaíochta agus chuig an Údarás um Ardoideachas de réir Acht na nOllscoileanna 1997. Ba chóir go mbeadh do chóip den achoimre speisialta a cuireadh le chéile don fhoireann den Phlean Straitéiseach, Fís 2014, faighte agat faoi seo . Tá seoladh foirmiúil beartaithe don 16 Nollaig agus tá an chéad chéim eile den phleanáil straitéiseach ar bun anois – plean oibríochtúil don institiúid a fhorbairt. Casfaidh Foireann Bainistíochta na hOllscoile le Foireann Bainistíochta GMIT an mhí seo, chun ár bPleananna Straitéiseacha a roinnt agus a phlé agus chun deiseanna comhpháirtíochta a fhiosrú.

Gradam NAIRTL

I nDeireadh Fómhair 2008 bhí sé de phribhléid agam Gradam an Uachtaráin don Fheabhas Teagaisc a bhronnadh ar an Dr Aisling McCluskey, Scoil na Matamaitice, na Staitisticí agus na Matamaitice Feidhmí. An 18 Samhain i mbliana, bhronn Uachtarán na hÉireann, Máire Mhic Ghiolla Íosa, Gradam Náisiúnta Teagaisc uirthi mar aitheantas ar a bua mar theagascóir ag cruthú timpeallacht foghlama spreagúil dá mic léinn. Tugann Gradaim NAIRTL (Acadamh Náisiúnta um Chomhtháthú Taighde, Teagaisc agus Foghlama) aitheantas do theagasc den scoth in Earnáil Ardoideachais na hÉireann agus níor bhuaigh ach cúigear gradam i mbliana. Comhghairdeas, a Aisling!

Fondúireacht Ollscoil na Gaillimhe

Bhí an 3ú Mórfhéasta Bliantúil ag Bord SAM d’Fhondúireacht na hOllscoile sna Stáit Aontaithe an 18 Samhain chun airgead a bhailiú ó dhaoine príobháideacha agus ó institiúidí do chláir agus do ghníomhaíochtaí OÉ Gaillimh. D’éirigh thar barr leis an ócáid in onóir an scríbhneora agus an amhránaí, Paul Brady, agus bailíodh beagnach $100,000 don Ollscoil. Chuir an ócáid le caidreamh alumni chomh maith leis an gcaidreamh le lucht déanta cinntí náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta, rud nach ndéanfadh aon dochar don fheasacht ar ghníomhaíochtaí agus ar éachtaí OÉ Gaillimh ach an oiread.

Bronnadh Céimeanna

Ón eagrán deiridh de Ollscéala, bronnadh céim, dioplóma nó teastas ar bhreis agus 4,800 mac léinn i rith shearmanais an Fhómhair agus an Gheimhridh ar an gcampas. Ag searmanais Dheireadh Fómhair bronnadh céimeanna oinigh orthu seo a leanas: Frankie Gavin; Tommie Gorman; Eamon ’Chick’ Deacy; An Br. Seán MacConmara; an tAth. Raymond Browne. Ag searmanas an 25 Samhain, bronnadh céimeanna oinigh ar John Lynch, stiúrthóir ceoil Bhanna Céilí Chill Fhionnúrach agus ar Tony Barrett, gníomhaí don fhorbairt réigiúnach. Bhí sé d’onóir agam chomh maith cuairt a thabhairt ar Choláiste San Aingeal i Sligeach chun céimeanna a bhronnadh an 4 Nollaig. Bronnadh Máistreacht sna Dána agus Máistreacht sa Cheol honoris causa chomh maith ar an tSr Pius O’Gara, mar aitheantas ar a seirbhís dhílis do Choláiste San Aingeal agus ar Peter Horan, as a bhfuil déanta aige ar son an cheoil thraidisiúnta i Sligeach.

I nDeireadh Fómhair, bronnadh Scoláireachtaí Iontrála ar 63 mac léinn mar aitheantas ar na pointí arda a bhain siad amach i Scrúduithe na hArdteistiméireachta. Tagann buaiteoirí na bliana seo as gach cearn den tír: as 13 chontae agus as 47 scoil éagsúil dara leibhéal. Bhuaigh 29 mac léinn Scoláireachtaí Spóirt, agus tá scoláireacht cheana féin ag 19 mac léinn eile sa chóras tacaíochta Ardchumais.

Duais Margaíochta

Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh le Foireann Margaíochta & Cumarsáide OÉ Gaillimh as Duais Fhoireann Bainistíochta na Bliana a bhaint agus as Duais Margaíochta 2009 a bhaint ag Duaiseanna Bliantúla Marketing Institute West le gairid. Piocadh an Fhoireann as 80 iontrálaí. Roghnaíodh 10 mbuaiteoir réigiúnach as gach catagóir, cosúil le lucht eagraithe Rás Aigéin Volvo ’Let’s Do It Galway’, ach ba í Foireann na hOllscoile seo a bhain an Duais Margaíochta.

I mbliana, thug an Fhoireann Margaíochta faoi mhórthionscadal forbartha branda a raibh sé mar aidhm leis athriocht iomlán a chur ar an Ollscoil agus brandáil sainaitheantais a chruthú don ollscoil chun go mbeadh OÉ Gaillimh níos feiceálaí ná a lucht iomaíochta. Mar thoradh ar an margaíocht seo, agus ar iarrachtaí na foirne cuairt a thabhairt ar scoileanna agus cláir a chur chun cinn, cláir nua san áireamh, tháinig méadú mór 13.1% ar líon na n-iarratas CAO a raibh OÉ Gaillimh mar chéadrogha acu – sin dúbailt in earnáil na n-ollscoileanna agus an méadú is mó ó bhliain go bliain as na hollscoileanna ar fad. Comhghairdeas le Caroline Loughnane, an Stiúrthóir Margaíochta agus Cumarsáide agus lena foireann chumasach!

Agus deireadh 2009 linn anois, ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh leis an bhfoireann ar fad as ndúthracht agus a dtiomantas i mbliain thar a bheith dúshlánach. D’ainneoin seo, is iomaí éacht a bhain an Ollscoil amach in 2009. Is í an Ollscoil seo Ollscoil na Bliana 2009/10 an Sunday Times; tá níos mó agus níos mó comhaltaí acadúla foirne i mbun taighde, rud atá le sonrú sa líon foirne atá ag stiúradh iarchéimithe, ag fáil maoiniú taighde agus ag foilsiú saothar scolártha; cuireann an fhoireann ar fad, an fhoireann tacaíochta san áireamh, seirbhís den scoth ar fáil do mhic léinn agus do chomhghleacaithe cé go bhfuil méadú tagtha ar líon na mac léinn agus laghdú tagtha ar líon na foirne de bhrí go bhfuil srian ar earcaíocht.

Ba mhaith liom buíochas ó chroí a ghlacadh libh ar fad as bhur n-iarrachtaí leanúnacha. Ba mhaith liom Nollaig mhór mhaith a ghuí ar gach comhalta foirne agus gach beannacht do 2010. Beannachtaí na Nollag,

James J. Browne Ph.D., D.Sc., MRIA, C.Eng
Uachtarán

Oifig an Uachtaráin
This page was last updated Thursday, February 11, 2010