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OllscÉala - JUNE 2010

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

 As the summer continues our campus continues to be a hive of activity. While the majority of our undergraduate students have finished their courses, academic and support staff continue to work with our almost 3,000 graduate students while also engaged in research and preparations for the year ahead.  We are busy welcoming visitors to our campus for Summer Schools, Conferences and other meetings.  2010 is a very busy year for conferences on our campus thanks to the activities of our academics; the promotional efforts of the Conference Office and the availability of the wonderful new Bailey Allen Hall as a venue.  Predictions for this year show that over 6,000 delegates will attend 35 major conferences on our campus.

In addition the University continues to attract international groups such as US universities to host their Summer Study Abroad programmes. Over 17 such groups will visit for 2-6 weeks, bringing a total of over 440 students.  The Office of Adult & Continuing Education’s International Summer Schools will see another 300+ visiting students study on our accredited programmes. And approximately 1,500 language students, mainly from Italy & Spain, will visit to learn English.

This is a great opportunity for us to showcase the work of this University and I thank all involved in opening our activities to the wider world in this way.

CAO numbers

Good news on our CAO numbers!  This year has seen another very strong performance in terms of undergraduate student recruitment. We have secured a 7.1% increase in CAO first preference applications – this figure is well above the average for the University sector and is the strongest performance of the traditional universities.  So far, this represents more than a 15% increase in first preference applications over the last two years and we anticipate a further increase by the July 1st deadline, as early figures indicate a strong performance in the CAO 'Change of Mind' process.

Partnership with Georgia Institute of Technology

On Friday, 18 June, An Taoiseach Brian Cowen T.D. launched a unique partnership between NUI Galway, the University of Limerick and Georgia Institute of Technology, USA to develop a joint Translational Research Institute. This development is one of the first initiatives to come out of the NUI Galway-UL Alliance launched earlier this year. 

Georgia Institute of Technology has a very successful track record in bringing academic research to bear on problems facing industry and government. They have had considerable success in translating academic research into products, processes and services which serve industry and generate economic wealth. The NUI Galway - UL Alliance will bring this model to Irish Higher Education and the Translational Research Institute will have significant strategic importance nationally in building the ’smart economy’.

This initiative has met with enthusiastic support. At the launch the Presidents of Georgia Institute of Technology, NUI Galway and University of Limerick were joined by the CEO of IDA Ireland, Barry O' Leary and a significant number of policy makers, elected representatives, industry figures and academics from all 3 institutions.

I'd like to encourage all staff to engage with our partners in University of Limerick to further the development of this important Alliance.

President's Awards for Teaching Excellence

The Awardees for Teaching Excellence were announced at recent All Staff event on 21 June.  The winners are:

• Dr. Andrew Flaus (Biochemistry)
• Dr. Frances McCormack (English)
• Dr. Rachel Quinlan (Maths)
• Dr. Tony Dundon (Commerce)

The Review Panel commented that the standard was extremely high and seems to be going up year on year.  Many submissions were highly regarded, including some from relatively new members of staff which augurs particularly well for the future. The external reviewer on the panel (Professor Aine Hyland) was very impressed by many of the candidates and pleased to note the increasing focus on a scholarly/research-oriented approach to teaching. The winners will be presented with their Awards at the Autumn Conferrings in October. Congratulations to all nominees for their creativity and commitment!

Capital Programme Update

We continue to work to advance building projects to ensure that we can take advantage of current construction costs.  Progress continues on the construction of the Engineering Building and on the extension to Áras Moyola. Construction began earlier this month on the Biosciences Research Building on the North Campus. Positive discussions continue with the Health Research Board on arrangements for the financing of the joint Clinical Research Facility/Translational Research Facility and for the subsequent monitoring of the building programme; we are planning for construction to begin in autumn of this year.  

Recognition for Civic Engagement at NUI Galway

Service learning has become a hallmark of the student experience at NUI Galway. It brings theory to life while improving the lives of those living in often challenging situations.  Last April, the Talloires Network and the MacJannet Foundation announced that this University was a winner of the MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship. This is the first time that an Irish education institution has been recognised for its work in the area of civic engagement.

CAIRDE (Community Awareness Initiatives Responsibility-Directed by Engineers) was established in 2003 by Professor Abhay Pandit. Co-directed by Dr Dimitrios Zeugolis, the programme is an embedded part of the undergraduate Mechanical, Biomedical, and Electrical Engineering programmes. This international recognition for our commitment to civic engagement and service learning is a great tribute to all those involved - well done!

This has been a very busy and productive year.  We have set out our institutional goals in the Strategic Plan 2009-14.  We have forged innovative alliances which will help bring new energy and creativity to our mission.  Now we are actively engaged with developing operational plans at School, College and support services levels which will give effect to our strategy.  I encourage all staff to become involved with the operational planning process and I sincerely thank all those who are engaging with it at present.  This planning will ensure that we take control of our own future and plan it in an open and transparent way.

Colleagues, I thank you all for your hard work this year. I wish you an enjoyable summer and I look forward to working with you in the coming academic year.

Beir bua agus beannacht,

James J. Browne PhD, DSc, MRIA, C.Eng

Uachtarán – President

 Ollscéala - Focal ón Uachtarán

Meitheamh 2010

Tá go leor gníomhaíochtaí ar siúl ar an gcampas an samhradh seo. Cé go bhfuil formhór na bhfochéimithe críochnaithe don samhradh, tá an fhoireann acadúil agus an fhoireann tacaíochta ag obair le beagnach 3,000 iarchéimí agus i mbun taighde agus ullmhúcháin don bhliain seo romhainn ag an am céanna.  Is iomaí cuarteoir a thiocfaidh chuig na Scoileanna Samhraidh, na Comhdhálacha agus cruinnithe eile an samhradh seo.  Tá go leor comhdhálacha le bheith ar siúl, a bhuíochas sin don fhoireann acadúil, don Oifig Comhdhála agus don ionad nua atá againn, Halla Bailey Allen.  Meastar go bhfreastalóidh níos mó ná 6,000 duine ar 35 comhdháil mhóra ar an gcampas i mbliana.

Chomh maith leis sin, tá grúpaí idirnáisiúnta á mealladh ag an Ollscoil ó áiteanna cosúil le hollscoileanna Mheiriceá lena gcláir staidéir thar lear a reáchtáil anseo. Tiocfaidh 17 ngrúpa ar feadh 2-6 seachtaine, sin os cionn 440 mac léinn san iomlán.  Tiocfaidh 300+ mac léinn eile chuig Scoileanna Samhraidh Idirnáisiúnta Oifig an Oideachais Aosaigh agus Leanúnaigh ag staidéar ar ár gcláir chreidiúnaithe. Agus tiocfaidh timpeall 1,500 mac léinn, as an Iodáil agus as an Spáinn den chuid is mó, chun Béarla a fhoghlaim.

Is iontach an deis é seo dúinne obair na hOllscoile seo a léiriú agus táim fíorbhuíoch díobh siúd ar fad a bhíonn páirteach sna himeachtaí seo a chur ar fáil don domhan mór.

Uimhreacha CAO

Dea-scéala maidir le huimhreacha CAO!  D’éirigh thar cionn linn arís i mbliana ó thaobh fochéimithe a earcú. Tháinig méadú 7.1% ar líon na n-iarratas céadrogha ar an CAO – tá an líon seo i bhfad níos airde ná an gnáthlíon d’ollscoileanna agus is í an Ollscoil seo is fearr a chruthaigh ó na hollscoileanna traidisiúnta ar fad.  Go dtí seo, tá méadú níos mó ná 15% tagtha ar líon na n-iarratas céadrogha le dhá bhliain anuas agus measaimid go mbeidh méadú eile ar an bhfigiúr sin faoi spriocdháta an 1 Iúil, mar go léiríonn na figiúirí is túisce méadú mór ar an líon a chuir isteach ar phróiseas Athrú Intinne an CAO.

Comhpháirtíocht leis an Georgia Institute of Technology

Dé hAoine, an 18 Meitheamh 2010, sheol an Taoiseach, Brian Cowen T.D. comhpháirtíocht eisiach idir OÉ Gaillimh, Ollscoil Luimnigh agus an Georgia Institute of Technology i Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá le comh-Institiúid um Thaighde Aistritheach a fhorbairt. Tá an fhorbairt seo ar cheann de na chéad fhiontair atá ag eascairt as an gComhfhiontar idir OÉ Gaillimh agus Ollscoil Luimnigh a seoladh níos túisce i mbliana.   

Is fada obair á déanamh ag an Georgia Institute of Technology le taighde acadúil a dhíriú ar fhadhbanna a bhíonn le sárú ag an tionscal agus ag an rialtas. Tá taithí ag an institiúid sin ar úsáid a bhaint as taighde acadúil le táirgí a dhéanamh agus le próisis agus seirbhísí a bhunú a dhéanann freastal ar an tionscal agus a ghineann borradh sa gheilleagar. Cuirfidh an Comhfhiontar idir OÉ Gaillimh agus Ollscoil Luimnigh bonn faoin múnla seo i gcúrsaí Ardoideachais na hÉireann agus tá an-tábhacht go straitéiseach leis an Institiúid um Thaighde Aistritheach don tír trí chéile don ’gheilleagar glic’.

Tá tacaíocht láidir faighte ag an tionscnamh seo. Ag an seoladh, chomh maith le hUachtaráin an Georgia Institute of Technology, OÉ Gaillimh agus Ollscoil Luimnigh bhí Príomhfheidhmeannach IDA Ireland, Barry O' Leary, i láthair mar aon le roinnt mhaith lucht déanta beartais, ionadaithe tofa, daoine ó thionscail agus lucht acadúil ó na trí institiúid.

Molaim don fhoireann ar fad a bheith rannpháirteach lenár gcomhpháirtithe in Ollscoil Luimnigh chun an Comhfhiontar tábhachtach seo a fhorbairt.

Gradaim an Uachtaráin don Fheabhas Teagaisc

Fógraíodh na Buaiteoirí don Fheabhas Teagaisc le gairid ag ócáid don Fhoireann ar Fad an 21 Meitheamh.  Seo a leanas na buaiteoirí:

• An Dr Andrew Flaus (Bithcheimic)
• An Dr Frances McCormack (Béarla)
• An Dr Rachel Quinlan (Matamaitic)
• An Dr Tony Dundon (Tráchtáil)

Dúirt an Painéal Meastóireachta go raibh an caighdeán an-ard agus gur cosúil go bhfuil sé ag feabhsú gach bliain.  Bhí go leor de na haighneachtaí iontach. Tháinig roinnt acu ó chomhaltaí foirne nua nach bhfuil an-fhada linn, tuar dóchais don todhchaí is dóigh liom. Bhí an meastóir seachtrach ar an bpainéal (An tOllamh Áine Hyland) an-tógtha le go leor de na hiarrthóirí agus bhí an-áthas uirthi a fheiceáil go raibh an bhéim ar chur chuige léinn/taighde don teagasc. Bronnfar na gradaim ar na buaiteoirí ag Searmanais Bhronnadh na gCéimeanna i nDeireadh Fómhair. Comhghairdeas le gach duine a ainmníodh as a gcruthaitheacht agus a ndúthracht!

An Scéal is Deireanaí faoin gClár Caipitil

Tá an obair ar thograí tógála ag leanúint ar aghaidh mar go bhfuil againn leas a bhaint as na costais reatha tógála.  Táimid ag treabhadh linn ar an bhFoirgneamh Innealtóireachta agus ar an méadú ar Áras Mhaighe Seola. Thosaigh an obair níos túisce an mhí seo ar Fhoirgneamh Taighde sna Bitheolaíochtaí ar an gCampas Thuaidh. Táthar i mbun comhráite leis an mBord Taighde Sláinte maidir le hÁis Taighde Aistrithigh agus Áis Taighde Chliniciúil a mhaoiniú agus maidir le monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar an gclár tógála ina dhiaidh sin; tá súil againn go dtosóidh an obair thógála san fhómhar. 

Aitheantas OÉ Gaillimh don Chomhpháirteachas Poiblí

Tá foghlaim seirbhíse ina tréith de thaithí na mac léinn in OÉ Gaillimh. Cuireann sí an teoiric i bhfeidhm agus feabhsaíonn sí a saol siúd atá ag maireachtáil i gccruachás.  Aibreán seo caite, d’fhógair an Talloires Network agus an MacJannet Foundation gurbh í an Ollscoil seo a bhuaigh Gradam MacJannet do Shaoránacht Dhomhanda. Is é seo an chéad uair riamh a tugadh aitheantas d’institiúid in Éirinn as obair a dhéanamh i réimse an chomhpháirteachais phoiblí.

Bhunaigh an tOllamh Abhay Pandit CAIRDE (Community Awareness Initiatives Responsibility-Directed by Engineers) in 2003. Tá an Dr Dimitrios Zeugolis ina chomhstiúrthóir ar an gclár. Is cuid lárnach de na cláir fochéime sa Leigheas, Bithleigheas, agus Innealtóireacht Leictreach an clár. Tá an-ómós ag dul do gach duine atá páirteach as an aitheantas idirnáisiúnta seo don chomhpháirteachas poiblí agus foghlaim seirbhíse a chur chun cinn – maith sibh!

Bliain ghnóthach tháirgiúil a bhí againn.  Leagamar spriocanna na hinstitiúide síos i bPlean Straitéiseach 2009-14.  Tá comhfhiontair nuálacha cruthaithe againn a thabharfaidh fuinneamh agus cruthaitheacht nua dár misean.  Táimid i mbun pleananna oibríochtúla a fhorbairt ag leibhéal na Scoileanna, na gColáistí agus na seirbhísí tacaíochta a chuirfidh an straitéis atá againn i bhfeidhm.  Molaim don fhoireann ar fad a bheith páirteach sa phróiseas pleanála oibríochtúil agus táim fíorbhuíoch díobh siúd atá páirteach ann faoi láthair.  Leis an bpleanáil seo, beimid freagrach as ár dtodhchaí féin agus beimid in ann í a phleanáil ar bhealach oscailte, trédhearcach.

A chomhghleacaithe, táim buíoch díbh ar fad as bhur gcuid oibre i mbliana. Ba mhaith liom an-samhradh a ghuí oraibh agus táim ag súil le bheith ag obair libh sa bhliain acadúil seo romhainn.

Beir bua agus beannacht,

James J. Browne PhD, DSc, MRIA, C.Eng

Uachtarán

 

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