Education Magazine 29 1i

Education Since 1987 | Volume 29 Issue 1 | w: educationmagazine.ie | t: 01-8329246 | e: education@clubi.ie

Ireland needs your talent FIT Feature

Shaping a better future through the FIT ICT Associate Professional programme The facts on eating disorders | Creating a new Music Generation Ireland's ďŹ rst iTunes U service | National Centre for Guidance in Education Who will pay most to mitigate climate change? | Shannon College Higher Education - Key Facts and Figures | Reviews

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Education Volume 29 Issue 1 Editor Niall Gormley

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News: Junior Cert dispute rumbles on | Intel-UCD sign innovation deal | UCC's green global research

Production Michael Farrell

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News: TCD study raises concerns for young LGBTI | DCU and Kingspan develop affordable ground-breaking antiflood technology

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News: New ICTU report highlights childcare challenges and costs for working parents

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News: Europe’s first 3-D textbook planned for Ballymun

Publishers Ard Education Ltd. Tel: 01-8329246 Email: education@clubi.ie www.educationmagazine.ie Design Real Issues 086-8986827

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News: Maynooth University researchers to explore the first 10 minutes of a terrorist attack

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Printers Nicholson & Bass Ltd.

COVER STORY: Ireland needs your talent to shape a better next one hundred years

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DCU Business School - At the forefront of innovative business education in Ireland

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Ireland's first iTunes U service

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Horticulture as a career path

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National Centre for Guidance in Education

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Durable and practical sports surfaces

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Live, learn and work with NUI Galway

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FEATURE: The facts on eating disorders

Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

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St Angela's College - Study for your university degree in the North West

ISSN 0791-6161

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Rathmines College - a student-centred, dynamic college

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Dublin City Hall - a truly historic setting for Dublin's past

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Dún Laoghaire Further Education Institute

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FEATURE: Creating a new Music Generation

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Arigna Mining Experience

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Festo MecLab - technology for secondary schools

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Shannon College maintains unique record of full employment

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Plunket College of Further Education

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Locker solutions for almost any application

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Exciting new course choices at Galway Technical Institute

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GREEN NEWS: Who will pay most to mitigate climate change?

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GMIT - New higher education opportunities in Mayo

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INFOGRAPHIC: Higher Education - Key Facts and Figures

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Reviews

At the time of press information in Education is believed to be accurate and authoritative. However, some information may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Acceptance of advertisements, does not constitute an endorsement of products or services by the publishers. ©2016. All rights reserved.

Education Magazine is available to read online in the same format as the paper edition.

Education Since 1987 | Volume 29 Issue 1 | w: educationmagazine.ie | t: 01-8329246 | e: education@clubi.ie

Ireland needs your talent FIT Feature

Shaping a better future through the FIT ICT Associate Professional programme The facts on eating disorders | Creating a new Music Generation Ireland's first iTunes U service | National Centre for Guidance in Education Who will pay most to mitigate climate change? | Shannon College Higher Education - Key Facts and Figures | Reviews

www.educationmagazine.ie

Education 3

NEWS ..........................................................

Junior Cert dispute rumbles on SECONDARY schools are facing closure for a number of days in the autumn as the ASTI continues its campaign against the Junior Cert reforms.

The union says that it has outstanding concerns including the lack of an externally assessed oral exam in modern languages and Irish and increased workload and bureaucracy for teachers.

Industrial action is ongoing with a number of actions aimed at non-compliance with the proposed reforms.

Outgoing minister Jan O'Sullivan criticised the threatened industrial action said she was: “deeply disappointed that the ASTI has chosen to threaten further inconvenience to students and parents through a series of one day strikes over junior cycle reform.

“I have made it clear to the ASTI that my door was open to clarify any issues regarding the arrangements for much needed Junior Cycle reform that are now being implemented.

Unfortunately the ASTI is closing the door on that process".

Intel-UCD sign innovation deal A NEW strategic partnership by Intel and University College Dublin has been launched to further connect researchers and The new partnership will focus on three areas: talent, research, and national policy associated with research and education. It includes the support by Intel of a structured Masters programme to ensure students receive education and training which is aligned to the needs of industry.In research the partnership will explore broad areas for collaboration with a view to attracting new investment, informing key research questions and achieving breakthrough results for both parties.

The new partnership is the culmination of a longstanding relationship between UCD and Intel which has included the provision of high quality graduates who have worked in Intel Ireland along with the collaboration between the two on a number of research activities.

UCD President, Professor Andrew Deeks added: “I am particularly pleased that our partnership with Intel will contribute directly to the national economy. As well as reinforcing value-added research, the creation of a tailored graduate scholarship programme provides excellent opportunities for the next generation of scientists.”

UCC's green global research UCC’s Environmental Research Institute (ERI) has been invited to join the international Climate Technology Centre Network, a UN group that helps the developing world deal with climate change.

The Climate Technology Centre Network was established in 2014 to “promote the accelerated transfer of environmentally sound technologies for low carbon and climate resilient development at the request of developing countries." Membership of the Network will enable the ERI and UCC researchers to develop projects around the technical requests for climate change assistance issued by the Climate Technology Centre Network along with other activities such as training, seminars, exchanges, etc.

The ERI Director, Professor Sarah Culloty, has said that “the timing of the invitation to become Climate Technology Centre Network members is very opportune as the ERI has now substantial capacity in the area of technologies for climate change mitigation and is in a position to share these technologies and associated knowledge with the developing world”.

The Climate Technology Centre Network is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

See also "Who will pay most to mitigate climate change?" Page 38.

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TCD study raises concerns for young LGBTI THE LGBTIReland Report, one of the largest national studies of mental health and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people, has just been launched. The study was led by Professor in Mental Health from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Trinity College, Agnes Higgins, and is one of the largest of its kind.

Among the key findings are: • Younger lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people are coming out earlier than previously – 16 is the most common age to tell the first person you are LGBTI • While the majority of LGBTI people aged 26 and over are doing well, 56% of 14-18 year olds had self-harmed • 70% in this age group had suicidal thoughts and one in three had attempted suicide Commenting on the study Professor Higgins said: “The high rates of mental health issues in the younger age group are worryingly high, in particular the rates of self-harm, suicide attempts, depression and anxiety. Whilst there has been significant

advancement in the civil and legal rights of LGBTI people in Ireland, we need to address the issues many of our younger people face within schools and wider society.”

This was echoed by Odhrán Allen, Director of Mental Health at GLEN, who commissioned the study: “Being LGBTI in itself doesn’t increase the risk of poor mental health. It’s the experience of being bullied, being rejected or being harassed

Coming Out Experiences ➤ 12 years: most common age people discovered their LGBTI identity ➤ 16 years: most common age people told the very first person they are LGBTI ➤ 1 in 4: people who had come out had not told their mother or father they are LGBTI ➤ The gap between knowing and telling decreased with age: 36-45 year olds = 9 year gap, 26-35 year olds = 6 year gap, 19-25 year olds = 4 year gap and 14-18 year olds = 1- 2 year gap. ➤ 3% had not come out to anybody and these were more likely to be younger people, and bisexual and intersex people.

because you are LGBTI that leads to higher levels of self-harm and attempted suicide.”

The report highlights the particular challenges faced by transgender and intersex people. It showed that intersex people had the highest scores for depression, anxiety and stress, followed by transgender and bisexual people.

Professor Higgins and her team also researched public attitudes towards LGBTI people and found that there are still many misunderstandings about gender identity.

For example: • 1 in 3 of the general public do not believe that a young person can know they are LGBTI at the age of 12, yet the most common age LGBTI know is 12 • 1 in 5 believe that being LGBTI is something that you can be convinced to become • 1 in 5 believe that bisexual people are just confused about their sexual orientation Former President Dr Mary McAleese officially launched the study, which recommends increased public understanding to help change attitudes and behaviour and to recognise that the LGBTI community is a heterogeneous group with diverse needs.

PEOPLE’S COLLEGE For Adult Education 31 Parnell Square, Dublin 1

DCU and Kingspan develop affordable groundbreaking anti-flood technology DUBLIN City University Water Institute and Kingspan, with support from Dublin City Council, have joined forces to develop an affordable smart sensor network for water level monitoring which could help provide solutions to the wide-scale flooding recently witnessed across the country.

The ground-breaking technology has real time capability and an app that can be easily downloaded and accessed by end users.

When river waters rise to a certain level, sensors send out a warning alert, via SMS, to a local business owner, farmer or householder in a vulnerable area.

The low-cost sensors developed by Kingspan have been deployed at a number of locations on the River Dodder, with the data being analysed by DCU Water Institute. The affordability of the sensor means that it is scalable and can be used as part of a nationwide network of sensors which can be widely deployed to measure water levels in a series of locations to predict floods and heightened water levels that may occur after bouts of heavy rainfall.

Data collected from the sensors can provide vital information in relation to the behaviour of our rivers, how they flow and how these flows are affected by rainfall.

The People’s College for Adult Education organises adult education in a wide range of subjects for trade unionists, their families and the general public at very reasonable prices.

Most are evening classes but Spanish, Yoga and Creative Writing are offered in the morning.

Courses offered include Creative Writing, Languages, Music & Art Appreciation, Yoga, Painting, Photography and History, Qigong, Felting and Positive Psychology. The college also has a choir, debating society and a drama group.

Information about

Autumn Courses available from July 2016

VENUE: PEOPLE’S COLLEGE, 31 PARNELL SQUARE, DUBLIN 1 For further Information:

Tel: 8735879 • Email: info@peoplescollege.ie www.peoplescollege.ie Education 5

NEWS ................................................................................................................................

New ICTU report highlights childcare challenges and costs for working parents THE Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) commissioned to examine a report to examine how working families in the Republic of Ireland reconcile paid employment and childcare.

The ICTU carried out the survey of 3,703 members in seven affiliated unions, between September – October 2015, to gauge the cost of care for parents across a range of income bands, to assess the type of childcare available to members across the country and to analyse the main factors influencing childcare choices.

The overall findings of the study clearly point to the high burden on working parents faced with some of the most expensive childcare costs in the EU. More specifically, it found that: • Family members, especially grandparents, continue to represent one of the most common forms of childcare, with close to a third (29%) of respondents saying they rely on relatives to mind their children.

• While private crèches account for the greatest use overall, they are distinctly less popular with households on lower incomes, which largely rely on cheaper and more flexible forms of childcare.

• Among those using private crèches, the largest proportion of households (18%) pay monthly fees of between €1,000 and €1,499.

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• Only a very small number (1%) of parents avail of workplace crèches, the vast majority of which (91%) are in the public sector.

The report compares the price of childcare in Ireland to other EU countries, where fees are typically much lower. The contrast highlights the impact of low public investment in the Irish childcare sector, which remains chronically underfunded.

The report also presents a number of recommendations to help ensure working families have access to more affordable childcare. Among the key measures proposed to ease the financial burden of childcare is paid parental leave of six months, along with a review of capitation payments to childcare providers.

The report also acknowledges that the pay and conditions of childcare professionals are important to the development of a high-quality model of care. To this end, the report proposes that the entry-level rate for childcare professionals be no less than the living wage of €11.50 per hour.

It also recommends subsidising schemes to allow staff achieve qualifications beyond the current minimum requirements and proposes possible mechanisms to fund training and increase public investment in childcare.

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Europe’s first 3-D textbook planned for Ballymun DUBLIN City Council and The Rediscovery Centre have launched the Ballymun Boiler House Project which will see the transformation of the iconic building into a 3-D textbook, an innovative architectural prototype in educational space design.

The repurposing of the Boiler House, as part of the WISER (Working with Industrial Spaces to Exemplify Reuse) Project, will establish Europe’s first 3-D textbook as a centre for excellence in education for sustainable development highlighting best practice reuse and resource efficiency.

This new approach to educational space design aims to demonstrate the ability to incorporate active learning through building design, construction, operation and occupation.

The plan for the building involves its reinvention as an innovative learning space showcasing best practice eco design, construction and material use. The building will be constructed using recycled materials, with energy and water systems designed to conserve precious resources and demonstrate the latest research with regard to environmental sustainability.

The centre will deliver targeted environmental workshops and education programmes for all ages and provide green services and products created on-site by waste reuse eco-enterprises.

CEO of The Rediscovery Centre, Sarah Miller said “Now that the project is underway, the Rediscovery Centre is one step

closer to realising its vision for an experiential education centre. Using the rich resources provided by the built, natural and cultural environment as teaching tools it is the most effective way to learn about sustainability and complements our ongoing research and reuse social enterprise activity”.

The Ballymun Boiler House Project will result in the creation of an educational

space and innovative experience that will demonstrate excellence for reuse for Ireland.

The project has been funded by the EU LIFE+ Programme, The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Dublin City Council and The Rediscovery Centre.

The project is due to be completed by October, 2016.

"The plan for the building involves its reinvention as an innovative learning space showcasing best practice eco design, construction and material use.

■ Carrie Ann Moran, Eco Designer and Programme Manager of Rediscover Fashion at the site of Ballymun Boiler House. Photo: Jason Clarke

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Maynooth University researchers to explore the first 10 minutes of a terrorist attack A first-of-its-kind study that will examine people’s behaviour during the first 10 minutes of “marauding” terrorist attacks, like those seen in Paris in November 2015, was announced today by Maynooth University researchers.

T h e s t u d y, l e d b y D r M a r k Maguire, Head of Maynooth U n i v e r s i t y ’s D e p a r t m e n t o f Anthropology, aims to build societal resilience and furnish first responder services with vital insights that will enable them react to these events in a measured and effective manner.

The project has been awarded Irish Research Council New Foundations funding.

Attacks by terrorists using assault rifles and low-grade explosives to slaughter innocent people at cafés, stadiums, shopping malls, and other public places have become one of the principal forms of terrorism across the globe. Their growing

prominence has led counter-terrorist analysts to ascribe them their own designation: Marauding Terrorist Firearms Attacks (MTFAs).

To date, despite the extensive amount of information that is collected following these attacks, there has been no research carried out into how people respond in an MTFA scenario. As well as assessing information collected by international agencies, the Maynooth University research team will conduct interviews with security forces, first responders, and survivors of attacks to explore people’s movements and actions during MTFAs. Of particular interest to the researchers are the recent attacks in Norway, Nairobi and Paris.

The first 10 minutes of these attacks are central to this research, Dr Maguire explains: “Those first 10 minutes of a terrorist attack are extremely long for those involved.

"How people respond in this extreme situation can provide practical information for emergency services and first responders reacting to an attack

An armed security response has not arrived and nearby first response services cannot enter the scene.

"How people respond in this extreme situation can provide practical information for emergency services and first responders reacting to an attack, but from an academic perspective it also provides a range of insights into human decisionmaking processes in a uniquely pressurised environment.”

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ICT Education

Ireland needs your talent to shape a better next one hundred years ONE hundred years ago those who went before us fought for our freedom and thankfully the biggest battle we now face is how to shape a better century for all of our citizens.

The recently published 'Ireland’s National Skills Strategy 2025' states "Increasingly Ireland is competing globally on the basis of talent and on Ireland’s growing reputation for innovation. Winning the war for talent can be achieved by ensuring that all of Ireland’s citizens have access to the skills they need to succeed in life; and Irish business has the people with the skills they need to grow. This is also critical to securing our recovery and ensuring Ireland’s people share in that recovery."

From the FIT perspective we are witnessing significant growth and opportunity for job seekers who attain medium level tech skills at level 5 or level 6 with practical application. The FIT ICT Associate Professional programme commenced in May 2015. Already over 80 companies have sponsored 142 participants across the country on this first of its kind, dual-education / apprenticeship type programme at level 6 and this figure will exceed 220 before the year end.

Industry bodies value further education iBEC / ICT Ireland and the Irish Software Association (ISA) describe the FIT ICT Associate Professional programme, in a recent joint publication Making Ireland a Global Technology Powerhouse, as a ‘game changer’ and request that ‘the next Government must promote this innovative educational scheme and encourage participation’. In the same document they called for the next ICT Skills Action Plan to be augmented to include the further education sector as a contributor to meeting the talent demand.

Education and training boards are key partners Five FIT ICTAP programmes are currently running and eight are in the pipeline with the collaboration and support of SOLAS and Education and Training Boards including those in Dublin, Cork, Dun Laoghaire, Cavan, Monaghan, Longford, Westmeath, Galway, Roscommon, Kildare, Wicklow, Louth, Meath, Laois and Offaly.

Feedback to date, from sponsoring companies on the calibre of the candidates and their growing competencies is overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic - to the extent we are now seeing some companies advance-booking places on future planned programmes as part of their manpower planning strategies.

■ In Photo(L-H): Fiona Hartley, Executive Director Strategy and Knowledge, SOLAS, Sean Ashe, Chief Executive KWETB, Peter Davitt, CEO FIT, Paul Sweetman, Director ICT Ireland/ISA, IBEC, Damien English T.D., Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation and Eamonn Sinnott, General Manager, Intel Ireland

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Further education meeting the needs of tech sector FIT sees an increasing opportunity for the further education sector to support the skills needs of a growing and diverse tech sector. Recent examples which illustrate this include: • Intel engaged with FIT in the development of an advanced M a n u f a c t u r i n g Te c h n i c i a n

Would a career in the tech sector tick all your boxes?

FIT ICT Associate Professional is a new IT apprenticeship-style (learn & earn) pathway to a career in the technology sector.

Over 7,000 jobs are currently available in ICT sector – as highlighted by the FIT ICT Skills Audit 2014 – 75% of which are at entry and competent levels. Already over 40 leading IT companies are sponsoring candidates in pilot programmes.

The ICT Sector Wants YOU! The technology sector is not all about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) – there is a larger and growing requirement for people just like you who attain good technical skills, combined with project management, employability

Programme at L6 which has just commenced in a centre of excellence established in partnership with Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board in Celbridge and supported by SOLAS.

sectors of eHealth, FinTech and the Internet of Things (IoT) suggest similar interest and opportunity for jobs seekers attaining mid-level skills which can be readily attained through further education programmes.

• ‘In-demand’ level 5 or level 6 technology courses developed by FIT and run under SOLAS’s Momentum programme in collaboration with a number of Education and Training Boards are achieving substantial placements into employment.

FIT’s mission is to promote an inclusive Smart Economy by creating a fast track to marketable technical skills for those at risk of unemployment long term. It is the primary industry skills development initiative facilitating collaboration with government, education & training providers and disadvantaged communities to enable greater access to employment for marginalised job seekers.

For more information see www.fit.ie

• Internationally, just last month Deloitte stated that a third level qualification was no longer a requirement for job applicants.

• FIT partners with Education and Training Boards in addressing skills needs and recruitment demands of predominantly tech and related sectors and we are encouraged to now see significant placements (into real jobs) reminiscent of pre-recession times.

• FIT’s current research into tech related

‘Winning the war for talent can be achieved by ensuring that all of Ireland’s citizens have access to the skills they need to succeed in life; and Irish business has the people with the skills they need to grow.’

Ireland’s National Skills Strategy 2025

and customer facing skills. The technology sector in Ireland is much broader and more varied than most people realise – with an appetite for ‘Smart People with Smart Skills’ – who have a wide range of talents, and most importantly the enthusiasm to work in the sector. We know it works!

dates will acquire the technical acumen.

The remaining 18 months are a combination of work-place application and college-based learning where candidates will further their skills development and apply their learning to live projects within their sponsoring company.

What is FIT ICT Associate Professional?

FIT ICT Associate Professional is a dualeducation apprenticeship-style format of ICT skills training which has been endorsed by the industry and government.

This ‘learn and earn’ model of provision is a two year programme during which you will attain a Level 6 ICT and Professional Development Qualification and will be awarded the title of FIT ICT Associate Professional by the industry. The first 6 months are college-based where candi-

Where is it running?

Five programmes are already up and running, 3 in Dublin and one each in Cork and Athlone, with more to follow. New locations will be added in 2016 including Westmeath, Cavan/Monaghan, Galway, Kildare/Wicklow, Laois/Offaly and Louth.

What does it cost?

The FIT ICT Associate Professional training is funded by SOLAS and the Education & Training Boards so there's no fees.

What will I earn?

Once you commence your work experience with your Sponsor company in the 7th month of the programme, you will receive an allowance of between €260 and €290 per week for the reminder of the first year.

In the second year of the programme, you will receive between €340 and €385 per week.

How do I sign up?

If you are a keen tech enthusiast and are interested in participating in the FIT ICT Associate Professional programme, then contact FIT at ICTAP@fit.ie or give us a call on 01 8825570 or lo call on 1890 815 704.

See www.fit.ie for further information.

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DCU Business School

At the forefront of innovative business education in Ireland AT DCU Business School, one of our most distinctive attributes is that our graduates are ‘work ready’ and can contribute effectively to enterprises on graduation. We are committed to staying at the forefront on teaching and learning and our curriculum has kept pace with modern thinking. To enrich our distinctive and high quality business education, we are consistently devising and enhancing our modules and activities to give students insight into the world of business and prepare them for a successful career upon graduation.

Just two examples are Digital Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise (DICE) and New Enterprise Development (NED): Digital Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise (DICE) DICE provides students with an introduction to the concepts, processes and methods relating to innovation, creativity and enterprise.

Our students will engage in multiple modes of innovative learning including online e-learning, mini conferences, mobile app building, blogging and research posters.

Our rationale is that all students should be exposed to cutting-edge industry developments and different modes of learning as early as possible. In doing so, students gain insight into the reality of the business world while developing their skills in key areas.

Over 30 speakers participated in these conferences last year including executives from Enterprise Ireland, Insomnia Coffee, Microsoft and O2.

Students are not 'taught' in conventional classrooms. Instead, they learn through team work, online learning, live webinars, project work, and entrepreneurship. These are the skills

which prepare students for success as they continue with their studies in DCU and as they enter the workplace.

New Enterprise Development (NED) New Enterprise Development (NED) is offered in the final year of our Bachelor of Business Studies programme and enables students to enhance their entrepreneurial skills and abilities and to understand what is involved in setting up a business.

Students, working in teams, create an innovative product or service idea and put it through the various stages of the new venture creation process including: concept development, feasibility analysis, market research, digital marketing campaign, and financial planning.

This highly applied module culminates with a business plan presentation in the form of a

"At DCU Business School, we ensure there is a blend of theory and practice across all our courses

Dragons’ Den, where our students will pitch to a panel of industry leaders. This year, we had representatives from Irish Rail, Google and Netflix.

This innovative process has proven to be a success, as a number of our students have gone on to commercialise their products, while others have gone on to win national innovation awards.

Given our dedication to innovative teaching and learning practices, it is not surprising that our graduates are among the most employable in the market. At DCU Business School, we ensure there is a blend of theory and practice across all our courses, exposure to cutting edge research and engagement with industry; all of which prepares our students for global marketplace.

FIND OUT MORE: Find out more at dcu.ie/business Education 13

Technology

Ireland’s first iTunes U service PUPILS and students across 16 schools, colleges and further education centres will benefit from a new digital approach to learning introduced to Ireland by the Dublin & Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB).

DDLETB’s new iTunes U service was launched at an impressive exhibition of digital learning projects in Tallaght involving students from Community National Schools, Colleges, and Further Education centres who are piloting the initiative. A brief video of the launch can be seen at vimeo.com/149277581. iTunes U is Apple’s collaborative learning app which can house multiple resources in a streamlined learning environment. An initial group of over 70 teachers in 16 centres of learning have undertaken professional training in to create, edit and manage entire courses for the iTunes U platform. They are also sharing their ongoing course work with each other.

A library of iPads has been made available for teachers to use. With

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resource materials prepared specially by iTunes U skilled teachers, students will be taught using a mix of traditional and digital means. They can also collaborate with teachers and students in an open learning environment.

Up to 20 courses are planned for delivery through the DDLETB iTunes U site and these will be accessible throughout Ireland and the world. iTunes U also enables anyone to download free video and audio lectures from the world’s leading universities, including many in Ireland.

DDLETB’s iTunes U service has already had over 1800 downloads and over 17,000 individual viewers of its coursework from all over the world and most notably in the United States, with a course on energy now also featured as a standout item on the global iTunes site.

The launch of DDLETB’s iTunes U courses has been supported by the Apple Distinguished Educators programme, a network of education leaders recognised for doing amazing

"It’s truly exciting to be at the forefront of the merging of traditional teaching methods with advanced digital technologies that will underpin and support the skills of our teachers and are easy to use for our students

things with Apple technology in and out of the classroom. iTunes U provides user-friendly technology with a wide choice of options to suit the needs of a class.

Courses on the app can vary in length and format depending on the needs of the learner. Teachers can deliver classes in a streamlined manner with a new easy-to-use app which learners can access on their iPads. iTunes U allows users to access courses and notes at any time, receive course updates directly onto their iPads and submit work to their teacher and get direct feedback.

Paddy Lavelle, CEO of the DDLETB launched the programme and said: “This is exemplary of the forward looking approach to skills development that we want to see for every pupil and driven by our teachers. It’s truly exciting to be at the forefront of the merging of traditional teaching methods with advanced digital technologies that will underpin and support the skills of our teachers and are easy to use for our students”.

Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture

Horticulture as a career path THE Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture is located in the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin’s northside suburb of Glasnevin.

At this location we teach full time courses in Horticulture at Level 5 (Certificate, 1year), Level 6 (Advanced Certificate, 1 year) and Level 7 (Ordinary Degree, 3 years).

We have approximately 200 students from all over the Dublin, the greater Leinster area and beyond.

Fantastic outdoor classroom Students who enter the courses have the ability to learn in the fantastic outdoor classroom which is the plant collection of the National Botanic Gardens complimented by the new state of the art college teaching facilities which were completed in 2014.

We have the added benefit of students being taught by top class Teagasc and OPW staff of the Gardens who take students on prac-

tical work experience during their studies in the college.

Our qualifications are fully accredited and suit people who wish to follow the area of Horticulture as a fulltime career path. The basic science of horticulture is covered in all courses, soils, plant science and plant identification and then students can further study areas like Landscaping, Sportsturf, Nursery stock and Food Crop production. These subjects give people the foundation to build a strong career in the horticultural sector.

Degree course Students can enter first year either by applying directly to the college for the Certificate course or through the CAO for the level 7 degree course (WD097). We have a partnership w i t h Wa t e r f o rd I n s t i t u t e o f Technology for the delivery of the d e g re e c o u r s e i n t h e B o t a n i c Gardens.

"The basic science of horticulture is covered in all courses, soils, plant science and plant identification and then students can further study areas like Landscaping, Sportsturf, Nursery stock and Food Crop production

This year students can also study part time modules in Horticulture at level 5 and level 6. This will enable people who are working to drop in to partake in modules that are awarded as components of the major award at level 5 and level 6.

This year we are offering Level 5 modules in Plant Identification, Plant Propagation, Plant Protection, Landscape construction and maintenance and level 6 modules in Sports turf, Nursery stock production and Landscaping to Level 6 students.

Our next course and careers information day is Thursday 10th March 2016 at 2 pm in the New College building at the National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin. Contact the college for details of all our courses.

FIND OUT MORE: Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 01 8040201 or 01 8040202 Email: botanic.college@teagasc.ie

A Career in Horticulture...

Situated in the National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture offers the following courses in Horticulture. This wonderful setting provides the unique blend of the fi nest park setting in the Capital coupled with the experience of the staff of the gardens and the Teagasc staff. All students can avail of work experience in the Botanic Gardens as well as on parks around the city and other placements further afield.

Botanic graduates are leaders in the field of Horticulture and develop clear career pathways. Careers in landscape design and construction, parks, garden centres and fruit and vegetable production are all followed by the graduates.

Teagasc are proud to have new state of the art classrooms and drawing studio to support the learning of the next generation of Horticulturalists in the National Botanic Gardens. ● FETAC Level 5 Certificate in Horticulture ● FETAC Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horticulture (Open to all holders of FETAC Common Awards Level 5 Horticulture) ● HETAC Level 7 Degree in Horticulture in Partnership with WIT (WD097) Details on all courses can be found at www.teagasc.ie/botanicgardens Telephone 01 8040201 or email: botanic.college@teagasc.ie Application for HETAC courses through CAO application process www.cao.ie

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National Centre for Guidance in Education

Leading and shaping guidance practice THE National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) is an agency of the Department of Education and Skills, established in 1995, which informs policy in the area of guidance. The Centre promotes and supports strategies for the provision of guidance in the context of lifelong learning and for the implementation of best practice in guidance at all levels of education. It provides advice, technical support, material and resources for guidance counselling and facilitates professional development for guidance practitioners.

NCGE provides information on

■ Linda Darbey, Guidance Officer and Jennifer McKenzie, Director, NCGE

further education and training opportunities as well as higher education opportunities as part of its role as the Euroguidance Centre in Ireland. It is the national focal point for the mutual exchange of information on guidance practice within Ireland and other EU member states.

NCGE was the Department’s designated representative at the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network during the Network’s lifetime.

NCGE works in collaboration and partnership with relevant stakeholders including the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, the Department of Education and Skills, Directors of Studies, the Adult Education Guidance Association of Ireland, Higher Education Authority, SOLAS, National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals and other Government Departments and National and Employer agencies where appropriate.

NCGE co-ordinate and provide discussion fora for all of these guidance stakeholders via the National

"It is the national focal point for the mutual exchange of information on guidance practice within Ireland and other EU member states

Forum on Guidance 2016/17 and co-ordinates various national advisory groups and committees.

NCGE reports to the Minister for Education and Skills through its Management of Guidance Committee. The Director of NCGE is responsible for the day to day operation of the Centre.

In addition to the Director there are five core staff members, including a Guidance Programme Coordinator, two Guidance Officers, an Information Officer and an Office Administrator.

NCGE disseminates information on best practice in all areas of guidance through its biannual magazine NCGE News and using various other forms of communication.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information about any NCGE activities please refer to our website www.ncge.ie or contact us at Lárionad Náisiúnta um Threoir San Oideachas National Centre for Guidance in Education Avoca House, 189-193 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 Tel: (01) 869 0715/6 | Email: ncgeinfo@ncge.ie

Sports Surfaces UK

Durable and practical sports surfaces SPORTS Surfaces UK Ltd have had a hectic winter so far installing Pulastic Sports Surfaces. Watford UTC Academy in Hertfordshire really brightened up their dark days by installing a new Pulastic sports hall surface in Spring Grass and Wild Orchid and City of Peterborough Academy have installed a sky blue polyurethane surface to remind them of summer.

SSUK will be starting work at St J o s e p h ’s G r a m m a r S c h o o l i n Dungannon within the next few weeks installing a Pulastic Classic 110 sports surface in to their sports hall.

They have also started to roll out an enhanced cleaning regime for their sports surfaces, keeping them in tip top condition.

Victoria Frahill-Jones, from Sports Surfaces UK Ltd has been busy updating both new and existing customers about the new regime and how a cleaning machine is a must if they haven’t already got one. ”Slippery surfaces are all too common in the sports hall causing injuries and poor play due to insufficient cleaning” Victoria said. “A well maintained Pulastic sports floor should last at least 15 -20 years, this can then be followed up with a face-lift which just entails the top layer of the surface being replaced, halving the costs of a brand new sports floor.”

FIND OUT MORE: Victoria has said she will be happy to hear from anyone that is thinking of a new multi use sports floor. Please contact her by email Victoria.frahill-jones@sportssurfacesuk.com

Education 17

18 Education

NUI Galway

Live, learn and work with NUI Galway NUI Galway has been working in the area of adult education for almost 50 years. From the early beginnings of outreach, extra-mural courses to fully accredited flexible programmes which are on offer today, the Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development has accumulated a wealth of experience and knowledge in the development and delivery of foundation level studies through to masters level.

Courses are offered through classroom-based mode, online learning or through a blend of both, offering flexibility and support to prospective students. “The flexibility offered by online and blended methods allow students to study while maintaining their employment and personal commitments”, highlights, Nuala McGuinn, Director, Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development. There has never been a better time for prospective students to refocus their career by choosing a study route, which will point them in a new direction.

Early Childhood Studies An innovative, new course commencing in September 2016 is the part-time, blended-learning MA in Early Childhood Studies. “The course content has been developed to reflect contemporary approaches and understandings of family life, childhood, play and pedagogical philosophies as they inform the early years sector”, explains MA Academic Coordinator, Dr. Sheila Garrity.

Graduates of degree programmes in Early Childhood Studies or a related disciplne who may be seeking opportunities to progress into broader, professional roles such as management, training, policy development and other emerging roles in the area of mentoring and leadership are ideal candidates for this new programme”, outlines MA programme coordinator, Suzanne Golden.

Teacher Education Courses With the introduction of the new Leaving Certificate subject Politics and Society from September 2016, teachers may be interested in updating their knowledge and skills in advance of the rollout of the new syllabus.

Standalone modules in the areas of Social Inclusion, Civic Engagement and the Modern State are currently on offer and focus on civic engagement and active citizenship.

They are delivered on a 1-2 day basis combined with some online learning are an ideal CPD option for teachers.

The Professional Diploma in Education (Further Education) offered by NUI Galway is extremely popular with FE teachers. This two-year programme focuses on the professional knowledge and skills necessary for further education teachers and tutors to carry out their teaching roles. “It is ideally suited to those who wish to register with the Teaching Council of Ireland for certifica-

■ Pictured at a recent NUIG conferring ceremony are students of the Professional Diploma in Education: From left: Gerard Murphy, Aoife Duignan, Dr. Anne Walsh, Roisin McGuire, Mairead Carlin and Eoin Costello

tion as a Further Education teacher in Ireland, the EU, as well as other English speaking countries” explains Dr. Anne Walsh, Course Academic Director.

Wider benefits of learning With a downturn in the economy, recent programme developments have focused on providing students with opportunities to develop skills for the workplace and for employability. A number of one-year specialist diploma programmes are offered in Medical Device Science, Environmental Sustainability, Automation & Control and Lean & Quality Systems, while the blended learning Diploma/BSc in Science and Technology Studies is available on a modular basis and focuses on the knowledge and skills requirements of high-tech industries.

While specific knowledge and vocational skills are essential for the workplace, at NUI Galway we also offer a holistic, person-centred approach to a student’s learning experience. In addressing other relevant skills which are required for learners today, our programmes offer students an opportunity to develop their learning styles, their communication and problem-solving skills as well as their technical skills. “We acknowledge that the benefit of adult learning are not limited to work-related skills, but take Adult & Continuing Education into account the wider benefits of greater self-esteem, greater self-confidence that are developed through active participation in a lifelong learning course” highlights, Nuala McGuinn.

FIND OUT MORE: A full list of all programmes and application details are available at www.nuigalway.ie/adultlearning. Additional information is available at by contacting the Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development at adultlearning@nuigalway.ie or 091 494066, or visit the Centre’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nuigalway.adulted Education 19

Student Health

The facts on eatings disorders What Are Eating Disorders?

The term ‘eating disorder’ refers to a complex, potentially life-threatening condition, characterised by severe disturbances in eating behaviours.

Eating disorders can be seen as a way of coping with emotional distress, or as a symptom of underlying issues.

• Eating disorders are not primarily about food • People can and do recover • Eating disorders can affect anyone Eating disorders are characterised by a variety of disordered eating behaviours such as: • Self-starvation - by fasting and/ or food restriction • Purging - by self-induced vomiting, over-exercising, or laxative abuse • Bingeing - by consuming quantities of food beyond what the body needs to satisfy hunger An eating disorder can be very destructive, both physically and emotionally, and people can get trapped into the destructive cycle of the eating disorder without knowing how to cope with it.

An eating disorder is not just about food and weight, but also about a person’s sense of who they are.

Treatment of an eating disorder will require attention to both the physical and the psychological/emotional aspects of the person.

Treatment must always include

20 Education

• They may maintain a body weight within the normal range of their age, sex and height. As a result, bulimia is often less obvious than anorexia and can go unnoticed for longer.

respect for and sensitivity for the overall well-being of the person.

The distress of a person experiencing an eating disorder, whether or not it is acknowledged, may have a considerable impact on family and friends.

The Main Eating Disorders Although the term ‘eating disorder’ is applied to a wide range of disordered eating behaviours, there are three main classifications: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder.

Anorexia Nervosa • A person will make determined efforts to attain and maintain a body weight lower than the normal body weight for their age, sex and height • They will be preoccupied with thoughts of food and the need to lose weight • They may exercise excessively and may engage in purging behaviours.

Bulimia Nervosa • A person will make determined efforts to purge themselves of any food eaten, sometimes following a binge, and often following ‘normal’ food intake.

• They will engage in high-risk behaviours that can include fasting, excessive exercising, self-induced vomiting, and/or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or other medications

"Just because somebody doesn’t fit in absolutely with one particular category doesn’t mean they don’t have an eating disorder. A large number of people with eating disorders don’t fit strictly into one category but fluctuate between the three.

Binge Eating Disorder • A person will engage in repeated episodes of bingeing without purging • They will likely gain considerable amounts of weight over time • They find themselves trapped in a cycle of dieting, bingeing, selfrecrimination and self-loathing.

Just because somebody doesn’t fit in absolutely with one particular category doesn’t mean they don’t have an eating disorder. A large number of people with eating disorders don’t fit strictly into one category but fluctuate between the three.

People experiencing an eating disorder may • have dieted • have low self-esteem– though this may not be obvious, as people who develop eating disorders are often ‘high achievers’ • show a marked over-concern with body shape, weight and size, and an obsession with food • see thinness as a magical solution to problems, while weight gain is feared

• have difficulty identifying and expressing their real needs • view their body as larger than it actually is (distorted body image) • have problems around control • find it hard to talk about their feelings and to deal with conflict • be depressed and may become isolated • experience mood swings What causes an eating disorder?

There is no single cause that can explain why a person develops an eating disorder.

It is usually a combination of factors (biological, psychological, familial and socio-cultural) that come together to create conditions in which an eating disorder is more likely to develop.

The disorder often develops gradually as a response to an upset in a person’s life. This could be a traumatic event, a loss or major change in a person’s life, bullying, an overload of stress, and/or critical comments about weight or shape.

Sometimes, it is not obvious what the trigger may have been.

A person with low self-worth or without a strong sense of identity may be more vulnerable. People who develop eating disorders tend to be overly concerned with meeting the standards and expectations of others, and are super-sensitive to other peoples’ feelings.

This explains why eating disorders occur so often during adolescence when identity is an issue, the opinion of peers is so important, and parental expectations are resisted.

Eating disorders do not start out as a conscious choice and are not a wilful form of ‘attention seeking’.

Understanding the emotional background of the eating disorder is crucial to developing an appropriate response and treatment approach.

Understanding An Eating Disorder As A Coping Tool Understanding that an eating disorder is a person’s coping mechanism helps those around the person to realise how frightening and diffi-

cult it is for the person to let it go as they recover. It is therefore important that family and friends have realistic expectations of the pace of progress recovery takes.

For the person with an eating disorder, controlling food and the body is their way of relieving distress and achieving some degree of control over their life. Their world feels like an unsafe place, and, for many complex reasons, an eating disorder provides them with a sense of safety.

Once trapped within the eating disorder, people often feel they need to maintain it in order to survive.

They don’t know who they are or how they could cope without it.

"Recovery requires working on underlying issues, building self-esteem, and learning to manage and express feelings

ment team) if a person is to be successfully encouraged and supported on their journey towards recovery.

People can and do get better Further information can be found in the books listed on our Booklist and from other websites for eating disorders and related issues. See our list of Websites or contact the Bodywhys Helpline: lo call 1890 200 444.

A Few Words On Recovery It is precisely because the eating disorder serves a purpose that it becomes very difficult to stop its progress.

For the person affected, the eating disorder can seem like an effective coping mechanism and it can take hold very quickly. This is why it is difficult to stop its progress. The longer it is established, the more it takes on a life of its own and takes over the life of the person affected, so early intervention is really important.

Often, by the time they begin to understand what is happening, they are unable and too scared to try and stop. It is as if the eating disorder is now controlling them.

Also, for many, overwhelming feelings of helplessness, guilt, shame and self-loathing become an insurmountable block to seeking help.

Recovery begins with • a will to change • an acknowledgement that the eating disorder is a problem • working to build up a strong sense of self and a new, healthy way of coping that does not need the eating disorder to feel safe Recovery requires working on underlying issues, building selfesteem, and learning to manage and express feelings, as well as addressing the physical and nutritional aspects of the disorder.

Recovery takes great courage and commitment. Much sensitivity, compassion, respect, understanding and patience will be needed by those around them (family, friends, G.P., and other members of the treatEducation 21

St. Angela’s College Study for your university degree in the North West ON the shores of Lough Gill, and still only minutes from Sligo Town, St. Angela’s College, Sligo offers a wide range of undergraduate degree programmes. A college of NUI Galway, the St. Angela’s College programmes are accredited by the University, offering the only university-level education in the region.

Academic Departments include Nursing, Health Sciences and Disability Studies (offering programmes in Nursing Degrees; Health and Disability Studies; Disability Equality Studies) Education and Home Economics (offering programmes in Home Economics Teacher Education; Food and Business Management; Textiles, Fashion and Design with Business Management).

CAO programme on offer for 2016 entry include: • Bachelor of Arts in Textiles, Fashion and Design with Business Management School leavers who have applied for this programme via CAO now have the opportunity to move this up on their list of preferences. A portfolio is required for entry and will be assessed on 15th April 2016.

• Bachelor of Arts (Health and Disability Studies) • Bachelor of Applied Science with Food and Business Management • Diploma of Applied Science in Food and Business Management • Bachelor of Arts/Professional Masters (Home Economics Teacher Education) • Bachelor of Nursing Science (General / Intellectual Disability) • Diploma of Applied Science in Food and Business Management The College also offers a Diploma in Foundation Studies for school leavers and mature students who wish to study at third level. Participants who successfully complete this Access Course are eligible to apply for direct entry to full-time degree courses at St. Angela’s College or NUI Galway. HEAR/DARE routes also available.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information on St. Angela’s College, Sligo contact Seán Kelly on 071 9135658 or schoolsinfo@stangelas.nuigalway.ie or visit www.stangelas.nuigalway.ie.

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Rathmines College

A student-centered, dynamic college OPTIONS for fulltime education after the Leaving Certificate are many and don’t all come from CAO offers. Some students prefer to commit only one or two years of study and so can choose from the range of QQI Certificate and Advanced Certificate courses in colleges of Further Education, such as Rathmines College.

For other students the CAO course option offered may not be the right or preferred choice for many reasons and so an alternative route into third level is sought. The progression routes from Further Education courses can lead students to the right Degree course.

For others, after the Leaving Certificate, making course decisions is challenging and so completing a year’s certificate in FE allows time to mature and confirm study preferences for the future. In all cases the Further Education route, whether as a first choice or a plan B, can ensure ultimate success.

When selecting a course it is vital to choose a course that is recognised, reputable, linked to higher education progression routes and relevant to workforce requirements.

students who successfully complete relevant awards can gain access to year 2 or 3 of many Degree programmes.

As a college of Further Education the courses are all state-funded and so minimum charges apply. The college also offers Repeat Leaving Certificate with a similar percentage of students securing third level offers

Rathmines College is in a great location, has a great reputation and offers a broad range of relevant courses.

as the private colleges – but at a fraction of the cost.

Rathmines College is in a great location, has a great reputation and offers a broad range of relevant courses.

The College is enrolling now for places on all courses for 2016-2017.

Contact the College at 01-4975334 or visit www.rathminescollege.ie

Long-established centre Rathmines College is a longestablished centre providing Certificate, Advanced Certificate, Diploma and Professional courses.

The college specialises in the areas of Business, Office Administration, Journalism, Public Relations, M a r k e t i n g , I T, L i b e r a l A r t s , Accounting, Finance, Computer Programming and Legal Studies.

Certificate and Advanced Certificate courses are certified by QQI, the two-year Higher National Diploma courses are certified by BTEC, and the Professional courses by the relevant Professional body; ACCA, ATI, PRII. The college is a student-centered, dynamic provider constantly developing and adapting courses to suit learner and employer needs and most courses include work experience. While the courses can equip learners to go straight into the work place they also provide opportunities to progress on to Institutes of Technology or Universities in many cases with exemptions. This means Education 23

A truly historic setting for Dublin's past

Situated in the heart of the city beside Dublin Castle and the trendy Temple Bar area, Dublin City Hall is a magnificent example of the Georgian architecture for which Dublin is world renowned.

Originally the Royal Exchange, Dublin City Hall was used by the merchants of Dublin as a financial centre until it was bought by Dublin Corporation and re-named City Hall.

It is the focal point for Dublin City Council’s elected members who meet on the first Monday of every month in the historic Council chamber, originally the coffee-room of the Royal Exchange.

It is a truly historic setting which has witnessed many events related to the city and State. The sheer size and sumptuous fittings of City Hall reflect the prestige of Dublin in the late 18th century. The spectacular entrance hall or Rotunda with its spacious embellished gold leaf dome and marble floor provides an elegant space for sculpture and is surrounded

24 Education

by an ambulatory where the merchants strolled and discussed business. The Rotunda can be hired as a venue for select corporate events, private functions, filming, fashion shows and civil marriage ceremonies.

The superb vaults at lower ground floor level host a free multimedia exhibition highlighting key e l e ments of the history of Dublin. A new exhibition for 2016, which is also free of charge, is dedicated to 1916 and the history of Dublin Fire Brigade.

Visitors now have an opportunity to view a rare, recently conserved original 1916 proclamation, gifted to the citizens of Dublin in the 1950s by the family of Nurse Elizabeth O’Farrell.

The Na Fianna Eireann, banner which was seized from Countess Markievicz’s home by the British army, has been secured on loan from the Royal Collection in London and is presently on display until the end of August 2016.

Dublin Fire Brigade and the 1916 Rising tells the story of the Dublin’s fire-fighters during Easter week 1916, when the city centre burned and Dublin’s

Dublin City Hall

streets became a battlefield. Dublin City Hall, itself a 1916 battleground, provides an evocative backdrop for this exhibition of rarely seen material. The exhibition includes material f ro m t h e D u b l i n F i re B r i g a d e Museum and private collections, all brought together for the first time to create a unique, not-tobe-missed exhibition suitable for all the family.

Postcards in the 1916 Rising is a new exhibition in Room 4, and there is also a display relating to veteran Richard P. Gogan.

A charming exhibition on the family of Sir Robert Shaw who was the Lord Mayor of Dublin 18151816 will begin at the end of April 2016.

Groups can enjoy a free talk on the history of the building if booked in advance before visiting the self-guided multimedia exhibition. A small café and gift shop selling 1916 souvenirs add to the ambience of this city treasure.

FIND OUT MORE: www.dublincityhall.ie | Tel: 01-2222204 f: City Hall Dublin | t: @DublinCityHall

Education 25

DĂşn Laoghaire Futher Education Institute

26 Education

Education 27

Creating a Music Gene MUSIC Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme, aiming to transform the lives of children and young people through access to high quality performance music education.

Initiated by Music Network, Music Generation is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, The Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships. Music Network is Ireland’s national music touring and development agency, and was founded in 1986 by the Arts Council.

In 2009 the band U2 and The Ireland Funds gifted a €7m philanthropic donation to music education in Ireland with a

very clear intention: “What we want to do is really simple. We just want to make sure that everyone, whatever their background, gets access to music tuition.

That’s the idea,” said U2's Bono.

The philanthropic donation was gifted to progress the implementation of Music Network’s Feasibility Study for a National System of Local Music Education Services.

“We had been looking for some time for a way to get involved in an initiative in music education in Ireland. After talking to various people in Ireland about what to do, we came to the conclusion that the Music Network scheme is really well thought out and that we, in partnership with the Ireland Funds, should just get behind it,” says The Edge.

Music Vision Through partn e r s h i p , establish a national music educ a t i o n service of

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"To empower and enrich the lives of children and young people by enabling them to develop their creativity, reach their full potential, achieve selfgrowth and contribute to their personal development, within a vibrant local music community

international excellence, where every child and young person in Ireland has local access to high-quality music education.

The mission statement states that: "Through access to high-quality vocal and instrumental music education, empower and enrich the lives of children and young people by enabling them to develop their creativity, reach their full potential, achieve self-growth and contribute to their personal development, within a vibrant local music community.

Music Generation has set itself a number of core values as follows: Access: Music Generation believes that it is the right of every child and young person to have inclusive access to performance music education, regardless of circumstances.

Quality: Music Generation is committed to achieving the highest possible standards in every aspect of its work, and to assisting and supporting others who share this value.

Partnerships: Music Generation believes that working in partnership with individuals, organisations, agencies and government departments is critical in achieving a long-term, sustainable infrastructure for the future development of performance music education in Ireland.

Diversity: Music Generation acknowledges

a new eration and values a diversity of approaches and structures, developed in response to local contexts. Music Generation further acknowledges the diverse ways in which children and young people experience performance music education, across the breadth of musical genres.

Creativity: Music Generation recognises that creativity is at the heart of performance music education and promotes a creative approach in all aspects of music education.

Sustainability: Music Generation is committed to the development of a long-term, sustainable national infrastructure for performance music education, that represents value for money.

Music on the ground To date Music Generation runs programmes in 12 areas of the country as shown on the map right. An example of the work done is in Cork City which includes the following programmes: Soundout: An inclusive music programme for children and young people with special needs.

Brass & Wind Programme: Barrack St. Brass Band school and community based brass programme.

Instrumental and Vocal tuition: Cork Academy of Music school outreach programme offering a range of vocal and instrumental tuition.

Traditional Irish music: School and community based Club Ceoil and Trad Camp programmes.

Music in healthcare: Music in healthcare settings in partnership with Music in Community.

SING!: School and community based singing programmes for children and young people.

I had a few ‘difficulties’ on my way to being a musician… and a lot of them stemmed from the fact that I did not have music lessons - Bono

The Impact of Music Generation

GMC Rap & Beats: Rapping, beatb o x i n g a n d m u s i c p ro d u c t i o n workshops in partnership with GMC Beats.

Instrumental, vocal and rap programme: Instrumental, vocal and rap programme in partnership with The Hut and Youth Work Ireland Cork.

Instrumental, vocal, band programme: Instrumental, vocal and band programmes in partnership with Ballyphehane Youth Music Initiative.

Background In May 2001 the Departments of Education and Science, and Arts, Sport and Tourism jointly commissioned Music Network to produce a feasibility study to examine how a national system of publicly supported local “schools of music” might be provided in Ireland.

In 2003, Music Network published its report A National System of Local Music Education Services – Report of a Feasibility Study 2003.

With funding from the Arts Council, Music Network established a Music Education Working Group in 2007, to raise awareness of the value of music education.

An independent evaluation of the pilot projects in Donegal and Dublin, published in April 2009, concluded, “this partnership model provides a workable and replicable framework”.

And finally in July 2009, U2 and The Ireland funds pledged €7 million to Music Network to allow the roll out on a phased basis between 2010 and 2015.

FIND OUT MORE: Visit www.musicgeneration.ie Education 29

Arigna Mining Experience

For an authentic mining heritage experience WITH long weekends and summer holidays fast approaching why not treat yourself or the whole family to an experience that they will all enjoy, and not worry about the weather. Arigna Mining Experience is a great day out for students and family.

A typical visit includes a 45-minute underground tour, with sound and lighting effects for an authentic mining experience. The centre and unique underground tour has welcomed over 250,000 people from all over the world to this unique attraction.

The centre aims to preserve the heritage and history of an area that has been involved in coal mining for over 350 years, and is located in the picturesque Arigna valley with breathtaking views of Lough Allen and the surrounding region. Acclaimed travel writer Pol O’Conghaile of the Irish Independent described the underground tour as 'world class' and several reviewers on the highly respected global travel website Trip Advisor have agreed.

The centre is open every day all year around for tours from 10am to last tour at 5pm. Special discounts are available for school tours and groups, so if you have a gathering organized for this summer, why not add a trip to Arigna as part of your weekend.

The tour and centre are family friendly, fully accessible and is an all weather activity. You don’t need boots or equipment, but a cardigan or jacket are advisable for the tour.

FIND OUT MORE: Tel: 071-9646466 | www.arignaminingexperience.ie

ADVERTSING TELE-SALES PART TIME FOR EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS

Office or home based.

Some previous sales experience desirable but not essential.

Email C.V. to education@clubi.ie 30 Education

Turning Point Institute

Four-year part-time MSc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy TURNING Point Institute, based in Herbert Street, Dublin, is inviting you to submit an application for its flagship programme, the four-year part-time MSc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, validated by University College Cork, commencing October 2016.

The Co-Founder Directors of TPI, Kay Conroy and Mary Paula Walsh, established Turning Point in 1986 to offer humanistic and integrative counselling and psychotherapy services to people seeking one-to-one care, especially for bereavement, trauma and relationship challenges.

The Training Institute was founded in 2001 to offer full educational training courses for people interested in becoming counsellors and psychotherapists.

Turning Point is dedicated to advancing and developing psychotherapy studies in Ireland, encompassing educational training, clinical practice, research, supervi-

sion, and to set a benchmark of excellence commensurate with similar, internationally acclaimed, institutes of psychotherapy. The validation of our MSc course by University College Cork has opened up a new phase in the development of Turning Point, and offers new vistas and opportunities for innovative research and educational initiatives and collaborations.

An open and fluid framework At TPI we do not teach one particular model of integration, but rather support our students in the process of integration itself. Each student in training is considered as an individual on an individual journey. The TPI integrative approach proposes an open and fluid framework in which the trainee psychotherapist becomes aware of the importance of subjectivity, reflexivity, their own life and experience, and their own worldview; and how

The MSc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy provided by Turning Point Institute is validated by University College Cork

that necessarily affects how they interact in the world. We also teach students the importance of acknowledging the transpersonal dimension, and how the meaning of events in a wider context can be turning points in the journey of transformation.

The MSc programme currently has over 100 students enrolled across its four years, and is in demand again for the next intake. Already TPI has received a lot of enquiries about this year’s programme, and we urge you to contact us as soon as possible as there are a limited number of places for the 2016 – 2017 academic year.

T h e n e x t f o u r- y e a r M S c i n Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy is set to commence in October 2016, and applications and Prospectus are available on our website: www.turningpoint.ie or by phone at 01-2801603.

E n q u i r i e s t o Tu r n i n g P o i n t Institute at www.turningpoint.ie or by phone at 01-2801603.

TURNING POINT INSTITUTE TRAINING AND CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Turning Point Institute, one of Ireland’s oldest Institutes for accredited psychotherapy training, will be offering the following programmes in Autumn 2016 4 YEAR MSc IN INTEGRATIVE COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY VALIDATED AND AWARDED BY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK Commencing October 2016 Foundation Courses in Counselling and Psychotherapy | 40 hour certificate programmes, evening classes All of our facilitators are accredited psychotherapists and/or expert trainers in their subject matter.

For further information on the above courses, and on the facilitators, view our website at

www.turningpoint.ie

or to register your interest please call 01/2801603 or email admin@tpti.ie Education 31

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Education 33

Shannon College of Hotel Management

Shannon College maintains unique record of full employment MARCH saw the graduation of the latest class of future hotel managers from Ireland’s only dedicated hotel management school: Shannon College of Hotel Management.

The College has been developing world class hotel managers and industry leaders since 1951 and since then has an unrivalled record of 100% graduate employment.

According to the Head of College, Dr Phillip J Smyth: “this full employment is a result of our educational ethos: a unique mix of practical training, industry placement at operative and trainee management levels and a rigorous business education.

"It is also due to the extraordinarily effective Shannon College alumni network, affectionately known as the Shannon Family: alumni, students, staff and friends all working together to maximise our reputation for producing exceptional hotel managers.”

Tourism has been growing steadily over the past five years and is estimated to deliver €4.4 billion to the

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Irish economy in 2016. These positive forecasts provide concrete support for the government’s commitment to hospitality and tourism education.

NUI Galway amalgamation Last year Shannon College of Hotel Management amalgamated with NUI Galway. The College is now firmly placed within the mainstream education system in Ireland creating huge possibility for growth and development. There is already a hospitality stream within the MBA programme offered at NUI Galway and there are plans to deliver a Master’s Programme at Shannon College in the near future. Shannon College is also eager to continue developing its research capability to further enhance understanding of the sector.

Students travelled from all over the globe to attend the Graduation Ceremony and gala ball in Dromoland Castle. The class are now working in hotels in global locations

"There are plans to deliver a Master’s Programme at Shannon College in the near future

including Ireland, London, New York, China, India and Seychelles Islands.

Graduate Alan O’Connell returned from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York for the graduation ceremony, stated: “After over four years it’s an incredible honour to travel home from New York to graduate from Shannon College. I’m grateful for everything the lecturers and staff of the college have done and I'm proud to be part of the Shannon family.”

■ Pictured L-R are Teodora Todorova (Clare), Isorah Lapurga (Clare) and Aine Buckley (Kerry). Pic Arthur Ellis

Plunket College of Further Education

A wide range of courses PLUNKET College of Further Education offers a wide range of Further Education and QQI courses.

These together with VTOS eligible courses are available for students who wish to pursue specialised areas of study.

Our Adult Leaving Certificate caters to students of all ages who want to return to education through a two year programme while our dedicated Repeat Leaving Certificate classes are of one year duration.

Our Further Education Programmes include the following QQI Level 5 Awards: Third Level Access introduces students to academic writing, essay preparation, personal development and guidance for application to third level. Modules include:-Psychology, Philosophy, English Literature, Classical Studies and History. This course, in partnership with the Trinity Access Programme (TAP), has a facilitated link for students.

Introduction to Counselling & Psychology provides a foundation for students in counselling and psychology. The college offers guidance and preparation for students who wish to progress to Third Level Colleges. Successful students are eligible to apply for reserved places on higher education courses.

Accounting Technician prepares students for examinations of Accounting Technicians Ireland (ATI).

Qualified Accounting Technicians may work at middle management and provide support services in the offices of practicing accountants.

Advanced entry is available to some business courses in Institutes of Higher Education.

Motor Vehicle Maintenance is ideally suited for students who aspire to apprenticeships in the motor industry and related fields. It also provides Higher Education links to Institutes of Technology in the fields of Engineering, Technology and Design Technology.

Carpentry & Joinery is designed for students who wish to progress to apprenticeships or to Third Level Education through the higher links scheme.

Adult VTOS courses offer full time programmes in English Language, Business and Information Technology and Computer and Office Systems (Level 4). A BTEI funded programme

"Plunket College of Further Education provides experienced and supportive teachers

in Employment Skills offers English Language as a speciality for students who wish to pursue their studies on a part-time basis.

Plunket College of Further Education provides experienced and supportive teachers as well as offering services in Career/ Personal Guidance and Disability Service support.

FIND OUT MORE: Apply online at www.plunketcollege.ie Phone: 01-8371689 Email: info@plunket.cdetb.ie Education 35

Peter Cahill Engineering

Locker solutions for almost any application PETER Cahill Engineering is Ireland’s premier locker manufacturer.

We have been supplying lockers to schools & businesses around Ireland for almost 30 years. We offer a locker solutions for almost any application (clean rooms, swimming pools, gyms, spas, schools, offices etc). Our lockers comply with the Dept of Education furniture specifications.

We specialise in supplying to a broad range of industries which include education, fire and police services, hospitals, hotel and leisure facilities and retail to name but a few. If our extensive range of lockers does not have exactly what you are looking for, we can design a bespoke solution to suit your specific needs.

Our lockers are fully welded (no rivets), independently tested to BS 4680 (Determination of Strength & Durability of Storage Furniture) and have added safety features such as reinforced doors, concealed hinges, door closing folds on 4 sides and sloping tops.

We offer a full after sales service supplying spare parts for all our lockers including built in locker locks (butterfly / camlocks with keys), padlocks, spare keys, replacement doors, touch up paint etc.

FIND OUT MORE: To speak to one of our experienced sales team, please contact us on 01-4500030 or email us on info@pce.ie

Your Locker Solution

The Locker Specialist Laptop and iPad charging lockers Merrywell Business Park, Ballymount Road, Dublin 12

Tel: 01 450 0030 Web: www.pce.ie • Email: info@pce.ie

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Engineers Ireland Education Excellence National Award Winner 2015

Shaping a better future through the FIT ICT Associate Professional programme The facts on eating disorders | Creating a new Music Generation Ireland's first iTunes U service | National Centre for Guidance in Education Who will pay most to mitigate climate change? | Shannon College Higher Education - Key Facts and Figures | Reviews

The Education Interview: Frank Mulrennan - Celtic Media Group GMIT Letterfrack hosts Leonardo da Vinci project meeting New QQI Award brand for Further and Higher Education

www.educationmagazine.ie 36 Education

Read the latest

Galway Technical Institute

Exciting new course choices at GTI GALWAY Technical Institute (GTI) is expanding to offer a range of brand new course choices for September 2016. Dynamic, career driven courses are being launched, each with direct career opportunities for learners. These leading-edge new courses will bring even more options and career opportunities to students who study at GTI. With so many innovative new courses to choose from, GTI is committed to ensuring career paths of the future are structured to potential employment trends. All 9 Departments in the college evolve and expand yearly, bringing more option to GTI students in keeping with changing job requirements. GTI welcomes applications from both school leavers and mature learners who may wish to retrain and gain the confidence to return to the workplace or further education.

Direct route to third level Courses at GTI offer many benefits such as providing you with the opportunity to gain valuable exposure in your chosen vocation. In addition, your GTI course can provide a direct route to third level programmes. The college also provides learners with the opportunity to develop the necessary skills to go directly into employment.

GTI plays a major part in the many events and businesses of the city where students are very much part of business life. The college has strong links with local employers who offer valuable work experience to students, often leading to job offers on completion of studies. In addition, GTIs European Links provide work placements to over 100 students annually. Students travel to FIND OUT MORE: For more information and to view the full list of courses and to apply, please visit www.gti.ie.

Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Scotland, The Canary Islands and more. One in 25 GTI students will avail of this Work Experience opportunity.

State of the art facilities As one of the leading providers of Further Education in the West of Ireland, GTI is justifiably proud of its state of the art facilities in all departments. GTI students learn in real working environments including Hair and Beauty Salons, Art, Design and Recording Studios, Treatment Rooms and have access to the most up to date technology and equipment.

A new course for 2016 within GTI Sports Department is entitled “Elite Soccer, Performance & Coaching”.

This course provides a unique opportunity for talented young footballers to gain relevant educational qualifications and greatly increase their employability opportunities while continuing to improve their football skills. Selected students are also offered two weeks work experience in Scotland through the Erasmus+ initiative. The trip includes visits to Celtic, Rangers and Motherwell where students are coached by professional Scottish Coaches.

Other new courses for 2016 i n c l u d e t h e f o l l o w i n g : F i re & Ambulance, Insurance & Banking, Apprenticeship Preparatory Programme, Third Level Preparation Programmes, Body Therapies, Software Development.

There are two new Health Science courses coming on stream for 2016 – Diploma in Body Therapies FETAC/ ITEC and also Advanced Diploma in Body Therapies with Diet and Nutrition.

The Fashion Department at GTI hosted the much anticipated Fashion Event “GTI Fashion Fiesta Showcase”. All fashion enthusiasts were able to view the creativity of GTI’s emerging fashion talent during the first week in March. The creative designers collaborated with

"There has never been a better time to study at GTI. Be part of the GTI experience this year and apply early to invest in your future

Hairdressing and Beauty students to spotlight astonishing and inspired styling. The highlight was a free Fashion Show in the G Hotel on Wednesday 9th March at 6pm, hosted by former Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh.

GTI has been officially recognized as the first Toon Boom Centre of Excellence in Ireland. Toon Boon Centres of Excellence (COE) are accredited colleges that are powerful incubators for preparing graduates for the animation marketplace. GTI offers Animation Courses at both Level 5 and 6 providing learners with a strong foundation in the technical and creative skills needed to succeed in the digital content and animation marketplace.

There has never been a better time to study at GTI. Be part of the GTI experience this year and apply early to invest in your future.

Education 37

GREEN NEWS - CLIMATE RESEARCH ......................................................................................

Who will pay most to mitigate climate change?

“WE are the first generation to fully understand climate change, and the last generation to have the opportunity to do something about it.”

Both Ban Ki-moon and Barack Obama, repeated this message in Le Bourget, the site of the recent COP21 meeting in Paris. It seems that the message science has been saying for years has finally jumped to the political consciousness. This acknowledgement is a positive step forward, but if the science is clear, the politics and finance is not. The distribution of the future carbon budget across countries in proportion to their historical emissions is one of the core issues negotiated in Paris: What is fair? Who pays? What is just?

The carbon budget While the scale and science of climate change can be bewildering, the complexity of the topic has been distilled into a key message via a single actionable number: the carbon budget. The carbon budget is the amount of carbon that humans can emit into the atmosphere, while at the same time, limiting global warming to 2°C (above pre-industrial levels, i.e. the late 1700s). Today, the global carbon budget budget is 1,200 billion tonnes. This is a number we should all know.

Globally, humans are responsible for emitting about 50 billion tonnes of CO2e (CO2 equivalent) per year: this includes all the greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide from fossil fuel combustion, cement production, land use change, agriculture and fertilisers.

In the future, if we emit more than 1,200 billion tonnes of CO2e, we will - with 66% probability - have committed the planet to a 2°C temperature rise. Given our current systems and ways of life and business that emit 50 billion tonnes of CO2e each year, and in the absence of any concerted action to change 38 Education

cally more industrialised countries of Western Europe, still has a share of the 3,200 billion tonnes of the carbon budget that (as calculated on a cumulative emissions per capita basis) could be considered equitable.

This equitable share of all time Irish emissions, based on historical UN population data and future population projections, is approximately 1.9 billion CO2e. Therefore, Ireland has roughly 340 million tonnes CO2e left to equitably emit - beyond this, we will have emitted more than a per capita equitable share of the global carbon budget.

All countries face the same questions about an equitable per capita carbon budget: What is fair? Who pays?

What is just?

■ Hard on the emissions targets this, we can expect to breach a 2°C temperature rise in the next 24 years or so.

Collectively we must acknowledge that climate change is a commons problem of inequity. Climate change is about equity because certain countries have historically had a free pass to emit greenhouse gases into the global atmosphere (a commons), while benefiting from the associated carbon intensive development. These countries are not necessarily the same countries who will face the more extreme damage costs expected with climate change.

This acknowledgement requires us to reflect on our past - without judgement - and understand the opportunities we have gained from being born into a country which has greatly benefitted from carbon intensive development. This brings us to the second number we should all know. Taking into account that our climate’s warming is measured relative to pre-industrial levels, climate scientists estimate that the all-time carbon budget (including past and future) to stay below 2°C warming is 3,200 billion tonnes of CO2e.

An equitable share?

Since the industrial revolution, Ireland has emitted 1.6 billion tonnes of CO2e. Ireland, unlike the histori-

OPINION James Glynn is a PhD researcher @ERIUCC @UCC working on national and global energy systems models specialising in hybrid energy system-economy models, macroeconomic feedbacks, climate, and energy security.

Questions, questions Researchers from the Environmental Research Institute at UCC held a side event at COP21 where their research aimed to provide some insights to these same questions on a global scale. Which countries/regions have already exhausted their equitable share of the global CO2 budget? Which countries/regions are likely to surpass their equitable budget in the near future? Which countries/ regions are unlikely to ever fill their equitable proportion of the atmospheric commons? Which developed countries/regions should invest in developing countries/regions under the UN principles of responsibility and capacity? How much, and when?

The UCC research calculates a technically feasible, integrated global-energy-system which emits less than 1,000 billion CO2e between 2020 and 2100 and is consistent with global warming of less than 2˚C. This pathway calculates the amount of financial transfers between countries/regions to ensure an equitable macroeconomic impact based on UN principles of historical responsibility and capacity.

Galway – Mayo Institute of Technology

New higher education opportunities in Mayo NEW Honours Degrees in Accountancy, Applied Social Care, History & Geography and Sustainable Building Technology on the CAO The Mayo Campus of GMIT located in Castlebar provides students with opportunities to study at all levels from higher certificate to honours degree. Programmes are broad based in their educational design with particular emphasis on the development of knowledge, skills and competencies within the student.

It has been proven time and time again that nationally recognised qualifications enhance graduate long-term employability, flexibility and adaptability. The link between the relevance of the qualifications to the needs of potential employers locally, nationally and internationally continues to growth and strengthen from year to year.

Brilliant experience The small campus in a small west of Ireland town stands tall in higher education delivery. In recent times honours degrees in Business, Digital Media & Society and Outdoor Education became available on the CAO. Students on these programmes describe their experience as brilliant where small class sizes allow for deep learning supported by expert teaching.

Individuals interested in applying for these programmes can do so through the CAO (www.cao.ie).

Individuals with previous qualifications can make a direct application to the Institute for admission.

Applications are particularly welcome from graduates of other Institutes of Technology.

Mayo New programmes are now listed on the CAO These include: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Care Programme Code – GA889 Bachelor of Business (Honours) Programme Code – GA886 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History & Geography Programme Code – GA887 Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sustainable Building Technology Programme Code – GA888

Further information is available at

www.gmit.ie/mayo and by contacting the following.

Applied Social Care – Mark Garavan – 094 9043143 – mark.garavan@gmit.ie Business – Celene Dunphy – 094 9043112 – celene.dunphy@gmit.ie History & Geography – Fiona White – 094 9043216 – fiona.white@gmit.ie Sustainable Building Technology – John Scahill – 094 9043298 – john.scahill@gmit.ie Digital Media & Society – Noreen Henry – 094 9043245 – noreen.henry@gmit.ie Outdoor Education – Kevin O’ Callaghan – 094 9043281 – kevin.ocallaghan@gmit.ie

Education 39

Source: HEA Key Facts & Features

40 Education

Education 41

RECENTLY PUBLISHED ...........................................................................................................

The Long Gaze Back – An Anthology of Irish Women Writers THE Long Gaze Back, edited by Sinéad Gleeson, is an exhilarating anthology of thirty short stories by some of the most gifted women writers this island has ever produced.

Niamh Boyce, Elizabeth Bowen, Maeve Brennan, Mary Costello, June Caldwell, Lucy Caldwell, Evelyn Conlon, Anne Devlin, Maria Edgeworth, Anne Enright, Christine Dwyer Hickey, Norah Hoult, Mary Lavin, Eimear McBride, Molly McCloskey, Bernie McGill, Lisa McInerney, Belinda McKeon, Siobhán Mannion, Lia Mills, Nuala Ní Chonchúir, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Kate O’Brien, Roisín O’Donnell, E.M. Reapy, Charlotte Riddell, Eimear Ryan, Anakana Schofield, Somerville & Ross, Susan Stairs.

Taken together, the collected works of these writers reveal an enrapturing, unnerving, and piercingly beautiful mosaic of a lively literary landscape. Spanning four centuries, The Long Gaze Back features 8 rare stories from deceased luminaries and forerunners, and 22 new stories by some of the most talented Irish women writers working today. The anthology presents an inclusive and celebratory portrait of the high calibre of contemporary literature in Ireland.

648 Billion Sunrises?

By John Leonard

JOHN Leonard was a gifted Gaelic football goalkeeper who had the misfortune to reach his prime at the same time, and in the same county, as one of the all-time greats: Stephen Cluxton. Unless something happened to Clucko, Leonard was always going to be number 2. It didn't help that he had a problem with drink and drugs...

This is a vivid, witty and searingly honest account of his life in and out of sport. He writes about the oddity of being part of the GAA's biggest circus while never expecting to get on the pitch. He writes brilliantly about the demons that led him to addiction, his efforts to party hard and train hard, and his eventual breakthrough to sobriety.

Penguin • Around €14 42 Education

"It is impossible to mention all of the stories here. The feisty, fabulously angrily funny Lisa McInerny doesn’t disappoint; neither does deep dark Nuala Ní Chonchúir. Ní Chonchúir’s story overcomes my usual suspicion of historical settings – she “took me there” to paraphrase the title of Niamh Boyce’s strangled heart-breaker. Mannion’s story is one of the quieter ones, but its pitchperfect pulse really stayed with me… it is a great pleasure to come across the likes of Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Anne Devlin, Evelyn Conlon and Christine Dwyer Hickey, who have been writing their fine stories since it was “neither popular or profitable”…

The Long Gaze Back is a substantial harvest, a seriously comprehensive and celebratory volume.’ – The Irish Times.

New Island • Around €20 Hardback

By Dr Patrick Roycroft

IS the Sugar Loaf a volcano? Have meteorites ever struck Ireland? Are there emeralds on the Emerald Isle?

648 Billion Sunrises is a general introduction to the geological wonders of Ireland written in a fun, informative and accessibly humorous way. The author uses famous geological cases, biographical sketches, historical contexts, his own experience as a practising geologist, and brand new research done especially for this book to provide insight into this popular field. Presented in miscellany format, 648 Billion Sunrises engages the general reader with diverse topics of popular interest, with chapters including: • In the Beginning: A Short Geological History of Ireland • When Is Not a Volcano a Volcano? When It’s a Sugar Loaf

Dub Sub Confidential

These stories run the gamut from heartbreaking to humorous, but each leaves a lasting impression. They chart the passions, obligations, trials and tribulations of a variety of vividlydrawn characters with unflinching honesty and relentless compassion. These are stories to savour.

• Ireland’s Jurassic Park • The Aliens Have Landed: Meteorite Strikes • Irish Gemstones • Are Ireland's Gold Artefacts Really of Irish Gold?

• Geology: A Fatal Attraction This illustrated book is a versatile read that can be read cover to cover for a general overview of Irish geology or opened at any page for a titbit of geological information.

Aimed at the general public with an interest in Irish natural history, 648 Billion Sunrises is accessible to the reader unfamiliar with geology while also providing the technical detail to engage the student or academic.

Orpen Press • Around €10

1916: The Rising Handbook

By Lorcan Collins

A HANDBOOK to the events and locations of the Easter 1916 Rising. There are so many different versions of the story of Easter Week 1916. Lorcan Collins, an acknowledged expert on the subject and founder of the 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour, decided that it was time to put together a truthful and factually correct reference book in one handy volume. This ‘1916 bible’ will be invaluable to anyone with an interest in recent Irish history who wants to separate the facts from the fiction.

1916: The Rising Handbook offers bitesized details about the organisations involved in the Rising, the positions occupied during Easter week, the weapons the rebels and army used, the documents that

were passed around, and the speeches that w e re g i v e n . I t details the women who came out to fight and profiles the sixteen executed leaders, as well as looking at the rebellion outside of Dublin.

It also utilises three different resources to give the most comprehensive list yet of all of those involved in the Rising. If a relative of yours fought during Easter 1916, you’ll find their name in here.

The O’Brien Press • Around €14

Working to protect street and slum children in Kolkata HOPE Schools Immersion Programme and Development Education • Students helping Students Since 2003, HOPE has been working with secondary schools across Ireland, via their Development Education Programmes, to give students the unique opportunity to travel to Kolkata for a week with HOPE. The Hope Foundation believes education is the greatest gift that you can give a child. This is the thought ideology which inspired the programme’s inception.

During the year spent fundraising for HOPE, and especially upon visiting Kolkata, students will learn about the politics, economics, culture, history and rich wonders of incredible India.

The Immersion Programme opens up a multi-layered learning platform for students, to learn about the reality of global poverty and social injustices facing young people their own age via classroom based activities and real life experiences.

The programme enhances social and cultural development, encourages independence and offers students the experience of fundraising, meeting financial targets and deadlines. It also enhances

their understanding of international and domestic development socioeconomic issues and their own individual place within the international sphere.

Projects visited include protection homes, crèche’s, centres of learning, community projects and the HOPE hospital.They also visit sites of cultural and historical significance in Kolkata, visit an Indian school to meet with their peers to chat, exchange ideas and engage in a discussion on issues like the Sustainable Development Goals.

The funds raised by students go towards funding the many healthcare, educational and protection projects in Kolkata and West Bengal that are run by The Hope Foundation. Our Healthcare programme includes our own hospital in Kolkata as well as our Community Healthcare Programme which reaches out to a hugely underprivileged society.

It is a wonderful opportunity for students to witness our work. Many return as volunteers as they move into university and the workplace and remain keen supporters. HOPE is invested in providing sustainable support to the people and communities of Kolkata.

T: 021 4292990 E: office@hopefoundation.ie

www.hopefoundation.ie

Charity Registration Number: CHY13237

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44 Education