Going to College Pilot Project - New Inclusive Education Pathway
Book Publication: Comparative International Perspectives
NUI Galway Celebrates 10th Volunteering Fair on Campus
2011 - 2012
cki m a g a z i n e
The Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) fosters community university partnerships that aim to promote the principles and practices of civic engagement and democracy.
Volume 2
WELCOME NOTE
NUI Galway students sail with pride at Volvo Ocean Race 2012.
Welcome to the 2011-2012 Community Knowledge Initiative newsletter which
gives a sample of the range of our projects and activities that we have been unfolding in the current academic year. The various pathways that we have created aim to inspire our students to become graduate citizens – graduates who have a deep sense of their role within society as active and critical citizens. The CKI has continued success with over 900 students attaining the ALIVE Certificate for volunteering in 2012 and an additional 1200 students attaining academic credit for course work undertaken with community through service learning.
Lorraine McIlrath CKI Coordinator
We are proud to launch and support two major new projects; the Going to College Project and the Youth Academy. The Going to College Project (detailed on page 5) provides a new fully inclusive pathway to students with intellectual disabilities to participate in academic, civic, cultural and social life within NUI Galway. While the Youth Academy (detailed on page 3) provides a range of courses (Engineering, Italian, Psychology ad Philosophy) aimed at 10 year olds from local primary school who display accelerated learning abilities. We thank our colleagues at the Centre for Talented Youth at Dublin City University (DCU) for inspiring us to create this programme to cater for children and families in the West of Ireland. We wish to acknowledge the full support of all of our partners whose work we have detailed within this publication from the Galway Arts Festival to the Volvo Ocean Race, Tulca Festival of Visual Arts to Tawasol Arab World Project. In addition, we thank our funders who make all our innovative civic engagement work possible and include the Ireland Funds, the Higher Education Authority, Atlantic Philanthropies, NUI Galway Bright Ideas Fund, European Commission, EU Tempus and the HSE. Enjoying reading! Take care,
Lorraine McIlrath CKI Coordinator
COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE INITIATIVE MAGAZINE 2012 The Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) fosters community university partnerships that aim to promote the principles and practices of civic engagement and democracy. The CKI acts as the umbrella to a number of civic engagement pathways that seek to develop an ethos of civic engagement and active participation across NUI Galway. These pathways include: inclusive higher education, community engagement and partnerships, volunteering, service learning, research and knowledge sharing/exchange.
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ON THE COVER:
Flying Circles by Lisa O’Donnell 2010, mixed media on canvas from the NUI Galway Collection
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CONTENTS
community knowledge initiative
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NEW INITIATIVES 01 01 01 01 02 02 03 03 04 04 04 04 04 04 05
CKI Community Partnership Forum Civic Engagement Representatives PC Lottery Making decisions EPIC - Engaging People in Communities A Summary of Citizens’ Voices The NUI Galway Youth Academy NUI Galway Nurtures Next Generation of Technology Users Bright Ideas Research-based Teaching in Engineering Engaging Service Users Community and Homelessness From the Inside Out How do you know who to call? Going to College - Supporting Inclusion and Citizenship
INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT
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07 07 08 08 08
From Barcelona to Galway - A service learning experience Arab World Tawasol - Amman, London, Beirut and Galway Visits NUI Galway Goes Global - International Engagement Perspectives Conference Keynote Addresses Going up down under
INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS
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09 09 10 10 11 11 12 12
Galway Arts Festival and NUI Galway Announce New Partnership Guerrilla Science at the Science and Technology Festival November 2011 I-RUN Latch-On Tulca Festival of Visual Arts Volvo Ocean Race Sea2Sky From Placement to Innovation
VOLUNTEERING NEWS
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13 13 14 14 14 14 15
Welcome to the Hub! NUI Galway Celebrates Tenth Volunteering Fair “Hello” to the European Year of Active Ageing 2012 Student Community Snapshots Undergraduate Ambassadors work with Local Schools Cleggan National School 150th anniversary of Cleggan National School ALIVE Certificate Awards
NATIONAL PROJECTS
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16 16 16 17
Campus Engage Seed Funding National Platform for Engagement Volunteer Ireland EYV2011 Conference A Labour of Love - Results from the Campus Engage Survey
COMMUNITY
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18 18 19 23 24 25 27 28
Solidifying Community Partnerships through Electronic Engineering Occupational Therapy students reflect on their Community Service Project Showcasing Something Special Know Your Council Fascination of Plants Day Social CKI Team Sponsors & Partners
k f y y e g
NEW INITIATIVES
NEW INITIATIVES
CKI COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FORUM Since its inception the CKI has explored different systems to work closely and deeply with community, including the development of an online database of volunteering opportunities that community can access and update and an annual service learning community needs analysis that connects to service learning projects within the curriculum. Since December 2011, the CKI encourages existing and new community partners to e-mail on-going project ideas or community needs to cki@nuigalway.ie. The CKI monitors these needs on a bi-weekly basis through the CKI Community Partnership Forum, which discusses and agrees ways to map these ideas to the knowledge of the university. The purpose of the CKI Community Partnership Forum is to ensure that connections and relations made between the university and community are mutually beneficial. If community have potential project ideas or gaps that the university could help with, please e-mail cki@nuigalway.ie.
PC LOTTERY In January 2012, the CKI held a PC Giveaway for community partners. Thanks to a donation of decommissioned computers from Information Solutions and Services (ISS), the CKI sent out an email to community partners offering these devices on a first come basis. The response was phenomenal, with all available computers snapped up within two hours. This initiative started a couple of years ago and has proved very beneficial to our community partners. To date over 150 PC’s have been distributed to community partners. In addition, we would like to thank the NUI Galway Sports Club for the kind donation of a photocopier and printer which was also included in the lottery as well as ISS for their continuing support.
MAKING
DECISIONS
Civic Engagement Representatives In 2011, the Deans of the five NUI Galway colleges appointed Civic Engagement Representatives to liaise with the CKI on behalf of each College. The purpose of this group is to enable deeper engagement; to further embed the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy; and to create civic engagement connections within and across the university. To date, the representatives in partnership with the CKI have begun to map the extent and range of civic engagement activities currently underway. This exercise will allow for further growth and development while also facilitating knowledge sharing on the extent and range of civic engagement activities. The representatives include: Dr. Christine Domegan, College of Business, Public Policy and Law Dr. Mark Healy, College of Engineering and Informatics Dr. Rachel Quinlan, College of Science Dr. Padraig MacNeela, College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies Margaret McGrath, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
The Making Decisions project consists of a series of easy read booklets highlighting the current law on a variety of topics including: capacity, relationships, money and health. People with an intellectual disability have the same human rights to self-determination and autonomy as everybody else. We often forget the wide range of legal activity that people with intellectual disabilities engage in on an every day basis and the need to build on this solid foundation. People need information in order to make decisions, they need to know what their rights are and they need to know how best to exercise their rights. They need support to make their own decisions. Some people may not be able to assert their capacity to make certain decisions, or to communicate their choices. We need to find ways to communicate and support people to express their wishes and their choices.
The partnership between the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies and the Disability Law Reform module students from the LLM in Public Law and the parents group Act originated in a belief that selective areas of research work would have a value to both people with disabilities and to the students. The aim was to facilitate a real learning experience for students and to translate it into real life application of what the law means in peoples’ lives. The publication was part funded by the CKI through NUI Galway’s commitment to inclusion within community and society. In 2009-2010, two students carried out a wide ranged search of academic and other writings on the topic of capacity and along with self advocates identified a gap in the availability of accessible or easy to read formats explaining some issues. This was confirmed by meetings with self advocates, families and service providers. A proposal was put forward to translate the current law on capacity into meaningful easy to read information for self-advocates, family members and services to understand aspects of the law until we have a new law. This is a first step in this process.
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CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
We hope that this document will support people to express their wishes and exercise their choices.
NEW INITIATIVES
EPIC Engaging People in Communities EPIC is a new development in CKI which will focus on expanding relationships between NUI Galway and the wider society through supporting collaborative models of research, knowledge-sharing, strengthening links between teaching and research and capacity-building within communities. EPIC will act as a point of contact for community, voluntary and statutory organisations who would like to access research, outreach and other collaborative opportunities with the university. It will also be a key contact point for staff and students within the university interested in public engagement opportunities with the wider community. There are many types of activities that can be included in this type of communityuniversity engagement, for example, participatory and action research, arts and cultural activities, science outreach, the role of academics in public debate and various forms of knowledge exchange. Further information on this is available from: Ann Lyons email: ann.lyons@nuigalway.ie tel. 091-492228.
A SuMMARy of
CItIzeNS’
VoICeS: Experiments in Democratic Renewal and Reform
Edited by Gemma M. Carney and Clodagh Harris (co-convenors of the Participatory and Deliberative Democracy Specialist Group of the Political Studies Association of Ireland).
The papers in this e-book successfully demonstrate the role of participation and deliberation in democratic reform. This edited collection demonstrates that sophisticated forms of deliberation can be developed not only in universities, but also within the roots of primary school education. In the opening chapter, the very essence of deliberation is described by Jurg Steiner. Chapters two and three are accounts of deliberative experiments, the G1000 summit in Belgium 2011 (Peter Vermeersch) and the We the Citizens pilot assembly in Ireland (Farrell, O’Malley and Suiter), are examples of how civic engagement and participation from various walks of life can induce impact on the development
of policies. Mary P. Murphy offers an honest account of building ‘Claiming Our Future’ as a movement to reaffirm citizen’s voice in broad-based social and economic reform. Finally, McInerney and Carney argue that the practicalities of making deliberation count is still contested, arguing that such disparities are evident within the Hunt Report (2010). Although the report envisages the university’s role in the educating for civic engagement, in reality it is more often evidenced in ‘pockets’ of university life. The editors hope that documenting these experiments in an open access publication may inspire similar initiatives in future. CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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NEW INITIATIVES
INTERACTION
The NUI Galway Youth Academy
Pedro Quaresma and Maeve Quinn, both ten-year-old students at Scoil Chaitríona Senior in Renmore, Galway.
Anne Wall, Deputy Principal Scoil Chaitríona Senior in Renmore; Lorraine Mc Ilrath, Community Knowledge Initiative, NUI Galway; Chris Curtin, Vice President for Innovation and Performance, NUI Galway; Caroline Heary, School of Psychology, NUI Galway; Mary Dempsey, School of Engineering & Informatics, NUI Galway; Geraldine Marley, Youth Academy Coordinator.
Following the call for innovative ideas, entitled the Bright Ideas Campaign, from the Vice President for Performance and Innovation at NUI Galway, a proposal to develop a Youth Academy at NUI Galway was successfully awarded funding. The Youth Academy aims to work with high ability primary school children in the local community to support their learning and academic development.
The programme aims to inspire entry into university by introducing children and their families to university life and by creating positive perceptions of the university and its academic programmes. The Youth Academy is a collaboration between staff at NUI Galway, Mary Dempsey (School of Engineering & Informatics), Dr. Caroline Heary (School of Psychology), and Lorraine McIlrath (Community Knowledge Initiative) and Dr. Colm O’ Reilly of the Irish Centre of Talented Youth (CTYI), at Dublin City University. This programme will ultimately enhance links with the local community and its hinterland. It builds on NUI Galway’s ongoing commitment to civic engagement
NUI Galway Nurtures Next Generation of Technology Users
and work with local primary schools through student volunteering in over twenty homework clubs. The Youth Academy dovetails with the NUI Galway Strategic Plan 2009-2014 that highlights the centrality of relationships between the university and regional stakeholders, with the objective that the needs of the community, be they economic, cultural or educational, are met (NUI Galway Strategic Plan 2009-2014). This project also complements the vision for higher education in Ireland moving forward to 2030, when it proposes a multi-sector response to deficits in educational attainment of students, particularly in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and the need for greater cooperation, engagement and partnership across different education sectors (National Strategy of Higher Education to 2030, HEA 2011). A small-scale pilot study was conducted in 2010, in the School of Psychology, NUI Galway in co-operation with CKI and CTYI. This involved the delivery of one course (Psychology) by university students to local primary school children. Feedback from university students, children, parents and stakeholders was very positive. Demand for this activity indicates that we should mainstream a suite of courses aimed at primary school children (10 to 13 years of age). The roll-out of this programme will be multi-disciplinary in nature and will take place on campus during April and May 2012 on Saturday mornings. For further information on the project please e-mail Geraldine Marley at youthacademy@nuigalway.ie.
CoderDojo, an Irish led global network of computer clubs where young people come to learn to code, develop websites, apps, games and more, is hosted and supported by NUI Galway. The Head of Discipline of Information Technology at NUI Galway, Dr Michael Madden believes that to have CoderDojo come to Galway is vital for young people to understand how our digital world works. It provides a unique environment to exchange knowledge and learn from each other how to write software, particularly in the absence of a computer science curriculum in Secondary Schools. NUI Galway’s Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) is also supporting CoderDojo and is looking for volunteers, especially IT students, who will assist and supervise the young people during the classes. Volunteers will be presented with an ALIVE certification as recognition of their work. Due to the large demand, those interested are asked to register before attending. For further information visit http://coderdojo.com or email coderdojogalway@gmail.com. 3
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NEW INITIATIVES
Bright Ideas Engaging Active Communities Under the university’s Bright Ideas funding initiative, CKI with CORA – Community Research in Action – (an initiative by a number of academics to promote community-engaged research in the university) – co-ordinated a seed-funding scheme to support collaborative models of research among university academic staff and researchers and community partners. The aim of this funding scheme was to promote and support community-engaged research and heighten the profile and impact of this type of research in the university and the wider community. Grants of between ?350 and ?3,500 were available, and there was a very positive response, with thirty-one interesting and diverse applications received. Five of the thirty-one received funding – these projects will be carried out during the summer and be reported on at the end of September.
Research-based Engaging Teaching in Service Users Engineering Building capacity and enhancing Curriculum reform in Engineering education, is co-ordinated by Dr. Jamie Goggins, Lecturer in Civil Engineering in conjunction with Engineers Ireland, the professional body for engineers in Ireland. The project will build on research-based teaching and learning methodologies used in Level 8 engineering education at NUI Galway, and using the programme at NUI Galway as a pilot, will evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of applying this type of methodology to higher education Engineering programmes throughout Ireland.
quality through research, is a partnership between COPE Galway and NUI Galway and will develop capacity in research skills with staff and clients of the COPE organisation. The project aims to build capacity in conducting and using research. It is co-ordinated by Dr. Josephine Boland of NUI Galway and Lisa Silke and Ena Norris of COPE Galway.
From the Inside Out
Representing community identities is a partnership entitled the Rinnamona Research Group, which comprises staff at NUI Galway and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology and members of the community in Rinnamona in Co. Clare. The group has been researching collaboratively for a number of years on a project related to a famous 1930’s study entitled ‘Family and Community in Ireland’, carried out in Co.Clare by U.S. anthropologists Arensberg and Kimball. Included among the community members in the group are descendents of those portrayed in the Arensberg and Kimball study. Some of the research material from the Arensberg and Kimball study, for example, diaries, has been returned to the community and the ongoing project has included a ‘re-reading’ of the study in the light of this material. In this particular phase of the project, the group will produce community based publications in book, DVD and web formats and also an academic publication. The group members are: Dr. Anne Byrne, NUI Galway, Deirdre O’Mahony, GMIT, and community members Mary Moroney, Seán Roche, John Ruane and Francis Whelan.
‘How do you know who to call?’ An exploration of strategies used by community dwelling older people to learn about and access primary healthcare services, is a research project between COPE Galway and the discipline of Occupational Therapy at NUI Galway. With the active participation of older people in the research activities, the project will investigate how older people living in the community get to know about primary care services and how they access these services. The results of the research will be made available through the publication and circulation of good practice guides. The project is co-ordinated by Ann Kenny of COPE Galway and Margaret McGrath, Lecturer, and Kathleen Clancy, Student, of Occupational Therapy at NUI Galway.
Community and Homelessness A collaborative study with COPE Galway, will investigate the ways in which a supportive community environment can be created in the environment of emergency hostel accommodation. This project builds on research already carried out in this area by a post-graduate student at NUI Galway, Thomas Conway, and aims to deepen and develop this work. Donna O’Neill of COPE and Dr. Padraig MacNeela of NUIG are co-ordinating the project. For further information please contact: Ann Lyons, email: ann.lyons@nuigalway.ie tel. 091-492228, Dr. Josephine Boland, email: josephine. boland@nuigalway.ie tel. 091-493857 and Dr. Padraig MacNeela, email: padraig.macneela@nuigalway.ie tel. 091-495121 CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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NEW INITIATIVES
Initiative Supporting Inclusion and Citizenship In September 2011, eight students with intellectual disabilities started their college experience in a variety of disciplines at NUI Galway - Earth & Ocean Sciences, Engineering, Human Rights, Irish and Celtic Civilisation, Italian, Marketing, Political Science & Sociology and Theatre & Performance.
T
hrough an inclusive, individualised model of higher education, the students are being fully included in undergraduate lectures, tutorials, labs and group work, with opportunities emerging to work with their undergraduate peers. Academic staff in each of the disciplines are guiding and encouraging the students in their coursework.
re-allocation of funding to provide opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities to pursue higher education and lifelong learning. The UNESCO Child & Family Research Centre, the Community Knowledge Initiative, the Centre for Disability Law & Policy at NUI Galway and the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies are leading this initiative.
Based on individual need, support is being provided to each student outside of class to ensure an enriching college experience. Students have successfully completed assignments/exams and have taken on the role of university student with great energy and enthusiasm.
The recent National Strategy for Higher Education expressed a commitment to expanding participation in higher education and lifelong learning. A diverse university/community partnership advises the roll-out of this initiative and the National Strategy highlighted the value of university/community partnerships in creating long-term cultural and social change. The Going to College initiative stems from a rights-based, strengths-based perspective, with each student having the opportunity to reach their full potential as active, included citizens.
A number of students have enjoyed the facilities of the Kingfisher sports venue, undertaken volunteering opportunities/work placement and explored the myriad of possibilities that are available through joining clubs and societies. The inclusion of students is being supported by the Going to College initiative with tremendous support from university staff, students, families, friends and supporters all contributing significantly to its success to date. To ensure the longterm sustainability of the initiative, an evaluation process is in place. Discussions are also taking place with stakeholders that play a pivotal role in policy change and the 5
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“Inclusion and citizenship are at the heart of any democratic society and the Going to College initiative supports both inclusion and citizenship�
NEW INITIATIVES
“The Going to College initiative has been a wonderful experience for me. Initial concerns concerning the inclusion of the students into ‘mainstream’ education were dissipated within minutes of their arrival. I was fortunate to have one student present in a number of my lectures. Through interaction with other students, and academic and administrative staff, both socially and in the lecture hall, there has been a marked change in him. To have played a small role in his life has been very gratifying for me. Although this initiative is very much in its infancy, with continued support from university staff, a model for best practice for inclusive higher education will hopefully emerge”.
Dr. Mark Healy, Lecturer in Civil engineering at the College of engineering and Informatics
Front row (L to R): Mary Cavanagh, Mary Smith, Mark Healy, Brian Cavanagh, John Breslin, Gerry Lyons, Gerard Quinn. Back Row (L to R): Mary McCormack, Pat Dolan, Lorraine McIlrath, Breda Casey.
“It’s a pleasure to be a part of the Going to College Project with all the initial aspects highly rewarding for me. The student is involved, motivated, interested, deeply engaged and willing to learn. Academic colleagues are generous with their time and assistance while the Going to College team are visionary and incredibly dedicated, doing much of the difficult unseen work tackling day-to-day social inclusion barriers in Irish third level education. As with all pilot projects, at this point, my main concern is the long term sustainability of the Going to College initiative”.
Dr. Christine Domegan, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at the J.e. Cairnes School of Business & economics at NuI Galway
Dr. Mark Healy with Brian Cavanagh
“I enjoyed engineering It was very interesting. I liked the course. It was positive. I felt good.” Brian Cavanagh, Student of the College of Engineering and Informatics.
“Going to college is a big change for me. I found it hard to start but now I am getting to know the people in my class. I have a study person to help me with the chapters I have to read and lessons in the book too.” elizabeth McCormack, Student of Marketing at NUI Galway.
Dr. Christine Domegan and Elizabeth McCormack
Photos courtesy of Aengus McMahon and The Ireland Funds
Breda Casey, Co-Ordinator (breda.casey@nuigalway.ie) and Mary Smith (m.smith20@nuigalway.ie) from the Going to College office in the Arts Millennium Building are happy to provide any further information (Tel: 091-493621). CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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INTERNATIONAL
International
Engagement From Barcelona to Galway
Arab World Tawasol Project
A service learning experience
Amman, London, Beirut and Galway Visits
Gemma Puig from the Universitat de Barcelona joined the CKI from September 2011 to February 2012 as part of her doctoral work. Here she reflects on knowledge she gained: “My experience in Galway has been exceptional. My aim was to gain and develop my knowledge about service learning. I was both impressed and interested to learn that an entity called the CKI committed to promote service learning existed at NUI Galway. My colleague from Argentina, Maria Nieves Tapia encouraged me to spend some time in Ireland and in particular at NUI Galway to learn about service learning within an Irish context. I am undertaking my Ph.D., at the Universitat de Barcelona. The aim of my doctoral studies is to understand the development of several service learning projects in Catalonia through the analysis of the satisfaction levels of all participants to bring some guidance to institutionalize these projects within higher education. Following a four-month engagement where I shadowed the team and undertook primary and secondary research, I can highlight three findings I learnt during my experience: Firstly I met lecturers who are very engaged with their service learning work and they make a difference through their subject areas with the community, while also enhancing the pursuit of academic content. Secondly, I realised that civic engagement is the necessary framework to develop quality service-learning modules and also to build a twoway reciprocal relationship with community partners. Finally, the last and the most important, I was given the opportunity to share knowledge with CKI team, not trying to find the right answers but creating the right questions.” Gemma Puig, GREDI, Grup de Recerca en Educació Intercultural, Universitat de Barcelona. 7
CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
In 2009, the CKI at NUI Galway entered into a nine partner higher education collaboration to embed civic engagement and service learning in Jordan and Lebanon in a project that was funded by the European Union programme, Tempus. The project, entitled Tawasol, (Tawasol means engagement and interaction in Arabic) is in its final year of funding and can boast of many significant achievements, including the growth of service learning within the curriculum and the development of centres for civic engagement and service learning in the partner institutions. Lorraine McIlrath, Tawasol lead at NUI Galway, has travelled extensively through Jordan and Lebanon offering training and her experience of civic engagement in Ireland. This project is of particular significance given the recent Arab Spring and its manifold changes. The ultimate goal of Tawasol is to give higher education students an experience within community that facilitates them to become engaged and active democratic citizens. In September 2012, NUI Galway will welcome twenty students from the five partner universities in Jordan and Lebanon for a two-week long study tour in which they will develop an understanding of the CKI and engage in peer-to peer-learning with NUI Galway students. To mark the end of the EU funded period, the Tawasol project will host a major international conference by the Dead Sea in Jordan in November 2012 and those wishing to attend and offer presentations should contact Lorraine McIlrath lorraine.mcilrath@nuigalway.ie
INTERNATIONAL
NUI Galway
GOES GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT PERSPECTIVES Both Lorraine McIlrath and Ann Lyons from the CKI along with Professor Ronaldo Munck from Dublin City University (DCU) recently edited a new Palgrave Macmillan publication entitled Higher Education and Civic Engagement: Comparative Perspectives that was published to coincide with the annual American Educational Research Association (AERA) conference in the United States in April 2012. The book provides an original and challenging contribution to contemporary debates on the civic purpose of higher education, exploring diverse manifestations of civic engagement through teaching and learning, research and volunteering, in a range of international contexts. The chapters offer critical contemporary perspectives from a robust comparative perspective on the role of higher education institutions in terms of civic engagement. Perspectives from the United States, Argentina, Australia, Ireland, Spain, Lebanon and the United Kingdom feature in the book. The contributors to the book are also a diverse group and include academics, university leaders, administrators, community activists and a poet! The book will represent an important text for leaders of higher education, academics, administrators, members of community, researchers and professional practitioners. For further information see www.palgrave.com.
CONFERENCE KEYNOTE ADDRESSES President Browne offered a keynote address in November 2011 at the German National Conference of Service Learning at the University of Augsburg in Germany. At this event the President shared his strategic vision at NUI Galway on the role of student and staff engagement and his leadership within higher education. This conference offered a unique opportunity to showcase winners of a German national competition on the theme of “More than research and teaching – societal responsibility as a third mission of universities”, which was organised and funded by two major foundations in Germany, Stifterverband and Stiftung Mercator. The President’s address focused on the recent challenges facing higher education in Ireland with regard to the current global economic climate and the importance of strategic partnerships at local, regional and international levels in terms of a common response to these challenges. He urged leaders of higher education to look towards engagement versus elitism and highlighted the role that all members of higher education can play in instilling a culture and ethos of social responsibility. www.stifterverband.org/ ueber_den_stifterverband/english/index.html and www. stiftungmercator.de/en/home.html.
GOING UP DOWN UNDER In July 2012, Lorraine McIlrath offered a keynote address to the AUCEA International Conference hosted by Queensland University of Technology in the Garden Point Campus in Brisbane. AUCEA is a not-for-profit organisation committed to fostering university-community engagement throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region. The focus of the conference was on “Community Engaged Learning” that is based upon mutual benefit and reciprocity between the “engagers”. Engagers may be from the community, including business/industry, or be part of a university as academic or non-academic staff or students. The spectrum of Community Engaged Learning encompasses a diverse array of activities that enhance the community, the university, and the student experience. For further information on the conference see www.auceaconference.org.au. CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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PARTNERSHIPS
Innovative Partnerships Leading The Future It is often argued that universities and academic institutions cannot continue to be centre of knowledge excellence by isolating their entities from the society and community which they belong to. NUI Galway is constantly looking for innovative ways to develop and strengthen partnership with the wider community. Galway Arts festival and NuI Galway Announce New Partnership In early 2011, Galway Arts Festival (GAF) and NUI Galway developed a new partnership. The University supported the 34th Galway Arts Festival through development of the Festival’s Volunteer Programme and “Selected”, an innovative development strand of the Festival for emerging artists and producers. During the 2011 Festival student volunteers from NUI Galway as part of the ALIVE Volunteer Programme participated in a wide range of activities from front of house to behind the scenes, gaining valuable firsthand experience and enjoying the festival from a different perspective. Macnas has been creating performances in Galway for over 23 years with the community, for the community and have formed the centrepiece of each year’s Galway Arts Festival. Lisa Nugent, postgraduate student at NUI Galway, when asked about volunteering with the GAF Parade said, “It is great. I did my placement with Macnas earlier this year and that’s how I got asked back to volunteer.” Huston Film School student Liam Harkin volunteered with GAFTV and felt that;
“Working with GAF is a fantastic opportunity to meet other people involved in the industry.” Festival CEO John Crumlish added, “NUI Galway have been at the forefront of developing volunteerism at 3rd level in Ireland through its Community Knowledge Initiative and the partnership with the longstanding Festival programme will introduce a new generation of volunteers to the Festival experience while also helping shape that experience for the future. Volunteerism plays a key role in the 9
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Galway Arts Festival and has been hugely important in the success of the event and provides volunteers with the opportunity to engage with many aspects of staging a large festival, from involvement with the Macnas Festival Parade, the Festival Big Top, and the Festival’s online television channel, GAFTV. These elements are very varied and provide hugely positive experiences for those who partake.” Both Paul Fahy and John Crumlish recalled their initial experience with the Festival as volunteers in the late 1980s and the Festival continues to play a leading advocacy role in the advancement of careers in the arts. The university will continue to deepen its involvement with GAF for the 2012 festival.
Guerilla Science at the Science & technology festival November 2011 A Guerrilla Science event took place on November 27th 2011, at the Galway Science and Technology Festival, held at NUI Galway. Guerrilla Science aims to promote innovative ways of communicating science to the wider public, through for example, using public spaces to engage with people about science, assisting scientists in making their research more accessible to a wider audience, and promoting greater integration of science in society. This event was jointly organised by NUI Galway and GMIT – collaboration between NUI Galway staff in the Community Knowledge Initiative, Ryan Institute, School of Education, Arts Office and Research Office and GMIT staff in the Department of Photography. For the project, scientists from NUI Galway and visual artists from GMIT collaborated to create a visual artwork, which demonstrated an aspect of science. Two exhibits were created and displayed at the Science and Technology Festival – I-Run by scientist Ted Vickey (DERI) and visual artist Jessica Buckley and Latch-On, by visual artist Veronika Straberger and scientist, Anna Pielach.
PARTNERSHIPS
LATCH-ON
Above: Jim Lenaghan (School of Education), Paul Fahy (GAF), Jim Browne, (President) NUI Galway, Lorraine McIlrath (CKI), Patrick Lonergan (English Dept), John Crumlish (GAF), Kenneth O’Dowd, Aidan Gannon, GAF representative, Isabella Lindgren, Margaret Bailey, Aisling Fox.
I-Run
Incorporated mobile phone technology used in Ted Vickey’s research. Through this technology, Jessica Buckley, a student of experimental film and performance, provided a real-time graphical motion analysis of repeated walks around the NUI Galway main campus, as tracked with an Apple iPhone, during the Galway Science and Technology Festival. Jessica carried out the performance wearing a red morph suit, following the route for the duration of the day. Her movement patterns were projected in real time on to an abstract representation of the NUI Galway campus, creating a life-size Google map. The colours were representative of the track and icon on the Google maps application.
was a joint project between a botanist, Anna Pielach, and a ceramicist, Veronika Straberger. This collaboration was inspired by the ingenious strategy of hemiparasitic plants. These types of parasitic plants are very important for encouraging plant diversity. In latching on to vigorous meadow plants to steal nutrients, they control the growth of dominant plants and enable weaker species to thrive. The main focus of Anna’s research on hemiparasites is haustorium - the underground connection point where the roots of hemiparasites and host plants meet. Veronika created ceramic mosaics inspired by microscopic images of haustoria. The ceramics were stained with a polychromatic dye called Toluidine Blue which develops different shades of blues and purples depending on cell wall biochemistry associated with parasitism. The artistic concept behind the project was for the colourful tiles to break up the monotony of grey buildings, just as hemiparasites break up the monotony of grass monocultures. Ceramic mosaics, like haustoria, were ‘latched on’ to buildings, lamp posts, stairways and benches throughout the NUI Galway campus. These alien clay creatures were determined to break up the monotonous rectangularity and encourage multi-coloured, odd-shaped diversity!
Left to right: Emily Cullen, Dr. Kevin Davison (School of Education, NUI Galway), Dr. Colin Browne (Director, Ryan Institute, NUI Galway), Veronika Straberger (GMIT), Jessica Buckley (GMIT), Ted Vickey (NUI Galway), Dr. Sarah Knight (Ryan Institute, NUI Galway), Ann Lyons (Community Knowledge Initiative, NUI Galway), Eileen Healy (GMIT). CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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PARTNERSHIPS
tulca festival of Visual Arts Co-ordinated by the Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) and the Arts Office and with the participation of the James Hardiman Library, the Huston School of Film & Digital Media and Marketing in the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, this year’s Tulca Festival of Visual Arts ran a number of events in association with NUI Galway. Entitled ‘After the Fall’ and curated by Megs Morley, the festival presented artists’ responses to the contemporary economic collapse and included exhibitions by both local and international artists. There was an exhibition and lecture by Lia Perjovschi, one of Romania’s leading artists at the James Hardiman Library, co-ordinated by library staff members Laurie Greenfield and Niamh Connolly. Lia’s work focuses on the activities of collecting, archiving, structuring, distributing and mediating a variety of knowledge about society, politics and art which was inaccessible within Romania until after 1989. Rod Stoneman and Dee Quinn at the Huston School of Film & Digital Media in collaboration with the Department of Art and Design at GMIT, hosted a presentation and workshop by US artist, Frances Whitehead of
the School of the Art Institute Chicago on the strategy of ‘embedding’ practising artists in planning processes at local government level. The session brought together local planners, artists, students and academics to discuss how to bridge policy and practice, bring new perspectives to local planning and foster innovative approaches to planning Galway city’s future. The university was also the venue for ‘Fugitive Papers’ a dialogue on art, writing, criticality and public(s) in Ireland today, facilitated by local artists James Merrigan, Michaële Cutaya and Fiona Woods. This dialogue formed part of the first printed issue of ‘Fugitive Papers’ in 2012. Students in the B.Comm. Marketing Research degree class, with the support of Marketing lecturer, Dr. Christine Domegan, conducted market research for Tulca, through profiling arts festival marketing in Ireland and designing and implementing a visitor survey for Tulca. The collaboration between Tulca and the Marketing Research class has brought benefits to both parties. The students got the opportunity to do marketing research in the real world and Tulca had ‘extra hands’ to do research work that ordinarily would not get done by a non-profit organisation.
Volvo ocean Race Building on the success of the 2009 partnership, NUI Galway was recently announced as the partner of the Volunteers Programme for the event. Again the University will bring its considerable experience in the field of volunteering and work with non-profit event organiser Let’s Do It Galway to help mobilise the small army of volunteers required. The volunteering drive for the Volvo Ocean Race stopover is a natural extension of this ethos of civic engagement. Galway will host the grand finale of the race from 30th June to 8th July 2012 and it promises to be an even grander event in 2012. To volunteer or to find out more http://www.letsdoitglobal.com/
The volunteering drive for the Volvo Ocean Race stopover is a natural extension of this ethos of civic engagement.
Dr. Christine Domegan (Marketing), Ollie Walsh (Tulca), Sebastian Nijhuis (B.Comm student), John Singeorzan (B. Comm student), Nora Tacken (B. Comm student), Robert Hegarty (B. Comm student), Julie Irwin (B. Comm student), Heikki McEvoy (B. Comm student), Ann Lyons (CKI) 11
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PARTNERSHIPS
Sea2Sky Sea2Sky, a free public science event, held on September 23rd 2011 in Leisureland and Galway Atlantaquaria, showcased the work of scientists in the areas of Marine, Atmospherics and Astronomy. The event was organised by NUI Galway, co-ordinated by Dr. Andy Shearer (Department of Physics and Astronomy), with staff in the Ryan Institute and the Research Office, in collaboration with the Marine Institute and Galway Atlantaquaria. The event was funded under the European Union’s Marie Curie Programme and by Discover Science & Engineering. Volunteers were very important to the smooth running of the event and this aspect of the day was supported by the Community Knowledge Initiative through the student volunteering programme, ALIVE. Visitors to Sea2Sky participated in experiments, competitions and quizzes, watched demonstrations and simulations and exchanged ideas with the researchers. Different exhibits were set up throughout the venues and members of the public had a chance to learn more about whales and dolphins in Irish waters, see a mini-sea exploration vehicle, take a 3-D tour of the universe, check out live demonstrations and take part in a variety of handson activities. The event ran from 11.00am to 11.00pm and was attended by thousands of visitors on the day.
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From Placement to Innovation
As part of the MA in Community Development, students must complete a placement for at least four months in a community work setting. Geraldine Marley, MA Community Development Graduate 2011, had a particular interest in working with children and young people and undertook her placement with the CKI, and worked directly with the ALIVE Volunteer Programme.
Geraldine Marley reflects on the experience: One of my main focuses for the duration of my placement was piloting a new project in which I acted as a Liaison for two homework clubs in Galway City. This enabled me to facilitate over fifty students to volunteer in a oneon-one setting with both primary and secondary school children. I was the link between ALIVE, the volunteers and the schools in question. The project was deemed a success with a higher number of volunteers attending the homework club each week and less pressure on the homework club coordinator in the school. By developing a system and putting a structure in place, I was able to hand the project over to other students when I finished my placement. ALIVE is continuing this project and hopes to possibly include more homework clubs in the future.
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Anti-clockwise from top: Volunteers in their official gear welcome visitors. Onlookers in Salthill taking in the Port race. Pictured at the Launch of the Volvo Volunteer Programme: Declan Dooley, President of Galway Chamber, President Dr. James Browne, Student volunteer Eoin Cawley, Mayor of Galway City Hildegarde Naughton, Student Volunteer Peter Lyons, Mary Jo Parker Volvo Ocean Race Volunteer Programme Manager. CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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VOLUNTEERING
Volunteering News WELCOME TO THE HUB!
The newly refurbished student common room in Áras na Mac Léinn, the Hub, is home to the CKI’s ALIVE Student Volunteering Programme. Call in for a chat and meet the ALIVE Interns Team, all former and current ALIVE volunteers, trained to support students find their ideal volunteering opportunity and get started in the community. Kate Quigley, fourth year BA Creative Writing, has volunteered with the GSPCA and Riding for Disabled, Lorna Bracken, third year BA Geography and Sociology and Politics, and Sinead Jordan, second year BA English and Spanish, have volunteered in youth clubs and homework clubs and Conor Lane, BA Public and Social Policy is our on-campus volunteering guru having written extensively for the Student Newspaper, SIN. Claire McCallion, second year BA, is our Arts in Action Intern coordinating a team of volunteers which support the weekly music, literature and cultural events in Áras na Mac Léinn. Kevin Ward, fourth year Science student, is our Scoil Bhride Homework Club Liaison and facilitates over fifty students to volunteer one-on-one with primary school children. ALIVE interns, in addition to providing one-on-one support to their fellow students beginning their volunteering, represent ALIVE throughout the year at fairs and events. They receive training and on-going support to build their leadership portfolio.
Above: Conor Lane. Below: Lorna Braken and Kate Quigley.
NUI GALWAY CELEBRATES TENTH VOLUNTEERING FAIR The tenth annual NUI Galway Volunteering Fair took place on Tuesday 27th of September 2011 in the Bailey Allen Hall, Áras na Mac Léinn, from 1-5pm. Over 2,000 students, staff and members of the general public attended the Fair that was officially opened by the Galway City Mayor Hildegarde Naughton. The Galway Community Circus helped with the celebrations and added to the buzz and atmosphere performing for attendees on stilts! Over 80 charities and community organisations attended to showcase the wide range of volunteer opportunities available as well as share their work. The Fair is part of a weeklong celebration of volunteering at NUI Galway, the culmination of which coincides with the National Day of Volunteering on Friday, 1st of October. At the time, Lorraine Tansey, ALIVE Student Volunteer Coordinator at NUI Galway, stated that “We are really looking forward to celebrating community life as not only is this the European Year of Volunteering 2011 but also this is our tenth year at NUI Galway promoting volunteering, active citizenship and engagement.” Exhibitors at the Volunteering Fair included: Youth Work Ireland, Gorta, Galway One World Centre, ISPCC, Galway Samaritans, Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and the European Voluntary Service to mention a few. 13
CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
At the tenth annual NUI Galway Volunteering Fair, officially opened by Mayor of Galway Hildegarde Naughton were members of the Galway Community Circus. Also pictured (front row, l-r) NUI Galway student volunteers Enda Clarke, Sinead Jordan and Sean McHugh with NUI Galway staff (back row, l-r): Mary O’Riordan, Vice-President for the Student Experience; Lorraine Tansey, Student Volunteer Coordinator; Lorraine McIlrath, CKI Coordinator with the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching; and Nollaig Mac Congáil, Registrar and Deputy President.
VOLUNTEERING
“GooDBye” to tHe euRoPeAN yeAR of VoLuNteeRING 2011 AND “HeLLo” to tHe euRoPeAN yeAR of ACtIVe AGeING 2012 The Click and Connect programme uses volunteer Reaching over one thousand people throughout 2011, tutors to introduce very basic computer skills to the “We Volunteer!” exhibition featuring twenty 400 learners. They teach activities such as surfing higher education student volunteers in action featured the internet, creating and using an email account, at the all-Ireland close to the European Year of downloading photos and accessing Government Volunteering in the Parliament Buildings, Stormont, information online. The classes are two-hours long Belfast. Beginning with the launch in the National for three successive weeks, and are offered for free. Library Dublin, throughout 2011 the “We Volunteer!” The classes began in January and will run until exhibition visited twenty campuses, three conferences June, and both students and learners are gaining including the “Volunteers and Volunteering in Latvia” great strides and also having a lot of fun. conference in Riga, the HEA European Programmes Day at the Croke Park Conference Centre, the Project leader Pat Byrne (College of Engineering European Parliament in Brussels with the support Left to right: GMIT student volunteer Fiachra Mac An Airchinof Marian Harkin MEP, the launch of the European nigh, NUI Galway student volunteer Emma King, Marian Har- and Informatics) says “We are all very enthusiastic Year at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham with former kin MEP North West, Lorraine Tansey NUI Galway Student about this project. The classes are targeted at those President McAleese and featured in the national Volunteer Coordinator, Sean Kelly MEP South, Pat Daly Direc- with no prior experience of computers and are Irish Aid Volunteering Centre exhibition space on tor of Games GAA and Sligo IT student volunteer Mark Miller non-threatening for the novice user. Our student O’Connell Street. The exhibition was a result of the NUI Galway CKI led volunteers are giving these learners valuable skills for survival in today’s digital Campus Engage HEA SIF 1 funded project and its aim was to highlight the age, and the older participants are enjoying the experience.” extent of student volunteering across the higher education sector in Ireland. Classes run Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. 2012 has been designated the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity To book a place contact Trish on 087-0571967. Between Generations, and NUI Galway is contributing to this in a scheme whereby student volunteers are helping older people to gain basic computer For more information on: skills. In association with Age Action Ireland and a number of other partners, Click and Connect: clickandconnect@nuigalway.ie we have been awarded funding to support the government-led Benefit3 scheme EYV2011: www.eyv2011.ie aimed at those with little or no computer experience. We Volunteer: www.wevolunteer.ie
StuDeNt CoMMuNIty SNAPSHotS PhD in Biochemistry student Claire Concannon researching Huntington’s Disease organised a coffee and cake morning in the Hub, Aras na Mac Leinn on Monday the 5th March, in aid of the Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland (HDAI) and the Akbar Kare Institute. Huntington’s Disease is a hereditary progressive neurological disorder. HDAI is a national voluntary organisation established to provide consultation, information
150tH ANNIVeRSARy of Cleggan National School A CKI funded project involved students in the taught MA class of 2010-11 and Cleggan National School in North Connemara. The initial contact by NUI Galway lecturers in History was with school principal, Mary Aspell, who was keen to have a school history published to mark the 150th anniversary of Cleggan NS. For the MA class, it was interesting that the school was established during a period of religious conflict, when evangelical Protestant missionaries worked hard to convert communities in the area to their own beliefs. It was an area where religious and educational affairs had been previously neglected by the Catholic church, and the establishment of the school was part of a wider effort to reassert Catholicism. Three students, Donna O’Brien, Katrina Lavelle, and Máire Neville undertook to research and write a chapter as their assignment for their local history module. Accompanied by Dr John Cunningham and Dr Jackie Uí Chionna lecturers in History, they visited the school on several occasions, met the Board of Management, interviewed past pupils and past teachers, examined school records, and got the lie of the land, as it were. The students successfully completed their research essays, and editorial work is currently being carried out by Drs Uí Chionna and Cunningham, while Mary Aspell is collecting photos and other illustrative material. It is envisaged that senior pupils will visit NUI Galway in the near future and that the 150th anniversary history of Cleggan National School will appear before the end of the present academic year.
and individualised support to those diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease, their families and their health care teams (for more information see www.huntingtons.ie). The Akbar Kare Institute is a free therapy centre for children with Cerebral Palsy. It is based in Peshawar in Pakistan and has treated more than 1,900 children in the 7 years since it opened. The clinical guidance and training has been given on a voluntary basis by an Irish Physiotherapist.
Undergraduate Ambassadors work with Local Schools
The Undergraduate Ambassador Module in Mathematics at NUI Galway is a 5-ECTS service-learning module that has been available to final year students in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics since 2009-2010. During their work on the module, students spend a total of 30 hours working in a local second-level school under the guidance of a partner teacher. The student’s role is to provide classroom assistance and tutorial support to the teacher and pupils, in accordance with the local situation and in response to any particular opportunities or needs arising. The teaching contributions of undergraduate ambassadors in their host schools have been quite diverse and have included teaching a topic to the whole class, designing learning activities on particular themes, providing tutorial assistance to small groups of pupils, and working with groups of students preparing to participate in extra-curricular mathematical events such as the regional TEAM Maths competition which was hosted by NUI Galway in January. Undergraduate ambassadors also complete a special project of their own devising, on a subject that is relevant to the teaching and learning of mathematics in the school and involving work that will ideally provide the school with a lasting resource. The learning outcomes for the Undergraduate Ambassador module are concerned with the communication of mathematical ideas and with the development of transferable skills. Students on the module report that while the workload is high, the experience is a mathematically and personally rewarding one. For further information please contact rachel.quinlan@nuigalway.ie CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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VOLUNTEERING
ALIVE Certificate Awards Ceremony Celebrates 950 Student’s Commitment to Community
At the NUI Galway ALIVE Certificate for Volunteering ceremony was Galway City Mayor, Hildegarde Naughton with NUI Galway students (back row, l-r): Karen Conroy from Roscommon Town; Martin McGonagle from Moville, Donegal; Maurice Kelter from Tralee, Co. Kerry; and Gemma Lynch from Moville, Co. Donegal. Front row, (l-r): Caolan O’Hehir from Strandhill, Sligo and Damien Scanlon from Roscommon Town.
At the NUI Galway ALIVE Certificate for Volunteering ceremony was Dr Pat Morgan, Vice President for the Student Experience at NUI Galway and Galway City Mayor, Hildegarde Naughton with NUI Galway student, Susan Quirke-Crowley with Mickey, Tom, Caroline, Kate and Claire Crowley.
950 NUI Galway Student volunteers have been awarded the ALIVE Certificate for Volunteering in a ceremony on Tuesday 27th of March in the Bailey Allen Hall at NUI Galway. Galway City Mayor Ms. Hildegarde Naughton, Vice President for the Student Experience Pat Morgan as well as community members, students and NUI Galway support personnel were in attendance.
great opportunities to our students to learn, grow and develop their civic side.” said Lorraine Tansey, Student Volunteer Coordinator. ALIVE is the onsite volunteer centre for NUI Galway students connecting community volunteer opportunities with over 4000 students annually.
“We are most grateful for diligent NUI Galway student volunteers who are always ready to help us out. They are fantastic,” said Mary McGrath, Mercy Secondary School Homework Club coordinator. To date over 7000 students have been recognised for their volunteering commitment within a variety of pathways, enabling NUI Galway to become a role model in promoting skills related to democratic participation and civic engagement amongst the student body. “If each of the 950 awardees gave just 20 hours to volunteer in the city, and many gave much more, at minimum wage they have contributed ?171,000 to the Galway economy. Student volunteering is a two-way street with students learning and benefiting immensely from the experience and organisations and communities benefiting from their engagement. We would like to thank all three hundred community organisations for providing
At the NUI Galway ALIVE Certificate for Volunteering ceremony was Galway City Mayor, Hildegarde Naughton with NUI Galway Masters in Journalism student, Jessica Thompson from Taghshinny, Co. Longford. 15
CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
Students have volunteered with a variety of organisations and organised events throughout the year including Heads Up, Childline, Galway Civic Defence, Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Barretstown, Simon Community and Suas to mention a few. Students must complete an online reflection piece to achieve the award of the Certificate. “Volunteering in general has been an overtly positive experience for me I have gained invaluable life experience in every aspect of my volunteer work. I have met incredible people and gained skills I would not have otherwise nurtured”, said NUI Galway student volunteer Ruth Ni Bheolain with St. Gabriel’s School. Kieran Upton student volunteer said, “My role as a team leader for O La Go La has thought me to lead and empower my group, speak in public and in meetings on behalf of the organisation, I have gained valuable IT skills from updating the website. It has broadened my knowledge of mental health issues and the structure of the mental health service in Ireland and abroad. It has improved my communication skills and my goal setting skills.”
At the NUI Galway ALIVE Certificate for Volunteering ceremony were NUI Galway Podiatry student Eimear Daly from Castleblaney, Co Monaghan.
At the NUI Galway ALIVE Certificate for Volunteering ceremony was Galway City Mayor, Hildegarde Naughton with NUI Galway Masters of Arts and Public Advocacy student, Steven Nyirenda from Malawi.
NATIONAL
National Projects Campus Engage Seed Funding Campus Engage, the network supporting civic engagement activities in higher education in Ireland, (lead partner, CKI at NUI Galway) provided seed funding to sixteen projects from various institutes of technology and universities, to support new and innovative civic engagement activities. The higher education institutions partnered with a range of community-based groups, including adult education associations, community development organisations, a women’s prison, second-level schools and groups working with elderly people. Grants of up to ?5,000 were made available with the key objective being to strengthen civic engagement collaboration between higher education and the wider community. Projects funded related to service learning, volunteering, mentoring of second-level students by third-level students, training in governance for community organisations, the development of learning materials for adults learning in community-based settings and Internet awareness training for Transition Year students. Further information is available at: www. campusengage.ie
VoLuNteeR IReLAND eyV2011 CoNfeReNCe The National Volunteer Management Conference titled “Enabling and Enhancing Volunteering Through Best Practice in Volunteer Management” covered a variety of topics including the Philosophy of Volunteer Management, the Volunteer Impact Assessment Toolkit, Good Practice in Screening Volunteers and Volunteers and the Law. The Opening Address from Minister of State for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton set the scene for an engaging day for volunteers and volunteer coordinators within a range of sectors to share best practice and ideas. Held in Dublin in November the conference keynote speaker Rob Jackson shared the findings of the Canadian research study titled Bridging the Gap, interpreting the key results for an Irish context. Lorraine Tansey, CKI, and Fiona Lawless, Milestone Inventive, had the opportunity to present on their partnership during the Volvo Ocean Race 2009 and share their experiences of recruiting, training, supporting and celebrating eight hundred volunteers for the two-week festival. NUI Galway will host the Volunteering Ireland Regional Workshop for Volunteer Managers in May 2012.
FROM PHASE ONE TO PHASE TWO In recognition of the work piloted by the SIF 1 HEA funded Campus Engage network, additional funding was awarded in early 2012 to develop a second phase to the project so as to extend and grow the work of civic engagement within higher education in Ireland. Campus Engage was established in 2007 to promote civic engagement nationally in Ireland and is working towards embedding the recommendations that the National Review of Higher Education to 2030 have put forward for engagement in Ireland. For further information on Campus Engage please access http://www.campusengage.ie
CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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NATIONAL
A Labour of Love Results from the Campus Engage Survey by Lorraine McIlrath
I
n May 2010, twenty-four higher education institutions across Ireland completed the Campus Engage survey creating the first national opportunity to obtain a ‘snapshot’ of civic engagement activities across the Republic of Ireland. Positively, over 75% of respondents indicated that there is a moderate to substantial acknowledgement of civic engagement within their HEI. But worryingly over 60% of respondents indicate that promotion policies do not take civic engagement into account with regard to both teaching and research. Campus Engage launched the report in May 2011. This marks the first time that a survey of this nature has been carried out nationally, representing an initial attempt to map the range of civic engagement activities across Irish higher education. It has happened at a time when civic engagement in higher education is in its early stages of development and it has provided individual higher education institutions (HEIs) with an opportunity to document and review the nature of their civic engagement activities. It is well recognised that civic engagement can represent a broad church of activities and for the purposes of this survey, Campus Engage defined civic engagement widely so as to encompass the full gamut of activities. For the purposes of the survey civic engagement was defined as:
A mutually beneficial knowledge-based collaboration between the higher education institution, its staff and students, with the wider community, through community-campus partnerships and including the activities of: Service Learning/Community based Learning, Community engaged research, Volunteering, Community / Economic regeneration, Capacitybuilding and Access/Widening participation.
This survey report is published at a particularly opportune moment, following the new emphasis on community engagement as core business for HEIs in the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, which advocates that HEIs ‘deepen the quality and intensity of their relationships with the communities and regions they serve, 17
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and ensure that the emergence of new ideas can better inform community and regional development.’ It seems from the survey that there is substantial senior management support for civic engagement, given that respondents indicate that there is senior management support. And why not? The knowledge and benefits are vast to both the students and staff of the HEI and usually to the community that they partner. However, all report that there are major barriers regarding the implementation of civic engagement within HEIs, with resources (human and fiscal) and time cited most commonly as factors. If we are to embed civic engagement in Ireland, as has been done internationally, then it needs proper resourcing. The results demonstrate that there is a growing appetite and interest in Ireland for civic engagement to be formally adopted and recognised across the HEI sector. A major finding from the survey is the need to understand what is being done concerning civic engagement, through data gathering, systematically ‘joining up of the dots’ and future planning toward implementation. This study is the first within a series of future information gathering phases. We need, at the very minimum, more precise information on the detail of civic engagement activity within Ireland in order to present a more complete picture. It is evident that considerable progress has been made in Ireland to develop civic engagement, albeit with few resources and uneven manifestations of strategic vision. In general, growth and developments appear to be ascribable to individuals within the different institutions, who are personally motivated regarding civic engagement so that growth has occurred ‘organically’ through the endeavours of these individuals rather than being driven by institutional leadership. However, it is a concern within Campus Engage, that the ‘labour of love’ underpinning this organic growth will soon reach its limits. With these committed ‘academic citizens’ it is clear that a future for civic engagement within Irish higher education is not only possible but a very real vision when considered in the context of the HEA’s commitment to community engagement. For a copy of the survey contact CKI at www. nuigalway.ie or download the pdf from www.campusengage.ie.
COMMUNITY
Service Learning updates Student and Lecturer Perspectives Solidifying Community Partnerships through electronic engineering All third year students in the Electrical & Electronic Engineering (EEE) discipline within the College of Engineering and Informatics undertake service learning based group projects involving the development of technology prototypes for the clients of various community organisations such as the NCBI, Deafhear.ie, COPE and Enable Ireland. “During the projects, the students get very valuable and rewarding experience interacting with the organisations and their clients and they get an appreciation of how the needs of all users need to be considered when designing electronic and software products” according to Liam Kilmartin, the lecturer in EEE who co-ordinates the programme. Example projects include Rowmate, a smartphone app that allows visually challenged individuals to utilise and
interact with screen based indoor rowing machines, a system to allow older people with memory problems to manage the process of taking daily medications and the development of a solution to allow children with little or no limb control to interact with video games. “The programme, now in its fourth year, raises awareness amongst the electronic engineers of the future of how their design work and decisions can have very positive impacts on the lives of some groups within society. It also teaches them to consider the issue of inclusivity when making a design decision by putting themselves in the place of a wide range of different potential users” added Kilmartin. A public poster event highlighting this year’s projects took place in the foyer of the new Engineering building during the week of the 27th February to the 2nd March 2012.
Gillian Collins & orla Lyons, 3rd year occupational therapy students reflect on their community service learning project
Students and lecturers of Biomedical, Mechanical, Electronic and Electrical Engineering with community partners showcase their prototypes at the 2012 Service Learning Showcase
“Service learning is an integral part of the 3rd year undergraduate occupational therapy programme. Students collaborate with community organisations and community groups who do not have access to occupational therapy services to develop occupational therapy programmes which support participation and promote health and well-being. This year there are over 12 communityuniversity partnerships ranging from occupational therapy with family support services to occupational therapy with local active retirement groups. Our project which is supported by funding from the Community Knowledge Initiative is a partnership between the Discipline of Occupational Therapy and Salthill Active Retirement Association (Salthill ARA). The aim of the project is to promote active and healthy aging among members of the local community. Our work is based upon research from the United States and the United Kingdom
which suggests that preventative occupational therapy services have a significant impact on reducing age related disability and increasing health and well being. We began working with Salthill ARA in September 2011. From the outset we adopted a partnership approach and met with representatives from the group to identify the occupational therapy needs and interests of the older adults. In collaboration with our lecturer Ms. Margaret McGrath and working closely with the steering committee from Salthill ARA we have developed a 6-week occupational therapy programme designed to support older adults to engage in meaningful and health promoting occupations. Our programme is facilitated each Tuesday in Leisureland in Salthill and is made up of a combination of theory and practical sessions. Examples of topics covered include fall prevention, joint protection, gentle exercises and maintaining a healthy diet.”
CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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COMMUNITY
Adam Nolan from Ennis, Co. Galway, a second-year Biomedical Science student at NUI Galway; Paul Hession, Olympic Athlete and NUI Galway medical student; and Miriam Kearns, Clinical Skills Technician with the NUI Galway School of Medicine.
Croí, the West of Ireland Cardiac foundation Olympic Athlete and NUI Galway medical student Paul Hession and Matthew Duggan from Annaghdown, Co. Galway, a second-year Biomedical Engineering student at NUI Galway.
SHOWCASING SOMETHING SPECIAL The academic year sees many projects come to fruition. Here’s a taster of what happens outside the college library.
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In partnership with Croí, the West of Ireland Cardiac Foundation (www.croi.ie), 2nd Year Biomedical Science students at NUI Galway as part of the Community Knowledge Initiative module decided this year to raise awareness of the importance of elevated blood pressure (hypertension) as a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, which is the single greatest cause of premature death in Irish adults. Throughout a ten-week module, the students learned about the causes and effects of high blood pressure. They were instructed in the accurate measurement of blood pressure using various methods. Croí very generously shared with the students their considerable expertise in blood pressure screening protocols. This module was completed under the supervision of Dr. Gerard Flaherty, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Medicine and Medical Education at NUI Galway. Following from this the students organised a public blood pressure screening clinic. On the 1st March 150 staff and students of NUI Galway attended a free clinic on campus to have their blood pressure measured by a trained student under the supervision of Dr. Gerard Flaherty and members of the Croí MyAction clinical team.
COMMUNITY
At the NUI Galway CKI presentation day were member s of the group who worked on the Irish Therapy Dogs project. Back row, l-r: Roisin Reid from Lifford, Co. Donega l; Lauren Scanlon from Athenry, Co. Galway; Robyn Gallagher from Ballinlough, Co. Roscommon; Adrianne McGee from Falcarragh, Co. Donegal; Aoibhinn O’ Brien from Clarinbridge, Co. Galway; and Grainne McNamara from Feakle, Co Clare. Front Row, l-r: Tadhg Cuddihy from Cratloe, Co. Clare; Maria Lawton-Murray with Therapy Dog Bubbles; and Damien McNelis from Athenry, Co. Galway .
Where elevated blood pressure readings were observed, individuals were given specific advice by a Croí clinical team member according to their standard screening protocols as well as written information about blood pressure control. In some cases, individuals were advised to bring their blood pressure readings to their GP for further assessment. Those attending the clinic were inspired by the guest attendance of Paul Hession, double Olympic Athlete and NUI Galway medical student. At the clinic Paul highlighted the importance of an active lifestyle and heart healthy diet, and keeping fit to maintaining a long and healthy life. He commended the students for their innovative work. Speaking at the day-long event, Dr. Flaherty highlighted the importance of student learning with the community; “This kind of engagement is key to the skills and attitude development of our students. The collaboration with Croí has been a very fruitful partnership and we look forward to continuing our work with this flagship organisation in the west of Ireland”. This module is run under NUI Galway’s Community Knowledge Initiative that fosters community university partnerships which aim to promote the principles and practices of civic engagement and democracy.
Improving Inclusion A large number of community organisation representatives participated in the “Improving Inclusion - Involving Volunteers with Additional Support Needs” workshop hosted by the CKI and facilitated by Paula Hackett from Volunteer Now, Northern Ireland. The main aim of the workshop was to provide an overview of good practice guidance for volunteer involving organisations on how best to support volunteers with additional support needs. One workshop participant related that it was, “a great session in opening peoples’ minds to including people with additional needs as volunteers and the valuable contributions and skills others can
Reid ): Roisin were (l-r y ugh, a d lo n in o ll ntati from Ba CKI prese Gallagher yn Galway b o I R U d N n s. e ble At th onegal a Dog Bub rd, Co. D Therapy from Liffo with Irish , n o m m o Co. Rosc
bring to an organisation”. The workshop involved an interactive exploration of a number of key themes including: Identify who is an additional support needs volunteer; Listing both the benefits and barriers of involving volunteers with additional support needs; Outlining areas of best practice in involving additional support needs volunteers. This training was offered in support of the inclusive education pilot project that NUI Galway has been unfolding through the Going to College Project and was particularly enlightening as to the importance of including diverse volunteers within the community.
Biomedical Science Connect Learning This service learning module introduces Biomedical Science students to the concept of service-learning. Students take the 4 ECTS module in the second year of the programme. It aims to enhance classroom learning and link it with community service to enrich learning experiences and emphasize civic responsibility. The module is integrated into the students’ curriculum to provide structured time to think, talk and report about their group activities. The specific projects vary from year to year. Community groups that have been incorporated in the past include local secondary schools, the “Youth Cafe” centre for teenage children and immigrant community groups among others. In 2010-2011 community partners included the Irish Kidney Association, learning the science involved in and promoting the practice of organ donations, with Croí evaluating and recommending diets for a healthy heart and learning about mental health and instigating a mental health awareness campaign. CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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Students responded to a request from local secondary schools to provide information on biomedical research taking place in NUI Galway and in University Hospital Galway. A group of students researched the spectrum of activities taking place and wrote articles for the local newspaper. In the current academic year one group is making a smart phone application with video footage of laboratory practicals on the leaving certificate curriculum for the benefit of pupils and teachers in secondary schools nationally. Another group is working with Irish Therapy Dogs, promoting their activities and researching the contribution of dogs in medicine. Academic/Clinical supervisors over the last three years of this programme were Dr. Lynn O’Connor (NUIG), Dr. Ger Flaherty (NUIG/UHG) and Dr. Brian Stewart (UHG).
Soup for Life Student University and Community Partnership Geography students at NUI Galway held a ‘Soup for Life’ event on 5 - 6 March as of National Soup Week. ‘Soup for Life’ is run in association with University’s campus restaurant, Bhialann, which is operated by ARAMARK Ireland, Gorta - The Freedom from Hunger Council of Ireland and the ALIVE Volunteering Programme which is part of NUI Galway’s Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI). Organised by students from the MA in Environment, Society and 21
CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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Development programme at NUI Galway, this is the first time a third-level institution has hosted the ‘Soup for Life’ campaign. For each bowl of soup sold by An Bhialann, €1 was donated to Gorta. Funds raised will be put to work fighting hunger and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. Gorta is an independent, international development NGO who aim to contribute to the eradication of the causes of hunger and extreme thirst in the world. Gorta supports agricultural activities including livestock rearing, irrigation schemes and other waterbased projects, as well as the support of education, healthcare initiatives and income-generating activities in communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Dr John McDonagh, Head of Geography at NUI Galway, said: “The Geography Department is delighted to support this initiative and the fantastic work that Gorta does. In particular we are delighted to see Geography students contributing in such a meaningful and beneficial way to this campaign and its positive contribution to communities in sub-Saharan Africa.” Lorraine Tansey, Student Volunteer Co-ordinator, said: “NUI Galway students have a deep social conscience and are committed to connecting the curriculum to real world social problems. The ‘Soup for Life’ campaign demonstrates the forging of successful partnerships with communities and business through student initiative and the support of ARAMARK on this project is much appreciated.” National Soup Week runs from 5 to 11 March with many establishments nationwide participating including the Avoca Group, Cornucopia, Wagamama and the Insomnia Coffee Company in Dublin and Café Paradiso, Blair’s Inn, Amicus and The Cornstore in Cork. ‘Soup for Life’ is also supported by Cork’s food entrepreneurs Cully & Sully, who will donate 5c per carton of soup sold throughout the week.
raphy .
COMMUNITY HEADER
ertension Group (l-r): sing Awareness of Hyp tation day was the Rai sen pre I ar, Co. Galway; MatCK tleg way Cas Gal I from At the NU way; Sharon Concannon Gal Co. an, olg rra, Galway; Adam aca Kilc ckn Aoife Burke from ; Tracy Lynskey from Kno way Gal Co. ay, alw reg ; and Lisa Cunniffe from thew Duggan from Cla from Barna, Co. Galway Clare; Athina Rigalou Co. is Enn from an Nol . Castlerea, Co. Galway
Biomedical Science NUI Galway Biomedical Science students recently held a presentation day, to showcase the projects which they completed as part of the Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) module. This module introduces students to the concept of servicelearning and aims to link classroom learning and community service to enrich learning experiences and emphasise civic responsibility. The module gives the opportunity for students to learn and develop through active participation in experiences that meet real community needs. The module is integrated into the students’ curriculum to provide structured time to think, talk and report on their activities, while also working as part of a team. The four main projects of the academic year included Off Bio Heart; Awareness of Hypertension as a Cardiovascular Risk Factor in a third level educational institution, Student Health Connect Mentors and Awareness Day for the Irish Therapy Dogs Association. At the annual showcase, Dr Lynn O’Connor, module coordinator at NUI Galway, said: “These community experiences bring the curriculum alive to the students and we appreciate the commitment of our community partners for providing these rich learning experiences for our second year students.” Brenda Rickard, Chief Executive of the Irish Therapy Dogs Associates, said: “Irish Therapy Dogs very much appreciate the
t n of an Smar the Generatio ion day were tat en es pr I lway CK f Bio Heart. At the NUI Ga o developed Of tion group, wh Phone Applica
hard work and commitment shown by the students of NUI Galway in increasing awareness about the benefits of pet therapy and the importance of the work that we do.” Programme Director, Dr Maura Grealy, added: “The programme has surpassed my expectations in promoting student development awareness of community needs, organisational skills and confidence; they have done great work and I am very proud of them.” This is the third year that the module has been offered to students of Biomedical Science and it has become a very positive aspect of the academic programme at NUI Galway. Over 40 degree programmes at NUI Galway include a service learning module. Engineering students find solutions to community problems, Occupational Therapy students roll out essential services to schools and hostels and Maths students work in second level schools and share their knowledge through a creative Maths curriculum.
Profiling Community Engagement Activities at NUI Galway through IRIS Documenting details about community engagement activities at NUI Galway will be possible through the new IRIS (Institutional Research Information System) database system. Having the opportunity to include engagement activities in IRIS will contribute to the effort to promote and profile the wide range of engagement that takes place between the university and the wider community. ‘Community Engagement’ will appear under the tab ‘Professional’ and will include a range of engagement activities in areas such as Teaching, Research, Advocacy, Outreach, Pro-bono Consultancy Policy development, Public lectures, Board membership of civil society organisations. It will provide a vital source of information for staff and community alike, and assist all involved in the development of this work. For further information contact: Ann Lyons, email: ann.lyons@nuigalway.ie tel. 091-492228 CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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KNOW YOUR COUNCIL The pupils’ work will form part of an information pack on local government which will be distributed to all city primary schools in September. The winning school was St. Pat’s Boys School, who received an IPad. Adjudicator Dr. Gerard Turley stated that “the adjudicating panel was very impressed with their critical analysis and ability to inform local policy”. The winner of the most creative poster was Scoil Iognaid, the winner of the best content poster was Scoil An linbh Iosa, the winner of the best presentation was Scoil Ide and the winner of the best project content was Scoil San Phroinsias.
Adjudicating Panel from left to right: Caitlin Nic Anultaigh Acadamh na hOllscolaiochta Gaeilge, Fergal Landy, Researcher with the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, Mayor Hildegarde Naughton, Conor Quinn, Student of Sociology and Politics, Dr. Gerard Turley Lecturer Cairns School of Business and Economics, Lorraine McIlrath and Mary Bernard of CKI.
In April 2012, Mayor of Galway City Hildegarde Naughton is launched a primary school’s competition in partnership with Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) at National University of Ireland, Galway. The competition is called “Know Your Council” and it is aimed at increasing awareness about local government among senior classes at primary school level.
Tom Rutherford and Tom O’Connell from St. Pat’s National School present their wining project.
Mayor Hildegarde Naughton and Fergal Landy form the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre along with Emma Leavey and Emily Naughton from Scoil Íde who won best presentation category.
The final of the primary school competition was held in the Council Chamber on Monday 28th of May 2012. Ten city primary schools reached the final held in City Hall and two pupils from each school presented their projects to an independent adjudicating panel from NUI, Galway: Lorraine McIlrath and Mary Bernard of CKI, Dr. Gerard Turley Lecturer Cairns School of Business and Economics, Caitlin Nic Anultaigh Acadamh na hOllscolaiochta Gaeilge, Fergal Landy, Researcher with the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, Conor Quinn, Student of Sociology and Politics . 23
CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
Over 370 pupils took part in the initiative and were presented with a certificate of participation. Co-ordinator of the Community Knowledge Initiative Lorraine McILrath stated “It has been a fantastic partnership between NUI, Galway and Galway City Council and this initiative is an excellent model of how institutions can collaborate in developing a culture of political literacy among our young people”. Speaking after the event Mayor Naughton said “We had a fantastic response to the initiative and you could see that all the pupils really enjoyed researching and presenting their projects. The standard was very high and the pupils displayed an excellent understanding of their local council. This is a new initiative which could be rolled out on an annual basis not only in Galway but nationwide. It is important that we set up a programme nationally to continue this work to assist our young people in informing themselves on local government”. The projects will be on display in City Hall for a number of weeks and they will form part of an information pack which will be produced by the CKI and then distributed to all city primary schools. It is anticipated that this will become an annual schools based initiative supported by Galway City Council and the CKI.
EVENTS
NUI Galway celebrates the first ever International
Fascination of Plants Day! May 18th 2012 was the first ever Fascination of Plants Day! The day, which is under the umbrella of the European Plant Science Organization (EPSO, Brussels) was celebrated in 500+ institutions in 39 countries worldwide, and is designed to highlight both the beauty and the economic and environmental importance of plants. Events in Ireland were coordinated by Dr Zoë Popper (Botany and Plant Science and The Ryan Institute, NUI Galway) with a lot of help from members of her lab (Dr Olivier Leroux, Anna Pielach, Sandra Raimundo), Dr Dagmar Stengel and members of her lab (Dr Freddy Guiheneuf, Udo Nitschke, Matthias Schmidt, Wil Organ and Chris Eschmann), Dr Heinz Peter Nasheuer (Head of the School of Natural Sciences), Lorraine McIlrath (CKI) and Sarah Knight (Ryan Institute) that willingly helped in many ways. Events included a national plant and algal photographic competition (for all ages). An exhibition of the winning photographs (chosen from a range of over 270 entries by a panel, Dr Dagmar Stengel, Dr Heinz Peter Nasheuer, Dr Sarah Knight, Lorraine McIlrath, Dr Olivier Leroux and Sandra Raimundo) the NUI Galway Art Gallery in combination with works of art from artists (Louise Browne, Alan Crowley, Miriam de Burca, Ambrose and Brid O’Halloran, Peter Sherry, Veronika Straberger and Anna Pielach, Margareta and Helene Pertl, the students of St Dominics and NCAD students, Dr Olivier Leroux and Wil Organ inspired by plants and/or algae and working in a variety of media (photographic, wood, ceramic, silk screen) was opened by Dr Heinz Peter Nasheuer, Head of The School of Natural Sciences, on May 18th.
Brian McMahon, drystone.
May 18th was a busy day in Galway with the NUI Galway Organic Garden (behind number 12 Distillery Road) open in the afternoon and storytelling for 60+ children from local schools by Rab Fulton in the morning and Dr Maria Tuohy and members of her lab (Toni O’Donovan, Mary Shier, Jessica Coyne, Finola Cliffe, Vijay Gupta Manimaran Ayyachamy and Jeremy Brebion) in Biochemistry in the afternoon. The children amazed all of us with their fantastic response and engagement with the exhibition (in particular Anna and Ver Then on the 23rd Keith Browne (2nd year Science) and members of the mountaineering club ran a tree climbing event helping members of staff, students and the public to get several feet off the ground and a better understanding of what goes on within the canopy. Other events in Ireland included ‘Fascinating molecules’ at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin; wildflower walks run by The Burren College of Art and the BurrenBeo Trust and ‘Ireland’s Lilliputian Flora: Mosses and Liverworts of the Phoenix Park’ run by Trinity College Dublin and the National Botanic Gardens.
Susan Prediger, moss macro.
The sponsors and partners of the events included the NUI Galway OÉ Gaillimh, Algal BioSciences (NUI Galway), Botany and Plant Science (NUI Galway), School of Natural Sciences (NUI Galway), The Ryan Institute, Community Knowledge Initiative (NUI Galway), The Arts and Theatre Office (NUI Galway), Plant and AgriBioSciences Centre, Brigit’s Garden, Palgrave Macmillan, Charlie Byrne’s, Corrib Princess, Evergreen, Bord Bia, Galway Water and Lennox. For more information on events within Galway and Ireland see http:// fascinationofplants.blogspot.com where you will also be able to see media coverage of the event and for events worldwide please see http://www.plantday12.eu/.
Eamonn O’Sullivan, Cowering Sorrel CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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Youth Academy Gradu
1. Group Photo: 62 primary school students from primary schools across Galway City and County receiving certificates on completion of the Youth Academy at NUI Galway with Mayor Hildegarde Naughton and Vice President for Innovation and Performance at NUI Galway, Professor Chris Curtin. 2. Tony Evans Wanjau, age 9, from St Patrick’s Primary School, Galway receiving his certificate on completion of the Youth Academy at NUI Galway. 3. Girls group Photo: Kara Mc Kenna, age 11, Ruth Mc Nulty, age 11 and Emily Naughton, age 11 from Scoil �de, Salthill receiving certificates on completion of the Youth Academy at NUI Galway.
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AUCEA Confe
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1. Rear: Jude Smith (QUT), Lorraine McIlrath, NUI Galway, Jan Strom (Engagement Australia), Ben Roche (SCU and Engagement Australia Board) Front: Janne Gorman (La Trobe University), Jacqui Martin (La Trobe University and Engagement Australia Deputy Chair), Lisa Hasker (La Trobe University), Prof Suzi Vaughan (DVU, Queensland University of Technology) 2. Richard Fidler (ABC Broadcaster) http://www.abc.net.au/local/sites/conversations/ 3. Ben Roche, Head, Community Engagement, Southern Cross Univeristy. 4. Barbara Holland talloiresnetwork.tufts.edu/barbara-holland/
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CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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Going to College End of Year Celebration – June 2012 1. Mary McCormack, Lorraine Mcilrath, Elizabeth McCormack 2. Professor Gearóid Denvir and Róisín de Burca 3. Kim Turcotte, Margaret Conneran 4. Mary McPartlin, Marian Ryan, Peggy Ryan, Louise McDonnell
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NUIG Volvo DERI Display
President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins with Dr. Brendan Smith at NUIG Volvo DERI Display
5. JB Terrins, Julie O’Leary
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Book Launch in the Helix Du
Tom Boland HEA, Lorraine McIlrath CKI NUI Galway, Helen Mc Quillan DCU In the Community DCU, Ronnie Munck DCU, Ann Lyons CKI NUI Galway, Madeleine Clark Genio, Brian McCraith, President DCU CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
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THE TEAM
CKI Team
Lorraine McIlrath
Ann Lyons
CKI Coordinator
EPIC Coordinator
Email: lorraine.mcilrath@nuigalway.ie
Email: ann.lyons@nuigalway.ie
Tel: 091 495234
Tel: 091 492228
Mary Bernard CKI Administrative Assistant
ALIVE Volunteer Programme Coordinator
Email: mary.bernard@nuigalway.ie
Email: lorraine.tansey@nuigalway.ie
Tel: 091 493823
Tel: 091 495346
Breda Casey
Geraldine Marley Community Liaison and Youth Academy Coordinator Email: cki@nuigalway.ie or youthacademy@nuigalway.ie Tel: 091 495346
Mary Smith Going to College Student Liaison Email: m.smith20@nuigalway.ie Tel: 091 493621
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Lorraine Tansey
CKI Magazine 2011-2012 www.nuigalwaycki.ie
Going To College Project Coordinator Email: breda.casey@nuigalway.ie Tel: 091 493621
SPONSORS
Our Sponsors and Partners
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cki m a g a z i n e
T: + 353 91 493823 E: cki@nuigalway.ie W: www.nuigalwaycki.ie
Flying Circles by Lisa O’Donnell 2010, mixed media on canvas. NUI Galway Collection