The Career Development Centre at University of Galway has been named Employability Team of The Year at the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (ACGAS) Awards for Excellence 2025. The annual awards celebrate success and innovation in the higher education sector. The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) is the expert membership organisation for higher education student career development and graduate employment professionals for universities in Ireland and the UK. This year their awards programme reflected on the themes that matter to the higher education sector and celebrated fresh thinking and innovation at a time of increasing challenges. Commenting on the University of Galway’s award the judges said: “The team at University of Galway has made an inspiring contribution to employability at the University of Galway this year, transforming outcomes to a degree that encapsulates what this sector is all about.”  The Career Development Centre at University of Galway offers a student-centred service and supports more than 19,000 students and 5,500 graduates every year. Marie Laffey, Head of the Career Development Centre, University of Galway, said: "Winning the AGCAS Employability Team of the Year Award 2025 is a very proud moment for the team. This international recognition reflects the dedication, innovation, and collaborative spirit of the entire Career Development Centre team, who go above and beyond every day to support our students’ career development and future success. I'm very honoured to lead such a wonderful team. We are very grateful to our students, academic and student service colleagues, and our employer partners for their continued trust and partnership. Together, we are building meaningful, inclusive, and future-focused career pathways for all of our students." Martin Edmondson, chief executive of AGCAS, said: “The winners and nominees of these awards are a true testament to the exceptional work that is going on in higher education careers and employability. We all know the challenges that the sector is facing right now, yet our members are rising to the challenge with panache, demonstrating success across a range of areas from research to technology, to sustainability and EDI. These innovative and collaborative projects, and high professional standards, lead to careers success for student and graduates and employability for all.” The prestigious Awards ceremony took place in the UK and is part of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services ‘Employability for all’ conference, which took place at Newcastle University, with the support of Practera.   For a full list of shortlisted entries and more details about the awards, please visit: AGCAS Awards for Excellence Ends

 Is í Ollscoil na Gaillimhe an ollscoil is fearr in Éirinn ó thaobh forbairt inbhuanaithe don cheathrú bliain as a chéile. Fógraíodh an rangú i dTuarascáil Tionchair Times Higher Education mar aitheantas ar dhul chun cinn na hOllscoile maidir le freagairt do Spriocanna Forbartha Inbhuanaithe (SDGanna) na Náisiún Aontaithe. Chomh maith leis an gcéad áit a bhaint amach sa tír seo, tá Ollscoil na Gaillimhe sa tríú háit san AE. Rinne Ranguithe Tionchair Times Higher Education 2025 rangú ar 2,526 ollscoil as 130 tír maidir lena ndul chun cinn i dtreo Spriocanna Forbartha Inbhuanaithe na Náisiún Aontaithe. Tá méadú 65% tagtha ar líon na n-ollscoileanna atá páirteach sna ranguithe i gcomparáid leis an mbliain roimhe sin, rud a fhágann go bhfuil éacht Ollscoil na Gaillimhe níos suntasaí fós. Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Uachtarán Eatramhach Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Peter McHugh: “Is iontach an éacht é don fhoireann agus dár gceannaireacht ar bhearta inbhuanaitheachta Ollscoil na Gaillimhe a bheith rangaithe sa chéad áit in Éirinn agus sa tríú háit san AE. Ní hamháin gur siombail den bhéim sin é ár bPlean Straitéiseach nua 2025–2030, Lonnaithe i nGaillimh, ag freastal ar an Domhan Mór, a seoladh le déanaí, ach is comhartha é freisin ar an gcaoi a ndéanfaimid inbhuanaitheacht a dhaingniú tuilleadh inár dteagasc, inár dtaighde, inár n-oibríochtaí agus inár gcomhpháirtíochtaí, ag cothú an chéad ghlúin eile ceannairí agus nuálaithe chun dul i ngleic le dúshláin dhomhanda.”   Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag an Ollamh Becky Whay, Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí Eatramhach na hOllscoile agus Cathaoirleach Bhord Comhairleach Inbhuanaitheachta na hOllscoile: “Is mór an chreidiúint dár bpobal agus dá spiorad an t-aitheantas atá tugtha d‘iarrachtaí agus d’éachtaí na hOllscoile maidir le Spriocanna Forbartha Inbhuanaithe na Náisiún Aontaithe a dhaingniú.” Comhghairdeas mór le gach duine a bhí páirteach sna réimsí curaclaim, taighde agus oibríochtaí. Tá ár mic léinn ag baint tairbhe as na hiarrachtaí seo mar go mbíonn an deis acu an t-eolas, na scileanna agus an taithí a fhorbairt le linn a gcuid staidéir chun aistriú go todhchaí inbhuanaithe.”   Dúirt Richard Manton, Stiúrthóir Inbhuanaitheachta Ollscoil na Gaillimhe: “Is mór an chreidiúint do Chomhpháirtíocht Inbhuanaitheachta na hOllscoile Pobail (CUSP) agus do phobal uile na hOllscoile an deimhniú seo a fháil faoi stádas Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ó thaobh na hinbhuanaitheachta de, go mór mór agus an Chomhpháirtíocht ag ceiliúradh deich mbliana ar an bhfód i mbliana. Tá glactha go díograiseach ag mic léinn, an fhoireann agus comhpháirtithe pobail lenár samhail chun foghlaim, maireachtáil agus ceannaireacht a dhéanamh ar an inbhuanaitheacht. Mar Ambasadóir Náisiúnta SDG, leanfaimid orainn ag cur na Spriocanna Forbartha Inbhuanaithe chun cinn agus ag cur dea-chleachtas chun cinn ar ár gcampas glas, bithéagsúil agus inbhuanaithe.”   I measc bhuaicphointí an rangaithe d’Ollscoil na Gaillimhe táimid i measc an 50 ollscoil is fearr ar domhan as gníomhartha ar SDG12 Patrún freagrach tomhaltais agus táirgeachta; SDG3 Sláinte Mhaith agus Dea-bhail; agus SDG17 Comhpháirtíochtaí ar mhaithe leis na Spriocanna. Tá Ollscoil na Gaillimhe rangaithe i measc an 75 ollscoil is fearr ar domhan freisin do SDG6 Uisce Glan agus Sláintíocht – tar éis aighneacht a dhéanamh faoin gcatagóir seo den chéad uair – agus SDG14 Beatha Faoin Uisce. Seo a leanas cuid de na príomhbhearta atá glactha ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe i réimse na hinbhuanaitheachta:   Tá cáil dhomhanda bainte amach ag taighdeoirí as nuálaíocht i réimse na sláinte, timpeallachtaí inbhuanaithe agus seasmhacha (domhan agus aigéan), cruthaitheacht, cultúr agus sochaí, agus sonraí claochlaitheacha agus intleacht shaorga. Tá inbhuanaitheacht fite fuaite sa churaclam agus cuireann an Ollscoil réimse leathan cúrsaí fochéime agus iarchéime ar fáil a dhíríonn ar inbhuanaitheacht. Is é ár gcampas an campas is bithéagsúla in Éirinn agus tá Gradam na gCampas Glas de chuid an Taisce bainte amach againn. Thugamar isteach scéimeanna nua feabhsaithe bláthanna fiáine, boscaí éan, boscaí ialtóg, óstáin feithidí, coirceoga, cód lotnaidicídí atá oiriúnach do phailneoirí agus coirceog lomáin. Is in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe a bhí an chéad saotharlann san Eoraip ar bronnadh deimhniú Saotharlainne Glaise uirthi agus tá deimhniú mar shaotharlanna glasa ag na saotharlanna go léir in Áras Innealtóireachta Alice Perry. Is ionaid tástála iad campas agus foirgnimh Ollscoil na Gaillimhe do ghníomhaíochtaí dearfacha inbhuanaitheachta. Ó 2016 i leith, tá astaíochtaí gás ceaptha teasa na hOllscoile laghdaithe faoina leath agus tá gach seans ann go sáróidh sí spriocanna na hearnála poiblí faoi 2030. Tá caidéil teasa curtha isteach againn in ionad coirí breosla iontaise, tá painéil ghréine PV ar fud an champais agus tá tionscadail fuinnimh nuálacha forbartha againn. Is busanna leictreacha iad na busanna páirceála agus taistil ar an gcampas. Tá umair uisce óil taobh istigh agus amuigh ar fud an champais.   Críoch

Sixteen student places are being made available at University of Galway under the University of Sanctuary Scholarship programme as part of events to mark World Refugee Day.  The Scholarship has welcomed 71 students from 24 different countries to the University since applications first opened in 2019. The programme is open to International Protection applicants, refugees, vulnerable immigrant groups and Irish Travellers.   For the 2025-26 academic year, applications for undergraduate and postgraduate study under University of Sanctuary Scholarships are open from today - Friday June 20th.  The announcement is being made on World Refugee Day, an international day designated by the United Nations to express solidarity with refugees around the globe and to highlight the strength and courage of those forced to flee their home countries.  A series of events are being hosted at University of Galway to mark the day, which is a collaborative effort between the Office of the Vice-President for Equality Diversity and Inclusion and the Access Centre. Among them is a campus tour for 50 pupils from the Galway Educate Together National School as part of the Schools of Sanctuary Programme. The school children will also take part in an interactive workshop led by current scholars in the University of Sanctuary programme which is designed to foster a sense of community and empathy and to ensure Ireland remains a welcoming place for all, given the country’s history of forced migration, famine and civil war.   The United Nations flag will fly at the Quadrangle, reaffirming the University’s commitment to offering sanctuary for those fleeing their homeland or facing discrimination in Ireland, such as Irish Travellers.  A panel discussion to mark the 10th anniversary of the Marriage Equality referendum and the Gender Recognition Act will take place, bringing together voices from advocacy, research, legal practice, and lived experience. The event will focus on recent developments in Europe and the US relating to transgender rights and their implications for those seeking International Protection in Ireland.   Dr Helen Maher, Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at University of Galway, said: “The University of Sanctuary Scholarships reflect the University’s new Strategic Plan 2025-2030 - Of Galway, For the World - placing a strong emphasis on the mission to foster a diverse and inclusive academic environment where everyone feels welcomed and supported and, with the University’s reaccreditation as a designated University of Sanctuary later this year, such supports, and solidarity can offer hope and a future for students facing discrimination and fleeing persecution.”  Aidan Harte, University of Sanctuary Officer, University of Galway, said: “World Refugee Day provides an opportunity for the University community to express solidarity with everyone seeking Sanctuary around the world. Welcoming Galway Educate Together National School pupils on campus to meet with Sanctuary scholars was a truly impactful opportunity to link our surrounding communities with life on campus. The fourth-class students took part in a workshop around the theme of welcoming and Inclusion and spoke about how they would welcome new people into their communities.  “Such opportunities reflect the University's commitment to providing invaluable opportunities to attend university under the University of Sanctuary Scholarship Programme."   Scholarship applications will close at 12pm on Friday July 11th.  Applications can be made here: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/sanctuary/scholarships/  Ends