University of Galway’s Access Centre and Grant Thornton have celebrated five years of their joint Professional Engagement Module, an experience-based module of learning for Access students.  Over an eight-week period, Access Students are assigned a mentor from Grant Thornton Galway and take part in a specifically designed module of structured, interactive learning. As a result of taking part in the programme, students gain exposure to the professional environment, develop career skills, and increase their career readiness.  The mentoring, time spent in the Grant Thornton offices and workshops run as part of the module combine to give the students self-belief around progression in education and in planning for their careers. Aengus Burns, Advisory Partner with Grant Thornton, said: “This is our fifth year of interaction with the University on this programme, we are delighted to support it. We believe it is very important to show students through the Access Programme what opportunities there are in this industry, how Grant Thornton interacts with its own staff and clients, and present opportunities to these students.”  Vice President for Engagement at University of Galway, Dr Paul Dodd, said: “This programme speaks to the importance of diverse learning experiences and collaborations with the wider community and industry. The benefits of this relationship between the Access Centre and Grant Thornton are very apparent in the way that the students speak about their mentors and the motivation it has given them to persist and strive for success within their chosen courses.” The Access Programmes are for those with the ability to benefit from and succeed in higher education but who, for a variety of socio-economic reasons, are under-represented at third level. Dr Mary Surlis, Senior Academic Manager in University of Galway’s Access Centre, said: “This year marks the fifth year of Professional Engagement Module and our much-valued relationship with Grant Thornton. The programme offers a very exciting opportunity to our students to engage in a professional setting, and to experience the support and encouragement of dedicated committed professionals, this will benefit our students enormously.” University of Galway Access student Nathan Martin said: “To visit the Grant Thornton offices and see how things operate in a real business setting, not just theorizing it, actually getting to see it in action, is hugely beneficial to us. It keeps our drive going. That for me fermented it in my own head that I really do want to do the course that I have chosen, and I believe for my fellow students it has given them the same passion and drive to keep going as well.”  Ends

University of Galway has launched its inaugural Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week. Taking place throughout the week until Friday March 24, the events coincide with International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed each year on March 21st.  The week-long programme also commemorates the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela being awarded an honorary doctorate by University of Galway in 2003. On that occasion, Mandela said: “It is a source of great pride to be honoured by an Irish university. To stand here at the University and receive an honorary doctorate makes one feel part of that proud lineage of scholarship, learning and wisdom that had been passed down the centuries of Irish history.” The extensive range of initiatives outlined in the programme of events includes both student and staff led activities such as workshops, a diversity café, exhibitions, virtual reality experience, race equality training, Traveller and Roma film festival, society events, and cultural events. Guest speakers include Emer O’Neill, Rosemarie Maughan, Dr Amanullah De Sondy, Ikenna Anyabuike, Ashwin Chacko, Mary Watson and Sharmilla Beezmohun. Highlights during the week include: Photo Exhibition: Celebrating Racial Diversity at University of Galway Experiencing Direct Provision through the eyes of University of Galway Students (Virtual Reality Experience),  Remembering Nelson Mandela’s Conferring Ceremony at the University of Galway, (Thursday, March 23 at 11.30am in the Aula Maxima, Quadrangle) where South African Ambassador to Ireland, Yolisa Maya, will deliver the keynote address Panel discussion: The Intersection between Racism and Public Spaces by Emer O'Neill, Rosemarie Maughan and Amanullah De Sondy (Friday March 24 at 11am, The Cube, Áras na Mac Léinn) Dr Helen Maher, Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion said: “The week aims to empower the University community to act on Nelson Mandela’s Anti-Racism vision and the University’s values of respect, openness, excellence and sustainability, through the advancement of race equality and anti-racism which aligns with the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy. I very much look forward to continuing to engage with everyone in progressing a transformative equality, diversity and inclusion agenda at University of Galway.”  To mark the inaugural Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism Week, the Office of the Vice President for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion has awarded funding to 11 projects as part of the annual Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Project Fund. The funding is available to staff and students on a competitive basis for a variety of Anti-Racism projects within the University. In addition, the University is hosting the first national HEA conference on Race Equality in Higher Education on March 20 to highlight the structural, institutional, and historical dimensions of racism which have informed past and current practices in HEIs and the societies in which they are situated. Owen Ward, EDI Programme Manager for Race Equality at University of Galway, said: “The diverse programme of events during Nelson Mandela Anti-Racism week is based on a collaborative approach throughout the university, supported by the Office of the Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. The events are designed to be deliberative and interactive, facilitating discussion, learning and engagement on a wide range of issues relevant to race, ethnicity and anti-racism.” For further information and to register for events visit https://www.universityofgalway.ie/equalityanddiversity/raceequality/nelsonmandelaanti-racismweek/  Ends

Tá tús curtha leis an gclárú do lá oscailte bliantúil fochéime Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, a thabharfaidh deis do na mílte dalta agus a dtuismitheoirí nó a gcaomhnóirí cuairt a thabhairt ar an gcampas stairiúil cois abhann seo i gcroílár chathair na Gaillimhe.  Beidh Lá Oscailte an Earraigh ar siúl ar an gcampas Dé Sathairn, an 25 Márta idir 9am agus 3pm.  Tá sé oscailte do gach scoláire sa tsraith shinsearach, iad siúd atá ag déanamh na hidirbhliana san áireamh. Buailfidh cuairteoirí le mic léinn reatha Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus cloisfidh siad ó ollúna agus léachtóirí den scoth faoi na cúrsaí ceannródaíocha atá ar fáil agus an taighde nuálach atá idir lámha. Ní iontas ar bith go bhfuil an ollscoil seo i measc an 2% is fearr d’ollscoileanna an domhain. Dúirt Sarah Geraghty, Stiúrthóir Earcaíochta Mac Léinn agus For-rochtana: "Tugann lá oscailte Ollscoil na Gaillimhe deis do mhic léinn ionchasacha agus do thuismitheoirí eolas a chur ar chúrsaí, ábhair, slite beatha agus saol an mhic léinn san Ollscoil agus is deis iontach atá anseo bualadh lenár n-ollúna, léachtóirí agus mic léinn reatha agus labhairt leo. Tá cúig thaispeántas i gceist leis an imeacht agus beidh an clár is mó riamh againn le níos mó ná 100 caint faoi chúrsaí, ábhair, gairmeacha agus tacaíochtaí do mhic léinn. I measc na mbuaicphointí áirítear Saol na Mac Léinn, Spórt, Staidéar Thar Lear, Gairmeacha agus obair dheonach ALIVE. Eagróidh an tIonad Rochtana seisiún ar bhealaí iontrála eile, ar thacaíochtaí do mhic léinn lánfhásta agus ar an mbealach iontrála QQI/FETAC/PLC. B’fhéidir go mbeadh suim ag muintir na ndaltaí i gCaint na dTuismitheoirí a bheidh ar siúl ag 11.30am áit a mbeidh comhairle agus treoir le fáil ar an gcaoi is féidir le tuismitheoirí tacú lena gclann agus iad ag dul ar aghaidh chuig an tríú leibhéal.    Leag Sarah Geraghty, Stiúrthóir Earcaíochta agus For-rochtana na Mac Léinn, béim ar an tábhacht a bhaineann le deiseanna a sholáthar do dhaltaí chun an campas a fheiceáil agus smaoineamh ar a gcuid staidéir amach anseo. Táimid ag súil fáilte a chur roimh na daltaí go dtí an campas áit a bhfaighidh siad taithí mhaith ar shaol na hollscoile, áit a bhfuil teagasc bunaithe ar thaighde, béim ar scileanna infhostaitheachta, socrúcháin, staidéar thar lear agus córas tacaíochta a thabharfaidh deis dóibh barr feabhais a bhaint amach. Tabharfaidh an lá oscailte blaiseadh de shaol an choláiste do dhaltaí na sraithe sinsearaí agus tá súil againn go dtuigfidh siad go mbeidh deis iontach acu agus iad ag staidéar san ollscoil amach anseo.”  -      Cuireann an Ollscoil os cionn 60 bunchéim ar fáil a aithnítear go hidirnáisiúnta i réimsí cosúil le Leigheas, Altranas, Eolaíochtaí Sláinte, na Dána, Eolaíocht, Innealtóireacht, Gnó, Dlí agus Bainistíocht Óstáin. -      Tugann breis agus 90% de na cúrsaí deis do mhic léinn tabhairt faoi shocrúchán oibre agus/nó staidéar thar lear chun a chinntiú go mbíonn céimithe réidh don ionad oibre, agus go mbíonn tóir ag fostóirí sa bhaile agus thar lear orthu. -      Féadfaidh mic léinn a roghnaíonn staidéar a dhéanamh in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe a bheith muiníneach go dtabharfar aitheantas ar fud an domhain dá n-obair chrua agus dá gcáilíochtaí. Tá creidiúnú aitheanta go hidirnáisiúnta ag go leor de na cúrsaí a chuireann Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ar fáil agus ní iontas ar bith í a bheith ar an 2% is fearr de na hollscoileanna ar fad ar domhan. Mar chéimí de chuid na hollscoile, beidh mic léinn páirteach i bpobal domhanda láidir agus dinimiciúil de bhreis agus 110,000 alumni. Is gá clárú roimh ré, agus tá tuilleadh eolais agus an clár iomlán ar fáil ag https://www.universityofgalway.ie/opendays/, nó ríomhphost a sheoladh chuig opendays@universityofgalway.ie. Críoch