Tuesday, 21 March 2023

University of Galway and Grant Thornton celebrate five years of mentoring programme

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


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Thursday, 16 March 2023

Tá Gradaim Aitheantais bronnta ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ar scoláirí ar éirigh leo pas le gradam, idir 90% agus 100%, a bhaint amach i scrúduithe ardleibhéil Gaeilge an Teastais Shóisearaigh.  D’fhreastail breis agus 100 scoláire as Co. Dhún na nGall, Co. an Chláir, Co. Mhaigh Eo, Co. Liatroma, Co. Shligigh, Co. Ros Comáin agus Co. na Gaillimhe ar ócáid speisialta a reáchtáladh i Halla Bailey Allen ar champas na hOllscoile chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar na héachtaí a bhain na scoláirí meánscoile seo amach.   Áirítear na scoláirí seo i measc an 2.6% de scoláirí na tíre ar éirigh leo pas le gradam a bhaint amach sa pháipéar ardleibhéil T2 Gaeilge go náisiúnta, nó an 3.6% de na scoláirí a bhain pas le gradam amach sa pháipéar ardleibhéil T1 Gaeilge sa Teastas Sóisearach in 2022. Chuir Uachtarán Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, an tOllamh Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh fáilte chroíúil roimh na scoláirí agus a dteaghlaigh, agus rinne sé comhghairdeas leis na príomhoidí agus leis na múinteoirí a bhí i láthair ón 36 scoil ar a bhfuil na scoláirí ag freastal freisin, agus é ag tabhairt aitheantais dóibhsean as an dea-obair atá ar bun acu féin sna scoileanna. “Tá mé chomh sásta go bhfuil ar ár gcumas ómós a thaispeáint don chéad ghlúin eile Gaeilgeoirí, i bhfianaise go bhfuil an Ghaeilge chomh tábhachtach dúinn ar fad anseo san Ollscoil agus go bhfuil an Ghaeilge chomh lárnach inár bhféiniúlacht.” Bhí an méid seo le rá ag an t-Ollamh Pól Ó Dochartaigh, Uachtarán Ionaid agus Meabhránaí Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus é ag tréaslú leis na scoláirí: “Ba cheart go mbeadh sibhse an-bhródúil asaibh féin.  Is léir gur scoláirí eisceachtúla sibh, a bhfuil sárchumas sa Ghaeilge agaibh, agus is údar misnigh dúinne é go bhfuil bhur leithéid ann, agus go bhfuil todhchaí na Gaeilge slán.” Aithnítear an tábhacht a bhaineann lena chinntiú go mbeidh pobail bhisiúla Ghaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht i gcéad straitéis Ghaeilge na hOllscoile, Straitéis na Gaeilge 2021-2025, a seoladh i mí Iúil 2021.  Tugadh aitheantas do na pobail sin ag an ócáid cheiliúrtha seo agus an Ollscoil ag déanamh cúraim don ról a chuir sí roimpi sa Straitéis, ó thaobh ceannasaíocht a thabhairt don ardoideachas i nGaeilge agus meas a léiriú ar lucht labhartha na Gaeilge. Críoch 

Wednesday, 15 March 2023

Business leaders from the west of Ireland are invited to a University of Galway business summit, focusing on addressing challenges companies face in terms of talent attraction and retention, and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability issues. Organised by the University’s J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, the Regional Business Summit – Engaging People and Leading on Sustainability, takes place on campus on Friday March 31, from 8.45am to 1.30pm in the Bailey Allen Hall. The goal of the event is to provide business leaders with the tools and strategies they need to succeed in today's rapidly changing business landscape. Attendees will hear from speakers in Enterprise Ireland and Ibec, experts in local and national companies including PwC, Deloitte, Fidelity, Genesys and Nulla Carbon, as well as academics, who will share strategies for attracting and retaining top talent. They will also gain insights into how sustainability considerations can be integrated into business operations and decision-making processes and develop a better understanding of ESG. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with other business leaders and share their own experiences and best practices. Professor Alma McCarthy, Head of J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at University of Galway, said: "Attracting and retaining top talent is a critical issue for businesses of all sizes in the region, and with the growing importance of ESG and sustainability, companies are under increasing pressure to operate responsibly and ethically. Our event will provide attendees with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in this new era of business." The Regional Business Summit is the second in the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics Thinking Beyond event series and is held in partnership with Galway Chamber and ITAG. For further information or to register visit https://universityofgalway.ie/thinkingbeyond/regionalbusinesssummit/.   Ends

Wednesday, 15 March 2023

Registration has opened for University of Galway’s annual spring undergraduate open day, which will provide an opportunity for thousands of students and their parents or guardians to visit the historic, riverside campus in the heart of Galway city.    The University’s spring open day will take place on campus on Saturday March 25 from 9am to 3pm. It is open to all senior cycle students, including those doing transition year. Visitors will meet current University of Galway students and hear from world leading professors and lecturers about the cutting-edge courses on offer and the innovative research that puts it among the top 2% of universities on the global stage.  Sarah Geraghty, Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach, said: “University of Galway open day offers prospective students and parents an opportunity to explore courses, subjects, careers and student life at the University and a great chance to meet and talk to our professors, lecturers and current students.”  The event is spread across five exhibitions and the schedule includes the largest ever programme of talks with more than 100 talks featuring all courses and subjects, as well as career and student support. Some highlights includes Student Life, Sport, Study Abroad, Careers and ALIVE volunteering. The Access Centre will host a session on alternative pathways, mature student supports and the QQI/FETAC/PLC entry route.  Parents may be interested in the Parents’ Talk taking place on at 11:30am with advice and guidance on how parents can support the progression to third level.   Sarah Geraghty, Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach, highlighted the importance of providing students with opportunities to explore the campus and think about their future studies: “We look forward to welcoming students to the campus where they can expect a true university experience with research-led teaching, a focus on employability skills, placements, study abroad and a support ecosystem that prepares individuals to reach their potential. The open day will give senior cycle students a taste of college life and hopefully a sense of great possibility for their future university studies.”   The University offers more than 60 internationally recognised undergraduate degrees coverings areas such as Medicine, Nursing, Health Sciences, Arts, Science, Engineering, Business, Law and Hotel Management.  More than 90% of courses offer students a work placement and/or study abroad opportunity ensuring graduates are work place ready, and sought after by employers at home and abroad.  Students choosing to study at University of Galway can be confident that their hard work and qualifications will be recognised worldwide.  Ranked in the top 2% of universities globally, many of the courses provided by University of Galway hold internationally recognised accreditation. As a graduate of the university, students will be joining a strong and dynamic global community of over 110,000 alumni.  Advance registration is required, with further information and the full programme available at https://www.universityofgalway.ie/opendays/, or by emailing opendays@universityofgalway.ie.  Ends


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