April University of Galway triumphs at Education Awards

University of Galway has triumphed at the 2024 Education Awards and Graduate Recruitment Awards with successes in sustainability and career guidance support for students.

The University secured the top prize for Excellence in Sustainability at the Education Awards, in recognition of progress in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, including the opening of the Sustainability office this year and the My Green Labs certificate for all labs in the Alice Perry Engineering Building.

The University’s Career Development Centre was also successful at the Education Awards, winning the award for Career Impact Strategy for its Employability Award. At a separate ceremony - gradireland Graduate Recruitment Awards - the Career Development Centre took home the top prize under the AHECS Building Effective Partnerships in recognition of ongoing collaboration with Platform94. These awards build on success for the Centre’s Employability Award, which secured global recognition by winning the Founders Award for Innovation at the Global Careers Summit Award in Washington DC last month.

Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, Deputy President and Registrar and outgoing Chair of the University Sustainability Advisory Board, said: “All of us who are involved in progressing sustainability at University of Galway can rightly take ownership of our success at the Education Awards – it is a team effort and it is a community effort and I am delighted to see recognition for us all. Like society and like many organisations we are on a journey to a more sustainable future and at each step of the way we are reminded that it was the students at University of Galway who helped to drive this and ensured that sustainability was a core value. They too should take great delight in this award.”

Professor Ciara Meehan, Dean of Students, said: “Congratulations to the team at our Career Development Centre and all those who are supporting the work towards a more sustainable future, particular the students who are devoting energy, ideas and their time to progress this core value of our University. These awards are great symbol of our endeavours and achievements, and they are testament to the efforts of our students, and for our students.”

Marie Laffey, Head of the Career Development Centre at the University, said: “To win one top prize at the Education Awards is a fantastic achievement and great recognition of the team and our work in the Career Development Centre, but to also win at the Graduate Recruitment Awards and to do it on the back of international recognition at Global Careers Summit demonstrates the real impact we are making for our students. A huge congratulations goes to all the team and we would also like to thank our colleagues in Platform94 for all their support and work with us, as well as all the students who engage with us as we strive to set them on the right path in the next step on their journey.”

Dr Richard Manton, Director of Sustainability, said: “A huge congratulations to the team involved in bringing the University to where we are today. Through our community and university sustainability partnership, we are co-creating a more sustainable campus and embedding sustainability in all aspects of learning and research, culture, operations and governance. The award builds on our status as a Government of Ireland SDG Champion and our World Top 50 ranking for performance on the SDGs."

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