ISSUE 1 • WIntER 2018/19

www.itsligo.ie FREE Sligo Science Festival IT Sligo to become the first Autism Friendly Institute of Technology Graduation 2018 4 Page Pull Out

Construction Students win the National Award

Michelle Glackin (IT Sligo), Adam Harris (AsIam), Carmel O’Sullivan (Trinity College Dublin), Maureen Haran (IT Sligo) and Shelley Brady (IT Sligo) at the launch of IT Sligo’s commitment to become Ireland’s first Autism Friendly Institute of Technology. Photo: James Connolly IT Sligo Open Evening By: Maureen Haran, Asst. Access Officer, celebratory culture towards Autism. To assist students with autism, IT Sligo will be Disability Supports To launch this commitment, Adam Harris setting up an institution wide implementation CEO and Founder of the AsIAm organisation group who will design and implement the What does an Autism Friendly visited our campus in November to speak to supports that are developed in line with the students and other community representatives principles. Campus commitment mean? and area schools on his experience as a former Continued on Page 2 n the 7th of November, IT Sligo third level student and on his capacity as a committed to partnering with the professional. November marked our AsIam organisation to develop a commitment to work with AsIAm to achieve the FACT: series of principles that underpin the colleges criteria objectives they put forth for Did you know that 76 million of the O accreditation. purpose for its students with Autism, this is a world population has a diagnosis of three-year journey with AsIAm. Colleges In the 2015/16 academic year, there were 8 autism? In Ireland, the study, from the that attain Autism-Friendly Status are students with ASD that registered for supports at National Council for Special Education, IT Sligo. Today IT Sligo has 32 students that understanding of the needs of Autistic found that 1 every 65 students have an students, open to making adaptations to be have disclosed an autism diagnosis and these are more accessible and have a positive, only the students that have disclosed. autism diagnosis. IT SLIGO OPEN EVENING - TUESDAY 15TH JANUARY, 6-8PM 2 IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 WHAT AM I DoIng HeRe? Do The Math! Staff Staff & Students Raise €1,200 for Pieta House Profile

Photo from left to right are Don Donoghue, Konrad Mulrennan, Michael Moran, Maria Moran and Kieran Hughes.

IT Sligo staff and students came together to organise a approximately 160 people in attendance on the night charity quiz night on October 18th. The quiz was part and €1205 was raised for the charity. of the IT Sligo Maths Week Ireland events that were The organisers would like to extend thanks to all of organised on and off campus between 13th - 21st the sponsors for the event who include Supermac’s, October. AIB, the Clayton Hotel, Anderson’s and IT Sligo The event was also an opportunity to raise much Students’ Union. The time and support given by these needed funds to support the Michael Moran Memorial sponsors facilitated running the event and the prizes on Walk in aid of Pieta House. In total there were the night.

IT Sligo to become the first Autism Friendly Institute of Technology Continued from front page Campus, the AsIAm Autism activities to enable visitors to step Experience Exhibition came to IT into the shoes of someone living There 8 principles of an autism- Sligo. This exhibition was a great with the condition. The idea is to friendly campus being: success and it afforded students encourage a new way of thinking 1. Encourage and enable autistic and staff the opportunity to and to start the conversation about students to transition and experience what it is like to have building a more inclusive campus participate in university Autism. The Exhibition is for autistic students. programmes. presented in a Q&A format, which For more information on the 2. Support and build capacity to makes it accessible and engaging Autism Friendly Campus equip autistic students to meet the for visitors, be they on the autism initiative, please contact Maureen Your name: Marie Moran academic challenges of everyday spectrum or not. It includes an Haran in the Access Office. Where are you from? I’m originally from Shotts in Scotland, but I’ve university life. audio guide and a range of [email protected] been living in Ireland for 20 years. 3. Support and build capacity to equip autistic students to meet the Brief Career Background: social challenges of everyday Prior to joining IT Sligo, I worked in Waterford IT as a lecturer and Project university life. Manager in the School of Business. I’ve also worked for a number of other 4. Seek to establish an autism- third level institutes in Ireland on research projects and the development of friendly operational environment; online programmes. Before moving to Ireland, I spent 12 years in business 5. Seek to combat the stigma management and marketing roles in the chemical and pharmaceutical around autism and recognise the industries in the UK. diverse experiences of those with the condition. Your job title: Head of Department of Business 6. Develop understanding and relevant knowledge and skills When did you join IT Sligo? within the university community. I have been Assistant Registrar in IT Sligo since 2016. I originally joined 7. Establish channels so that IT Sligo in 2010 as a lecturer in the School of Business & Social Sciences. autistic students can have a voice in various aspects of university Education: life. BSc, MBA. I have just completed my first year of studying in TCD for a 8. Increase the employability of D.Ed. looking at student expectations and outcomes in Higher Education. autistic graduates through a range of initiatives that will develop Brief Summary of what you do and where your office is located: their soft-skills to support their I am looking forward to returning to the Department of Business in my transition beyond university. new role, building on the very positive developments, and taking on new challenges and opportunities that are presented by a changing educational AsIAm Autism Expo Click Here to landscape. My office is in the School of Business and Social Sciences As part of our commitment to Watch Video Management Suite. become an Autism Friendly IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 3 Landing Space Open for Business DA Ireland, in partnership with IT Sligo and Sligo County Council, have opened a new fast landingI property solution for businesses who want to set-up in the Northwest. The establishment of IDA Ireland’s first fast landing service at Embankment House, Sligo, to be known as ‘The Landing Space’, will provide an open plan, turnkey collaborative working environment for companies who wish to quickly and easily establish operations in the North West region. The centre offers over 60 desks of which nearly half are already taken. Sligo is home to leading life science companies such as Phibro, Abbvie and Abbott as well as tech companies LiveTiles, Overstock and E3 Retail. These international brands help attract additional overseas companies to potentially locate to the Sligo area. Attending the launch, Minister of State for Natural Resources, Community Affairs and Digital Development Seán Canney said: “Sligo has benefitted greatly in recent months from the arrival of Official opening of the new innovation centre for Sligo with over 60 desks. John Nugent, IDA Manager, Border Region; Minister Sean Canny, global companies like Phibro, Ciaran Hayes, Sligo Co. Co, CEO; Regina Moran Vodaphone; Dr. Brendan McCormack, President IT Sligo; Mary Buckley, IDA CEO and John LiveTiles and E3 Retail. It’s proof Keaney, CEO SIRO. that everything that global companies require to establish and enterprise and entrepreneur contributes to a much sought after scale up their operations can be supports. These new office facilities quality of life where you can avail found here – such as talent, services will provide a soft-landing base for of 1 Gigabit broadband connection Welcome to the first Edition of and infrastructure. The addition of companies establishing a permanent in an attractive urban centre, yet be this new fast landing space is presence in Sligo” only 10 minutes from surfing the another strong attractor, adding IDA Ireland’s Executive Director Wild Atlantic Way or availing of the greatly to what Sligo has to offer.” Mary Buckley said: “The many mountain or coastal walks in The availability of skilled workers collaborative work of all local the land of hearts desire.” and graduates in Sligo to service the stakeholders, including IT Sligo and North West’s growing international Sligo County Council, is really Gigabit Hub at the Landing I am delighted to welcome the client base has greatly benefitted the important and demonstrates that Space first issue of this publication region. Commenting at the launch creating an attractive location for Siro and Vodafone are supporting and I hope it is the first of many Dr. Brendan McCormack, President investment benefits greatly from a The Landing Space with the Newspapers we will see over the of IT Sligo said: “IT Sligo is team approach.” provision of Gigabit connectivity, coming years. delighted to be partnering with the The location of Sligo as a the most powerful broadband This publication allows us to IDA and Sligo County Council in destination for people in search of available in Ireland. Companies celebrate in print the providing this new facility for Sligo- challenging careers and a positive based in The Landing Space will achievements of staff and students based companies. This initiative will work-life balance is well benefit from the same level of of the Institute across many add to our on-campus incubation acknowledged as Ciaran Hayes, broadband connectivity as available different domains. While we are facility offering, which currently CEO, Sligo County Council said: in leading international hubs such in in the digital age, a hard copy houses over 30 companies, allowing “The availability of a fast Landing locations like Tokyo and Hong paper still resonates with many us to build on our extensive suite of Space in the heart of Sligo Kong. and will be tangible evidence of our activities that can be shared with the wider community. Indeed, I hope to see many articles reported in the paper presenting examples of our extensive community collaborations. This is one of the many steps to improve communications between staff and students and all our other stakeholders. We hope this paper will help build an engaged campus community and spread the word widely of the amazing stories IT Sligo, its students and staff have to share. This is your newspaper and we want you to be part of it. If you have an interest in writing, photography or design, please get in contact. Also, if you have suggestions for how IT Sligo could be improved, we would like to air those views and ideas for how we can make effective changes. Thanks to Aidan Haughey for imagining and delivering this newspaper and I look forward with interest to reading the articles. Kind Regards,

Click Here to Dr Brendan McCormack Watch Video President, IT Sligo 4 IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 SLIGO SCIENCE FESTIVAL

Tara McCallion-Gleeson, 3, investigates a slide under a microscope, at the AbbVie "When I Grow Up" Exhibition at the annual Sligo Science Fair as part of Science Week Ireland. Science Festival Photo: James Connolly Was Out of This World! The Sligo Science Festival 2018 held recently engaged an estimated 8,000 people during Science Week. Over 1000 visitors attended the opening Science Fair in partnership with Abbvie to start off the week. During Science Week, the Festival hosted 34 events including 12 talks, 3 shows (7 performances), 4 roadshows, 5 workshops, 3 walks, 1 exhibition, 1 STEM careers event by Abbott and the ISTA regional quiz. A fun Science Trail for kids, included the participation of 20 local businesses. Among the speakers, Irish Astronaut in training, Dr. Norah Patten from Co. Mayo, gave a talk to a young audience of future space explorers and asked young people to "reach for the stars". The Festival was organised by the Faculty of Science at IT Sligo, with funding from IT Sligo and Science Foundation Ireland. Additional sponsorship funding was received from AbbVie. The Festival was also supported by Sligo Leader and Sligo County Libraries as Community Partners. Additional highlighted industry organisations participating in the Festival were County Mayo Astronaut Norah Patten, exploring some model planets with Charlie Clay, 10, at the annual Science Fair with AbbVie as Abbott, EPA and Arcola Energy. part of Science Week Ireland, in the Institute of Technology, Sligo. Photo: James Connolly IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 5 Science Trail Winner! he grandniece of a famous Austrian astronomer has won a telescope through a Science Tcompetition, in a twist of fate. Eight year old Saoirse Foley won the telescope after completing a Science Trail around Sligo as part of the recent Science Festival. When she came to IT Sligo to collect her prize her mother revealed she was the niece of a famous astronomer from Austria, who was a Professor at the University of Graz. Professor Hermann Haupt, was one of Europes most respected astronomers and has had the honor of an astroid named after him in 1981. Her mother, Susanna Haupt was delighted her daughter won a telescope and hopes she will follow in the footsteps of her famous uncle. Saoirse is a pupil of the Knocknarea Gael Scoil in Sligo. Pictured: Dr Jerry Bird, Head of Faculty of Science at IT Sligo and Oli Melia, Director of Sligo Science Festival present 8 year old Saoirse Foley with her prize of a telescope, having completed the Sligo Science Festival Trail with her mother, Susanna Haupt. (PHOTO: James Connolly)

Click Here to Watch Video 6 IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 Standing Ovation for Stuart as over 1600 Graduate!

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Stuart Haxell receives a standing ovation when he collected his Masters in Marketing with his guide dog, Elmo at IT Sligo.

ne student stood out among Engineering & Design and Business to follow in her footsteps. It’s been the 1,600 other graduates at and Social Science. Among those an emotional day and I’ll miss conferring last month. graduating are students from parading my mum around campus.” OStuart Haxell from Sligo, is blind countries across the globe including; Speaking at the graduation and has been a student of Marketing Oman, Malaysia, Romania and President of IT Sligo, Dr Brendan and Business for six years at IT Canada. McCormack welcomed the Sligo. Recently he graduated with a The Institute also has a mother graduates and their families: Masters in Marketing and received a and daughter graduating together "It is an honour and a pleasure to standing ovation when he collected this year from the school of welcome each of you here. Today his parchment with guide dog, Business. Siobhan and Rachel we are honouring your hard earned Elmo. Dooner who graduated in business success. Your efforts have brought A total of 1652 students from IT and accountancy, respectively, were distinction to you personally, to the Sligo graduated in November, up by both incredibly proud of each others Institute and to the often unheralded over 100 on last year. The students achievements. Daughter Rachel and silent partners in higher have graduated in 93 courses over said; “We often would meet for education, your inspiring and the three faculties of Science, lunch which was lovely and I want supportive families and friends." Three students were also conferred with doctoral degrees at the conferring in IT Sligo. Kelly McGuire successfully defended her PhD Thesis earlier this year. Kelly is an Honours graduate from IT Thais Diniz Oliveira, Dr Brendan McCormack and Tarha Westby Sligo’s BB in Tourism and Events. Kelly will take up her new permanent post as Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Event Management at Liverpool John Moores University. Brazilian, Thais Diniz Oliveira graduated with a PhD in the area of Carbon trading. Her research investigated the compatibility and effectiveness of linking Brazilian carbon mitigation and trading strategies with the EUETS (European Union Emissions Trading Scheme) which is the largest operational scheme in the world. Finally, Tarha Westby received her PhD in the Investigation of The mineral profile of Fucus serratus Linneaus aqueous extracts and Dr. Brendan McCormack and Dr Kelly McGuire step out in the rain at examination of the routes of uptake Mother and Daughter Siobhan and Rachel Dooner who graduated in the recent graduation. of minerals both in vivo and in vitro. business and accountancy at IT Sligo. IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 7 Meet Our Alumni In every issue we will meetAlumni some of the IT Sligo Open Evening thousands of IT Sligo Alumni. If you are an Alumni of IT Sligo and would like to stay in touch with us please follow IT Sligo on LinkedIn. Through our network we will be highlighting career opportunities in the region and sharing the latest news in research and innovation. In Thisthis issue issuer we we meet meet Sligo native, Susanne Kerins who studied Marketing at IT Sligo and is now Head of Marketing at Cora Systems in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Name: Susanne Kerins IT Sligo Course: MSc in Marketing Current Role: Role: Head Head of of Marketing Marketing at Coraat Cora Systems Systems “My Masters Degree added value to my subject knowledge and has made me current within my industry sector. As a result my qualifications have been instrumental in securing my current role.” he IT Sligo open evening on 15th we support our students, fees and 7.30pm – Specialist Talks: January (6.00pm – 8.00pm) will grants, sports scholarships, HEAR and • Parent Talk Click Here to be a great help to any new DARA Schemes and you will meet • Leaving Cert Talk Watch Video studentT weighing up their options for with staff and current students. Find • Mature Student Talk CAO 2019. This event is particularly out how we support our students from focussed towards Leaving Certificate the transition from school to college. Register online today student and their parents and also The CAO 2019 application deadline is www.itsligo.ie/openevening IT Sligo Alumni becomes 27,000 mature students considering a return to 1st February, take this opportunity to For further information please contact education. learn what IT Sligo has to offer you. our student recruitment office on member of Chartered Accountants at Make your decision early, choose the 071-91 37325 or e-mail Dubai Event The programme includes: right course for you and be assured you [email protected] • CAO Application advice and tips are making the right choice by choosing • Graduate experiences IT Sligo. • A special talk for Parents Click Here to Watch Video • CAO courses presentation by each Talks: department 6.00pm – Graduate Stories Our programme will provide you with 6.15pm – Course talks by each a wealth of information about IT Sligo department and the CAO application process, how 7pm – Subject Exhibition & meet staff. Launch of First 5 –Early Years Strategy, positive future for our children and ECCE graduates. The word historic is often witness such an event with the Babies, Young Children and of An Taoiseach, Minister’s IT Sligo Accountancy Alumni, Kahna Gilligan receives overused, but the 19th launch of the first ever Whole their Families 2019-2028 by a Katherine Zappone, Simon her Chartered Accountancy membership certificate from November 2018 did indeed of Government Strategy for Whole of Government panel Harris and Mary Mitchell Institute President Feargal McCormack. Kahna became O’Connor. This united front the 27,000th member of the institute. from the Government focused on a number of key goals including creating strong and Irish Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), supportive families and Aidan Cronin hosted a reception for members of the communities evidenced by Institute of Chartered Accountants at his residence in Abu providing both parents with Dhabi on 29 October. The Institute's 27,000th member additional 7 weeks paid Kahna Gilligan, a former IT Sligo Accountancy student, parental leave, ensuring access received her Chartered Accountancy membership certificate to high quality play based at this momentous event. early learning and care Institute President Feargal McCormack welcomed Ms experiences, nurturing healthy Gilligan, who studied accountancy at IT Sligo, and is childhood starting from currently working with FedEx in the UAE. Mr McCormack pregnancy and significantly for said: the future ECCE graduates a “On behalf of my fellow Chartered Accountants, I am commitment to professionalise delighted to welcome Kahna and all recently conferred the sector by supporting members to the ranks of the profession. Awarding this employers to attract and retain certificate in the UAE demonstrates how the Irish Chartered staff. This imaginative but Accountancy qualification is recognised as a global comprehensive, integrated passport.” road map was summarised by The delegation also included An Ceann Comhairle Seán An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar Ó Fearghail T.D., Senator Paudie Coffey, Mattie Mc Grath saying “investment in children T.D., Peter Burke T.D (Chartered Accountant) and Declan and in the early years of a Breathnach T.D. child’s life was an investment The event was attended by over 40 Institute members in the future”. based in UAE. 8 IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 Students Clean up Our Shoreline! Lost in Space Paradeequality. The parade on Thursday was the culmination of this year’s project, which produced beautiful willow and paper lanterns on the theme of ‘outer space’- illuminated aliens, rockets and flying saucers. Accompanied by the uplifting musical group Sabona, the group enjoyed creating some magic in Sligo, later meeting for finger food in Andersons to celebrate their achievements. Dr Susan McDonnell who facilitates the group would like to thank Dr Breda McTaggart and Dr Michael Barrett for continued support, Andersons who adopted some of the lanterns, and especially Sinead Canning in Flying Tiger/ Garavogue Bar Olivia Jones (Clean Coasts), Joanna Sweeney for all her help. (Lecturer), Erasmus & International Students; Lucile Dubreuil, Maxime Daffos & Mark Vasey

IT Sligo BSS students teamed up with Clean Coasts to go on a local beach clean on Wednesday 14th November, they also participated in an interesting afternoon cleaning all around the lantern parade, titled Lost in community partnership that is now in its Cartron Area of Sligo in collaboration with Clean Space, lit up Rockwood Parade in fifth year. Coasts. Sligo on the evening of Thursday The Inclusive Arts module, inspired by Clean Coasts performed a marine litter research December 6th. This event showcased and a model developed by the University of exercise to gauge the type of litter getting washed A up around Sligo and target this in the future. A celebrated the work of the Inclusive Arts Brighton, aims to equip students with module, which is available to Social Care theoretically-informed and experiential marine survey revealed household waste & and ECCE students in the Department of learning in this area. Through active personal care products to be the most common Social Sciences at IT Sligo. participation and reflection, all found. The module is built around a participants are introduced to artistic collaborative arts project, involving techniques and group processes, and are students in peer-to-peer learning with a encouraged to build relationships, share group of people from Rehabcare Sligo, a ideas and work together in an ethos of Design Award for IT Sligo Student IT Sligo Construction Students win the National CIOB Student Challenge 2018 A team of four construction students from Year award (CMYA) in Dublin as well as strong connection between our department the department of Civil Engineering and the CIOB proposing to sponsor the team to and the construction sector, which feeds Construction represented IT Sligo at the go forward to the Global Student challenge into our full time programmes in terms of National Chartered Institute of Building which was held in Toronto last year. quality and relevance. This is the feedback (CIOB) Student Challenge that was held at On being awarded the winners of the we get from our graduate employers.” Croke Park Stadium Dublin on 22nd of CIOB Student Challenge, Trevor McSharry, On conclusion, Trevor added, “we would November 2018. IT Sligo were delighted to Head of Department of Civil Engineering like to thank the CIOB and CIF for have been selected as the overall winners of and Construction said, “This is the first time arranging this important event to highlight this prestigious national competition, open IT Sligo have won this particular the collaboration between stakeholders in to all higher education institutes and competition and this accolade, putting us the construction sector, celebrate the universities. ahead of our peers, is a testament to the quality of Ireland’s construction students. The Sligo Team consisted of Nathan excellent teaching of our staff coupled with Given the huge demand from industry for Flanagan, Michael Cunningham, Gregory the quality of our students. Many of our graduates, we need to do everything we can Kirkpatrick, and Matthew Shaw and were staff teach students who are upskilling in to promote the rewarding construction mentored by lecturer Paul Donlon. industry through our online part time related programmes available to CAO The annual event was attended by programmes. This helps to maintain a students.” students from Institutes of Technology, Universities and colleges throughout Ireland and run by the CIOB in association with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and a number of sponsors, including key Construction Companies in Ireland. The Challenge consisted of the students Congratulations to Ultan Rooney, year 3 Creative being given a project brief relating to a Design student who was commended at the annual complex real life construction project, and Orengebox/W2W Student Design Award ceremony then they were asked to produce a bid in Dublin recently. submission and presentation relating to the The third year student at IT Sligo designed a user project within a tight time frame. centred product which addresses the needs of the After the presentation the students were modern ‘nomadic’ worker. quizzed by the judges in relation to their proposal. The teams were marked then the top three were asked to attend another nail Building Houses out of Mud biting question and answer session in front of the judges and audience. and Wood The Sligo team put in an outstanding Second Year Advanced Wood & Sustainable performance in what was a highly testing Building Technology students visited ‘The Mud & challenge and were praised by the judges Wood House’ Screen, Co Sligo on Thursday 29th for their extensive knowledge, practicality November for a workshop and presentations on Cob and overall professionalism. Walling. The students also looked at fantastic Along with receiving numerous prizes for examples of ‘Natural Edge’ joinery & carpentry. Big the event the students will be invited to thanks to our hosts Feile Butler & Colin Ritchie. attend the Construction Manager of the IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 9 Top Marks for IT Sligo Make A Positive • Keeping under review the new organisational structure Impact Together Dr Brendan McCormack, President, Institute of Technology Sligo said: “We welcome the QQI report and its findings, which we will use to help develop our institution even further. We are This is not just a newspaper but a movement particularly pleased with the recognition of towards a better community. our online education to learners in work, IT Sligo has teamed up with onestepcloser.to; which we have developed over the years to a platform where staff, students and other key become the largest online campus in stakeholders to IT Sligo will be able to directly Ireland. The report also acknowledges our influence positive projects that IT Sligo will strength in engaging with all our external invest more resources into. stakeholders. The Institute of Technology Over the coming six months we are hoping to Sligo prides itself on our engagement with highlight issues such as sustainability and industries and developing courses around climate change, health / mental health as well as their needs and increasing our graduates’ innovation and entrepreneurship. Around each employability. Staff at all levels of the topic, we are looking to come up with tangible institution are passionately committed to ideas and solutions to better address these giving students a good experience and to challenges. This will happen both on and off the institution’s mission and values. We campus. We will be looking for your input and thank the QQI for their review and will use feedback that we can then take action on. In the recommendations within it, to improve recent campaigns, onestepcloser.to was used by our Institution as we move towards a Trinity College Dublin to let staff and students Technological University.” decide which sustainable products to be stocked in the Student Union Shop, or where to place he Institute of Technology Sligo have to deliver impact for students and staff, and new water fountains for easier refills. The new successfully completed a quality making recommendations on areas for water fountains are expected to help reduce the review conducted by Quality and improvement in the coming years. purchases of at least 50,000 single-use plastic Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the state IT Sligo was commended on its: bottles every year. This is just one example of a T student-driven campaign with an outstanding agency responsible for the external quality • Engagement with external stakeholders assurance of further and higher education and the resulting impacts of this positive impact. Onestepcloser.to is a tool for and training in Ireland. • National leadership role in online collaborative and co-created change. The Every 7 years QQI carries out an external education, thus widening participation platform builds short engagement campaigns review of higher education institutions to • Staff commitment to and ambition for the where students and staff find out about suggested check on the maintenance and improvement Institute and its students impact projects and then vote for the change they of quality. The review explores how the • Mechanisms to support quality want to see. “ Big change is always achieved institution has improved its teaching, enhancement through many small steps. These votes become learning and research systems, and how • High regard amongst employers for ‘job- accessible taps of positive change-making” says well institutions have aligned with their ready’ graduates Joanna Mulkeen, Founder and CEO of own mission, quality indicators and onestepcloser.to (www.onestepcloser.to) benchmarks. IT Sligo and LYIT are the Areas identified in which IT Sligo could We are looking forward to coming together first two institutions to undergo the process make improvements were: with you all to work on inspiring projects for in the current CINNTE cycle. • Their processes for planning, managing good in the new year. Panels of national and international and evaluating change education experts conducted a • Current HR policy and culture If you would like to get involved in any of comprehensive review of the effectiveness • Continuing improvements within Quality these projects please contact our of the quality assurance procedures of each Assurance delivery and processes Communications Manager, Aidan Haughey institution, delivering commendations on • The balance between dynamic via email [email protected] examples of good practice which were seen responsiveness and strategic direction Together we can make a real difference.

College Awareness Week BE PART OF IT SLIGO NEWS We are looking for contributions from you, our readers. IT Sligo News is looking for:

• Photographers • Writers • Illustrators • Graphic Designers • Web Developer • Filmmakers

Summerhill College second years visit IT Sligo as part of the National College Awareness Week campaign. If you would like to be part of IT IT Sligo celebrated College Awareness education plan. It advocates for students to were given talks and information packs by Sligo News please contact our Week by holding open days for schools have the choice to pursue the course best IT Sligo Access Officer, Linda McGloin on from the region between the 19th – 22nd suited to their interests, abilities and the importance of college education and the Communications Manager, November. dreams, whether that is a PLC many paths you can take to get there. Aidan Haughey at College Awareness Week (CAW) aims to qualification, an apprenticeship or a Among the school visits were a second [email protected] inspire and inform all students about the university degree. year class from Summerhill College Sligo importance of having a post-secondary Groups of school children from Sligo (Photographed). 10 IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19

German Ambassador called on Sligo’s youth to secure the Collaboration and Consolidation future of EU’s open society in Performing Arts As the Performing Arts Programme moves into its maturity, this year has been marked by collaboration and consolidation. As Declan Drohan and colleague Niall Colleary complete their training in Michael Chekov Technique, they were honoured by a visit by Suzana Nikolic of University Of Zagreb and Michael Chekov Europe (MCE). Their collaborative teaching of the technique to 1st and 4th year acting students is a rich and satisfying platform for skill sharing and professional development. Another highlight was the joint production of Ubu Rex with colleagues from Theatre design under the supervision of Niall Rea. Directed by Declan Drohan and Agnes Pallai, this replication of contemporary industry practice on a full staging of this politically timely piece of satire served as a model for future collaboration. Onwards and upwards !

German Ambassador Deike Potzel has called on Sligo’s youth to learn languages and use their vote to secure the future of EU’s open society. Speaking at the launch of IT Sligo’s German Language Network, Ambassador Potzel spoke of her own experience growing up behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany and expressed the importance of everyone to use their right to vote. Speaking about the Launch of the Language Network, the Ambassador revealed the German government is looking to create stronger relations with Ireland after Brexit and told students to learn German and other languages to secure careers: “I visited a large multi-national tech company in Dublin and spoke with the management there. When I asked why there were so many Germans here, they said they couldn’t find enough fluent speakers in Ireland and it was easier to train people in technology than it is to teach them a language.” The ambassador also described how learning a language can also improve your experiences of other cultures when travelling. Welcoming the Ambassador, President of IT Sligo, Dr. Brendan McCormack said: “IT Sligo launched the German Language Network to establish a community of German speakers, students of German, those with an interest in Germany – in its people, its culture, its language, its economy. Our students have been very actively involved in founding this Network and it is an honour to have Ambassador Potzel to officially launch the initiative.”

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YouthStart European Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2018 Can some foods augment or 9th November Croke Park replace chemotherapeutics? Foróige recently hosted the YouthStart Ireland representative with her Rachel’s worked with Foroige to develop the IT Ms Katie Marconi (4th year Human Nutrition European Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Heavenly Bakes a gluten free baking range Sligo/ NFTEStudent Entrepreneurship student) and Mr Philip Keighron (4th year Medical 2018 on 9th November in Croke Park. of delicious products who had been Scholarship and has mentored a number of Biotechnology student) were invited to deliver an Businesses led by young people travelled mentored by Sandra Dooley Network for winning student groups in recent years, oral presentation at the recent Sligo University from all over Europe to take part in the Teaching Entrepreneurship Sligo, and was invited to be the Irish judge and to Hospital research conference. The Cellular Health event having already won the national Janette Gillen, The Innovation Centre . deliver a key note address on the and Toxicology (CHAT) research group recently finals in their own countries. Rachel Mc Roisin Mc Glone, lecturer in the importance of student entrepreneurship. secured funding from the Hospital’s Research and Partland, from Manorhamilton, was the Department of Social Sciences who has She commented on the professionalism, Education Foundation to evaluate “an in vitro study creativity and social inclusion aspects of of the potential of some food extracts to augment each of the competitors and believed that chemotherapeutics”. The CHAT group hosted the the future of the European family is in safe students over the summer and Katie progressed the hands with these young socially conscious research as part of her final year research project. young entrepreneurs. They found that extracts from several foods have the A Spanish business of 4 dynamic young potential to arrest cancer growth, irrespective of women branded ‘Take This Way’ won the conventional treatment and some foods may have overall award of an impressive trophy and the potential to accelerate growth. Their research cash prize. The young entrepreneurs was performed in vitro on both leukaemia, colon Miriam Lidueña Rio, Carolina Del Corral cancer and prostate cancer cells. However, the Farrarós, Sara Giménez Aragón, & Miriam research is still at an early stage and additional work San José Oliva developed an app to help is on-going. This additional work will include the public transport users in Barcelona buy and evaluation of the ability of these foodstuffs to retain verify tickets with their phones. their bioactivity post digestion and the potential Sean Campbell, CEO of Foróige, said effects on normal cells that would be similarly “We are immensely proud of all the exposed. It’s hoped that one or both students could participant’s achievements. It was an carry this vital work through to postgraduate honour to host this competition, and research, towards a PhD qualification. showcase Ireland’s ability to foster For further information please contact Dr James greatness within the youth population”. Murphy, Head of the CHAT research group IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 11 GRADUATION 2018

Ella Newrot, Sarah Carroll, Aisling Fay and Molly McGowen.

PhD Graduate, Kelly Maguire, leads the precession of award winning graduates at IT Sligo.

Niall Cawley, joyfully receives his parchment in Digital Marketing from IT Sligo President, Dr Brendan McCormack.

Christian Conway, Niall Cawley and Ryan Philips with their Degrees in Business and Digital Marketing. 12 IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 GRADUATION 2018 IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 13 GRADUATION 2018 14 IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 GRADUATION 2018

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T Sligo Performing Arts presented an evening of Live Art at the Factory Arts Centre Sligo, recently. Featuring nine pieces by third year Istudents, the work tackles social media, body positivity and the political climate through interactive installations and performance. Live ArT evenT IT Sligo, Arts Lecturer, Una Mannion said: ‘Live Tackles Body Positivity and Political Climate Art is an opportunity for students to engage with issues they care about and that directly affect them. The event allows students to direct themselves in a durational performance where they are in immediate contact with their audiences. It is a unique experience for both them and the spectator.’

Dylan Fox - Gave his audience an option to fire a Gemma Marie Boyle - Allowed the public to write on her body and apply make-up to her face as part of her piece: ‘What’s your idea of perfect?’ pellet gun at him for his piece called “Triggered”.

IT Sligo Students Raise Money for Charity

Michael Bonner - Argued with strangers who sat opposite him for ‘Newton third law: every action has an equal and opposite reaction’

CHAT research group Mr Marcus Colon (who will shortly submit his UFSC Brazil where he teamed up with a PhD thesis) has recently had a paper accepted research group who were simulating training by the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. and overtraining in mice to evaluate the impact This is a small part of his PhD studies and the on brain function. Marcus and Dr Murphy had paper is “Effects of Competitive Triathlon an interest in these mice for the impact the Training on Telomere Length” The authors are training had on skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle Some of the organisers pictured: Lucile, Daff and Mark pictured with Sinead holding Mr Marcus Colon, Dr Andrew Hodgson and blood borne genetic markers for evaluation Sammy the Owl! (Consultant in SUH), Dr Eimear Donlon and in human athletes. Marcus returned to Sligo to Dr James EJ Murphy evaluate these mice tissues and then evaluate if IT Sligo hosted Halloweagles, an event to come and get a picture with him. Lothar His work recruited a number of triathletes these markers were replicated in the human raise funds for the non-profit Eagles from Eagles flying was available to and recreational athletes from the local area. It trial. Marcus’s results were of significant Flying. answer any questions that people may was observed that the triathlete group had commercial potential and an Invention The event was created by students in have had about wildlife. significantly longer telomeres in their cells. Disclosure Form was lodged with the Institute’s the BB of Marketing programme as a The event was sponsored by Lidl stores Telomeres are sections of DNA at the end of Tech Transfer office. Marcus’ primary degree way to get first-hand experience in who generously supplied the pumpkins as our chromosomes, they shorten with each cell was in Forensic Investigation and Analysis marketing. On the day of the event the well as the voucher for the raffle. The division, and this essentially acts as an internal from IT Sligo, his research was funded by an IT students sold pumpkins, a raffle where voucher for Lidl was won by Sligo native countdown to the end of a cells life span. So in Sligo Presidents Bursary under the supervision people could win a trip to Eagles Flying Ciara Lynch who is studying software essence longer telomeres mean greater cellular of Dr James Murphy and he is currently and do a Hawk Walk, as well as a 25- development at the IT. The students who longevity in the triathlete group compared to employed by Charles River Laboratories euro voucher to Lidl stores was on offer. take this module combined have raised the recreational athlete group. The group would Ballina. The event also had a barn owl named over €60,000 for charities since its also like to evaluate the recreational athlete For further information please contact Dr Sammy who attended so people could inception. versus the couch potato in further studies! James Murphy, Head of the CHAT research Marcus’ PhD studies included a placement in group 16 IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 Monte Loader Wins Innovation Award at Sustainability at IT Sligo National Ploughing

Oonagh Monaghan (Food consultant and author); Ella McSweeney (Ear to the Ground, RTE); Alison Greig (Director of Education for Sustainability, Anglia Ruskin University); Ciaran Byrne (CEO Inland Fisheries Ireland); Michael Ewing ( Co-ordinator of the Irish Environmental Network) and Richard Thorn, President Emeritus of IT Sligo, who chaired the event.

wo major sustainability events took sensors and the students developed were very diverse and ranged from a talk place at IT Sligo during August software to download real time water on a Bolivian Andean community to a IT Sligo Mechanical Engineering students won the 2018, an International Summer quality data. On their last day, they proudly Swedish case study of sustainability in 2018 Peoples Choice Award at the National TAcademy and a conference entitled presented their projects to their fellow graphic design education. Ploughing Championship for their innovative ‘Education with Sustainability’. students and lecturers. The event was also The conference ended with workshops product, Monte Loader. The Monte Loader is a The Summer Academy (August 13-24th) live-streamed and recorded so that it is on Life Cycle Analysis, Corporate Social Universal Rear End Loader that enables farmers to was attended by 34 international students available for each university to view. Responsibility and Design and the carry and move large heavy objects such as round and 13 international staff from six partner CERIS Research Centre, IT Sligo, in provocatively titled, How Unsustainable bails, using any tractor. European Universities in Sweden, collaboration with Mid Sweden University, are the Sustainability Goals. Irish delegates Patrick Masterson, Brian Griffin, Dylan Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlnads and hosted an International Conference entitled included representatives from eight Higher McBrearty from Mountcharles and Cormac France. The theme of this year’s academy ‘Education with Sustainability (EwS)’ from Education Institutes, highlighting the Donnelly from Donegal Town, designed the was ‘Sustainable Futures’ and its aim was 20-22nd August. national importance of the conference. ‘We product as part of their third year project. to allow students to collaborate on one of The conference focussed on the will produce a peer reviewed publication Congratulations to all four students and to the six multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural challenges facing all aspects of education, on Sustainability in Irish Higher Education academic and technical staff of Mechanical team projects. These included ‘Fight or teaching for a sustainable future. The from the conference outputs’, stated Engineering Programme. Flight’, a climate-change themed project conference opened with an audience of 100 Frances Lucy, Conference organiser. ‘IT where students had to determine, using at a public event entitled ‘Fake News and Sligo also intends to form a new network environmental, economic and social Impacts’ where a panel of five experts on sustainability via the EwS delegates. principles, whether it is best to engineer for presented onthe Impact of Fake News. This is important in the context of the First Grads of New Road climate change or for the population to Presentation topics at the two-day National Strategy for Sustainable leave an area that is increasingly vulnerable conference included sustainability aspects Development in Education 2014-2020. We & Transport Course to flooding. In another project, an at preschool, second level and higher also will be working throughout 2019 on underwater drone was equipped with education and outreach initiatives. These the IT Sligo Green Campus.’ Start a Career in the Regions Booming Tech Industry Would you like to work in the regions booming tech industry? The Sligo Leitrim Tech Cluster group which is a group comprising of various ICT companies from the region hosted their inaugural event at the Aurivo Theatre at IT Sligo recently. This took the format of an information evening for Parents, Guidance Counsellors, post- IT Sligo was delighted to confer the first graduates primary teachers and principals. from the new MEng in Road and Transport The purpose of the event was to Engineering. This programme was launched in 2016 inform the guests about in collaboration with the Local Authority Services employment, education and National Training Group (LASNTG) and the training opportunities in the ICT Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and is sector in the North West. The group delivered online on a part time basis. is comprised of many of the The graduate who was the recipient of the leading ICT/FinTech employers Governing Body Medal (sponsored by LASNTG) as from the region, including a result of achieving the highest overall result was Overstock and Livetiles. This Mr Alan Lowe (pictured). Alan works in Roadstone event is a great opportunity for all and is the Senior Technical Manager. those interested in a career in the Further information about this and other tech industry. For more construction related part time online programmes information on the next event can be found at https://www.itsligo.ie/onlinelearning please follow IT Sligo on social or phone 07191 55222. media. IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 17 IT Sligo Engineering China and Sligo Cultural Exchange Students at the Plastic Die ecturer, Rudie Coppieters returned to IT Sligo having spent the semester Engineering National Final lecturing in TUTE Institute in LTianjin, China. Rudie spent over 10 weeks in one of the worlds largest cities. You probably never heard of the Chinese city of Tianjin but it is the 13th largest city in the world with a population of over 15 million people. Rudie spent his time lecturing at TUTE university, a giant campus with 20,000 students. In return IT Sligo hosted two lecturers from TUTE as part of the cultural exchange. In an interview with IT Sligo News, Rudies gives a fascinating insight into life in China.

What is the university like and how many students are there? The university is huge, TUTE has about 18.000 students (not big for China) and they all live on campus. Including academic staff, facilities management, gardeners, security and admin staff there are close to 20.000 people on campus (about the same as the population of Sligo). The students don’t tend to go home in the weekends or one week holiday however the week before comfortable. The international hotel houses minor holidays as they all live 10 hours or that everybody has to work the weekend so international teaching staff and masters more from Tianjin (Tianjin is the 13 biggest you have effectively three days of no work. students. We are the only westerners in the city in the world according to UN). Because Still, better than a kick in the teeth. building. It is nice to live in this small of this they have 5 massive canteens (open The Chinese are very punctual when it community as we are all foreigners and that from 6.30am-9.00pm and one can eat a comes to start time of the lecture. If a creates a bond. good Chinese meal for €1.50) a big library lecturer is late, his or her name will be They found it easy to move around the city with about 350.000 books and there are a published on the notice board. Lecturers are once you have your phone set up with all the lot of activities on campus such as; hip hop also graded every year and if you are at the relevant apps. The Chinese are very keen on dancing, roller-blading, skateboarding, table bottom of the pile you will be judged by a using the phone and other technology like tennis, badminton or activities on the panel. The panel is made up of your paying at McDonalds through facial Luke Brennan running track. The students work on course colleagues so that creates a funny dynamic. recognition. Very few Chinese in Tianjin Every department has two HoD’s, one speak English. projects during the weekends as well. The Two IT Sligo Engineering Students are in the Chinese don’t have much of a drinking for day to day operations and one from the The air pollution is very obvious, especially communist party who makes sure that on days when there is no wind and in Plastic Die Engineering National Final in culture so they seem to socialise through association with Ireland Skills. The two students activities and food. Also the students are everybody behaves. I had to have a meeting November the coal fired district heating with her where she explained what I can’t system is switched on. will be tested in a 14 hour exam over two days in timetabled between 8am and 9pm so they the discipline of plastic die engineering, creating a can have classes in the evenings. do, like talk about religion in class, say things that will harm the party and not to get What are the main points you will bring single cavity injection mould. The students, into a relationship with a student. back with you in life and in work? Christopher O’Hara from Sligo and Luke Brennan What size are your classes? from Carlow will need to demonstrate a high level I have 40 students in one class and I have It has been very good to have a break from What are you working on over there and the ordinary and it has been an eye opener to of skill in many disciplines. Their work is being two groups. All the work is done in a lab overseen by Armin Philips, IT Sligo. with a co-teacher who can help with what do you hope to achieve? see a totally different way of living. It has translations and do some admin. The All of my work is lecturing and I’m hoping been interesting to see how hard students students are very well behaved and have to achieve improvements on the programme. work here to get a good grade. And I think it real respect for the lecturer even though the We are working on implementing better would be no harm to see our students work a mobile phone is a big distraction. I am used English, getting students on Moodle and bit harder as well. The educational system is to students getting ready for departure when automating the grading process. The last very competitive, in primary and secondary the class comes to an end. Here the students point is very important because of the large school students have extra classes in the don’t leave until I say class has ended. In number of students and we are using weekend and the study throughout the ITS we don’t have many girls doing continuous assessment for both modules. summer and winter holidays. This also engineering whereas here it seems about results in educational fatigue by the time 25-30% girls. How are you and your family adjusting to they reach third level education so I think it Chinese culture? is all about finding the balance. What is the average working day like and We live on campus in the international The Chinese are very friendly people and how does it compare to here? building. We have two apartments, one for the university here has made a big effort to My timetable is not the same every week me and Geraldine plus my 8 year old make life for me and my family very good. but I have between 18 and 24 classes per daughter and one for the teenagers. The And most importantly we had three days week so the work load is high. This is not apartments are basic but they are very of rain in the last ten weeks. helped by the fact that the level of English of the students is very low, about 80 % of the students don’t understand me very well. The English that I have to use is all engineering English so that makes it even more complicated. They have English lessons but they are delivered by non native speakers and they are not pitched at engineers. The reading and writing is not too bad but speaking and listening is not great. The modules are both very practical so I can teach through demonstrations and sometimes the slides have Chinese translations in them. The last few weeks I only had four classes in the morning on Fridays so that Chairperson of IT Sligo, Niall O’Donnellan visited TUTE in China last October. makes the weekend a bit longer. We also had He met staff and students along with lecturer Rudie Coppieters. Christopher O’Hara 18 IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 €1.9m Funding For Digital and Gaming Innovation Centre in Sligo Students Visit Belfast on Tourism Fact Finding Mission Students on the Cultural & Creative Tourism elective of the BB in Tourism programme travelled to Belfast last Thursday on an educational trip with their lecturer, Mary McGuckin. They visited the Ulster Museum and took a tour of the Parliament Buildings at Stormont, an impressive building but where no parliament currently sits! Colm Gildernew, MLA and Karen, one of the Educational Officers at Stormont gave interesting presentations to the group. The students also enjoyed a fascinating Black Taxi Tour along the Shankill and Falls roads as well as leaving all their autographs on the Peace Wall between the two roads. Visits to the colourful Christmas markets at City Hall and the ligo County Enterprise Fund Vincent Nally, Chairman of the Head of Innovation at IT Sligo, Students Union at QUB made the trip a very memorable experience for welcomes announcement of company, welcoming the Niall McEvoy welcomed the all! funding of €1,906,640 to the announcement said ‘We wish to announcement: Scompany under the Regional acknowledge the support of the IT Sligo promotes a regional Enterprise Development Fund Minister Business, Enterprise and innovation cluster which brings administered by Enterprise Ireland. Innovation Heather Humphreys TD together the combined facilities of The funding is towards the and Enterprise Ireland in awarding IT Sligo’s Innovation Centre, the development of a new 12,000 this funding for the project. This is Building Block, the Landing Space square foot campus, based an exciting project for the company and now the expanded Enterprise alongside the company’s existing and will be our largest ever Centre in Strandhill. Each has an enterprise and technology centre at investment when completed. It will important role to play in promoting Strandhill. The new campus will cater for up to 25 enterprises and Sligo as a great place to start and have a core focus on working with over 100 employees working in the grow a business. companies involved in the digital digital and video gaming industry. It The project, while lead by Sligo and video gaming sectors and is will help to strengthen and cement County Enterprise Fund is a strong partnered with IT Sligo amongst the reputation of Sligo and the regional collaboration of partners others. North West of Ireland as a leading who have a remit and role in It will operate as a leading location and hub for creative talent Enterprise Development and location in the region for and enterprise. While the new Promotion. The project partners entrepreneurs, businesses and start campus will be located at Strandhill, include: Sligo County Council, ups in this sector and provide a this will be the hub of a much larger Enterprise Ireland, Sligo Local range of holistic enterprise and regional initiative where we will Enterprise Office, Institute of innovation supports to its clients. work with the sector across the Technology Sligo, South West The funding represents 80% of the North West region to develop it as a College Enniskillen, Sligo Chamber overall cost of the project which hub of international excellence in of Commerce, the North West will be almost €2.5m. digital and video gaming.” Regional Assembly. Communities leading Ireland’s Energy Transition! he IT Sligo Contract Ophardt LED Lighting Research Unit and Upgrade and finally the Plan Energy install of Electric Vehicle TConsulting based in the charging points at AbbVie. Innovation Centre work with The value of the energy community groups in the savings of these projects Border Region as part of the combined were used to SEAI Sustainable Energy offset the cost of the Sligo Communities (SEC) Cancer Support Centre LED programme. We help Lighting Upgrade and develop skills and capacity, Energy Upgrades to a at community level, to Drumshanbo home become more energy including external wall efficient, plan energy insulation, attic insulation upgrades and develop and a solid fuel stove. renewable energy projects. This project model An example of a successful represents how IT Sligo is energy project involving externally engaging and various partnering assisting regional stakeholders in the North community energy projects West region is the recent by accessing capital funding, Sligo SEC project. The promoting partnerships and Contract Research Unit providing technical support. facilitated the partnership We are currently seeking approach and SEAI grant projects for the SEAI 2019 funding for the IT Sligo Communities Energy Grant Block M LED Lighting from all sectors of the Upgrade, Scollan’s Gala Pictured above is the 10 kWp Solar Photovoltaic system providing renewable electricity to the Scollans Gala Superstore in community. Please contact Solar PV system and Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim producing approx 10,300 kWh/year. [email protected] if refrigeration upgrade, you are interested. IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 19

IT Sligo Early Childcare Marketing Alumni Talks Visit ourth year business students specialising in marketing had the opportunityF to hear from IT Sligo graduates regarding their careers in recent weeks. The BBS Add On Marketing students heard from Gary Dolan and Karen McGarty regarding their career paths since leaving IT Sligo. Gary Dolan is the Marketing You may have noticed some extremely young Manager of EJ s Menswear in students on campus recently!! The 2nd Year Sligo and Karen McGarty is Early Childhood Care and Education students the Brand and had a real hands on experience when children Communications Manager aged 2 - 4 years came to IT Sligo for a visit. The with Aurivo, also based in students learned a lot from these experiences Sligo. Both speakers are and are very grateful to the children and local graduates of the School of settings for their interest in collaborating. Business and Social Sciences Community engagement is an important aspect at IT Sligo. The two speakers of work in the Early Years sector and this took the students through their project provided the students with real life careers to date and highlighted experience of this. the different roads that people may take with a Business degree qualification. It was beneficial for the students to hear from those who had been in the same position as them, only a few years ago. Gary and Karen highlighted the benefits of IT Sligo to them in their chosen careers and gave the students some valuable tips for their final year and their future professional development. Lecturer Lisa Dunne noted that the students were inspired by Karen McGarty, Brand and Communications Manager with Aurivo, and Lecturer, Lisa Dunne, the speakers and found the IT Sligo visits very worthwhile.

New Career Service Platform Launched

Sligo Christian Churches Unite at IT Sligo Members of the Methodist Church, the Church of Ireland, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission Church and the Roman Catholic Church have joined forces to run an Alpha Course at IT Sligo. The course, which is open to students and staff of IT Sligo, is a series of sessions which explores the basics of the Christian faith. Covering topics such as ‘Who is Jesus?’ and ‘Why and How do I Pray?’, the course is aimed at those who no longer attend church or perhaps have never believed in God. The weekly session includes a short film with food and discussion. The talks are designed to encourage debate and explore Christianity in a friendly, honest and informal way. An important element of the weekly meetings is the opportunity to share food and form community. The programme which is co-ordinated by the IT Sligo have launched a new online events and essentially upload jobs and letter templates are uploaded and available Pastoral Care Office at IT Sligo, began on Tuesday ‘Careers Service’ platform, in conjunction internships. Students/graduates can apply to view online, in addition to articles such evening 25th September 2018, and is expected to with Job Teaser. for positions advertised and sign up to as ‘Eight Tips to Get Spotted on Linkedin’ run until February 2019. We are very fortunate to This interactive platform facilitates attend events through their registered Students/graduates can register here: have the members of the different faith traditions meaningful communication between account. An additional function to book https://itsligo.jobteaser.com working in unity like this, benefitting our students students/graduates and employers. careers guidance/CV/mock interview Companies can register here: and staff. Companies create profile pages clarifying appointments will be launched in January. https://itsligo.jobteaser.com/en/company_ac Find us on Facebook at IT Sligo Chaplaincy their core business functions, highlight key Useful resources, including CV and cover count/sign_in 20 IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 IT SlIgo AImS For UnIverSITy STATUS s you may have heard, IT Development Plan: Project Ireland expertise, more near-to-market student profile with our CUA partners and key Sligo aims to achieve 2040, p. 64) research, institutional capacity and • extent of delegated authority at external stakeholders University Status over the In order to achieve IT Sligo’s University status to retain more Level 10 (doctoral level studies) • Internal CUA/TU portal launched. Anext few years. This will be strategic ambition of achieving TU students in the region; • less specific, but still important, • Working groups expanding – a achieved by three Institutes of status, IT Sligo has entered into a • building on CUA’s leadership in criteria related to governance, number of additional appointments Technology becoming one larger strategic partnership known as the blended/online learning to be a HE external links and international to WGs and Sub Groups have been Technological University. Connacht-Ulster Alliance (CUA). provider with national/international activity made. Open calls for nominees will To achieve this the Connacht This strategic partnership is impact; The CUA is well advanced in continue in January. Ulster Alliance was established by between three Institutes of • attracting more international meeting the key TU criteria, as • Joint meeting of three Executives IT Sligo, Letterkenny IT and Technology (IoTs) namely, Galway- students and faculty; outlined in the Technological to be held in IT Sligo on 19th Dec. Galway Mayo Institute of Mayo Institute of Technology • the use efficiencies and additional Universities Act 2018, however This day long session will focus on Technology. So what does all this (GMIT), Institute of Technology, academic depth to enhance high challenges remain with regard to developing discussion documents mean? Boil the kettle, make a Sligo (ITS) and Letterkenny quality learning options to students reaching the criteria in relation to on TU Mission and Vision and cuppa and settle down, as Ann Institute of Technology (LYIT). and support access and student research. Governance and Organisational Higgin’s, TU Project Manager for Nationally, there are four success. Structure which will form the basis IT Sligo explains; consortia who have entered into Based on 2017 figures, the three Key Developments In Tu/Cua for wider stakeholder consultation The Technological Universities strategic partnerships to achieve TU partners have a total student Project from January onwards. In addition, Act 2018 provides the necessary re-designation. On January 1st enrolment of 16,418, total staff of A number of key developments the Joint Executives will also legislative framework to enable 2019 Technological University 1,452, total income of €118 m and have taken place during the current discuss how we can collectively Institutes of Technology’s to apply Dublin will become the first TU in cover a geographical hinterland of semester as outlined below: achieve the TU metrics to the Minister for Education and Ireland, thus changing the landscape 26,000 sqkm – the largest dispersed • Appointment of Institute CUA • MTU submission imminent. Skills to initiate the process of being of third level education in Ireland. region among the four consortia. PMs – Dr Sean Duffy (LYIT), Dr evaluated to become TU’s. The CUA aim to make a submission Shirley Wrynn (GMIT) and Ann Next Steps The establishment of TUs reflects for TU re-designation by April 2020 TU Criterion Higgins (ITS) Review 2018 metrics and develop government strategy on higher and hope to achieve a TU in the The Technological Universities Act • IT Sligo Communication & action plan to ensure IT Sligo education as articulated within the CUA region by no later than 2022. outlines the application criteria consultation plan approved & achieves the TU criteria by our Hunt Review and more recently in The CUA’s proposition is to necessary to achieve TU status. implemented. In order to increase planned submission date of April the National Development Plan accelerate the economic, social and These criteria (s. 28 of the Act) awareness and stimulate dialogue 2020. Increased information and which stated that ‘Technological cultural development of the region include numeric targets in relation among colleagues, a number of consultation sessions with a Universities [will] deepen the talent by building a Technological to. institute-wide and dedicated particular focus on engagement pool for distinctive regional sectoral University with scale, quality and • staff qualifications and research function session have been held. with our students and joint sessions clusters and drive applied research impact by: activity This activity will increase in 2019 with our CUA partners and key and innovation’ (National • everaging enhanced staff • undergraduate and postgraduate and will see greater engagement external stakeholders.

Connacht Ulster Alliance at World Technology Universities Congress, India Hindustan Institute of Technology merger process. some of these institutions in the to benefit people and society, and and Science in the city of Chennai, Delegates at the Congress years ahead to inform and providing education to enable the bustling capital of the Indian state engaged in lively discussion of a benchmark its own evolution. And, next generation to tackle global of Tamil Nadu. Over 100 delegates number of topics that will help the hopefully, they in turn will all be challenges. WTUN members from across the world, from Canada network to develop its relevance able to learn useful things from the benefit from exchanges and to Indonesia to Nigeria, attended the and impact. Important issues CUA as it matures into a TU’ collaborative research and recent three-day event that saw the discussed included how to develop The WTUN is a network of facilitated links between membership of the WTU Network entrepreneurship and global technology universities institutions, industry, NGOs and increase to 22 leading higher entrepreneurial thinking in committed to undertaking SMEs. The CUA is a WTUN education institutions, including technology universities, and how to challenge-led, cutting-edge research founder member. bodies such as Suranaree University address the under-representation of of Technology (Thailand), Tampere women in technological higher University of Technology (Finland) education across the globe. and the newly established Dr Share expressed the value of University of Africa (Nigeria). membership of global networks Connacht Ulster Alliance (CUA), is Dr Perry Share (CUA Project such as the WTUN for the emergent a collaboration between IT Sligo, Manager) and Dr Gerard technology university of the Letterkenny IT and GMIT working McGranaghan (Assistant Lecturer West/North-West being developed towards bringing the three Institutes in Engineering, IT Sligo) each by the CUA: together to become a Technological presented at the Congress: Dr Share ‘events like the Chennai congress University in 2021. on entrepreneurship education show how similar challenges face Two academics from the across the CUA, and Dr higher education institutions across Connacht Ulster Alliance McGranaghan on his recent the world. The CUA can learn so participated in the third World research and teaching exchange much from others, especially from Technology Universities Congress, visit to Tampere University of some of the many new universities jointly hosted by the Indian Institute Technology – an institution that, that are being established. The CUA of Technology Madras and the like the CUA, is undergoing a hopes to draw on the experiences of IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 21 Will Robots Replace Teachers & Nurses? IT Sligo Lead pan-European Research in the fields of social robotics, social September. It is has recently care, social service delivery and received financial backing pedagogy. The partners are: (€344,110) from the EU Universiteit Twente (Netherlands), Commission’s ”Erasmus+ Key Via University College (Denmark), Action 203 - Strategic Partnerships” University De Valencia (Spain), programme. Gerry O’Sullivan, Holstebro Municipality (Denmark), Erasmus+ National Agency at the NUI Galway and the University of Higher Education Authority Lower Silesia (Poland). congratulated IT Sligo in securing The Alzheimer Society of Ireland the funding: (ASI) is also involved with the “The success of IT Sligo in project and will provide a tangible securing competitive funding under link for the academic partners with the Erasmus+ Programme will not the organisation as well as providing only lead to enhanced knowledge an opportunity to work on a ‘real and expertise in an area of critical case study’ for qualitative research need but is a tangible example of on the impact of social robotics on how higher education benefits ASI’s service delivery. citizens. The approach of the Institute also demonstrates its willingness to draw from and contribute to the knowledge base in Europe with partners from five There have been significant other EU member states as well as developments in social NUI Galway involved in the robotics in the care sector: in project. International particular, in elder care and collaborations of this type are “the care of people with essential to ensuring that the Irish higher education sector maintains dementia, as well as in the and enhances its capacity to deliver care and education of children education and training relevant to and young people, especially our needs.” those with specific disabling The funding will enable the conditions such PRoSPEro group to conduct policy, as autism,” ethics and regulatory research. Faced with the developments in the Dr. John Pender, Dr. Brendan McCormack President IT Sligo and Dr. Perry Share social robotics field, and the - Dr Perry Share from IT Sligo. fundamental questions that they recent Red C survey has Alzheimer’s association are Robotics in the Social Professions raise, the strategic research found that 39% of adults in currently using a soft doe eyed seal in Europe” (PRoSPEro) brings partnership has identified a need to Ireland are concerned robots which will react to petting and together practitioners, educators, “The robotic baby ”seal ‘Paro’ is establish educational and CPD willA take their jobs. conversation. This is a real comfort robotics experts and policy-makers one such example. It’s a supports, as well as amendments to The survey of 1,000 adults was to people with Alzheimer’s or to examine the impact of social therapeutic companion with basic regulatory standards. conducted by Red C on behalf of autism robotics on education, health and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and has “Increasingly robots are being Lero, the Science Foundation The main use for robots in social care. proven to be effective in the care of developed to interact with ordinary Ireland-funded software research healthcare and education is to assist Dr Pender and colleague Dr Perry people with dementia and children people in wider society, not just centre. workers on repetitive tasks which Share at IT Sligo will lead a with autism. It is widely used in scientists in research labs or It found that of the 39% worried can often lead to workers feeling strategic educational partnership care settings in Denmark and carefully constrained environments. that robots or artificial intelligence frustrated and stressed. A robot has over the next three years with teams Australia, and is now here in As a result important questions will take over their work. However, infinite patience and can perform from seven universities and Ireland.” about their design, capabilities and the understanding of robotics is one the same task repeatedly without organisations from around Europe. The new IT Sligo-led project will legal status are being raised,” says which needs to be explored further. getting frustrated. They bring a broad span of expertise span three years, starting this Dr John Pender. The Institute of Technology, Sligo Researchers are now trying to are exploring the need to train find ways to create a working teachers and nurses how to work environment where both humans with robotic colleagues! This will be and robots can work side-by-side. the focus of an ambitious pan- This will happen sooner than we European research project think according to Dr John Pender, conducted by several universities Futurist and Senior Lecturer in across the continent, led by Politics & Social Policy at IT Sligo: academics from the Institute of “It’s not a question of if, it’s a Technology, Sligo. question of when. Increasingly, Unlike robots used in factories carers will be assisted by robots and and warehouses that have limited Artificial Intelligence. There is contact with humans, social robots growing evidence that the emotional are designed to interact directly with intelligence possessed by social people and are being used to support robots in the future will enable them staff in healthcare centres, schools to make a real difference to the lives and even US courtrooms. of vulnerable people in society.” The general perception of robots We are already using AI Robots is one of cold, metallic functional through “Chatbots” on websites and machines incapable of human virtual assistants such as iPhones interaction. However, robots used Siri, which enables users to ask their in healthcare can be surprisingly smartphones questions. cute and cuddly, a far cry from the The technology is already here, Click Here to B-Movie depiction of the 1950’s. training staff to work with robots Forget C3PO and think more and AI is the hard part. Watch Video Ewok in Star Wars terms. The The project: “Pedagogy of 22 IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 Computing students Over 100 Companies at Sligo ‘design-think’ Careers Fair

This semester, Year One Computing students engaged on a client informed project, courtesy of a collaboration between the Grange Armada Development Association (G.A.D.A) and the Year 1 Computing ‘Design Thinking’ module team. G.A.D.A’s vision is to develop the prosperity of the locale by developing the tourist experience in Grange and Streedagh, Co. Sligo, focussing on its historic links with the Spanish Armada. Unaware of this vision, one hundred computing students got on buses and experienced at first hand ver 100 companies offered careers advice and job the Grange Spanish Armada visitor centre and its opportunities at IT Sligo’s biggest ever Careers Fair historic environs. On their return, the students in October. Abbott, AbbVie, Amazon and Ericsson embarked on a carefully crafted process which Owere just some of the large multi-nationals in attendance. required them to empathise, define, ideate and The event covered a range of industry sectors including cyclically prototype, test and pitch potential Engineering, Computing, Digital Technology, Accounting solutions which resolved identified tourist and Science. problems. Adette Ring, Careers Officer at IT Sligo said. “This is the Adrian Durcan, programme chair for the new largest careers fair we have ever held and has over doubled B.A. App Design and User Experience (U.X.) in size in the last two years. This is a good indication there degree commented that “the considered addition of is a renewed confidence in the job market and this is a great the ‘Design Thinking’ module in the first semester opportunity for people looking to enter the job market or on all computing programmes, scaffolds a very change careers.” important user centred mind and skill-set, which is Apart from the exhibitor career stands, the day provided required in all computing sectors.” visitors with the opportunity to enhance their CV at a free Year 1 Computing ‘Design Thinking’ process drop-in clinic. findings will be presented to G.A.D.A. and Sligo County Council in late December for consideration. Estimated 1 Million Babies Born through Erasmus Met-ups! Writing & Literature Student Wins Allingham

Niamh MacCabe, second year Writing & Literature, has won the prestigious Allingham Short Fiction award, an international competition. The touring photography exhibition Higher Education Authority of Ireland. The born to couples who met through the announcement was made at an awards ceremony in celebrating couples who met exhibition, tells the stories of 17 couples college exchange. Ballyshannon last month. through the Erasmus study-abroad who fell in love while studying abroad One such couple is Pascal Bonnichon Adjudicator Paul McVeigh described Niamh’s programme arrived at IT Sligo. during university. who met his now wife Siobhán during his A confident and original voice. Her story stood apart The show has travelled across the EU and The Erasmus programme has had more year abroad studying in Sligo IT. The from the others in its accomplishment, he said, was first installed in the Gare Montparnasse than nine million students take part since it couple began dating 1987 when Pascal adding that this is a writer we will hear more from. in Paris. It was brought to Sligo with the was established in 1987. It is also moved to Sligo on the Erasmus Niamh won for her story ‘Pan on the Lean Branch.’ support of the French Embassy and the responsible for an estimated million babies programme. IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19 23 #HackAccess Launched in Brexit’s potentially disastrous Sligo impact on Irish researchers FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING challenges. Their Head of Research, John impact on relations between researchers Bartlett, believes this level of increased working on both sides of the border. collaboration stands to benefit both the “It isn’t just about the money, it’s what the companies involved and the PhD students money makes possible. It’s the building of making their first strides into industry. relationships and shared visions between the “Now, the model focuses on going to two countries, that could be in serious industry first, discussing the needs of an jeopardy.” organisation and then designing research The Institute’s Centre for Precision for projects around those needs.” Materials and Manufacturing Research NWCAM involves academic partners (PEM Research Centre) is funded by from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Enterprise Ireland to support the R&D needs Ireland and Western Scotland and supports of the manufacturing sector. The PEM over 11 Post-doctorates and 13 PhDs Centre is also a partner in the I-Form working on advanced manufacturing Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre research projects in collaboration with funded by SFI and the North West Centre for DR JOHN BARTLETT several industrial partners including Abbott Advanced Manufacturing (NWCAM) Head of Research, IT Sligo and GSK in Sligo. funded by Interreg VA and SEUPB. Innovative projects such as NWCAM here are over 1,000 active research require close collaboration between collaborations between The Republic Northern Ireland and the Border Counties, of Ireland and Northern Ireland. something threatened by any Brexit deal THowever, industry and academia see Brexit resulting in a hard border between the two. potentially derailing impact as a direct threat to their good work. A poor Brexit deal could be disastrous for Until relatively recently, links between us academic researchers and industry were Dr David Tormey, Academic Director of often confined to internships or small-scale PEM Research Centre, foresees a bad Brexit projects. Companies often worked with deal having a disastrous impact on his researchers on specific, short-term tasks, project. “We have several PhD students and Launch of Sligo’s #HackAccess at the Salmon without necessarily taking advantage of the post doctorate researchers who travel of Knowledge sculpture which was especially creativity research students could bring to regularly across the border to meet our lit in purple to mark International Day of their everyday work. NWCAM academic partners. Researcher Persons with Disabilities. Several European Commission-funded mobility is very important for us; a bad projects focus on academic researchers and Brexit deal has the potential to limit the #HackAccess is being launched for the first time in industry working very closely together to impact of our research projects and inhibit Sligo by designers Darren Rooney and address technological and societal PhD student development. DR DAVID TORMEY Shane Gilligan in collaboration with IT Sligo. challenges. The benefits of bringing Academic Director, PEM Research #HackAccessSligo will see the first ever researchers closer to the industries that will 200 projects could be scrapped Centre, IT Sligo accessibility-focused hackathon outside Dublin shape the focus of their future research is IT Sligo has over 200 open collaborations with students, recent graduates and professionals very clear. into Northern Ireland, all funded by the EU. Click Here all welcome to participate. IT Sligo are one of the higher education A loss of that funding could have a #HackAccessSligo is an event made up of institutes forming strong links with disastrous effect on future projects, likely to to Watch people connected by the common goal of industries working on advanced be scrapped should EU funding dry up. Video entrepreneurship and a willingness to collaborate to manufacturing and Industry 4.0 Bartlett believes the damage caused would solve the meaningful challenge that is social exclusion; imposed on those with a physical, sensory or cognitive impairment, by an environment not designed with their needs in mind. Global Applied Education Network The key benefit of being involved with #HackAccessSligo is being part of addressing an important issue that is often overlooked; at least 13.5% of people in Irish society have a disability of some kind but this figure only takes into account reported disabilities. It is important to become acutely aware of the challenges and difficulties these individuals face in a world of (often unintentional) exclusion; a zebra crossing, a pothole on the footpath, difficulty utilising transport services effectively; the list goes on. In bringing so many like-minded people together with such a diverse range of skills, #HackAccessSligo will create a community of ideas and abilities that can be used to solve these problems and create opportunities. In November IT Sligo signed up as one of by both Mary Mitchell O’Connor and the • Universidad Tecmileno, Mexico #HackAccessSligo is spearheading this game- eight partners chosen by HCT (Higher UAE Minister who is also Chancellor of The launch ceremony was preceded by a changing campaign in the North West in finding College of Technology) in the United Arab HCT, are the following: half-day event where there were a series of innovative solutions to the challenges faced when it Emirates to form a network to assist it in • Nottingham Trent University, UK presentations about the Irish system of comes to the inclusivity of individuals with varying addressing the emerging higher skills needs • University of Limerick, Ireland higher education, research and innovation, disabilities. Sligo city and the wider county will in the UAE and Gulf Region. With 24,000 • IT Sligo, Ireland led by Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor. potentially be a better place to live and visit students, it is the largest HEI in the UAE. • Florida International University, USA IT Sligo VP for Research, Innovation and because of the products and services generated at The Global Applied Education Network • Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Engagement, Dr. Chris O’Malley, gave the this event. #HackAccessSligo aims to make Sligo (GAEN) brings together nine other Canada presentation on behalf of the Institutes of inclusive of people of all abilities and rich in institutions from around the world. • Swinburne Technological University, Technology. Also represented at this event diversity with all kinds of people offered a variety The partner institutions to the GAEN Australia were the HEA, SFI, Solas, Enterprise of enriching opportunities. If you would like to get network, which was formally launched at an • Queensland University of Technology, Ireland and the University of Limerick (as a involved please go to: www.hackaccesssligo.com event in Dubai on November 1st, witnessed Australia “case study”). 24 IT Sligo News Winter 2018/19

IT Sligo Seal Quarter Final Spot Despite IT Sligo Ladies GAA Win Ladies 7’s Blitz The fresher ladies team had an excellent win in performance. We're very proud of the 0-4 Defeat to UCD October in the blitz held in Abbotstown, achievements of ladies GAA football teams and capturing the Intermediate title with an also the management team lead by Gavin impressive victory over Maynooth University Cawley. after a penalty shoot-out following extra-time. The IT Sligo GAA B team Have won the HEC 7’s Blitz at the Connacht GAA Centre. Both IT Sligo Ladies A and B teams reached two finals in the regional Ladies HEC 7s blitz at Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in November. Our Ladies A team were unlucky to lose the Division 1 final to NUIG but the B side went on to win their final. Hard luck to our Ladies A team who were defeated by Ulster University 3-16 to 1-11 in the Ladies HEC Division 2 semi-final on 15 November despite a strong second half

IT Sligo Women’s soccer team IT Sligo Women’s soccer team have T Sligo knew going into this game they their passing game but still didn't threaten recently qualified for the semi-final of the had sealed 4th position and a quarter Sligo's goal as they played in front of the colleges and university premier league. final spot in the top tier of college well drilled Sligo defenders. They play NUI Maynooth during the week Ifootball while UCD had already won the Sligo looked dangerous on the break beginning the 28th of January. Northern Section of the Premier division when a through ball by Brennan found with a perfect record of 5 wins from 5 Higgins to outpace the UCD defenders but games after tonight's 4-0 win. to find the UCD keeper in great form with The game started with UCD taking an excellent save to deny Sligo. control of possession and IT Sligo sitting Again Higgins and Brennan combined to back to make it hard for the Airtricity 1st create another excellent opportunity with Division Champions to break them down. this time Brennan going agonizingly close IT Sligo then produced an excellent but for the UCD keeper denying him. opportunity after some good play by UCD then went up the other end on the Higgins who cut the ball back for counter attack to score the opening goal of Heneghan to shoot wide. UCD continued to the game on 68min through Dan Tobin. dominate possession but with little threat in That goal gave the 2017 Rustlers Premier Amber wins goal of the season behind got a free on the edge of the box but league champions more confidence and the IT Sligo Footballer Amber Lynch is 2017- it went just wide of the Sligo goal. IT Sligo ex Reading and Irish underage international 2018 Rustlers Ireland Goal of the Season defender's stood their ground to frustrate Conor Davis scoring a devastating hatrick Winner! Amber was presented her trophy UCD. in space of ten minutes. for her spectacular goal by Adrian Lawlor IT Sligo then had another chance before from sponsors Rustlers. 0-0 HT the end to get one back but Higgins saw his The 2nd half began with UCD continuing shot go wide of the UCD goal. Hurling Roundup IT Sligo Basketball Make it to Top of Division 2! The senior hurlers play UU and GMIT in Trinity in the Fresher 2 championship IT Sligo Basketball club men’s team has acquired the group stages of Electric Ireland Ryan quarter-final in February 2019. two Victory Scholars from America thanks to the Cup in 2019. The Top 2 teams play in semi- organisation “Sports Changes Life” this year. The finals & finals weekend hosted by WIT on two Scholars are Zack Yonda who is a 6’1 point 22/23 February 2019. guard from Philadelphia and Connor McClenaghan The senior hurlers had a good run in the who is a 6’9 Centre from Texas. They have Division 2 league defeating GMIT and AIT immediately made an impact, with the men’s team but losing to IT Tralee, the eventual league currently Top of Division 2! The club’s top scorer winners. They progressed from the group to being Zack Yonda who is averaging 40+ points a the semi-final following a win over St game followed by Connor McClenaghan and Sligo’s Mary's Belfast in the quarter-final before very own Tobias Brockmann who both average 20+ losing to league finalists UU in points a game. Jordanstown. Unfortunately, the woman’s team have not been as The Fresher hurling team are away to successful this season in Division 2 following their All-Ireland win last year in Division 3 their current record is 0-2 for the season. The woman’s top scorers are Madeline Keane and Aine Fahey who average Men’s GAA Football 10+ points a game. Hopefully their fortunes will In the recent Higher Education GAA Championship 2019 draws at Croke Park the IT Sligo change in the new year. Senior football team were drawn to play Garda College away in Round 1 of Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup. The winners play Round 3 and losing team play in Round 2, providing a backdoor into Round 3 of the Sigerson Cup. The senior football team had an encouraging SFL Division 1 Relegation play-off Final result, IT Sligo 4-10 CIT 1-11 GAA Higher Camogie Education, thereby maintaining their Division 1 and Sigerson Cup status for the 2019/2020 Our Camogie team lost to a very strong QUB team in the Division 4 league final at end of November academic season, and sending CIT to Division 2 and Trench Cup. following good wins over GMIT and UU Magee. Our Intermediate football team play GMIT away in the Round 1 with the winners They play UU Magee and UU Coleraine in the group stage of the Mulligan Cup in January 2019 progressing to the quarter-finals. with the Top 2 reaching the CCAO Camogie weekend finals in February.