DkITimes The DkIT Institute Newsletter VolVol 55 IssueIssue 2020 The Winds of Change blowing at DkIT– Election Count Last Saturday DkIT’s campus was a hive of activity as election candidates, political party members journalists and members of the public gathered to watch the Election 2011 count. Pictured here left is Mairead Ahern, County Registrar having just announced the results of the first count which saw Gerry Adams, Leader of Sinn Fein top the poll. The count was adjourned on Sat- urday and reconvened on Sunday where the close of business saw five candidates returned. Seamus Kirk, Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil was automatically returned , along with sitting T.D, Fergus O Dowd (FG), new TDs elect Ged Nash (Labour), Peter Fitzpatrick (FG) and Gerry Adams (SF). Pictured left; Ballot papers being checked dur- ing the count. More photos from the Count Centre at DkIT on page 2 The Count Centre at DkIT — Election 2011 Agricultural Science Student and Election Agent Andrew Agnew (right) TheThe I.T.I.T. FactorFactor On the 23rd Feb the local competitions took place to select two songs to go forward and represent DkIT in the National Final of the IT Factor Song Competition to be held in Lim- erick on the 10th March. The competition was first initiated by the chaplains of the colleges seven years ago, and is co- ordinated by them each year. This is the first time for DkIT participating. The competition consists of two sections, one: an Original Song, and two: a Cover Song. The winners, who both received a prize of value 250 euro were: For an Origional Song: Katie Anne Bolger, Navan, with “My heart”; Katie is in Yr 1 Applied Music. For the Cover Song: Nicholas Murray, Navan, who sang "All These Things That I've Done", a student inYr 1 Games Development, and who has a BA in Applied Music. The compositions and artists have set a very high standard of expectation, and gave a great hour of entertainment. The winners in the National Final in Limerick will receive the prize of Two Days usage of a Professional Recording Studio, valued at several thousand euro. We wish all success to our participants Katie and Nicholas who will represent DkIT in the National Final in Limerick March 10th. The photograph: Linda Murphy, Academic Administration and Student Affairs Manager DkIT, with Nicho- las Murray, winner of the Cover Song section, and Katie Anne Bolger winner of the Origi- nal Song section, and Clement Mac Mánuis DkIT chaplain. Launch of the National Academy’s Annual Awards for Excellence in Teaching 2011 The National Academy for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (NAIRTL) has recently launched its 2011 National Awards for Excellence in Teaching Programme. This is the fourth year of the initiative, which was launched in 2008. Photo: Image of Hon. Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness with Award Winner for 2010, Dr Ann O’Shea, NUI, Maynooth This initiative recognises those who combine outstanding teaching with innovative research to enhance student learning and cognizant of national recommendations that “the recognition of excellence in teaching should underpin strategy for the ongoing development of Higher Educa- tion” (National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, pg 59 ), Previous recipients of the National Award for Excellence in Teaching include senior and junior staff members from eleven different Higher Education Institutions, and across multiple disciplines including Economics, Education, Engineering, English, Law (Human Rights), Management & Marketing, Mathematics, Medicine, Nursing and the Sciences. The Awards Ceremony will take place in Dublin Castle in December 2011 where five awards of €5,000 will be made. Previous Awards presenters have included President of Ireland, Mary McAleese and Hon. Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness. Senior managers of the thirty eight HEIs linked with the National Academy are invited to submit up to three nominations in relation to individuals or groups of staff members, and all levels and category of staff (Professor, Senior Lecturer, Lecturer, Assistant Lecturer, full-time, part-time etc) are eligible for nomination. Full details, a flyer and the nomination form are available on the National Academy website www.nairtl.ie/Awards . The closing date for receipt of nominations is 20 th May 2011. DkIT Fit 4 life would like to thank all who participated in last weeks Alcohol week events. We would also like to thank Dundalk Garda station for their contribution to the events this week. Have a safe and enjoyable RAG week! Next week s theme is Health Awareness and we have many events planned around this theme; Health screenings, . Gym promotion H.S.E info packs We would also like to thank Dundalk Garda station for their contribution to the events this week. We look forward to seeing all of you at the events this week! Expert Bobby McCormack to Travel to Finland for Development Summer School Director of Development Perspectives (DP) and local man, Bobby McCormack has been selected to fulfill the role of Expert at a forthcoming European Development Education Summer School, which is due to take place in Finland in June. The Summer School will cater for 80 people from across the world who are tackling Development challenges such as poverty, inequality, conflict, Natural resource depletion, food security and renewable energy. Bobby faced stiff competition from across Europe to lead this conference and his selection is seen as positive validation of the work in which DP is involved in. Drogheda based NGO; DP is building a strong national and international reputation as a result of their work in dealing with the serious challenges facing our communities. They work at home and abroad to bring about a more just, equal and sustainable world through education and action. Bobby is the co founder and current Director of DP as well as working as a Development Studies Lecturer in Dundalk Institute of Technology. On hearing about his selection to lead the conference, Bobby commented on the need for problem solvers in our communities more than ever before and made the point that problem solving is the focus of DP`s work. “All of us involved in DP work hard to make a positive contribution to our communities and I see this opportunity as one more way of encouraging people to understand how the world around us works and how we as people can be powerful agents of change in our own right”. Bobby urged people to support the work of Development Perspectives by signing up for their forthcoming event – “Tour D Boyne, Land of Legends Challenge”, which is being held in Townley Hall on the 20th of March. It’s a 10 Km run or 45 Km cycle and all proceeds go to the work of Development Perspectives. To sign up go to www.tourdboyne.ie or for further information about their work please go to www.developmentperspectives.ie. DkIT’sDkIT’s FirstFirst AnnualAnnual EnterpriseEnterprise Week!!Week!! Student Enterprise at DkIT ran there first annual Enterprise week this week. Student Enterprise Interns Emma Brabazon and Catherine Murray organised and ran the week at a great success. Student Enterprise at DkIT is dedicated to promoting, devel- oping and sustaining enterprise among students in DKIT. The aim of Student Enter- prises first annual Enterprise week was to help students find out more about enter- prise and to encourage participation. Student Enterprise welcomes Sean Gallagher on campus! Starting off the week with a bang was Sean Gallagher one of Irelands leading entre- preneurs and a dragon of the Dragons Den. Student Enterprise @ DkIT held it’s most successful event to date this week as Sean Gallagher inspired, motivated and enter- tained over 260 students in the Whitaker Theatre. Sean inspired students assuring them that entrepreneurs are our societies heroes and it is those with the drive and motivation to move forward who will help our country emerge from its current state of negativity. Our resident Dragon encouraged students not to underestimate the power of focus and determination and also more importantly that of positivity and the ability to look beyond and move past our nations current negative state of play. Sean discussed a solution to our national crisis as simply three C's including confidence, clarity and credit. Sean also went on to confirm the message so often conveyed by Student Enterprise @ DkIT in that the future of our nation is in our own hands, never accept a lack of op- tions, but instead strive forward and create your own career alternatives. Student Enterprise @ DkIT would like to convey a sincere thank you to Sean Galla- gher for kindly donating his time and also to all lecturing staff and students involved in the event in particular to Mario Mac Blain, Colman Ledwith, John Sisk, Paula Reilly and Colin Cooney for their continued support. Student Mobile Shop in action! On Tuesday you were sure to have seen Molly Malone the Student Mobile Shop in action around the college. Student Enterprises latest development is the Molly Malone Student Mobile Shop that gives students the opportunity to sell their products or ser- vices around the college on a rental bases. As part of a project, final year Marketing students promoted Molly on Tuesday generating some excellent awareness. A special thanks here to Ami Carbini, Shannon Sweeney and Mary Mc Donald. Staff Conference “The Role of Enterprise in DkIT” Student Enterprise @ DkIT invited all staff of DkIT to a short seminar which covered the role of enterprise in DkIT, as well as the role of DkIT in developing an enterprise culture, across the Institute of Technology sector countrywide. The aim of the event was to establish further links with existing enterprise champions and to increase the level of awareness of Student Enterprise @ DkIT among the staff body.