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1972 - 2012 TODAYCelebrating 40 years of learning and teaching GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 06/11/2012 10:44 Page 2

GMIT Introduction Forty years of service to region

hen RTC Galway opened its doors on Monday, September 18, 1972 there were 1,213 students Wregistered on a range of courses designed for trade and industry. As GMIT marks its 40th anniversary this academic year, the Institute continues to respond to the Making the news at GMIT 31 needs of the region despite uncertain times, providing quality third level education to almost 8,000 students in a range of disciplines across five campuses in Galway and Mayo. Times were as challenging then as they are now, as GMIT President Michael Carmody tells journalist Brian McDonald INSIDE in a revealing interview on page 3: “We’ve lost 13 per cent of President on tough times 4 our staff since 2008 and our budget has also been cut 12 to 13 per cent over the same period...whatever we do, it has to LEARNING & TEACHING be the best thing for the students and graduates”. GMIT’s hopes and plans for the future and the many Figuring out a bright future 6 achievements of students and staff in all of its campuses are Those appy students 9 laid out across these pages under themes reflecting the five Top teachers honoured 11 pillars of the Institute’s Strategic Development Plan 2010- Sweet success for Julia 13 2015: Learning & Teaching; Community Engagement; The online explosion 17 Research & Innovation; Student Environment; and Interna- tionalisation & Collaboration. RESEARCH & INNOVATION Former Registrar Bernard O’Hara, who retired in 2010 after 39 years of dedicated service, takes us back to GMIT’s Start-ups get revved up 18 beginnings and outlines the milestones along the way, with Quite a record for IiBC 19 some very special archive photographs provided by the Making a difference 21 Connacht Tribune. To the waters and the wild 22 Volunteering and fund-raising have always been a huge Medical matters... greatly 23 part of student life in GMIT, with students and staff raising hundreds of thousands of euro over the years for the Galway COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Lions Club, Croí, RNLI and many more. Working with Letterfrack at Farmleigh 27 community partners and charity organisations is now embedded in most GMIT programmes, giving students a It’s child’s play 28 keen understanding of the society in which they live and the Sharing their talent 29 importance of being a good citizen. GMIT is very proud of its graduates who have gone on to INTERNATIONALISATION & COLLABORATION forge successful careers, among them furniture designer, And the winner is... 30 John Lee, who came to national prominence last November A worldwide attraction 32 when he designed and made the Presidential Inauguration Alliances are key 34 Chair for Michael D Higgins' inauguration ceremony, and Film & TV graduate, Gary Shore, who is making waves STUDENT ENVIRONMENT in Hollywood as a promising young film director. GMIT has played an important €6m sporting boost 35 role in the social, cultural and Castlebar goes green 36 economic development of the region Games and glory 37-40 over the past 40 years and there is no doubt it will continue to be an invalu- 40 years of GMIT 41-45 able contributor to Irish education in Seat of power 46 the years to come. Artistic Alumni 47 Regina Daly, Editor

Editor: Regina Daly Photos: GMIT Today is published by the © Copright Galway-Mayo Institute of Editorial Consultant: Brian McDonald Aengus McMahon GMIT Communications Office. Technology (GMIT) 2012 Design & Layout: Proactive Andrew Downes Printer: Brunswick Press Ltd Joe Shaughnessy We welcome your thoughts on this Keith Heneghan publication. Please send them to: Contributors: Ken Wright Regina Daly, Communications Officer, Brian McDonald Connacht Tribune (archives) GMIT, Dublin Road, Galway. Rosita Boland GMIT staff Tel. 00 353 91 742826 Regina Daly and GMIT staff Geraldine O’Brien Email: [email protected]

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Oifig an Taoisigh Office of the Taoiseach

Message from An Taoiseach, Teachtaireacht ón Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny T.D. an tUasal Enda Kenny T.D.

I am delighted to have this opportunity to mark the 40th Is ábhar ríméid dom an deis seo a fháil 40ú comóradh bliana Insti- anniversary of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology tiúid Teicneolaíochta na Gaillimhe-Maigh Eo a shonrú agus ba and would like to offer my sincere congratulations to the mhian liom comhghairdeas croí a dhéanamh leis an bhfoireann, staff, students and all who have been involved in the devel- leis na neacha léinn agus le gach duine a raibh baint acu le opment of the Institute through the years. forbairt na hInstitiúide le linn na mblianta. Since its birth in1972, this Institute has made a major Óna tús in 1972, rinne an Institiúid seo cion mór d’fhorbairt contribution to the development of the western region, réigiún an Iarthair, agus rochtain ar an oideachas tríú leibhéal á facilitating access to third-level education for so many éascú aici don oiread sin daoine óga as Gaillimh, Maigh Eo agus young people from Galway, Mayo and beyond. Moreover, níos faide i gcéin. Lena chois sin, d’imir sí ról ríthábhachtach i it has played a vital role in developing business and bhforbairt gnó agus tionscail sa réigiún. industry in the region. Tharla athruithe suntasacha ar an ardoideachas in Éirinn le The past 40 years have seen remarkable changes in linn na 40 bliain seo caite. Is norm anois é an t-ardoideachas do higher education in Ireland. Third-level education has now líon mór daoine óga. Níos mó agus níos mó tá fir agus mná become the norm for large numbers of young people. lánfhásta ag filleadh ar an léann agus é sin á éascú go straitéiseach More and more mature men and women are returning to ag GMIT. learning, facilitated, strategically, by GMIT. I gcaitheamh na mblianta sin d’fhás líon na neach léinn ó Those years have seen GMIT numbers grow from 1,000 1,000 go 8,000 neach léinn i gcúig champas ar fud an réigiúin. students to 8,000 students, working in five campuses across Cuireadh fáilte roimh theacht in am tráth do Champas Chaisleán the region. The Castlebar campus, established in 1994, was an Bharraigh (1994), rud a chuir beocht sa bhaile agus sa timely and welcome, bringing new life to the town and its cheantar máguaird. environs. Leis an gComhaontas Chonnacht-Uladh déanfaidh Institiúid The new Connacht-Ulster Alliance sees Letterkenny Teicneolaíochta Leitir Ceanainn, Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Institute of Technology, the Institute of Technology, Sligo Shligigh agus GMIT comhpháirtíocht nua straitéiseach a rachaidh and GMIT, form a new strategic partnership which will be chun tairbhe go mór do chúrsaí acadúla, agus gréasán á éascú of enormous academic benefit facilitating networks aige idir na hinstitiúidí ar leith trí chomhchláir fhochéime agus between individual institutions through shared, undergrad- iarchéime. uate and postgraduate programmes. Chomh maith leis sin, is eol dom Acadamh Náisiúnta Furthermore, I am aware of a €12.5 million National Gníomhaíochtaí Allamuigh ar chostas €12.5m a bheith á Outdoor Pursuits Academy currently being planned. If phleanáil faoi láthair. Má fhaomhtar é, is é a bheidh i gceist approved, this will involve building a cluster of new facili- cnuasach saoráidí nua a tógáil thart timpeall ar Loch Chaisleán ties around Lough Lannagh in Castlebar, as a joint-venture an Bharraigh mar chomhfhiontar idir GMIT, Comhairle Contae between GMIT, Mayo County Council and Castlebar Town Mhaigh Eo agus Comhairle Baile Chaisleán an Bharraigh. Council. Eiseamláir iontach é sin den soláthar don ‘chomhoibriú It is an excellent example of ‘community co-operation’ pobail’ agus do na ‘seirbhísí i gcomhar’, ar cur chuige é a bhfuil and ‘shared services’ provision, an approach that is needed gá níos mó ná riamh leis. now more than ever. Is a bhuí don cheannaireacht agus don fhoireann a rinne The progress GMIT has made in the last 40 years is a GMIT an dul chun cinn sin sna 40 bliain seo caite. tribute to the leadership and staff. Táim cinnte go mbeidh GMIT ar thús cadhnaíochta i gcúrsaí I’m confident that GMIT will lead national and regional forbartha go náisiúnta agus go réigiúnach sna blianta atá development in the years ahead. I wish the Institute, its romhainn. Guím sonas agus rath thar na bearta ar an Institiúid staff and students every fulfilment and success. agus ar a cuid foirne agus neach léinn.

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GMIT TESting times are being met head-on BY BRIAN McDONALD GMIT chief charts ichael Carmody is too polite to directly quote MUS political consultant an ambitious future James Carville, the man credited with devising the strategy that saw Bill Clinton win the 1992 US Carville’s response to the Clinton in 1993 he became the first Registrar Presidential election. But he might campaign team 20 years ago was “The of the Institute. His decade-long term well have done when asked about Economy Stupid” and TES has since as President of ITT began in 2001. the biggest challenge facing GMIT taken its place in the lexicon of no- “GMIT is a bigger operation, It’s right now. nonsense insights into difficult times. twice the size of Tralee and it’s spread It’s inescapable, the GMIT President over five campuses, so it’s a different simply notes, as he reflects on the dynamic. It tends to run itself like a reality of running the biggest Institute big liner and moves steadily along in a of Technology on the western seaboard. certain direction. “We’ve lost 13 per cent of our staff “The five campuses are quite since 2008 and our budget has also different. The two campuses based in been cut 12-13pc over the same Galway have a natural advantage in period”. being located in a city which is a very Throw in the series of wage-cuts popular destination for students but that applied across the public sector, top can perhaps lead to a degree of compla- off with the requirement for two hours cency. Castlebar, on the other hand, has extra teaching per week as required about 800 full-time students and it tends under the Croke Park Agreement and to be more adaptable and open to you begin to get an idea of the scale of change and try new things, because the task that greeted the Salthill native they’re in a smaller environment. when he succeeded Marion Coy in April of last year. Right now he’s trying to juggle an The challenge annual budget of 50 million euro, provide leadership and vision to 620 ‘ staff and see to it that 8,000 students here... is we across five campuses get the third-level education to which they are entitled. are becoming But it’s a challenge he relishes and the reason he called time on his ten-year fee collectors tenure as President of IT Tralee. Arriving at GMIT was also, of course, a “There is also a much’ bigger homecoming as he grew up on mature student population in Dalysfort Road, attended Scoil Castlebar and a lot of module-sharing Iognaid NS and later Colaiste Iognaid, and cross-disciplinary activity. The before qualifying as a civil engineer at Letterfrack and Mountbellew UCG and afterwards gaining an campuses on the other hand offer MEngSc. specialist programmes and have a He worked with the Office of close-knit student and academic Public Works and subsequently with community as a result. the ESB on the design and project “I had known a lot of the staff over management of the Moneypoint the years in GMIT and was familiar power station construction project in with it (GMIT). I found the staff really Co Clare before entering the world of positive when I came here. I went academia in 1987. Three years as around to the five campuses and had lecturer at IT Tralee were followed by a number of meetings with the staff his appointment as Head of the and I must say I found them very Department of Civil Engineering and supportive—a very committed group”.

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GMIT Today Ultimately, whatever we do, it has to ‘be the best thing for the students and graduates—that’s the bottom line.

GMIT is certainly going to need of GMIT has made it clear that it is the And he doesn’t need’ to be that continuing commitment as there ambition to achieve TU designation, reminded of the continuing barrage is more pain on the way. Michael but this will require a merger with at of criticism by media commentators Carmody is under no illusions about least one other similar institute in that public sector seats of learning what lies ahead. order to meet the first of a series of provide poor value for money. It’s “There are more cuts coming demanding criteria put in place by the something he meets head-on and down the line in 2013 and 2014 and Higher Education Authority. rejects out of hand. there are so many things that we have “At this stage we would see Sligo “A private institution can decide, as to do. The academic staff are doing and Letterkenny as the obvious part- they do, to provide business-type an extra two hours lecturing under ners. But it is very early days yet and programmes which may be very cheap Croke Park and, while that’s a produc- the first thing we are doing is carrying to deliver and very profitable, but we tivity gain, they have less time to out a feasibility plan to see what is have to deliver the full spectrum of devote to other things we’d like them involved for us in becoming a TU and programmes at all levels to service the to be involved in. how long that could take. needs of the region - engineering, “We want to expand our interna- tional activities, we need to get more involved in research and innovation with industry and we’re trying to develop new types of programmes of work for workforce upskilling. All of these challenges have to be met and we’re doing them with less staff and more financial constraints, so it’s very difficult.” It’s very difficult for students too, he readily acknowledges. The increase in student fees (described as contributions) in last December’s budget, has posed grave problems for the undergraduates and their families themselves—and for GMIT. The student contribution now stands at €2,250 and the impact is being sorely felt. All third-level institu- tions have attempted to point out that this is not extra funding. There has simply been a shift in State funding— instead of the State writing the cheque, the students have to write it. “The challenge here, and we’re only beginning to appreciate it, is that we are now becoming fee collectors. When the amount was small, it wasn’t “It will be at least five years. We science, computing, hospitality, an issue because people just paid it, couldn’t see it happening in less than tourism, creative arts, furniture but we are now seeing defaults on it. five. Other criteria involve the student design, etc and they can be expensive The difficulty, of course, is trying to profile, the number of postgraduate to deliver. You won’t find many private get the fee in while also trying to keep students, the amount of research, the sector companies delivering these the students on the programme which staff profile, engagement with types of programme. is of course the primary objective. industry—those sorts of things. Ulti- “…and yes, I would think institu- Effectively, it has become a huge issue mately, whatever we do, it has to be tions such as ours are delivering value for us. We’ve become collection the best thing for the students and for money. The staff are very agents, which is putting huge graduates—that’s the bottom line”. committed; if you read the reviews of resources—which we haven’t got— Despite the ever-present and GMIT —and they’re carried out by into trying to collect the money”. looming challenges, the GMIT Presi- external experts as peer reviews of the Yet another major task facing dent doesn’t hide his pride in the college —they are hugely positive of GMIT over the next decade is the achievements of the Institute, not least the staff and the interaction of our inevitable drive towards Technological in fulfilling its remit as a public sector staff with students. Really, that’s what University status. The Governing Body provider of education excellence. it’s all about”. 5 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:23 Page 6

GMIT Learning & Teaching Just the business for accountancy students MIT Business School gaining full-time college easier. The celebrated a milestone trainee positions familiar learning during the past academic this year and we environment G are delighted to helped me take on year when Accountancy students completed the ACCA Professional have a number of the challenge of local and national professional exams Level Programme delivered in accounting firms and I found the GMIT for the first time. recruit our gradu- support and The students progressed directly ates”. encouragement of onto the one-year ACCA programme Tara Lavin One of the ACCA Rosemary Atuokwu lecturers in GMIT following completion of a three-year students, Tara very helpful.” Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Lavin from Claregalway, Co Galway, was Another student, Rosemary Accounting degree in GMIT Business successful in securing a position in one Atuowku from Oranmore, who also School. of the big three accounting companies passed her ACCA finals, is working in Dr Larry Elwood, Head of Interna- in Ireland while pursuing her finals in fund administration with Credit Suisse tional Affairs and Marketing, says the GMIT. She commenced her training in Galway. “I found the ACCA Profes- Institute now offers GMIT students the contract in Deloitte after graduation sional programme excellent, the opportunity to study accounting at all and unlike many of the trainees she lecturers and tutors were experienced levels - undergraduate, postgraduate will be working with, she has all her subject experts and always approach- and professional level. exams completed and looks forward to able. I can now look forward to “Students who start studying gaining professional accounting expe- building on my ACCA success and accounting at GMIT have the option to rience. becoming an investment manager in go on to complete their final profes- “Having completed my undergrad- the hedge fund industry.” sional examinations here.” uate studies in GMIT helped make my “There has been a definite upturn in transition to professional level in the the number of accounting graduates Jobs future is bright, say experts

There are good job opportunities for business and accounting students in the SME sector, according to profes- sional accountancy bodies attending a forum hosted by the GMIT Castlebar Business Department for accounting and business students. Organisations in attendance included the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI), Char- tered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA) as well as local career guidance teachers and secondary school students. GMIT Castlebar Accountancy lecturer Caroline Clarke says a profes- sional qualification in accountancy L to R: Ciara Murphy, CPA, Michael Shovelin lecturer, Carmel Brennan, Head of Accountancy allows students to use their qualifica- Dept., GMIT Galway, Don Doyle, Mountbellew, Caroline Gordon, Gordon Accountants, tion both in Ireland and abroad. Swinford, Caroline Clarke, Programme Chair, Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Financial “GMIT offers excellent opportuni- Management, GMIT Castlebar, Michele Kavanagh, CIMA (speaker), and Michael Gill, Head ties to accountancy students. of the Department of Business, Humanities and Technology, GMIT Castlebar. Exemptions are agreed with the ICAI, CPA and ACCA. For example, Accounting (Level 8) can qualify for the Postgraduate Diploma in Account- students obtaining the Bachelor of exemptions from the professional ancy, ACCA Professional Level 9 and Arts in Accounting and Financial bodies”. Master of Business in Strategy and Management (Level 7) and the Bach- A number of post graduate opportu- Innovation in the Galway city (Dublin elor of Business Honours in nities are also available, in particular Road) campus.

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GMIT Today Architects of their own future

An extensive exhibition of projects by Architectural Technology students opened to the public in GMIT during the summer and at the Open House Festival in the city during October. It showcased the work of students in each year of the four year B.Sc. (Hons) in Architectural Technology programme, accredited by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI). “Our students are steeped in the use of new technologies required to provide performance and efficiencies within the field of building and design,” says Mary Rogers, Head of the Department of Building and Civil Engineering. “Across the broad range Fourth year student Anita Koitka, studying the B.Sc. (Hons) in Construction Economics of disciplines within the department - and Quantity Surveying in GMIT, who won Best Poster Award. Architectural Technology, Civil Engi- neering, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, we aim to use Building Information Modelling as a tool for inter-disciplinary projects.” “GMIT has committed significant funding to the training and equip- ment required by students in their learning. The potential of both the students and the technology to meet the needs of industry into the future is evident at this exhibition.” Lecturer Denise Dillon, Programme Co-ordinator, says: “The project briefs provide for student learning, relevant to the current construction climate. The fourth year student projects are two live retro-fit and extension projects, one in Galway and one in Clare”. Second year student Urzula Jedrol, studying the B.Sc. in Architectural Technology in GMIT, who won Best Project Award. Fulbright scholar at GMIT

GMIT and NUIG presidents welcomed a group of US Fulbright Awardees to Galway recently to mark the commencement of Inter-changes: an Orientation Programme for 2011 – 2012. Two Fulbright scholars are Pictured with Prof Gurram Gopal (centre), L to R: GMIT President Michael Carmody, based in Galway, Professor Gurram Outgoing Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Hildegarde Naughton, Colleen Dube, Fulbright Gopal in GMIT and Dr Kathryn Laity Commission, and Dr Larry Elwood, Head of International Affairs and Marketing. in NUI Galway. Professor Gopal has been teaching School of Business on a number of methodologies, peer-based learning modules in Marketing and Entrepre- research projects. He is also and alumni relations, and has been neurship and is collaborating with the exchanging information on teaching providing career guidance to students. 7 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:23 Page 8

GMIT Learning & Teaching Worldwide audience view students’ work

GMIT was delighted to be invited to showcase students’ work at the 2012 Volvo Ocean Race Global Village from 30 June to 8 July. A multi-disciplinary working group of staff from all campuses curated a selection of the best examples of student work from areas such as Art & Lecturer Marion McEnroy with President Michael D Higgins and Mrs Sabina Higgins Design, Furniture Design & Tech- viewing GMIT students’ work in the GMIT Pavilion during the Volvo Ocean Race. nology, Film & TV, Engineering, Hotel, Computing, Science, Maths, of the Global Village while the eyes of Group. “Visitor numbers were unprece- Business, Nursing & Health Sciences the world were focused on Galway,” dented and we were proud to provide and Outdoor Education. explains Marion McEnroy, lecturer at an opportunity for our students to “The working group’s vision was to the GMIT Centre for Creative Arts & showcase the standards of excellence create a dynamic platform in the heart Media and Chair of the Working across so many disciplines.”

Sinéad proves herself Big demand a classic innovator for maths, computing graduates

Job prospects continue to be excellent for students of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) related programmes despite the economic recession, with local and national soft- ware and IT companies continually seeking maths, physics & instrumenta- tion and computing graduates. Dr Sean Duignan, Dept of Maths & Computing, GMIT, says there is still very strong demand for computing graduates: “The demand for honours Sinéad Kelly, Innovation Award winner 2012, and student on the B.A. in Outdoor graduates of the B.Sc (hons) in Software Education programme. Development—a four-year programme offered by the Department of Maths & GMIT Castlebar student Sinéad Kelly studying on the B.A. in Outdoor Computing (School of Science)—is won €1,000 and business supports in Education programme which attracts particularly strong with close to a 100% the 2012 GMIT Castlebar Innovation students from all over Ireland. success rate for those graduates seeking Awards for her start-up business Over fifty students entered the industry employment. concept, an innovative therapeutic competition this year, says Maria “We have had a number of gradu- recreational service for teenagers. Staunton, Manager of the Innovation in ates receiving multiple job offers, and, The Dublin student was one of Business Centre (IiBC) at the GMIT in most cases employment has been eight finalists in the ‘Dragons Den’ Castlebar campus. “These annual inno- secured by these students in advance style competition which gives students vation awards give students the chance of completing their final exams”. at the Castlebar campus a unique to explore ideas and see if they are “As with previous years the demand opportunity to test their creative busi- commercially viable. A panel of for graduates is well spread across the ness ideas and win prize money and external judges decide which idea and spectrum; from small indigenous soft- business mentoring support. Sinéad is presentation has the greatest potential.” ware companies, to the large multinational software / IT houses”. 8 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:23 Page 9

GMIT Today Apps are Helping hand for brothers making quite an impression

Software Development students are fast gaining recognition for apps they are developing for the Windows Phone market – Labyrinth Madness, Space Shooter, Translate the World, Funix and Xylofun, to name just a few. The students have been developing apps and getting them certified and onto the Windows Phone market on a regular basis in recent months in areas such as games, education, information and novelty.

Pictured at home with Ben (left) and Joe Styles are Sharon Boyle, lecturer, Jenny Parkes GMIT student, and Noreen Henry, lecturer. A technology student and lecturers in them to get on Facebook and Skype Castlebar have shown how communi- family and friends around the world. cations technology can enrich the lives Noreen Henry, Project Co-ordinator, of people with severe physical disabili- says educational projects such as there ties. are very important. "The traditional Student Jenny Parkes and lecturers academic disciplines of social care and Noreen Henry and Sharon Boyle took technology have been very distinct on a project to help twin brothers, Joe and are now converged into a new and Ben Styles who have muscular programme. dystrophy, communicate more easily A new B.Sc. (Hons) in Digital with family and friends. They Media & Society (GA884) will be equipped their computers with high offered in the Castlebar campus, quality mouse-operated cameras and through the CAO, commencing voice recognition software, enabling during the academic year 2013/14." This new aid is a gift

GMIT students on the B.Sc. in Software Development programme.

Damien Costello, lecturer in the Dept of Maths & Computing, says the increasing use of mobile telephony and smart phones has prompted significant changes in GMIT computing programmes to adapt to changing demands on graduates. “We have been using apps as a teaching & Students Christopher Duane and Mark McClean with Ray Weldon, lecturer, Des O’Reilly, learning tool and our final year Head of Dept, and Basil Larkin, Flaherty Markets, Galway. students are developing these apps for Second year B. Eng Electrical Services qualified electricians who were Microsoft Windows Phone as part of and Automation students are bene- eligible to enter year two of the three- their course work”. fiting from the Allen-Bradley year degree due to their prior “Our students are developing a programmable controller and simu- learning and experience. portfolio of work that they can easily lator gifted to the college by US Lecturer Barry Finnegan says: “All demonstrate at an interview, for company Rockwell Automation this 18 students who started in 2011 are instance. It’s great for them and it’s an year through Galway agent Flaherty still on-board and in full attendance. exciting time also for software Markets. The majority of students on Many had never been in full-time development”. this programme are experienced, fully third level education before”. 9 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:23 Page 10

GMIT Learning & Teaching Hotel students come up with winning strategy Four GMIT students, representing in Kilkenny, and Patrick Hogan, Her- Fáilte Ireland’s Trainee Management itage Hotel in Portlaoise. They com- Development Programme (TMDP), peted against Institutes of Technology took the top prize in the 2011 Irish Cork, Athlone, Dundalk, Dublin, Let- Hospitality Institute (IHI) National terkenny, Waterford, and the Shannon Business Management Game. The College of Hotel Management. GMIT team, who work in the hospital- The participants spent two days ity industry and attended GMIT’s Col- devising a strategy, planning and Cathal’s lege of Tourism & Arts for a block study managing a fictitious hospitality busi- period each academic year, scored top ness in a simulated Irish business marks in the competition that attracted environment that reflects current iSpeak 11 teams from all over Ireland. economic and social constraints. The The winning team, under the tutor- overall prize was a three day tutored age of GMIT College of Tourism & Arts trip for the team and its tutor to Cham- a winner lecturer George Finnegan, included pagne Taittinger’s historic Château de Captain Matti Reuter of the Sligo Clar- la Marquetterie and Vineyards in GMIT won first prize in the individual ion Hotel, Sebastian Block, Knock Reims, North East France, courtesy of category of Galway’s first app competi- House Hotel, Co Mayo, Eoin Jacob, international wine importers Febvre tion, CodeNinja, designed by local Lyrath County House Hotel and Estate and Company. businesses and academics to train and encourage students to be creative in the cultivation of their own tech- nology-based ideas. GMIT’s Cathal Mac Donnacha (pictured above), a student on the B.Sc. (Hons) in Software Develop- ment programme, won an iPad for his app ‘iSpeak' which allows people with differing native languages to commu- nicate with each other through a Windows Phone 7 Mobile application. One person speaks in their phrase, it is converted to text and sent to a trans- lation service, and the result is spoken to the second person in their native language. Cathal was bestowed with an “Honourable Mention” at the 2012 Worldwide Community App Awards for Windows Phone 7 hosted by WP7applist.com. The Windows Phone community voted for the one Front row, L to R: Sebastian Block, Knock House Hotel, Fergal O’ Connell, FIHI President, hundred plus apps that were nomi- Matti Reuter (Capt), Sligo Clarion Hotel, George Finnegan, GMIT lecturer. Back row, L to R: nated. His iSpeak app also featured Sean O’Malley, Fáilte Ireland, Eoin Jacob, Lyrath County House Hotel & Estate, Kilkenny, worldwide as “App of the Month” by Patrick Hogan, Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise, and Monica Murphy, Febvre & Co. Microsoft in May 2012. Mayoral accolade for Katherine

Katherine Long, student of the Bach- part in an activity. Katherine (right), a elor of Business in Event Management GMIT Academic scholarship recipient with PR programme, won the “Galway (2010), is President, chief organiser Young Volunteer of the year” award for and administrator of the club in GMIT. her work promoting and running the Tomás Mangan, lecturer in Event GMIT Best Buddies (BB) charity, a Management & PR, College of Tourism voluntary college and civic service which helps people with intellectual & Arts, says: “Katherine and her team disabilities. organised the inter-college soccer tour- Student volunteers keep in contact nament as part of an elected module with their buddies once or twice a week which greatly helped promote the BB and meet up every two weeks to take programme.” 10 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:23 Page 11

President’s Award for Teaching Excellence GMIT Today 2011 - Barry McMillan honoured for his vast contribution

arry McMillan, a lecturer in Ethics & Religious Studies, Bjoined the teaching staff of GMIT in September 2008 and currently lectures in the Schools of Humanities, Business, and College of Tourism and Arts. His academic specialities are Ethics, Religious Studies, English, Communications and Research Supervision. He is a widely-published writer, an acclaimed conference speaker, and an experienced broadcaster. Mr McMillan has worked, nationally and internationally, in the fields of education and community develop- ment since the 1990s. He believes that every student can flourish if appropri- Barry McMillan (left) receiving the award from GMIT President Michael Carmody. ately challenged and supported. His commitment to this ideal is reflected in brought all subjects to life and stimu- Edel Mulvihill. the personal testimonials of some of lated and fuelled broader independent Mary MacCague, former Head of his students: learning and research” – Ms Aoife the GMIT School of Humanities, said: “He was never less than passionate, Ralph. “Barry is a consummate professional, inspiring, supportive and encouraging” “He is so supportive of students, who has the ability to bring out the – Ms Trish Thompson. believing in them even at times when best in all his students, regardless of “His open and honest approach they didn’t believe in themselves” – Ms their level.” 2010 - Anthony Clare’s dedication and enthusiasm

MIT Letterfrack lecturer Anthony Clare is described by Gcolleagues as “a dedicated, committed lecturer who has enthused and nurtured students of furniture design and making in GMIT Letterfrack for over 20 years”. Anthony Clare has been lecturing in the discipline of furniture design and manufacture at the Connemara campus since 1991. He served as a member of the GMIT Academic Council for several years up until 2006 and is Programme Chair of the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Furniture Design & Manufacture programme since it was first set up as a National Certificate course in the Anthony Clare receiving the award from former GMIT President Marion Coy. campus in the early 90s. has been instrumental in the He has prepared students for by the President of Ireland), the progression, development and various prestigious national and National Museum of Ireland – Country expansion of the campus over those international competitions with many Life in Castlebar (to design and make years”, says Dermot O’Donovan, Head winning top awards in the National innovative gallery seating), and of GMIT Letterfrack. Skills Competition in Cabinetmaking, Kylemore Abbey (a children’s play Letterfrack graduate Davin Larkin and the House & Homes/Crafts trail). Projects such as these provide describes Anthony Clare as “having a Council of Ireland Student Design very rich educational experiences for passion for what he teaches and it Awards. He has also led numerous both the students and staff at the shows in his enthusiastic approach to ‘live’ student design and make Letterfrack campus. every project and lecture he leads with projects, with Áras an Uachtaráin (to “Anthony was one of the first his students”. design and make three lecterns for use employees of GMIT Letterfrack and 11 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:23 Page 12

GMIT Learning & Teaching Anthony, Microsoft awards heading west Diarmaid tops for skills

L to R: Laize Wang, Helen Roberts and Yuxian Chen, Michael Meagher, Microsoft Academic Engagements Manager, Daniel O’Meara, Cathal Tummon, and David O’Connor. Maths & Computing students scooped from the Golden Age of Video Arcade three awards in the 2011 XNA Ireland Games, “Frogger© Konami Digital Challenge, a Microsoft sponsored Entertainment”; Frogger was released games programming competition. by Konami in 1981 and is still recog- The GMIT students won “Best Xbox nised as one of the iconic games from A student in GMIT Letterfrack has 360 Game”, “Best in Original Audio the past three decades. It has featured scooped the coveted top award in this Music” and “Best Multiplayer Game” in on TV programmes, cartoons, car year’s National Skills Competition in the competition judged by industry bumper-stickers, T-shirts and cele- Cabinet Making, making it the fourth experts. brated its 25th anniversary with the year in a row that Letterfrack has won Third and fourth year students on release of a special edition on games this award. Winner Anthony O’Neill the B.Sc. (Hons) in Software Develop- consoles such as Xbox 360. (above) from Tullow, Co. Carlow, is a ment programme honoured a classic fourth year student on the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Furniture Design and Manufacture degree programme. Five of the six finalists It’s Castlebar’s title were GMIT Letterfrack students.

And Diarmaid Ó Conghaile (above) won the 2011 National Skills Competi- tion. GMIT Letterfrack has also won the accolade in 2010, 2009 and 2007. Participants in the Kayaking Intervarsities, which was hosted by GMIT Castlebar. National Skills Co-ordinator, Anthony Clare stressed that the stan- GMIT’s Kayak and Canoe Club won Kevin Pierce and Gavin Porter. dard was very high and the the national canoe polo title in this Nigel Jennings, GMIT Castlebar competition as keen as ever. year’s Kayaking Intervarsities which Sports Officer, praised the team for “This achievement by Diarmaid was hosted for the first time by GMIT their intense preparations during the Castlebar. Over 18 colleges partici- and Anthony demonstrates clearly the winter and paid tribute to the students exceptional skill level attained by pated in the national event. for organising and hosting this hugely students undertaking GMIT Letter- The winning GMIT team were successful competition which brought frack courses, given the other finalists Keith Byrne, Feidhlim Dignan, Eric were apprentices working in industry”. Conway, Shona O'Dowd, Mark over 500 visitors to Castlebar and sur- Brogan, Ken Hynes, Carol Dunphy, rounding villages for the four day event. 12 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:23 Page 13

GMIT Today Julia wins gold and it’s all thanks to Snow White

hree culinary arts students won Gold, Silver and Bronze Tmedals, respectively, at the 2012 IFEX ChefSkills national competition. BA Culinary Arts student Julia Babikova won a gold medal for her “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” novelty cake. Judges were very impressed by the level of skill used to make the features so perfectly. Brian Dermody, a second year student on the Higher Certificate in Culinary Arts programme, won a silver medal in the Ethnic International Competition. He had 45 minutes to prepare a two-course Italian meal. And Julia Babikova (main) pictured with her Mihai Schirliu, a first year student on “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” novelty cake. the Higher Certificate in Culinary Arts Inset, L to R: Brian Dermody (Bronze), Julia programame, and a trainee chef Babikova (Gold), and Mihai Schirliu (Silver) with working in the Twelve’s West GMIT Culinary Arts lecturer Maria Conboy. Restaurant, Galway, won a bronze medal for his fish dish, preparing and most celebrated chefs in the early taking part in 25 competitions in the cooking the meal in 35 minutes. stages of their careers. IFEX ChefSkills 2012, the three GMIT Renowned for its high level of skill, Maria Conboy, Culinary Arts students did exceptionally well to win the ChefSkills competitions has a long lecturer, GMIT College of Tourism & awards in their categories.” history of honouring some of Ireland’s Arts, says: “With 220 young chefs

Traditional form, contemporary context Heritage Studies lecturer and sion to make the subject of the song a acclaimed Irish traditional performer Muslim was simply a logical one. The John Tunney was selected as one of story is a thoroughly contemporary eight singers tasked with writing a one, right down to the hero now suite of new songs in the unaccompa- being employed by an Irish-based nied style of the Irish tradition as part multi-national.” of a national project ‘As I roved Out’. “For me lecturing on Irish music As his theme, he chose the contem- here in GMIT is probably the most fun porary story of a Bosnian refugee who anyone could have at work. When you escapes the Balkan war and comes to see yourself as a performing artist, live in the West of Ireland, but participating in something like this composes it in the traditional style. project is simply another dimension of As part of his practice-based practice-based research. It feeds John Tunney performing one of his research, he shared with his students directly into my teaching. For new compositions. the process by which his song came example, I shared with students the into being. "I wanted to take the process by which this particular new Library of Ireland, the Irish Tradi- typical emigration song of the Irish song came into being, the nuts and tional Music Archive and The tradition and turn it on its head. So, in bolts of how someone working within Bealtaine Festival. Singers involved in this case, Ireland is not the country the tradition creates something that is the project include: Jerry O'Reilly, being ‘escaped from’, but the country at the same time both contemporary John Tunney, Brigid Tunney, Clíona that is ‘being fled to’. Having placed and traditional.” Ni Suilleabhán, Brendan Kennedy, the infamous Srebrenica Massacre at ‘I roved out’ is supported by the Larry Joy, Roisín Gaffney and Dick the centre of the narrative, the deci- Arts Council of Ireland, the National Hogan. 13 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 14

GMIT Learning & Teaching Artists of the future set the standard

Hundreds of people attended the annual GMIT Graduate Art Show in the GMIT Centre for Creative Arts & Media in Cluain Mhuire in June to see the work of 78 art & design students in Textiles, Painting, Print, Sculpture, Ceramics, Video/Sound work, Works ranged Photography, Drawing, Performance ‘ and Installation. from a suspended Themes ranged from personal memories and reflections, the envi- traditional ronment and social issues to conceptual ideas around art practices. The show had both a contempo- wooden currach... rary and traditional feel. Paintings and prints were seen alongside works in to live art new media and technologies. The scale and presence of some larger performances. sculptural works sat comfortably with the delicacy of small-scale drawings ’ and constructions in textiles. Works ranged from a suspended traditional wooden currach (centre, left) to cloned terracotta dolls; from video installations in specially constructed dark rooms to live art performances. The standard was again very high.

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GMIT Today Emergency Services impressed by clever new car safety app tudents on the B.Sc. programme in Software Development have Screated an innovative app that provides automatic assistance in the event of an accident. It works with the driver starting the app at the beginning of the journey. If an accident occurs, a loud alarm sounds on the phone and a count- down timer begins. If the driver is conscious and doesn't need help they just press the stop button. Should the driver be unconscious and the timer reaches zero, then the app automati- cally requests for help from emergency services via SMS. The message contains the user’s details and GPS location. The incase-of-emergency contact will also receive a message. The app also Students Alan O’Connor (left) and Gerard Nee (right) with their lecturer Damien Costello. stores personal medical details which generating although it is not on the got positive feedback from members of will be of use to the first responders. market yet. the public. Some of these details can be sent with Having consulted with the Road President of Ireland, Mr Michael D the SMS emergency message. Safety Authority (RSA) and the Traffic Higgins, was very impressed with their The emergency services have been Corps in the early design and develop- innovation and enthusiasm when he very impressed with the provision of ment stages, the students have been stopped by the stand in the GMIT GPS location data to them in the event encouraged greatly by the response Pavilion. of an incident as this can save time for they received and are working to get Jeremy Freeley says: “The Software the first responders. the app to market by Christmas. Development programme has given us The three app developers, Jeremy Initially, the app will be available to the skills and know-how to develop Freeley from Claremorris, Co. Mayo, the Microsoft Windows Phone market, apps. Also, the encouragement and Alan O’Connor from Moyross, with Android and iPhone to follow. support from all of the staff in the Limerick and Gerard Nee from The students recently showcased their Department of Mathematics & Williamstown, Co. Galway are very work at the Volvo Ocean Race Global Computing, especially our lecturer, excited about the interest the app is Village in Galway where they met and Damien Costello, has been crucial”. Donall’s project is tops

PhD research student Donall Dowd helped construction firm John Sisk & Son win “Sustainable construction and demolition project of the year award” at the annual Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) Awards for Envi- ronmental Excellence. Donall worked on the Mater Adult Hospital (Dublin) development as part of his research into elimination of PhD research student Donall Dowd (centre) receiving his award from CIWM members. construction waste at the design stage and John Hanahoe, lecturers in con- sector to have a positive impact on the of construction projects which helps struction and environmental studies. built environment, specifically focusing architects and engineers prevent waste “The Dept of Building & Civil on resource efficiency at a time when becoming an issue on site. Engineering is delighted with Donall’s innovative approaches to sustainability He is a member of the GMIT con- achievement. It demonstrates the will play a key role in competitiveness struction and demolition waste potential of collaborative research of the Irish construction sector”, says research group led by Dr Mark Kelly between industry and the third-level Dr Kelly. 15 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 16

GMIT Learning & Teaching - Upskilling Castlebar course proves a major plus for employees

GMIT Castlebar continues to develop The programme provides students working in the networking area with strong links with Cisco and the private with the training necessary, in both Westnet in Ballina, says: “I have been sector as part of its Cisco Academy theory and hands-on practical work, to working in the network industry for a programme with students continuing achieve the qualification of Cisco few years and wanted to get a full and to study the Cisco CCNA qualification Certified Network Associate. proper understanding of the in GMIT Castlebar. GMIT Castlebar Mark Frain, lecturer, Dept of Busi- has been offering the part-time ness, Humanities and Technology, networking protocols and concepts. programme to full-time students of GMIT Castlebar, says there is a big The CCNA course delivered all the GMIT since 2005. demand for this course from people knowledge I needed and more to The one-year programme, aimed at currently working in the IT area. “The continue comfortably on my the private sector, is for individuals Cisco programme is an upskilling exer- networking career path”. currently working in the areas of elec- cise and directly relevant to the work GMIT Castlebar is currently tronics, computers or the participants are currently doing. accepting applications for this course telecommunications who wish to Some participants are sometimes acquire an industry recognised qualifi- between jobs, or looking, and this for the next academic year. Contact cation. A basic appreciation of course certainly increases their Mark Frain, tel. 094-9043116 email: computers and broadband internet employment prospects”. [email protected] for further infor- access is a prerequisite. David McDonnell, who is currently mation.

GMIT tutors and students of the Cisco CCNA course which was delivered in GMIT Castlebar during the last academic year. L to R: Seamus Dowling, lecturer, GMIT, Patrick McDonald from Louisburgh (Western Care Association), Eadaoin Earley from Claremorris, David Grehan from Claremorris (Schneider Electric Galway), Mark Frain, lecturer, GMIT, David Donnelly from Sligo (CBE Claremorris), John McDonald from Westport (Ergo IT Services) and David McDonnell from Sligo (CBE Claremorris). Funding to help jobless get back to work

GMIT has been awarded HEA funding Medical Device Technology, Pharma- opportunity to upskill. for unemployed people to commence ceutical Science, Biopharmaceutical Peter Butler, GMIT Lifelong Science and Engineering Science, Food Science and Building Learning Co-ordinator, GMIT Galway, programmes, as well as some special Information Modeling. Twenty-three says the HEA initiative helps people purpose awards this academic year people started on a new conversion who are out of work get back on their under the 2012 Springboard initiative. programme, the Higher Diploma in feet: "Having the right qualification is Over 130 people have commenced Software Development, in September, crucial to unemployed people getting programmes in Energy Engineering, which gives graduates of other Engi- back into employment in time for Mechanical Engineering, Computing, neering and Science disciplines an growth areas for the future”. 16 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 17

GMIT Today Online training a huge boost at energy lab

Members of the GMIT-led Innovret energy technologies consortium, back, L to R: John Shaughnessy Daikin Ireland, Professor Dietrich Albert, TU Graz, Simone Koplenic, TU Graz, Dr Attracta Brennan, GMIT, Dr Aurora Dimache, GMIT. Front, L to R: Dr Tom Roche, GMIT, Dr Siobhán Wallace, Leargas, April McCale, Unitherm Heating Ltd. alway-Mayo IT has been Dr Tom Roche, Principal project will allow students to carry out awarded substantial Investigator of the Innovret EU Project their lab work while not being Gfunding to develop which GMIT is leading, says that once physically present in the lab. The innovative online training in the research programme is completed, funding we’ve received will enable us renewable energy systems using students countrywide will be able to to research and develop best practice the Institute’s state-of-the art carry out online experiments through teaching for further online online energy laboratory. distance learning that would otherwise experimentation.” Engineering lecturers and have required their presence in the GMIT currently offers a range of researchers were awarded €250,000 lab. People working in the renewable evening courses (accredited modules) from the EU Leonardo Da Vinci energy industry will be able to avail of such as renewable energy installation programme to develop high-quality, individual online accredited modules maintenance and system designs in industry-relevant online training and from September 2013. addition to full-time degree upskilling programmes for undergrad- “Our lab is unique in that our programmes. uates as well as individuals wishing to students can interact with systems and The consortium on this Innovret upskill or enter the renewable energy learn about the installation, analysis EU Project, led by GMIT, comprises sector. and performance of integrated, real- experts from academia and industry. Some 45 academic staff have working renewable energy systems recently been trained on online using a sophisticated web enabled learning technologies. interface. The results of this EU ...and Science goes online too

GMIT Science School is now offering virtual classroom facility which allows Ireland and in Europe,” says Dr the add-on honours degree in Applied for interaction between the lecturer Seamus Lennon. “A level 6 Higher Biopharmaceutical & Healthcare and students during the lecture and is Certificate in Science is also being Science online. The one year add-on also archived and accessible to delivered online, having commenced was previously offered on a blended students at later dates. in January 2012. The online learning learning basis over several years. “Such a delivery mechanism better student cohort now represents approx- Now, students log in for weekly suits the students of this course who imately 10% of students in the Dept of lectures using the Adobe Connect are based at various locations around Life & Physical Sciences.”

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GMIT Research & Innovation Nurturing students’ start-up ideas

website promoting Irish their final year of study in GMIT. The Patrick Dolan from Crossmolina, Co summer schools, a device that successful GEP candidates this year are: Mayo, and Alan Prendergast from Ahelps remove wetsuits, and Michael Smyth, from Athboy, Co Claremorris, Co Mayo, graduates of the unique furniture pieces are three of Meath, graduate of the BA i Gno agus Bachelor of Business in Culinary Arts, seven start-up projects currently being Cumarsáid GMIT Galway, who has who developed gluten free products; developed by graduates of GMIT who developed a bilingual website for Irish Bill Buckley from Kinvara, Co recently won places on GMIT’s Grad- summer schools in the Gaeltacht. Galway, graduate of the Bachelor of uate Entrepreneurship Programme Laura Taylor from Gort, Co Galway, Business degree, who has developed a (GEP). graduate of the BA in Outdoor Educa- chair that improves attention span and The graduates were awarded places tion in GMIT Castlebar, who has increases physical flexibility; on the GEP during the 2011/12 developed a device called EasyOff John Kavanagh from Borris, Co academic year, giving them valuable which helps remove wetsuits easily; Carlow, graduate of the Bachelor of start up supports including desk space, Jens Kosak from Germany and now Science (Hons) in Furniture Design & mentoring and training in GMIT’s living in Oughterard, Co Galway, grad- Manufacture, who developed a range thriving Innovation in Business Centres uate of the Bachelor of Science (Hons) of outdoor and bathroom furniture. (IiBCs) at the Galway and Castlebar in Furniture Design & Manufacture, Danny Coleman from Tuam, Co campuses. who offers unique furniture pieces and Galway, graduate of the Professional Many of their concepts stemmed lighting as well as modular flat-packed Cookery programme, who offers low- from projects they worked on during sustainable items; carb recipes using natural ingredients.

Pictured at a reception announcing the winners, L to R: Alan Prendergast, Claremorris, Jens Kosak, Oughterard (and Germany), Laura Taylor, Gort, John Kavanagh, Borris, Co Carlow, Michael Smyth, Athboy, Co Meath, and Bill Buckley, Kinvara. Front row: George McCourt, Manager of the GMIT Innovation Centre, Galway, Des Mahon, Chairman, GMIT, Michael Carmody, President of GMIT, and Declan Dooley, President of Galway Chamber.

New research scholarships

GMIT has launched a new annual three-year PhD scholarships each year • Marine Science research scholarship competition from September 2012. • Biomedical Engineering, marking its 40th anniversary. The The scholarships will cover fees • Sustainable Energy Technologies Institute will award seven fully funded and provide a €16,000 tax-free stipend • Humanities. across the disciplines of:

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Innovation in Business Centre (IiBC) GMIT Today Proud record of entrepreneurship

Figures reveal story of success

New IiBC client companies • CGA Software – Integrated Software Systems using SAAS • Cloud Strong – Services for SMEs using Cloud Technology • Radio Internet Global Technologies – App development • Hillwalk tours – Self Guided Hiking Tours, Ireland & Scotland • Xyea Ltd – Compliance software that enables organisations to meet compliance obligations • Siscin – 3D Visualisation and Animation company providing rendering and CAD training • Visual Brand Communication (VBC) - Innovative Interactive Pictured at the Spirit of Entrepreneurship event hosted by the Innovation Centre at GMIT Signage and Digital Communica- Castlebar. Front, L to R: Alan Dowling, MD Visual Brand Communication, Stephanie tion O’Malley, Education Destine and Colm Rochford, Powersavy. Back, L to R: Joe Cawley, AIB branch Manager, Castlebar, Liam Horan, MC, Maria Staunton, • Horizon West - Engineering tech- Manager IiBC Castlebar, Barry Egan, Enterprise Ireland, George McCourt, Manager, nical service provider IIBC Galway and Michael Culligan, National Director H Ban. • 24handi – 24/7 Emergency Trade & Service provider for your home, Medical devices firm, NeoSurgical, he Innovation in Business business or transport needs Centres (IiBC) at GMIT develops innovative products for • DoTheTour.com – Audio City have nurtured a culture of laproscopic abdominal surgery and is T now gearing up for commercial Tours entrepreneurship in the west of Ireland and in the GMIT student launch as it appoints partners in the US, Europe, the Middle East and community since their establish- Recent transitioned clients Africa and prepares technical files for • eMedia – Interactive 3D Media ment in 2006. the NSAI and the FDA for access to and iPhone Apps Start-up companies in both centres the EU and US markets. have created over 170 jobs and client The company utilised the GMIT • Neosurgical – Innovative products companies have raised some €50m medical testing facility, GMedTech, for laparoscopic abdominal funding in recent years. while located at the Innovation Centre surgery Successful companies have transi- in GMIT Galway and engaged in • Tradecert – Automated Internet tioned to new larger premises making student projects with the Department Solutions for Export Compliance way for new start-ups every year. Two of Mechanical Engineering. Documentation major success stories are Tradecert The GMIT Innovation Centres host and Neosurgical: • Anacores – Designs integrated several public information events each circuits for microchips Tradecert.com provides Certificate year. Several hundred people • The Geek Store – Online Reseller of Origin and other documentation attended the recent "Spirit of Entre- for technology gadgets and certification services to exporters preneurship" event in the Mayo around the world, saving time, money, campus where GMIT President promoting efficiency and enhancing Michael Carmody described the IiBC output productivity. The company employs supports offered by GMIT, Enterprise • 170+ jobs created seven people, including a number of Ireland and a range of development • €50m funding raised by client GMIT graduates. agencies. Among the initiatives and companies Co-founder Tom Kelly has great supports are EI's new Competitive praise for the staff of the IiBC at Feasibility Fund, Voucher Scheme, • 14 HPSU (high potential start-up) GMIT. “The manager, George GMIT's Graduate Entrepreneurship companies created MacCourt has lots of experience and Programme (GEP) Enterprise Accel- • 28 successful spin-outs is a very good mentor with a good eration Programme (EAP), the New handle on the dos and don’ts of Frontiers Programme and many starting a business”. others.

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GMIT Research & Innovation Researchers sight rare albatross

Marine research staff and students conducting a research sur- vey on board the state vessel, the RV Celtic Explorer, off the southwest coast of Ireland, sighted groups of fin whales and a rare black-browed albatross normally found in the Southern Ocean. The GMIT team was among a group of 20 scientists from Ireland and Scotland, including the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, carrying out a survey of cetacean, seabird and plank- ton along the Irish coast over 11 days. Birdwatch Ireland said a sighting of a black-browed albatross is “very rare”. The team was led by GMIT researchers Dr Joanne O’Brien and PhD student Conor Ryan. It was the third in a series of surveys GMIT has been involved in on board the Celtic Ex- Rare black-browed albatross pictured plorer. The team was awarded funding for the trip under the off the southwest Irish coast by GMIT annual Marine Institute Ship Time call. marine research staff.

International award for research on waste practices

GMIT has received international 13th International Waste Management recognition for its ongoing research and Landfill Symposium in Italy. Over on waste practices and environmental 1,000 submissions and over 800 papers methodologies in small and medium were published and presented under enterprises, as part of an EU research 13 themes. project “FutureSME” involving 26 part- Sinéad is one of a team of ners in eight countries. researchers in GMIT working on the Sinéad Mitchell, a post-graduate FutureSME research project. Co- researcher in the Dept of Mechanical authors of the paper are lecturers Dr & Industrial Engineering, received a Paul O'Dowd and Dr Thomas Roche, Sineád Mitchell, post-grad researcher, who best paper award for ‘The Issue of Waste and post-doctoral researcher Dr. received a best paper award. in European Manufacturing SMEs’ at the Aurora Dimache. New food products hit the spot

Coeliac-friendly sauces, chocolate- flavoured hummus squeeze... just two of many innovative new food products developed by part-time Culinary Arts students who work as chefs in the hospitality sector. The students travel to GMIT one day a week from Kerry, Limerick, West- meath, Roscommon, Mayo and County Galway to participate in the degree programme and recently show- cased their food products to a panel of experts including Bord Bia. The chefs are now pitching to retailers and local markets with a view to commercialising their products. Bord Bia’s Eimear O’Donnell said the products were “well developed and executed – a very high standard overall reflecting the dedication and expertise L to R: Cáit Noone, Head of the GMIT College of Tourism and Arts, Tony O’Kelly, GMIT of the lecturing staff at GMIT.” Innovation Centre, Eimear O’Donnell, Bord Bia, Richard Nielson, Food Product Development lecturer.

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GMIT Today Centre for the integration of Sustainable Energy Technologies (CiSET)

iSET was established in 2007 with the aim of addressing Cconcerns over rising energy costs and security of energy supplies. The Centre conducts applied research to design, integrate, optimise and demonstrate the potential of sustainable energy solutions to deliver cost-effective and reliable energy in cool-marine climate regions. Over the past five years, CiSET has developed a unique research capability based around ten multi-disciplinary researchers from engineering and science who share a common interest and commitment to sustainable energy system development. The team has worked on over 40 projects involving a range of industrial and public-body stakeholders that support the energy sector and/or consumer. Some €2.5m has been invested in fully-integrated and functioning research grade The GMIT CiSET group, L to R: Dr John Lohan, Principal Investigator, Willie Geraghty, equipment in the centre. Dr Tom Roche (front), Dr PJ McAllen, Dr Gabriel J Costello and PhD student and “Projects span from energy auditing lecturer Larentiu Dimache. and monitoring to the use of artificial intelligence to generate optimised, explains Dr John Lohan, Principal research Masters and PhD hybrid energy supply solutions for Investigator of CiSET. “We have programmes and published over 50 specific energy demand profiles,” already sponsored and completed 15 conference and journal papers.”

CiSET projects are already making quite a difference • Total Energy Solutions for required to reach set-point, increase supported by an Enterprise Ireland Inno- temperature control and minimise vation Partnership Feasibility Study and Sustainable Aquaculture temperature interaction between ProAir Ltd., Tuam, Co. Galway. (TESSA) neighbouring temperature zones. Other projects boosted the heating capacity and TESSA sought to reduce the energy con- introduced intelligent defrost control. • Thermal characterisation sumption of typical Irish re-circulating These projects were supported by four aquaculture systems and use sustainable and optimisation of a heat Enterprise Ireland Innovation energy technologies to replace tradi- Partnerships and Thermo King Europe pump ground collector tional fossil fuel. The project delivered a (Ireland) Ltd., Galway. fully functional aquaculture system that The goal of this industrial research reduced energy consumption by between project was to establish and increase the thermal performance of a 15kW ground 20-80% and derived its thermal energy • Characterisation of an from a combination of an air source heat source heat pump’s horizontal collector. pump and a solar thermal collector. This Air-to-Air heat This was achieved by experimental project was supported by a consortium of characterisation and numerical recovery system 2 12 aquaculture enterprises and received simulation of the 430m ground funding from the Department of Educa- A series of projects were undertaken in collector positioned 1m below the tion & Science, BIM and IRCSET. conjunction with ProAir Ltd., to surface. While the collector performed at characterise the thermal efficiency of the upper end of best practice, validated their air-to-air heat recovery system, simulation showed that output could be • Improved temperature access the influence of building envelop boosted by a further 10% by altering the control for transport air tightness on system performance and collector layout, ground surface layer & design a new frost protection feature. feedback.This project was funded by an refrigeration units GMIT now operates a fully functional, Enterprise Ireland Innovation A combination of electronic throttling instrumented and monitored system to Partnership in conjunction with Dunstar valves and fuzzy logic control was access the influence of such aspects on a Ltd, Clonakilty, Co Cork. implemented to reduce the time 24/7 basis. These projects were

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GMIT Research & Innovation Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC) GMIT has been conducting research on Marine and Freshwater resources since the 1990s. In 2009 the HEA’s investment of €1.5m in GMIT’s Marine and Freshwater Research Centre consolidated the centre’s capacity in a new, state of the art facility to explore research synergies and collaboration. Nine academic staff and eight research staff currently collaborate with some 20 postgraduate students on applied research that informs the sustainable management and utilisation of aquatic living resources. The Centre’s research focus aligns with current national and international research needs and is strongly policy-driven. Research outputs that underpin the future management of marine and freshwater ecosystems with sound, credible scientific advice are carried out in collaboration with national agencies such The Marine Institute, National Parks and Wildlife Service, GMIT PhD marine scientist Melanie Zoelck uses an image analysis microscope and Environment Protection Agency and software. BordIascaighMhara. Commercial The following are some projects cal and environmental drivers causing aspects of the Centre’s research aim to researchers in the Marine and Fresh- changes in salmon growth and associated mitigate the impacts, and maximise water Research Centre are working on: stock declines. Multi-decadal trends in the value from utilisation of living growth during the post-smolt phase will be analysed using archived datasets, and aquatic resources. Shelltec research The Centre works with commercial controlled rearing experiments. Success- enhancement centre ful completion of the project will allow partners in the seafood capture, further development of models that fore- GMIT’s Shelltec was established with EI processing and transport industries, cast the numbers and size of salmon re- support in 2005 to conduct multi-discipli- aligning strongly with the priorities for turning to Irish rivers and lakes. nary research on the condition and re- Sustainable Food Production and sponses of crustaceans and molluscs to Processing identified recently by Forfás manmade and natural stressors. Shelltec’s Assessment and monitoring in its Research Prioritisation report. research explores: of ocean noise in Irish • Post-capture handling, storage & trans- port stresses in live shellfish marketing waters chains, and the development of new Noise caused by human activities is now technologies to reduce their impacts; recognised as a pollutant in the marine environment. Noise from seismic surveys, • Development of environmental moni- sonar, pile-driving, acoustic deterrents toring techniques and protocols for and the use of explosives each effect ma- novel contaminants in the aquatic rine life. These effects are of growing con- environment using shellfish as markers; cern to scientists, legislators and the • Shellfish pathogens and parasites in the public. GMIT scientists, funded by the wild and captivity, and ways in which Irish Environmental Protection Agency, management can prevent or have assessed and monitored ocean noise reduce associated impacts. in Irish waters. GMIT’s research has quantified seis- Environmental factors mic activity within Irish waters highlight- ing particular areas with a greater affecting growth, survival frequency of seismic exploration and seis- and migration of Atlantic mic intensity. The research has delivered a national obligation of Ireland’s commit- salmon ment to the Marine Strategy Framework In recent decades populations of North- Directive on behalf of the Department of east Atlantic salmon have decreased. the Environment, Community and Local James Keating analyses blue whiting as GMIT scientists have partnered with the Government. part of his PhD on stock identification. Marine Institute to determine the biologi- 22 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 23

GMIT Today Galway Medical Technologies Centre (GMedTech)

ince 2006, the GMedTech sary for assessing medical procedures which the researchers within the centre which was formerly es- and optimising medical devices for GMedTech centre were approached tablished under the Enter- industrial proposes. by the Fluids Committee to provide S The unique feature within the benchmarking test data for next year’s prise Ireland Applied Research Enhancement scheme, has de- GMedTech centre is the capacity for ASME summer biomedical engi- designing and developing in vitro neering conference for the inaugural veloped capabilities in generating testing systems for replicating various CFD challenge workshop. realistic vascular models from haemodynamic conditions through These test systems can prove the medical images with the main ob- different parts of the cardiovascular feasibility of a product or surgical jective of computationally and ex- system that may or may not incorpo- procedure, assess various disease perimentally modeling different rate a disease type. conditions and provide benchmarking physiological flow conditions This unique capability was recog- data for the validation of computa- through these vessels. nised at last Summer’s ASME Summer tional analysis. A successful in vitro test These systems provide the best biomedical engineering conference in system can keep animal testing and physiological dynamic models neces- Farmington, Pennsylvania, USA at clinical trials to a minimum.

The GMedTech team, L to R: Dr Liam Morris, Dr Patrick Delassus, PhD students Florian Stefanov and Paul Fahy, and Dr Eugene McCarthy. Novate CEO pays tribute to GMedTech

As part of its pre-clinical trials, medical Both GMedTech and Novate are help us with ours,” he says. “The piece devices SME Novate turned to based at Galway-Mayo Institute of of equipment—a polymeric vena GMedTech to develop an artificial vein Technology (GMIT), where Gilson is cava—was only one part of the overall that would simulate real-life conditions. also on the board of GMIT’s business testing system, but it was an important In many ways, the choice of innovation incubation centre. “We knew that one.” partner was a natural one, according to GMedTech were looking for research Technology Ireland Spring 2012 Issue2 Novate’s CEO Paul Gilson. projects, and we knew that they could p44-45

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GMIT How was the Titanic 11- course meal? First Class!

BY ROSITA BOLAND

t’s not often you have a dinner at which 70 guests use more Ithan 840 glasses. In Galway’s GMIT (College of Tourism and Arts), 70 people sat down to virtually the same 11-course menu that was served to first-class passengers on the Titanic the night it sank. As was the case in 1912, a different wine was served with each course, and there were so many wine glasses required – plus a water glass – that there was only room for six per setting on the table at any one time. L to R: Noel Loughnane, Liz Fox and Máirtin Clancy, lecturers in the College of Tourism & THE MENU Arts, Cáit Noone, Head of the College, and Ciara O'Byrne, Chairperson of the Galway RNLI Reception on arrival with Oysters and Champagne Lifeboat Fundraising Committee. Hors d’oeuvre Asparagus Salad board. The only difference was that From a social history perspective, with Champagne-Saffron Vinaigrette some courses, such as the salad, were Loughnane points out that some Soups Duet of Consommé Olga/Cream of Barley served in a different order. courses had Russian references, such Fish Salmon with mousseline sauce “The size of the 1912 menu is the as Oysters a la Russe and Consommé Entrées Filet mignon of beef Lili biggest difference from today,” Lough- Olga. “The tsars were still in power in Sorbet Punch Romaine nane says. “It’s just not done today. It 1912, of course.” Removes Calvados-glazed Duckling was all about showing your wealth – “It was a very, very rich menu,” he Lamb with mint jelly using expensive ingredients and admits. “Was cholesterol even known Sirloin of Beef Forestière serving lots of meat.” Loughnane esti- about that time?” Served with a selection of vegetables and potatoes mates dinner on the ship in 1912 Second-year student Jason Mullen Cold Dish Pâté de foie gras would have taken four hours – about from Sligo said: “We’ve been talking Sweet Peaches in Chartreuse jelly, Waldorf pudding, Chocolate the same time the Galway dinner took about nothing else except preparing Éclairs, Vanilla Ice cream last night. for this dinner for the last six Dessert Assorted fresh fruit and cheeses “Dinner was such a big part of the months.” Petit Fours day on ships in those days,” he says. Among the guests was Noel Coffee with Port “There was a string quartet, but no McGrady, whose father, William, had entertainment of the kind you’d get worked at Harland and Wolff in Belfast on cruise ships today.” The €100-a-head sold-out dinner was the idea of Noel Loughnane, a lecturer in culinary arts at GMIT, who first started thinking about repro- ducing the period menu as a teaching experience for students three years ago. “This is about commemorating the sinking of the Titanic, but it is not a celebration,” he stressed. “It’s a learning experience for over 100 of our students, and it’s a fundraiser for the RNLI, who risk their lives every time they get into a boat.” Among the 11 courses were consommé, cream of barley soup, a Former Mayor of Galway Hildegarde Naughton looks on as the Corrib String Quarter play at fish course, two meat courses, foie the GMIT Hotel School's Titanic Commemorative Dinner in aid of the Galway RNLI gras, three desserts, and a cheese- Lifeboat.

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GMIT Today

Event Management students greeting guests at the Titanic Commemorative Dinner in the College of Tourism and Arts. Right: Table setting replicating the dinner table in first class. as an iron turner until 1920. He never worked on the Titanic, but as he went about his daily work at the docks, he witnessed White Star Line’s biggest ever commission ship being constructed, and its departure from Belfast. “He never wanted to talk about the ship,” McGrady said. “Because of what has happened to the Titanic, there was shame attached.” Elizabeth Fox, a wine lecturer at GMIT, discovered the wine glasses of 1912 were much smaller than modern glasses in the course of her research. “They may have had 11 courses and GMIT staff Coleman Shaughnessy (left) and Tom Frawley demonstrating a spark-gap radio wine with each course, and Irish transmitter as was used on the Titanic. people often only have two courses when they eat out in restaurants today, Just before the end of the evening, icing-sugar ship is inedible, apparently but we almost certainly drink more in a four-foot reproduction of the lasts for years, and will go on show in volume than they did,” she concludes. Titanic, complete with 20 lifeboats the College of Tourism and Arts. As part of their preparation for the and constructed of icing sugar and The GMIT students got as many night, students gathered 1,513 small pastillage, was wheeled in by Mary period details right as possible. pebbles from around Ireland; one for Reid, a lecturer in advanced pastry. However, our modern smoking regula- each life lost in the sinking. Each guest She explained that huge centrepieces, tions meant the cigars the gentlemen was given a bag of pebbles at the end of usually sculpted from ice or butter, were given at the end of dinner went the evening and invited to return them were common for the period. Diners home unlit in their pockets. to the sea as an act of commemoration. fearing a 12th course were spared: the This article has been reproduced, courtesy of the Irish Times (2012)

Lecturer Mary Reid (right) and student Paula Stakelum put the finishing touches to their pastillage replica of the Titanic. 25 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 26

GMIT Community Engagement Cheque it out Helping hand for Cancer Care West GMIT presented a cheque for €3,605 to Cancer Care West recently, the proceeds of fundraising by staff in the Galway campus who ran the Dublin City Mini Marathon. L to R: GMIT staff Linda Gilchrest, Paula Cannon, Valerie Madden (organiser), Lorna Moynihan, Suzanne O'Gorman, Sharon Fitzpatrick, Cancer Care West; Paula Melady, Jennifer Duffy and Mena Costello. [Missing from the picture are Evelyn Robinson, Ann Robinson, Marie Maher, Debbie Molloy and Susan Carolan]

Catwalk cash fund Business Event Management students hosted a very successful fashion show in aid of COPE in the Radisson Blu assisted by city college GTI and Galway retailers Anthony Ryans, Born Clothing, Jack ’n Jones and Tommy Hilfiger. Models were recruited from within GMIT and trained by Galway’s Catwalk Agency. Lecturer Monica Nielsen says the event required problem-solving, time management, interpersonal skills and teamwork. “These can be difficult to impart in the lecture hall and are highly valued by employers. Monica Nielson (left) with the students presenting a cheque for almost €1,200 to Fintan Maher, Cope Galway. Titanic night helps Lifeboat Students and staff recently presented a cheque for €4,000 to Galway RNLI Lifeboat, proceeds from the Titanic Commemorative Dinner hosted by the GMIT College of Tourism and Arts. Initiated by Culinary Arts lecturer Noel Loughnane, the event was a learning experience for students and a fund-raiser marking the 100 year anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Students and staff gave gener- ously of their time and expertise ensuring the night was unforgettable for the 70 guests, many of whom said it was the best culinary experience of their lives. L to R: Pierce Purcell, Noel Loughnane, Jamie Mullen, Cait Noone, Anne McInerney and Sharon Langan, Lifeboat Fundraising Committee.

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GMIT Today Farmleigh showcases standards of excellence at Letterfrack

MIT celebrates its 40th anniversary this year but it also Gcelebrates 25 years in its Letterfrack campus which is run as a partnership with Connemara West Development PLC. This year, in recognition of its impact both nationally and interna- tionally on the industry, the campus is being designated as a National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design and Technology. Over the years GMIT Letterfrack has established itself as the leading provider of third level programmes related to the furniture industry. The college has a number of programmes for initial teacher education, which qualifies graduates to teach a range of technology-based subjects in post- primary schools. As part of the 25th anniversary cele- bration, the OPW is hosting a GMIT Letterfrack exhibition of student, staff The President of Ireland Michael D Higgins and Mrs Sabina Higgins on a recent visit to the Connemara campus, with Dermot O’Donovan, Head of the GMIT Letterfrack National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design & Technology.

and graduate work in Farmleigh Head of GMIT Letterfrack Dermot Gallery in the Phoenix Park. The exhi- O’Donovan recognises the impor- bition, which runs from 1 November tance of celebrating such a milestone. to 20 December, was officially opened “Each year brings something new to by President Michael D Higgins. It the campus, so it’s important to get an celebrates excellence and innovation opportunity to reflect on the last 25 in the fields of furniture design and years and celebrate the achievements manufacture, wood technology and of both staff and students”. education. In advance of the opening of the exhibition, President Higgins paid a courtesy visit to the Letterfrack Ardu coffee table by graduate campus in May. Martin Gallagher.

Wave table by graduate John Lee. Chair by student Simon Doyle. Drift Tallboy by graduates Tim and Sean Dunleavy. 27 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 28

GMIT Community Engagement Child’s play for students

Pupils from Gaelscoil na Cruaiche, Westport, enjoying the new seating designed and made by Letterfrak students. urniture students at GMIT Letterfrack staff member Gary “The resulting work produced is a Letterfrack took on a major Graham, who has children in the credit to each of them. The diverse Fchallenge to design and make Gaelscoil, initiated contact between nature of the pieces facilitated active appealing, fun, engaging and GMIT Letterfrack and the Westport collaborative learning for the students functional pieces of furniture for primary school and the project took and we are delighted that Taoiseach Gaelscoil na Cruaiche in Westport as shape. Enda Kenny was the first person to use part of their ‘live project’ degree The students were briefed on the the new lectern specifically designed studies. requirements at the project launch in for visiting dignitaries to Gaelscoil na Some 28 pieces were unveiled at a February and met the pupils, parents Cruaiche”. formal opening of the school by An and teachers. Later, they presented Gaelscoil na Cruaiche Principal Taoiseach Enda Kenny during the interim designs and got feedback Mairéad Ní Ruáin said “We are summer of 2012, all designed and during a full day of four rotating delighted to have been afforded this made by students on the B.Sc. degree panels in Letterfrack, getting the views unique opportunity to work in programme in Furniture Design & of the entire school community. collaboration with a third-level Manufacture. GMIT programme lecturer institution such as the GMIT in The idea for the collaborative Anthony Clare says the students were Letterfrack. The creativity and project came about after the Gaelscoil given an excellent opportunity to professionalism shown by the students became aware of last year’s live learn, develop and understand the and their lecturers is truly inspiring project—a children’s play trail through nuances of working and presenting and as a result, their carefully crafted the grounds of Kylemore Abbey. GMIT their work to an actual client. furniture now adorn our school.” €56,000 in scholarships

GMIT awarded 18 scholarships worth almost €56,000 this academic year. Nine first year students were awarded academic scholarships for achieving high marks in the Leaving Certificate in 2011. Each of the students received a cheque for €1,200 at a reception hosted by the Institute for the students, their families and teachers. GMIT Academic Scholarship recipients with GMIT President Michael Carmody, L to R: Access Scholarships were also Ann Marie Curran (mature student), Loughrea, Aisling Moran, Westport, Aoife Wan, Bishop O'Donnell Road, Galway, Colin Folan, Cappagh Road, Galway, Michael awarded to nine First Year students for Carmody, Emer McDermott, Leckaun, Co. Leitrim, Kalila Keane, Ballina, and Ogie this academic year. Each student Hollywood, Moate, Co. Westmeath. [Missing from the picture are Diarmuid receives €5,000 over the duration of Reynolds, Corrandulla and Ross Mennie, Craughwell] the programme they study in GMIT. 28 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 29

GMIT Today Timber treats in store for kids

ne of the most beautiful places in Ireland has be- Ocome a children’s won- GMIT Letterfrack student Diarmuid O'Conghaile (National Skills 2011 winner) derland, thanks to the skill of presenting his design to Mother Máire Hickey, OSB of Kylemore Abbey. students on the B.Sc. (Hons) in Furniture Design & Manufacture itors to Kylemore every year, it also in design quality and manufacturing programme at GMIT Letterfrack. provides a wonderful opportunity for expertise. The students and their lec- The students and staff accepted an students to have their names—as fur- turers have a great energy and enthusi- invitation from the owners of Kyle- niture designer/makers—in the pub- asm for the project which has more Abbey to design and build an lic domain. translated into unique pieces of inter- outdoor children’s furniture and play GMIT lecturer Anthony Clare says active furniture.” trail to commemorate the life of “The potential of engaging the cre- Mitchell Henry who built the castle for ative minds and technical ability of our his wife and nine children in the 1850s. students with a project centred on fun, Each student was assigned a specific imagination, exploration and discov- location and asked to capture its ery for young children has brought essence and adapt the furniture to its about a project of huge significance, particular environment. They used with inspired results. This framed timber from trees that fell naturally on within the backdrop of the grounds of the Kylemore estate, just a few of the Kylemore Abbey has made it all the 300,000 trees planted by Mitchell more impressive.” Henry 140 years ago. Bríd Connell of Kylemore Tourism Sheep made by second year student Gavin The finished pieces form part of a says, “We are delighted with the work Griffin who is studying the B.Sc. in permanent interactive exhibition on of GMIT Letterfrack. They have an in- Furniture Design and Manufacture. the Kylemore estate. With 200,000 vis- ternational reputation for excellence Students share their know-how

Students in the GMIT Electronic and Electrical Engineering Department are using their technical know-how to assist people in the local and global community with projects ranging from teaching primary school chil- dren the programming language ‘Scratch’, to developing websites for local charities and refurbishing PCs for distribution to schools in Africa. The students’ work has been incor- porated into their programme of study as a Civic Engagement (CE) module or work placement. Natasha Rohan, lecturer in the Department and volunteering co-ordi- The GMIT Scratch Tutor Team (Electronic and Electrical Engineering students) with their nator, says: “The students have done Student Achievement Awards 2012. L to R: Outgoing SU Vice-President, Alan O’Doherty; fantastic work and both they and the Abdul Alharbi, Fiona Daly, Brian Quinn, James Gleeson, Gints Petersons, JJ Mahony, community partners have benefited Kieran Canavan and Martin Greanham. greatly from the experience”.

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GMIT Internationalisation & Collaboration Lecturers win top EU award for language learning kit

wo GMIT lecturers have won a top European award Tfor a free innovative web- based language learning kit called “EuroCatering”, www.eurocater- ing.org, which caters specifically for workers and trainees in the hospitality and tourism industry. GMIT’s Anne Brindley, French lecturer, and Colin Gilligan, Hotel lecturer, represent Ireland on the seven-country team who won the European Language Label of the Labels, a prestigious European Commission award. They were presented with the award in Cyprus by the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Mrs Androulla Vassiliou Eurocatering team with Anne Brindley (centre front) and Colin Gilligan (fifth from left). and the Vice-President of the Euro- kitchen and restaurant; illustrated developing this excellent learning pean Parliament Mr Miguel Angel Martinez. glossaries of professional terminology product with other EU partners. www.eurocatering.org is now in each of the languages, a pedagogical “This award combining language available in 12 languages; English, tool with interactions and exercises for training with interactive technologies French, Spanish, Dutch, Norwwegian, reinforcements, a glossary of pertinent is a wonderful example of how GMIT Slovenian, Galician, German, Irish, cultural work-orientation facts, a video continues to play a leading role in the Italian, Finnish and Polish. The of pertinent gesture and more. hospitality and tourism sectors, both website provides realistic language Dr Larry Elwood, Head of nationally and internationally.” training with virtual scenes in the International Affairs, GMIT, says the Institute is delighted to be involved in Marine scientists making waves and the Petroleum Affairs Division of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Dr Joanne O’Brien, Principal Investigator, says: “The team is working on the development of criteria no. 11, that the introduction of energy, The Marine Science team with Dr Joanne O’Brien (second right) and Suzanne Beck (centre). including underwater noise, is at levels that do not adversely affect the marine GMIT marine scientists are leading a Research Group has won EPA funding environment. We recently deployed national research project “Monitoring for the www.monitoringocean- the first devices with TU of Catalonia Ocean Noise in Irish waters” to help noise.com project and are assisted by and work is progressing well”. Ireland achieve Good Environmental The Marine Institute, Technical The team includes Suzanne Beck, Status (GES) in European marine University of Catalonia (UPC), and Research Scientist, Dr Simon Berrow waters by 2020. Biospheric Engineering Ltd. They will and Dr Ian O’Connor. The GMIT Marine Biodiversity also work closely with the Irish Navy 30 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 31

GMIT Today RTÉ now making the headlines at GMIT

MIT and RTÉ have formed a new partnership involving the GGMIT Centre for the Creative Arts & Media (Cluain Mhuire cam- pus). A new agreement, approved by the GMIT Governing Body, will see RTÉ having an on-campus broadcasting fa- cility in the Centre from early 2013. The agreement aims to provide oppor- tunities for GMIT media students to undertake work placements and grad- uate internships in RTÉ; support and advice from RTÉ in relation to the de- velopment and review of programmes; potential for RTÉ staff as adjunct staff or external examiners; the possibility The GMIT Centre for the Creative Arts and Media at Cluain Mhuire, which will of creating an Ideas Laboratory in the accommodate RTÉ Galway’s studios. Centre; and access to new technolo- “The association with RTÉ and its GMIT is one of five Institutes of gies in RTÉ. expertise in modern media technolo- Technology partnering with RTÉ. GMIT President Michael Carmody gies will add a new dimension to our Joint working groups have been estab- says the collaboration is an important B.A. (Hons) in Film & Documentary, lished between each IT and RTÉ to step in establishing the Centre for along with providing work experience look at the range and potential of Creative Arts and Media as a focal and employment opportunities for these new relationships. point for media-related higher educa- our students and graduates”, Mr tion in Galway. Carmody adds. Alliance briefing for Oireachtas members GMIT, IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT held a briefing in Dublin in Septem- ber for TDs and Senators from the west and north-west region about the new Connacht-Ulster alliance, signed in Castlebar during the summer in the presence of An Taoiseach Enda Kenny. The agreement aims to enhance collaboration and co-operation be- • Programme provision Chairman of GMIT; Michael Carmody, tween the three Institutes in areas • Programme delivery President of GMIT; Senator Fidelma such as: • Online/blended delivery Healy-Eames (FG). • Shared services •Research Pictured (above) at the briefing in Dublin, L to R: Michael Carmody, GMIT The ultimate aim of the three insti- President; Noel Grealish TD (Ind), tutes is to achieve designation as a Galway West, Des Mahon, Chairman of Technological University (TU). GMIT, Michael Comiskey TD (FG), Leitrim; Dara Calleary TD (FF), Mayo, Pictured (left), L to R: Eamon O’Cúiv TD and Frank Feehan TD (FG), Roscommon. (FF), Galway West; Des Mahon,

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GMIT Internationalisation & Collaboration Zambia project a model for future success with the support of GMIT and lecturer Dr Paddy Tobin, helped set up the facility in 2009 in Maamba in addition to teaching at the centre where some of the students are now qualified to teach the skills programme. The centre is currently preparing to take commercial orders which will make it self-sustaining. Plans are also underway to set up an independent charity organisation dedicated to establishing more wood- work training centres in other parts of Zambia and Africa, involving student and graduate volunteers led by graduate Fiachra McInerney and supported by Dr Tobin.

Dr Paddy Tobin (back left), who initiated Letterfrack’s involvement in the Zambia project, with graduate Ann Foley and Dermot O’Donovan, Head of the Letterfrack campus. Front, L to R: Graduates Fiachra McInerney, Dan Wright and Ray Griffin with Sr Mary Fallon.

n innovative woodwork such a success the model is programme, developed and to be rolled out in other African Adelivered by GMIT Letterfrack locations. GMIT Letterfrack graduate Ann Foley students and staff in a poverty Graduates Fiachra McInerney, Dan teaching her class in Zambia. stricken area of Zambia has been Wright, Ann Foley, and Ray Griffin, Increase in number of international students

alway-Mayo IT has increased Erasmus students from France, when 97 GMIT students went on its number of exchange Germany and Spain have been coming Erasmus placements abroad. We hope agreements with higher on exchange programmes to GMIT to grow these numbers even further in G since the late 80s and numbers have the coming years. education institutes in Europe, the US, Middle East and China in been increasing from Scandinavia, with “Next year, GMIT staff and students interest also from the Central Gulf will lecture and study in areas as far recent years with some 340 states, India and China. away as China and Australia, and we will international students now studying Dr Larry Elwood, Head of Interna- welcome faculty and students from a range of undergraduate tional Affairs, GMIT, says international Europe, America and China”. programmes in all campuses. student numbers are expected to grow Erasmus students in GMIT come The majority of GMIT’s interna- strongly over the coming years, with from France, Spain, Germany, Norway tional students are from Saudi Arabia English language degree programmes and Sweden. Non-EU students come and China, with all Saudi students in strong demand. from China, United States and Saudi undertaking English courses on campus “International students make a very Arabia. before being admitted to degree significant contribution to GMIT, US HE institutions are Western programmes and Chinese students culturally as well as educationally and Carolina University, Columbus State (Nanchang University and Wuxi South economically. We are justifiably proud University, Johnson and Wales Univer- Ocean College) transferring directly of our achievement as the Institute of sity, Southern Utah University, and into the third year of GMIT Technology with the highest number of University of Wisconsin Platteville. programmes. outgoing Erasmus students last year

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GMIT Today Only way is up for construction industry ver 150 GMIT students and staff were joined by some 50 Opractitioners at the second annual conference hosted by the GMIT Department of Building & Civil Engineering to mark International Construction Management Day. Organisations in attendance included Davis Langdon; CIF; Stewarts; Quigg Golden; SIAC; CIOB, as well as GMIT graduates. It is estimated that ‘ 30,000 new construction managers will be needed in the L to R: John O’Regan, Davis Langdon; Joe Collier, CIOB; Mary Rogers, Head of the Department of Building & Civil Engineering; Steven McGee, Stewarts; Michael UK between now Connaghan CBRE/ Google; Martin Taggart, lecturer, conference organiser and Chair; and 2016 Niall Crosson, Ecological Building Systems; and John Hanahoe, lecturer. Many of the speakers’ believe the the industry is changing with a Modelling (BIM) which identifies and level of activity in the industry has reduction in manual trades and a eliminates design faults before they reached the bottom of the cycle and is rapidly increasing demand for reach the construction phase. now well below the level required to qualified construction managers The BSc (Hons) Architectural sustain the Irish economy into the worldwide. “It is estimated that 30,000 Technology at GMIT has a focus on future. The more optimistic new construction managers will be the use of BIM and the graduates this predictions suggest the industry will needed in the UK between now and year will be at the leading edge of this double from its current size by 2016 2016. This provides tremendous industry. with an increasing focus on opportunities for Construction GMIT is also planning to provide a management and organisation and Management graduates.” he said. B.Eng (Hons) Civil Engineering this technology leading to significant job Stephen McGee of locally based year with a focus on the use of BIM opportunities for Irish graduates. Stewarts (JSL) spoke about his and related software systems. Chris Blyth, CIOB, described how company’s use of Building Information Whale of a time at cetacean conference

Over 500 international marine abilities and author of ‘Cetacean mammal biologists gathered in the Behavior and Language and Communica- Galway Bay Hotel for the 26th annual tion’ and Greg Donovan, Head of conference of the European Cetacean Science at the International Whaling Society (ECS) organised by GMIT and Commission. the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group The scientific programme saw 40 (IWDG). oral presentations, 30 short communi- The event was formally opened by cations and over 240 poster the Minister of Arts, Heritage and the presentations. Dr Thierry Jauniaux, Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan and the President of the European Cetacean President of GMIT Michael Carmody Society, paid tribute to GMIT’s organ- and included two days of workshops in ising committee led by Dr Ian GMIT’s Galway campus. O’Connor and Dr Simon Berrow. Keynote speakers were Professor “The organising team did excellent Louis Herman of Hawaii, an interna- work. ECS Galway will stay in the tional expert on dolphin cognitive memory of all participants.” he said. Some of the delegates attending the ECS conference. 33 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 34

GMIT Internationalisation & Collaboration Strategic alliances are key to a brighter future

MIT is continuously engaging with external stakeholders in- Gcluding industry, employers, professional bodies, public organisa- tions and voluntary and community groups to inform key decisions. A num- ber of strategic alliances have been put in place in recent years: Connacht-Ulster Alliance: This new agreement sees GMIT, IT Sligo and Let- terkenny IT working together on areas such as flexible learning delivery, research and innovation, bespoke deliv- ery for industry, links to local Education and Training Boards, international stu- dent recruitment and staff develop- ment. One of the key objectives is to meet the rigorous criteria required to achieve re-designation as a Technologi- cal University. This alliance forms part of a cluster of higher and further educa- tion providers in the region and in- cludes collaborations with cross-border An Taoiseach Enda Kenny in GMIT Castlebar for the formal signing of the Connacht- institutions. Ulster Alliance between GMIT, Letterkenny IT and IT, Sligo. Front row, L to R: Paul GMIT and NUI Galway Strategic Al- Hannigan, LYIT President, Prof Terri Scott, IT, Sligo President, Michael Carmody, liance: This agreement opens up collab- GMIT President. Back row, L to R: Henry McGarvey, Governing Body Chairman, LYIT, orative opportunities in teaching and Ray MacSharry, Governing Body Chairman, IT, Sligo and Des Mahon, Governing Body learning, research, entrepreneurship, Chairman, GMIT. regional development, commercialisa- ments between the two organisations. velopment and innovation. The seven tion, innovation, distance education, Líonra network: GMIT is a partner of Líonra institutions are GMIT, IT Sligo, and work based learning. this network, working to develop a col- Athlone IT, Letterkenny IT, NUI Galway, GMIT and the Marine Institute: The laborative response by the third-level sec- Dundalk IT, and St Angela’s College, two organisations are working together tor to the development needs of the Sligo. to further develop marine research ca- Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) EU project FutureSME: GMIT works pabilities, undergraduate and postgrad- region. This collaboration has facilitated with companies in the West of Ireland in uate marine science programmes and access to third-level education, links with collaboration with a wide range of EU staff training & development initiatives local communities and social partners, partners to develop the potential of the in the two institutes. The agreement al- and a synergy in the approach to improv- SME sector. Work of this nature is key to lows for reciprocal adjunct appoint- ing the region’s capacity for sustained de- the sustainability of the region.

International social care e-project In the first such initiative of its kind, a cies regarding asylum seekers. They Dutch education sector as very innovative group of ten final year Applied Social utilised internet technology including and is one that is being closely watched.” Studies students from GMIT Castlebar skype, facebook and youtube, culminat- says Dr Mark Garavan, Applied Social and eight final year Social Work students ing in a joint presentation using video- Studies lecturer and programme chair. from NHL, Leeuwarden in The Nether- conferencing in May (2012). “It has been a very interesting project lands, have teamed up to collaborate on The presentations were the culmina- for us and offers a unique inter-cultural a series of projects researching specific tion of five months of work involving experience supported by ICT. The en- social challenges in each country, com- GMIT students participating by video gagement by the students has been excel- paring them and making recommenda- conference at an International Confer- lent and has profoundly contributed to tions. ence on Social Work in Leeuwarden. Two their personal and professional develop- Working together in four cross-national GMIT students also spent six weeks in ment. We see this e-project forming an in- teams, the students studied childcare Leeuwarden and a number of lecturer tegral part of the Applied Social Studies provision, attitudes towards homosexual- exchanges further facilitated the collab- programme in GMIT, with additional ity among second-level students, early orative work. learning partner institutions.” teenage perspectives on alcohol and poli- “The project is regarded in the wider 34 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 35

GMIT Student Environment GMIT Today €6m student building for Galway campus

everal new buildings and a use to the various community playing months with the various clubs in the number of extensions and refur- fields and pitches surrounding the area with the objective of securing Sbishments have been carried out campuses. usage rights for GMIT groups. Plans on GMIT campuses in recent years, “These include soccer, rugby, and are also being considered for an all- most notably the new award-winning GAA facilities run by clubs, some weather pitch facility at the Dublin IT Learning Resource Centre in owned-freehold, and some leasehold Road campus and an extension and Galway, two Innovation in Business from Galway City Council. Discussions refurbishment to the existing student Centres (IiBCs), a new Nursing & have been underway for a number of services areas of the campus.” Health Sciences Department at Castlebar, and extensions and refur- bishments to the Dublin Road, Castlebar and Letterfrack campuses. Plans are underway for a new 2,600sqm multi-functional student building to support sporting activities at the Dublin Road (Galway) campus. The proposed €6m building includes a modern sports hall and gym and is expected to be completed in 2014. GMIT Estates Manager David Lee says the Institute is actively examining the options of gaining rights of access and

The stylish architecture at GMIT is reflected both internally and externally in these images. Below, the award-winning IT Learning Resource Centre, Galway campus, designed by Murray O’Laoire Architects.

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GMIT Student Environment A green first for Castlebar

DkIT Green-Campus Committee on a visit to GMIT Castlebar: L-R: Sonya Rice, DkIT, Olive Greaney, GMIT, Lynda Huxley, GMIT, Fiona Rooney, DkIT, Ann Cleary, DkIT, Moireen Taggart, Yvonne McDermott, GMIT, Michael Gill, GMIT.

he Castlebar campus of campus, Dundalk IT and Sligo IT to for the Tidy Towns Awards.” GMIT marked a milestone help them progress towards applying Commenting at the Green Flag in its history last year by for a Green Flag and at the same time presentation ceremony, Patricia T working on new projects under the Oliver, Director of An Taisce’s Envi- becoming the first Institute of Technology campus in Ireland to themes of Biodiversity and Transport. ronmental Education Unit, paid be awarded the prestigious inter- “We have been developing the tribute to GMIT Castlebar: “The curriculum link to GMIT successful implementation of the national FEE Green-Campus programmes with student projects seven steps of the programme and Award, facilitated by environ- feeding into Green-Campus and the partnership which has been mental body, An Taisce. organised talks tied in with modules. formed by the GMIT Castlebar Within two years of signing up to The Students Union President has Green-Campus Committee is the Green-Campus programme, been a great supporter of Green- unique in many respects and will, I campus students and staff had Campus to the extent that the am sure, be an example and inspira- diverted twelve tonnes of waste from position of Green Campus Officer tion to many more third-level landfill through recycling, cut annual was also created.” institutions not only in Ireland but paper consumption by 2.5 million “We are delighted to have been throughout the entire network of sheets, recycled 60kg of printer given an A rating in the recent IBAL countries.” cartridges, and saved 956 litres of league as we’ve been holding regular water per day by installing flushing clean ups. We also have close links Follow the committee’ activities on: systems on urinals. with Castlebar Tidy Towns and have http://www.facebook.com/ Other initiatives saw PC remote been included in their application greencampus.gmitcastlebar shutdown in all computer labs, energy shutdowns during holiday periods, changeover to renewable energy supplier ESBIE, thermostatic radiator valves installed throughout ‘Save our swifts’ project campus and a range of collaborative The swift is a bird of conservation con- has erected nest boxes to provide initiatives involving local community cern in Ireland due to loss of breeding nest sites for swifts. organisations. sites. They nest mainly in tall build- The project is linked with environ- Lynda Huxley, Chairperson of the ings, usually under the eaves. It is mental modules on the Heritage and GMIT Green-Campus Committee, known that swifts nest in Castlebar and Outdoor Education degree says they have been busy helping to in particular at the GMIT campus. programmes and demonstrates to spread the Green ethos in other With the aim of raising awareness students on the Construction colleges: “We have been working of the nesting requirements of the programme how wildlife can be closely with the GMIT Letterfrack birds the Green-Campus Committee affected by building renovation work.

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GMIT Today GAA clubs are setting the standard

GMIT’s GAA Development Officer Damian Curley outlines the various GAA activities and events in the Galway campuses since he first joined GMIT in 1997.

MIT has a vibrant GAA scene 2012, under the guidance of Michael For many years the college colours with numerous teams and clubs Geoghegan, is the latest GMIT victory. reflected the Galway inter county Gcurrently comprising some 350 Camogie and Ladies Football have colours of maroon and white but over students. been an integral part of sporting life the years a sky blue has been introduced All teams compete in the third-level in GMIT since 1997 when a major ef- to reflect the changing GMIT crest. colleges’ leagues and championships fort was made to promote the games. The introduction of Annual every year, while the senior teams in Since that time much success has Special Achievement Awards for indi- hurling and football also compete in come the way of both codes, but in viduals and teams vastly improved the Leinster Kehoe Cup Hurling particular Camogie. The club has won participation in sport. Ruth Merrigan, League and FBD Football League with the Fr Maher Shield and the Purcell General Manager of the GMIT the Connacht inter-county teams. Shield and has established itself as a Students Union, organises the Annual Nowadays, GMIT play something in Purcell Cup contender in a few short Awards Cermony and Banquet. the region of 60 competitive games years. The awards have been presented by across all sports over a given academic The Ladies Footballers captured sports greats such as Joe McDonagh, year, and would also participate in a the Donaghy Cup in 2006 and won the former GAA President, Packie Bonner, number of challenge games and blitzes. Lynch Shield in 2007 after being pro- soccer goalkeeper legend and Paul Mc- The Gaelic Football Club was moted to Divison 2. They have also Grath. Sports bursaries were also an- founded by former GMIT Registrar, been successful in winning Connacht other incentive to improve Bernard O’Hara in 1973 and partici- Division 2 and 3 titles over the last cou- performance and raise the profile of pated in the HE Division 2 Champi- ple of years. It still remains one of the sport in the Institute. onship. While success was hard to fastest growing sports in the college. come by in the early years, the club prospered and helped develop many fine footballers who went on to repre- sent their respective counties during the 70s and 80s. It was in the late 80s that the club came into its own when GMIT won the Trench Cup in 1989 and 1996 under the guidance of Sean O’Dea, GMIT Computer Services Dept. Victory in the Division 2 League in 1996 meant that the club moved up to Divison 1 and Sigerson football, a position GMIT has enjoyed ever since. The GMIT GAA Club also made his- tory in 2006 when it became the first GMIT Gaelic Football team, FBD Connacht League winners 2006: Back row, L to R: Damien college club to win the Connacht FBD Healy, Aidan Kilcoyne, Alan Raftery, Ronan McNamara, Brian O'Donoghue, Richie Feeney, League. Ja Egan, Darren Mullahy. Front row, L to R: Nicky Joyce, Matt Flannery, Alan Burke The Hurling Club was formed in (Kilmaine), Paul Geraghty (Capt), Barry Prior, Brian Darby, Alan Burke (Corofin). 1973 by former Maths lecturer Donn- cha O hÉallaithe and participated in the intermediate division of the HE competitions. In 1980, John Sherry took over and made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of hurl- ing in the college and along with Liam Noonan, Computer Services Depart- ment, ensured that the club went from strength to strength. GMIT won the Divison 2 League on four occasions and the Ryan Cup in 1990. The club has played in Divison 1 and Fitzgibbon GMIT Fresher Hurling team, All-Ireland winners 1999: Back row, L to R: Mark Finnerty, Cup since 1997. The winning of the Niall Caffrey, David Fahy, Diarmuid Cloonan, John O'Donoghue, Micheal Greaney, All-Ireland Division 1 Fresher Champi- Eugene Gorman, Niall O'Connor, Fintan McNamara, Mark Ryan, Richie Gilligan, onship in 1999 was a major highlight Brian Costello, Colm Pierce, Liam Noonan. Front row, L to R: Johnny Keane, Tony of the past few decades, and the cap- Monaghan, Shane Hynes, Eamon Donoghue, Bryon Duff, Conor Gath, Jamie Cannon, ture of the Leinster Kehoe Cup in Paul Carroll, Ray Treacy. 37 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 38

GMIT Student Environment No shortage of sports options on campus

Frank Ryan, Sports Officer at GMIT, Galway from 1979 to 2010 casts an eye back over the years.

port in GMIT for the past 40 fitness Centre in 2002. This was played their part in preparing teams years has been a process of con- equipped with state of the art cardiovas- for competition. Sean Gleeson and Stinuing development. For me, it cular and weight training equipment Mhaoiliosa Collins did their bit for covered a span of 31 years from March and gave students the opportunity to women’s soccer teams. 1979 to December 2010. For the first get fit, the facility being open from early Pat O’Connell generated much few years sport was co-ordinated by morning to late at night. interest in Athletics and Cross Peadar O’Dowd, who cajoled and co- Diane Middleton managed this fa- Country running. Former student, erced other members of staff into tak- cility until Eimear Glennon took over, Fiona McMurrough won three All ing charge of football, soccer and assisted by Ray O’Neill. The purchase Ireland titles in a row. rugby, the three main sports that were of the grounds across the road for the Eamon Molloy was one of the first practised at that time. Institute was another great boost to fa- Connacht Branch Rugby coaches to A new sportshall was built and cilities, providing both a Gaelic pitch give time to coaching the GMIT opened in 1978 with Jennifer Foley and a soccer pitch. squad. Gerry O’Neill from the Hotel holding the reins until I arrived in While GAA has been the major School also enthusiastically gave of his 1979. With little activity taking place club attracting students over the years, coaching expertise. In the late 90s the there, the emphasis up to then being several other sports made their mark Lions and former Irish coach Warren on outdoor field games, I embarked at GMIT. The late Nicky Hardiman Gatland also helped coach the GMIT on a plan to start a number of new ac- played a big role in teaching martial team. tivities in the evening. arts and self defence, as did John Tun- Other popular sports over the years During the day CERT and ANCO ney, John Creaven, John Allen and were archery thanks to the efforts of students attended Physical Education Dave Ryan. John Eaton and Joel Fran- Robert and Clare Dagger and Paul Classes conducted by myself and Ray coise were instrumental in introduc- Burke. Joseph Ryan and Shane McBride, well known actor and Irish ing Aikido and Tae-Kwon-Do. Flaherty both represented the college dancer who worked in the college on a Table Tennis, Tennis and and Ireland in Kayaking. part time basis. A number of Adult Badminton were all popular, as were The Equestrian Club was a very ac- Night Classes were organised and of- Basketball and Volleyball. Among the tive club for a number of years. Stu- fered to the general public including coaches who gave of their time were dent Aoife Murray was a winner of the Badminton, Basketball and Tennis. Mary Kelly, Tony Flannery, Johhny show jumping at the Intervarsity on Coaches were engaged for these Murray, Ted Parslow, Eamon Brad- one occasion. Paintball was another classes and for the student clubs, shaw, Mary Barrett, Michael activity popular with students, as were which also ran in the sportshall over McAuliffe, Joe King and James Burke. aerobics, yoga and kickboxing in more the years. Soccer was always strong in GMIT and recent times. Mixed indoor hockey A major improvement in the Sports Michael O’Flaherty, Ray Connolly, was an active club activity for a period Facilities was the converting of the Café Don O’Riordan, John Morris Burke, and some Galway girls were selected on the balcony of the Sportshall into a John O’Dowd and David Hand all on Irish College teams for trips abroad.

Ladies football team 1989. Hurling team 1989.

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GMIT Today Small campus big ambitions

Nigel Jennings, Sports Officer, GMIT Castlebar, reflects here on years of outstanding sporting achievements by students at the Mayo campus.

port has always played an inte- fully defend their national title and fit- gral role in campus life in GMIT Exceptional tingly mark the contribution of an ex- SCastlebar. In the early years ceptionally talented group of ladies when there was a small intake Fr Mike ‘ such as Louise Mulready and Lorraine Murphy, Chaplain, quickly fashioned players, Coen. representative teams who rapidly es- The surfers weren’t going to be left tablished themselves on the college out if national medals were being scene. inspirational handed out and Sandra Blong’s fine Alongside coach Michael McNi- showing in the Women’s section was a cholas, Fr Mike took men’s and leaders major factor in the team claiming women’s soccer teams to an invita- bronze at the 2007 intervarsities. tional tournament in Paris; the Men’s The hurlers set the’ tone and The women’s Gaelic football team team surprised many by winning their whether it was blackbelt Warren down through the years have seen ex- qualifying group and returning to Rooney dominating the colleges ceptional players, inspirational lead- Paris for the closing stages of the tour- kendo scene during his time here, or ers, unforgettable teams, entertaining nament. This set the tone for what was the inspirational group of Kayakers football, brilliant coaches (Billy McNi- to become a recurring theme – the such as Mike Jones and Graham cholas and Cora Staunton), impressive small college with big aspirations. Clarke, who pioneered adventurous achievements and many vintage per- In the years that followed, GMIT expeditions to Norway, the Alps and formances but ultimately time and Castlebar has continued to punch The Himalayas, victories kept coming. again, heartbreak. above its weight. Establishing a hurling Most notable is the victory over Uni- In 2002, 2003 and 2004 the team team in Mayo, which is no hurling versity of Limerick ladies soccer team. contested and lost three All-Ireland stronghold, to quickly gaining na- The GMIT ladies team started by championship finals and one league tional honours was one of the most sig- shocking the “A” team with a 2-1 defeat final. After a few lean years they resur- nificant early achievements. Under in the intervarsities in Castlebar in rected in 2008 and 2009, but near the guidance of lecturer Seamus Dowl- March 2005 followed by league and misses were again the order of the day. ing they won division 2 of the HE hurl- cup wins over the UL “B” team and cul- All the pain and misery was forgotten ing league in 2000. Championship minating in the victory over the “A” in 2010 when fate and injury ruled honours were to follow when in 2004, team on their home patch in the Sonya Condon out of the team and under the stewardship of Kevin WSCAI indoor intervarsity Plate Final with former student Diarmud Mc- O’Connor, the hurlers tasted All-Ire- in February 2006 – another national Caughey she took the reins and led, land success when they won The Fer- title and more headlines. Even more arguably, the most talented group of gal Maher Cup, defeating near was to come when combined with ladies ever assembled under the GMIT neighbours GMIT Letterfrack in the GMIT Galway, the ladies repeated the banner to All-Ireland glory, winning final in Athlone as part of the Fitzgib- feat the following year, 2007, to success- The Lagan Cup in emphatic style in bon weekend 2010. While the following year failed to live up to the big billing, it’s a mark of the strength and depth of talent that in 2012 the girls were again in- volved in the final – ultimately they came up short but with a very young team they are looking forward to next year’s challenge. The men’s soccer team have for three years running emerged from their group in the CUFL league and delighted in knocking colleagues and neighbours GMIT Galway out the Umbro cup in 2009, but it was in The CFAI Umbro Plate that they came clos- est to being rewarded for their progress. Having successfully bid to All-Ireland hurling champions, Fergal Maher Cup 2004. 39 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 40

GMIT Student Environment

WSCAI Intervarsity plate winners 2007.

host the finals in 2011 they put in the Longboard event at the surfing together a great run of games to en- intervarsities in the same year. No mat- sure they would be in the final in front ter how big the college, they know of a home crowd. A horrendous night they will have stiff competition when didn’t deter a huge crowd coming to GMIT Castlebar enter the fray. the game under lights in Celtic Park Nowhere is this more evident than Mike Rogerson, GMIT completing a and creating an incredible atmos- in Kayaking. In 2011 GMIT Castlebar loop Kayak, during the Kayaking phere. But it did make a lottery of the defeated the best all the other colleges Intervarsities 2012, hosted by the game, the wind in particular playing had to offer to be crowned National Mayo campus. havoc and the lads eventually were run- Kayak Polo champions at the intervar- ners up. sities in Cork and came third overall. If there is one area where our small This year we hosted the event—the numbers truly take bigger colleges by biggest participation event in the col- surprise it’s in the arena of adventure lege sporting calendar—and retained sports; Mick Byrne and Dan Kealy the Kayak Polo title. claimed gold and silver in the 2008 Adding to these achievements the windsurfing intervarsities; Jacek To- “fit4work” programme means staff & miak, Dan Keegan and Laura Griffin students alike have access to all claimed medals this year leading to affordable accessible exercise classes us hosting the prestigious event the daily. The thriving clubs and societies following year; Mary Maloney and scene ensures that all tastes and levels Deirdre Cormican claimed similar of ability and interest are catered for medals in the rock climbing intervarsi- in all of the clubs above, as well as ties; and Gareth Gargan claimed silver yoga, dance, judo and golf.

All Ireland champions, womens GAA Lagan cup 2010.

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GMIT 40th Anniversary GMIT Today An invaluable contribution to Irish education

Former GMIT Registrar and accomplished author, Bernard O’Hara traces the milestones over the last 40 years.

he opening of the Regional Technical Colleges from the T1970s initiated one of the most exciting developments in Irish educa- tion during the twentieth century. They brought a strong vocational ori- entation, increased participation and an important regional dimension to higher education in Ireland. In the 1960s, Ireland had a small elite system of higher education, cater- ing almost exclusively to the profes- sions and some employment outlets in the public sector. When the process of the industrial- isation accelerated during the 1960s, it became apparent that there was a scarcity of technical, technological, sci- entific and management expertise. On 20 May 1963, the Minister for Education, Dr Patrick Hillery, an- nounced the establishment of a num- ber of Regional Technical Colleges. Opening day, 12 April 1973. The role of the colleges was specified in the Report of the Steering Commit- RTC Galway a member of the Royal Society of tee of Higher Education (1967): Galway, with a population of 27,726 in Chemistry, was appointed as Principal. We believe that the long-term function of 1971, was one of the locations selected Gay Corr took up his new role on 1 the colleges will be to educate for trade and for an RTC as it became a growth cen- April 1972 in a room in the County industry over a broad spectrum of occupa- tre for economic development. The pi- Buildings in Prospect Hill and did Tro- tions ranging from craft to professional, no- oneering work was undertaken by The jan work to have staff and students in tably in engineering and science but also in City of Galway Vocational Education the new college in September that commercial, linguistic and other specialties. Committee. After inspection, it was year. Philomena Lydon became the They will, howeer, be more immediately con- agreed that the most suitable site was second employee when she started as a cerned with providing courses aimed at fill- one of nine hectares on the then Dublin clerical officer on 1 May. During the ing gaps in the industrial manpower Road owned by Galway Corporation. summer, four senior staff were ap- structure, particularly in the technician area. The contract to purchase this site for pointed; Michael Corrigan, a Trinity College Dublin graduate, was ap- Organisational structure £25,000 was signed on 25 September 1967. pointed Head of Business Studies; The RTCs were established under sec- John Sisk and Son (Ireland) Ltd Brendán S. O’Foighil, a civil engineer, tion 21 (2) of the Vocational Educa- was selected as the main contractor. was Head of Engineering; Gerald B tion Act 1930. Each college was The floor area of the original building, Hughes, a graduate of Cathal Brugha managed by a Board of Management designed to accommodate 1,100 stu- Street College of Catering, as Head of operating as a sub-committee of the dents, was 11,410 square metres. All Hotel and Catering Studies; and Dr parent Vocational Education Commit- the construction work was not com- Brian Place, a science graduate from tee (the one in whose functional area pleted until early 1973, and cost Birmingham University, was appointed it was situated). Each college had an £950,000, with a separate allocation Head of Science. Other academic Advisory Council, broadly representa- for equipment and furniture. The technical and administrative staff were tive of educational, agricultural and in- building had a rather austere func- appointed from September 1972. dustrial interests in the region. tional appearance with little aesthetic Funding came from the Department Opening appeal. of Education through the parent Vo- The first students entered the Re- cational Education Committee. Edu- First RTC employees gional Technical College, Galway, on cational awards were made by the Forty-five candidates applied for the Monday 18 September 1972 and a new National Council for Educational post of Principal in November 1971. era in the educational history of the Awards (NCEA) which was established Sixteen were short-listed for interview. city and region began. During the ac- on an ad hoc basis in April 1972 and Gabriel (Gay) Corr, a first class hon- ademic year 1972/73, the college had on a statutory basis from 16 July 1980. ours science graduate from UCG and 1,213 registered students (319 full- 41 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 42

GMIT 40th Anniversary

recognition and four passed the final examinations in May / June 1976. About September of that year, it was rumoured that the successful students were to receive ‘advanced diplomas in hotel and catering management’ rather than degrees, as the NCEA was not being allowed to honour its commitment. This rumour was later confirmed by the NCEA following a Council decision to that effect on 14 October 1976. A rubric was to be inserted on each parchment stating that it was ‘of degree standard’. There were protests from students, parents, staff and the Board of Management, but the decision was not altered. The annual conferring ceremony took place on Monday 15 November amid protests by students and great tension. Students from the hotel man- agement course were left until last. The first student from the class to be called to the podium was presented with his parchment by Dr Tom Walsh, chairperson of the NCEA. The student Opening day ceremony, 12 April 1973. read it and saw that it was called an ‘Advanced Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management’. He told the time third-level; 76 full-time craft; 42 higher education rather than a binary chairperson that he was not accepting on day and block release courses; 212 one. The decision had not been pre- it, and handed the document back. apprentices and 564 on adult and con- ceded by a White Paper or any discus- tinuing education programmes). A sions and, consequently, the issues were total of 750 applied for the full-time never properly considered or evaluated. third-level places and selection was There were also major changes for based on Leaving Certificate perform- the universities. The announcement ances and interview scores. Galway be- of a comprehensive system meant the came the main centre outside Dublin removal of degree awarding powers for both craft and management edu- from the NCEA. The first degree sub- cation and training for the hotel in- mission from a Regional Technical dustry, which generated considerable College came from Galway in respect publicity. of a Hotel and Catering Management The Regional Technical College programme and it had been evaluated Galway was officially opened on Thurs- but not approved before the 16 De- day 12 April 1973 by Richard Burke cember 1974 decision. A period of TD, Minister for Education. Educa- great uncertainty followed and in tional curriculae had to be prepared March 1975, the College was informed and submitted to the NCEA seeking that the NCEA would be allowed to ap- recognition. It took time to get all pro- prove the award as ‘a temporary Opening ceremony event, 12 April 1973. grammes approved. Over a few years, a arrangement’ if all the specified con- ladder structure of educational qualifi- ditions were satisfied. In July 1975, this There was consternation on the plat- cations emerged: A National Certificate arrangement was approved by the form and rapturous applause from the took two years, plus one year to a Na- Council of the NCEA for all students audience. The same procedure was tional Diploma, plus one year to a de- graduating up to 1979. followed by the other three students. gree, or three-year ab-initio Diploma, When the NCEA was re-constituted This was followed by three speeches, or four-year ab- initio degree. The first in February 1976, its powers to grant the first from Dr Tom Walsh, who crit- graduation ceremony took place in No- and confer awards applied to icised the students for what they did, vember 1974. certificates and diplomas only. Because the second by the Principal, Gay Corr, the NCEA had already granted degree Binary or comprehensive and the final one by Michael O’Sulli- recognition to the Galway course and, system? van, chairperson of the Board of Man- as no university was then in a position On 16 December 1974, Richard Burke, agement, who said that the students to validate it, the Council continued to Minister for Education in the Fine were ‘perfectly correct in their ac- assess student performance in Gael/Labour Government, caused con- tions’. Gay Corr in a firm and coura- accordance with the conditions of sternation when he made a major an- geous address said: approval. Students on the first cycle of nouncement in relation to higher “Under normal circumstances I would, the course had followed the education, including a decision to es- on an occasion such as this, spend some curriculum and assessment procedures tablish a comprehensive system of time outlining for you the progress of our in- approved by the NCEA for degree 42 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 43

GMIT Today

stitution over the past twelve months and the hopes and aspirations we have for the year ahead. This, however, ladies and gen- tlemen, is not a normal occasion; it is the first time at a graduation ceremony I have seen students conferred with a qualification other than that for which they were assessed in their final examinations. It is also the first occasion on which I have seen the award being conferred described as ‘equal to’, ‘equivalent to’, or ‘the same as’ an award of another designation. Finally, and sadly, it is my first experience of seeing naked injustice being done to students who successfully completed their examinations simply because they were unlucky enough to fall outside the structure of some pre-deter- mined administrative framework over which they had no control. I am, of course, referring to the graduates of our four year course in hotel and catering management. It is indeed ironic that the new Government Admiring a new computer, (29 November 1974), donated by Digital Corporation. L to R: proposals, whose declared aims were to up- Michael O’Sullivan, Chairman of the Board of Management, RTC, Dr Finbar grade the status of the technological sector O’Callaghan, Department of Education, Fintan Coogan, Mayor of Galway, Gay Corr, of education, should have as its first casu- Principal of RTC Galway and Mike Mulqueen, HR Manager, Digital Corporation. alties students in a Regional Technical Col- lege who must have their qualifications 1977, the Council of the NCEA de- minimum entry for an ab initio degree downgraded in order to meet Government cided to grant a BA degree to the stu- was Leaving Certificate in six subjects, policy. I would humbly submit, ladies and dents who successfully completed the including English and Mathematics, gentlemen, that if we are to build a better four-year course in hotel and catering two of which had to be passed in higher educational system in this country for our management at RTC Galway in 1976. papers at grade C3 or higher. Admis- young people, then the structures we con- A special conferring ceremony for sion was based on Leaving Certificate struct and the means we employ should be the four students concerned was held and interview performance. Special humane, based on justice and capable of in the College on 9 May 1977, at which consideration was given to mature ap- treating all our children equally.” the degrees were duly conferred by Dr plicants, those aged 23 on or before 1 The situation was well publicised lo- Tom Walsh. They were the first de- January in the year of admission. The cally and nationally with the Students’ grees conferred in an RTC. Central Admissions Office (CAO) was Union playing a big role. Many local In June 1977, a Fianna Fáil Govern- established by the universities in 1976 and national organisations made rep- ment came into office and on 29 July to process undergraduate admission, resentations to the Department of Ed- that year, the Minister for Education, but the RTCs did not join the system at ucation. Richard Burke was appointed John Wilson, announced that the de- that stage. A points system and inter- as European Economic Community gree awarding powers of the NCEA views were continued in the RTCs. Commissioner in November 1976 and were to be restored. Discussion had By the end of the 1980s, each of the he was very happy to leave Irish poli- commenced with University College then nine RTCs had its own separate tics. Galway (UCG) in 1976 to have the application procedure and in some Within a few days of becoming Min- hotel and catering management de- cases a different points system. Arising ister for Education on 2 December gree approved. However, both sides from the initiatives of the Minister for 1976, Peter Barry, to his eternal credit, understood that any recognition was Education Mary O’Rourke, the admis- informed the NCEA that it could to apply for the future and not retro- sion procedure was simplified and award degrees to the 1976 class in ac- spectively. In September 1979, RTC standardised in 1991 with the establish- cordance with the decision taken in Galway was informed by UCG that the ment of the Central Admissions Serv- July 1975. At its meeting on 25 January Senate of the NUI had approved the ices (CAS), operated by the CAO office proposal. This development was con- in Galway. A new procedure was sidered at length at a Board of Man- adopted, under which a single applica- agement meeting, and eventually it tion form and one fee (£18) covered decided that the course should stay all Universities, RTCs, CoACT and DIT. with the NCEA in accordance with the Extension Minister’s announcement of July An extension of 5,835 square metres 1977. to the original building was completed Student admission in April 1977 by PJ Walls Ltd, at a cost In the early years of the RTCs, all appli- of £1m. It was similar to and parallel cants for third-level certificate or with the original structure and con- diploma courses who met the mini- nected by a bridge. A sports hall was mum entry requirements (Leaving Cer- erected in 1977/78. All the early grad- tificate in five subjects, including uates of the college secured employ- English and Mathematics, or equiva- ment quickly as new multi-national Conferring, 28 November 1977. lent) were called for interview. The corporations were established in Gal- 43 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 44

GMIT 40th Anniversary

transfer and progression. By then, there were honours degrees available in all specialisms, either ab-initio or add-on, as well as an increasing involvement at postgraduate level. Following various international reviews, by 2004 GMIT had delegated authority under section 29 of the Qual- ifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 to confer its own awards at levels 6, 7,8 and 9 in respect of all taught pro- grammes, and in respect of levels 9 and 10 in two research disciplines – Aquatic Science and Mechanical Engineering. All quality assurance policies and pro- cedures were approved in separate reviews. GMIT won the Sunday Times Insti- tute of Technology of the Year in 2004 RTC Galway Board of Management 1979: Back row, L to R: John O’Donnell, John and 2006. Mitchell, Dennis Murphy, Seán O'Regan and James Lyons. Front row, L to R: Seamus MacDomhnaill, CEO of the City of Galway VEC, Micheál Ó hUiginn, and Gay Corr, Principal of RTC Galway. New facilities A new Learning Resource Centre of way and the region and local services of the college was changed to Galway- 10,250 square metres, a landmark expanded. Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) building with a design incorporating in January 1998. striking green sails reflecting the ESF Grants maritime history of Galway, was opened On the initiative of Gemma Hussey, Delegated Authority in 2003. The building comprises a Minister for Education from Decem- Following the re-designation of RTCs as library and information technology ber 1982 to February 1986, all students Institutes of Technology in 1997 and centre accommodating some 900 on a two year Certificate course be- 1998, the Minister for Education, learners, a high specification audito- came eligible for European Social Niamh Bhreathneach, appointed an in- rium, classrooms and some Funding (ESF) grants with effect from ternational review team, chaired by Pro- administration space. Two Innovation in the start of the academic year fessor Dervila Donnely of UCD, to Business Centres (IiBC) were opened in 1974/85. Diploma courses qualified evaluate applications for institutions to GMIT; in the Dublin Road (Galway) from 1989/90. These grants were not make their own awards under dele- campus during 2005 and in the subject to means tests. gated authority from the national vali- Castlebar campus the following year. dation body. GMIT was given delegated Regional linkages authority to make its own awards at Na- tional Certificate and National Diploma Presidents and chairpersons RTC Galway established links and part- level in 2001. Gay Corr, who had directed the affairs nerships with various organisations Arising from the implementation of of the college for thirty years, retired in around the west of Ireland, including the Qualifications (Education and 2002, and was succeeded on 4 October Mountbellew Agricultural College in Training) Act 1999, a new national that year by Marion Coy, an arts gradu- 1987, Letterfrack in partnership with framework of qualifications was estab- ate from UCG who was the Acting Connemara West Ltd in 1987. As a re- lished, with a structure of ten levels in- Head of the School of Business and sult of a local campaign led by Paddy corporating standards of knowledge, Humanities. She led the college for McGuinness, a campus of RTC Galway skills and competence for each. There eight years and retired at the end of was established in Castlebar in 1994. are five levels applicable to higher edu- November 2010. Jim Fennell, the Sec- Another campus was established at Clu- cation as shown in the table: retary/Financial Controller was Acting ain Mhuire in Galway city in 1994. President until 19 April 2011, when National Framework of Qualifications: Michael Carnmody, a UCG Engineer- RTC legislation Level: Qualification ing graduate and former President of With the enactment of the Regional 10 Doctoral Degree Institute of Technology, Tralee, took Technical Colleges Act 1992 on 1 Janu- 9 Master’s Degree/ over as President of GMIT. ary 1993, RTC Galway became an au- Postgraduate Diploma The first Chairperson of the Board tonomous institution of higher 8 Honours Bacherlor Degree/ of Management of RTC Galway was education with a legal framework to en- Higher Diploma Michael O’Sullivan, a member of Gal- gage in various non-teaching activities 7 Ordinary Bachelor Degree way VEC. He was succeeded in July such as research and consultancy. As a 6 Higher Certificate 1979 (to 31 December 1992) by result, the college severed its links with Michael O’hUiginn, Managing Direc- Galway VEC. The title of Principal be- All programme in GMIT had to be re- tor of T. O’hUiginn Teo in Galway and came Director (later President) and vised to comply with the learning out- Chair of the City of Galway VEC. He new posts such as Registrar and Secre- comes specified for each level in the was the appointed Chairperson of the tary/Financial Controller were estab- framework as well as implementing Governing Body from 1 January 1993 lished. Under this legislation, the name policies and procedures for access, and served in that capacity until Febru- ary 2005. Rory O’Connor, CEO of

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GMIT Today

RTC Galway student protest, Shop Street, Galway, 1986.

Hewlett-Packard in Galway, served as Chairperson in March 2005 and he was succeeded in 2012 by Des Mahon, a former Mayo County Manager.

Institutes of Technology Act 2006 The Institutes of Technology Act 2006, which came into effect on 1 February 2007, amended the Regional Techni- cal Colleges Acts 1992 to 2001. It inter alia brought the Institutes under the aegis of the HEA, specified reserved functions for Governing Bodies and obliged each Institute to adopt a Strategic Development Plan, an Equal- ity Policy and a Disputes and Resolu- tion Procedures Policy. Pictured at the launch of Bernard OHara’s book “RTC Galway: The First 21 Years” in September 1993, L to R: Mícheál Ó hUiginn, Geraldine Quinn, Henry O’Connor, Mayor Numbers of students of Galway, Bernard O’Hara and Gay Corr. In 1972/73 RTC Galway had 1,213 reg- istered students. By 2008/9, the college of a big drop in the number taking the agreement with the NUI, Galway. In had a student population of 8,999 reg- Leaving Certificate, is a reflection of the July, 2012 GMIT entered into a istered students (5,213 full-time). Work reputation it earned. The college made strategic partnership with IT Sligo and placements had been incorporated a big contribution to the attractiveness Letterkenny IT. As GMIT celebrates its into 43 programmes involving 1,270 of Galway and the west region for for- 40th anniversary, there are new full-time students. eign direct investment and the promo- challenges and opportunities on the tion of indigenous enterprises. It also horizon. increased access and participation in- Contribution to Galway and cluding from groups hitherto under- Bernard O’Hara is a former Registrar of the region represented in higher education. GMIT, Galway. He was a member of the Over the years from 1972, GMIT made It developed the ladder system of staff of GMIT from 1972 to 2010, serving a big contribution to economic devel- progression, which facilitated the as a lecturer in Business Studies, Head of opment by providing suitable graduates integration of further and higher the School of Business and Humanities. in a wide range of specialisms for the ex- education as well as the development He is the author of Regional Technical panding labour force, as well as facilitat- of lifelong opportunities. It was College, Galway: the First 21 Years, ing participation, fostering social responsive to providing new published in 1993, and a number of other cohesion and becoming a driver of re- programmes to satisfy new needs, books including Entrepreneurship in gional development. Alumni found working closely with regional and Ireland and Killasser: Heritage of a Mayo ready employment and the high de- community groups. In 2011, GMIT Parish, both published in 2010. mand for places, even during a period signed a strategic partnership 45 GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 05/11/2012 17:24 Page 46

GMIT Alumni About that chair...

Furniture designer and maker John Lee graduated from GMIT Letterfrack in 1993. Here, he reflects on a career that has shot him to international attention, not least for THAT chair.

Since I established my business in 2004 I get regular enquiries from people who have seen my work and want to learn to do the same. I automatically refer them to GMIT Letterfrack. Over the last few years I have exhibited in a number of prestigious international shows and galleries and the recurring question is where I studied. I’m continu- ally surprised by how many people have heard of the college and its great reputa- tion. Upon reflection of my time spent studying in GMIT Letterfrack the privi- lege of having world class visiting lectur- ers such as the late Alan Peters was certainly one of the highlights of a very memorable two years. In addition, the staff and facilities at the college are sec- ond to none.

Pictured at the State reception, John Lee with President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina.

One of the most satisfying aspects of my job is the process of seeing an initial design concept develop into a unique y grandfather and father were both cabinetmakers so piece of furniture and the feeling of pride the decision to pursue one of the 15 places available at when delivering it to the client or gallery. the time on the Furniture Design and Manufacture The highlight of my career to date was “M winning the commission to design and programme was a simple one for me. I was in GMIT Letterfrack from 1991 to 1993 and graduated with a dis- make the new Presidential Inauguration tinction. I was delighted to be awarded the ‘Student of the Year’ award and Chair used in the inauguration ceremony the following year I won the Irish National Apprentice Cabinet-Making Com- for President Michael D Higgins in 2011. petition. A GMIT scholarship for a six month work placement with The chair will be used in all future Presi- renowned furniture designer, Andrew Varah then brought me to the UK dential Inaugurations so in a small way it where I stayed for almost five years. will play a part in the history of our country.”

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GMIT Today Graduates making their mark across the world

ince graduating from GMIT ten Gary worked for some years as a years ago Gary Shore is now a director of music videos and adver- Ssuccessful Hollywood film tisements. His work has been seen director. Gary completed a three-year around the world on major TV and diploma in Film and Television in music channels, exhibitions and festi- 2002. He was nominated for the vals. Clients included Adidas, EMI, Jameson Student Film of the Year Vogue, Nokia, the Irish Government Award for his short film ‘180’. This and the Montenegro Ministry of was quickly followed by a win for his Tourism. second film ‘Stella and Cowboy’ at the Gary has worked for Warner Oxygen Student Film Awards. The Brothers, and he was invited recently latter was selected for RTE’s ‘Debut’ by Hollywood’s Universal Studios to season. He established Shore Images direct a revival of ‘Dracula Year Zero’ later that year and work included and to write and direct a science conceptual designs for the Point fiction film titled ‘Our House’. Gary Shore Depot Theatre. GMIT Film & TV graduate

successful artist who exhibits in won the Taylor Art Award, the Henry the premier international Higgins Travel scholarship, Murray Agroup exhibitions in Ireland – O’Laoire Award for Printmaking, EVA (Limerick), RHA (Dublin), Tulca Norman Ackroyd Award for Etching (Galway) and Galway Arts Festival, 2002, Arts Council Travel and Jennifer exhibited work at Shanghai Training Award and the Thomas Expo 2010 and in Reykjavik, Iceland, Damann Travel Award to New York in in 2008. She has held numerous solo 2008. shows throughout Ireland. Her work is In 2005, Jennifer completed an art in many collections including the therapy course at the Crawford OPW, ESB, Siemens and Galway City College of Art & Design, Cork, Council. followed by VTOS study in Film, TV Jennifer graduated from GMIT in and video production. In 2008, 2002 with a first class honours degree, Jennifer was awarded a Masters degree Jennifer Cunningham having specialised in Printmaking. She in Fine Art at NCAD. GMIT Art & Design graduate

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Castlebar Cluain Mhuire

Galway

Letterfrack Mountbellew

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), Dublin Road, Galway, Rep of Ireland. Tel: +353 91 753161 email: [email protected] web: www.gmit.ie