New Programmes Improving Our Campus Student Support Assisting Business Growth Academic Affairs Nurturing Start Ups EnterpriseTraining Staff Improvement Regional Hub Sustainability Building Research Capability Engagement with Industry Networking Biotechnology Science Entrepren Engineering Quality Courses Science Sporting Life CatalystCatalyst BusinessNew Applied Research Kite Project Flying Programmes Design Sustainability Research Life Student Satisfaction Innovation Community Focused Life in Teaching and Learning eats Retention Country Academic Affairs Y a catalyst for attracting smart economy jobs to the region access, transfer & progression W Improving Our Campus eurship estern Living Culture The Sunday Times Supporting Our Students 2nd Overall Institute Good University Guide 2011 Student Services Innovation Building Research Capability Human Resources A New Strategy Smart Learningfor Research People Economy Sporting Community Focused Student Satisfaction Retention a catalyst for attracting smart economy jobs to the region Staff Improvement Stude Quality Courses access, Engagement with Industry transfer& a catalyst for attracting smart economy jobs to the region Assisting Business Growth progression nt Creativity Support Opportunities applied Innovation Enterprise Start Ups researchT in teaching and learning Networking raining Design Regional Hub Engineering Entrepreneurship Science Nurturing Employment Annual Report 2011 Graduate Charles Kilawee with his sister at the 2011 Conferring Our student intake increased in 2010 and 2011, which we believe reflects our ability to provide interesting and relevant courses for students. IT Sligo ANNUAL REPORT 2011 Thinking, Learning, Living. Contents Foreword ……………………………………………………………… 2 Academic Affairs ……………………………………………………… 3 Building Research Capabilities ……………………………………… 9 Leading Regional Development …………………………………… 15 Student Achievements …………………………………………… 21 Human Resources ………………………………………………… 25 Sporting Achievements …………………………………………… 27 Student Services …………………………………………………… 31 Distinguished Guests on Campus ………………………………… 33 Making the Headlines ……………………………………………… 37 Governing Body and Academic Council ………………………… 39 Accounts …………………………………………………………… 43 Acknowledgements IT Sligo gratefully acknowledges the support from the Staff, Students and Stakeholders in the development of this Annual Report. This document is intended to provide only a reflection of the achievements and progress at the Institute during 2010-2011. We also wish to acknowledge the support and funding provided by the following: IT Sligo Ash Lane, Sligo, Ireland T +353 (0) 71 91 55222 E [email protected] W www.itsligo.ie IT Sligo ANNUAL REPORT 2011 Thinking, Learning, Living. 1 Foreword Education. Enterprise. Engagement. These challenging themes, I am proud to say, have underpinned a year of growth in provision, achievement and ambition at Institute of Technology Sligo. The Institute continues to official agencies in training and demonstrate its role as a research initiatives; showcase vibrant engine for growth in events promoting Science the North West. In spite of the Technology Engineering and macro-economic difficulties, IT Mathematics to school pupils; a Sligo has continued to flourish Strategy for Internationalisation, in the year under review. We involving strategic alliances with increased our student body universities in the USA, Korea, to over 5,600 in 2011, an China and Australia. achievement we believe gives widespread acknowledgement New horizons have opened for IT of the relevance of our degree Sligo this year. We have further programmes, work placements embraced online learning in the and internships, professional expectation that it will meet a accreditation and the quality growing international demand of our staff and the learning and add to our student numbers environment. and income. The Institute is also poised to embark on major Some 1800 students were refurbishment and infrastructural conferred in our annual development which will include a ceremonies. In line with demand new three-storey Science Block. and in response to student and industry needs, we added new Staff and students brought courses to our portfolio. us distinction, nationally and internationally, in academic As the Institute enters its fifth awards, sporting accolades, Professor Terri Scott decade of Higher Education artistic flair, digital design, President leadership and service, the research honours and other year under review saw further activities. enhancement of our reputation as a seeding ground for success This report sketches life on and innovation. campus in 2010-2011 and gives an overview of many of Once again, outreach activities the highlights and the staff and have been pivotal to our students who have contributed to progress. They have included the success and achievements. partnerships with industry and 2 IT Sligo ANNUAL REPORT 2011 Thinking, Learning, Living. Academic Affairs The class of 2011 Some 1,800 graduates were conferred over six sessions at the 2011 Annual Conferring on November 10th and 11th. The annual Corn Sheáin Mhic The first graduates of the BEng in Polymer Processing. Mhagnais award was awarded to The first cohort of graduates Referring to national the Imagine Cup winning team, from a Master of Science in developments in the higher Aíne Conaghan, Calum Cawley, Biopharmaceutical Science, education sector, the Registrar, Matthew Padden and James Bachelor of Science in Dr Brendan McCormack said McNamara, and their mentor, Environmental Management, that it was important that the computing lecturer, Padraig Graduate Diploma in Science in North West was well represented Harte. Biopharmaceutical Science and in new alignments that would Higher Certificate in Science in arise under the Government’s The first graduates of a unique Environmental Management were National Strategy for Higher BEng in Polymer Processing also conferred. Postgraduate Education; “Gaining the status of delivered jointly by IT Sligo and awards included a number of Technological University is our Athlone Institute of Technology Masters of Science by Research ambition for IT Sligo and the were conferred. The online and Doctorates of Philosophy in region. This will empower us to course was designed in 2009 in Business and Humanities. continue to provide courses right collaboration with First Polymer up to PhD level and to gain standing Training Skillnet to address what that is on an equal par with the was a growing shortage of skills University sector,” he said. in the polymer (plastics) area. Developing courses to meet the changing needs of society A number of new courses They included; a BSc in Level 8); and Postgraduate were developed in response Energy, Sustainability and the Diploma in Quality (Level 9). to labour market needs. Some Environment; BSc in Occupational were entirely new and others Safety and Health (Level 8); A new part-time course in were introduced to provide BA Interior Design (Level 7); Development Education (5 ECTS, additional progression options BA Interior Architecture (Level 8); Level 7) was also offered with for students. BSc Sustainability (Level 7); the support of Irish Aid. The BSc Health in & Safety (Level 8); course was tailored to suit those MA Interior Architecture; Higher interested in learning more about Certificate in Engineering in sustainable development issues Advanced Carpentry and Joinery; locally or globally and those who BSc in Advanced Wood and wish to undertake voluntary work Sustainable Building Technology at home or overseas. (Level 7); BSc in Construction Project Management (Add-On 4 IT Sligo ANNUAL REPORT 2011 Thinking, Learning, Living. Academic Affairs First from Ireland to win first prize in the global finals Four of our students became the first from Ireland to win first prize in the global finals of the world’s most prestigious student software development programme in July – the Microsoft Imagine Cup. Team Hermes was an The triumph was received with interdisciplinary venture pride, joy and praise at home bringing together innovative and abroad and it was given ideas from the School of widespread media coverage. Engineering and the School The team was accorded a civic of Business & Humanities. The reception by the Mayor of Sligo, team – Aíne Conaghan, James Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady on McNamara, Calum Cawley and their return. Matthew Padden – that came up with a unique idea that could Team Hermes – Matthew Padden, Aíne Conaghan, change the way in which road and James McNamara and Calum Cawley – human factors are associated with Mayor of Sligo Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady. with serious traffic collisions. Their mentor was lecturer Padraig Harte. More students choosing Sligo Full-time and part-time student numbers Our student intake increased in 2010 and 2011, which we Registered students Full-time Part-time Total believe reflects our ability to Business & Humanities 2,236 559 2,795 provide interesting and relevant Engineering 690 721* 1,411 courses for students. In 2011 Science 975 447 1,422 we had 3,901 full-time and 1,727 part-time students Total 3,901 1,727 5,628 registered. * Includes apprentices All Distance In Period Full-time Craft Part-time Education E Learning Service Total 2010-2011 4,100 788 1,186 323 527 3 6,074 2011-2012 3,842 207 1,149 248 762 3 5,198 IT Sligo ANNUAL REPORT 2011 Thinking, Learning, Living. 5 PROVIDING UPSKILLING FOR INDUSTRY AND THE UNEMPLOYED Baxter training scheme Online courses selected nationally recognised for Springboard Initiative Healthcare company