APRIL 2017 Vol.20 - No.2 UNIVERSITY NEWS Maynooth University Breaks Minister Richard Bruton into Top 50 Young Universities Launches Social Sciences in the World, #1 in Ireland Institute Maynooth University has been recognised as one of Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, the leading new universities in the world with Times TD launched the Maynooth University Social Higher Education (THE) ranking it #49 in its latest Sciences Institute (MUSSI) Young University Rankings The Institute was established as part of the implementation of Maynooth’s Research Strategy (2012 – 2017), and will lead two of the University’s six strategic research priorities: People, Place and Environment; and Social and Economic Transformations. The ranking is the highest position ever achieved by Maynooth, and is the highest position achieved by an Irish university ever. The Young University Rankings, previously the “Top 150 Under 50,” are based on a range of criteria including research income achieved, reputation for teaching, Minister Richard Bruton, TD; Prof Philip Nolan and Prof Linda Connolly numbers of PhDs awarded, the number and quality of scholarly papers and citations from staff and numbers of international staff and students. Maynooth The Social Sciences Institute builds upon the longstanding success of jumped 18 places since last year and is ranked as the number one young university several existing research institutes and centres at Maynooth, including in Ireland. The announcement comes as Maynooth University prepares to celebrate the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) and the 20th anniversary of its foundation in June this year. the National Centre for Geo-computation (NCG). It also supports critical national data infrastructure including the All-Island Research Observatory Commenting on the new ranking, Maynooth University President, Professor (AIRO) and the Irish Qualitive Data Archive (IQDA). Philip Nolan, said: “This is a huge endorsement of the University’s strategy to see Maynooth performing so strongly in terms of its perception by its The Institute brings together researchers from across Law, Geography, international peers. It is just 20 years since Maynooth University was established Anthropology, Computer Science, and Sociology. To date more than 300 as an independent institution by the Universities Act of 1997, and this is a huge researchers have been affiliated to MUSSI partner projects, which have € endorsement of the hard work, research impact, and exceptional teaching on the received external funding totalling 55 million since 2001. These awards part of the entire university community. have generated cutting-edge research for policy and society in a wide range of areas. in this issue 3 3 4 5 Strategic Planning Process Launched An Taoiseach on Campus Junior Cert Business Awards Y1Feedback Symposium Top 50 Young Anthropology Student’s Film Showcased at IFI Universities (continued) Takasera, a documentary film by Matjaz Pinter and Eva Pivac, was selected by the Irish Film Institute (IFI) for its ‘Irish Focus’ series, and “Maynooth University has tremendous screened at the IFI in momentum as an institution, and our Dublin on 31 January success has been built upon a willingness to challenge the norms and assumptions Filmmaker Matjaz Pinter, a doctoral of higher education in Ireland. Our student in the Maynooth Anthropology researchers are confronting some of the Department, is an Irish Research most difficult problems facing society Council/ Government of Ireland today; we are a progressive force in postgraduate scholar. Pinter’s PhD research project in of the Maynooth Anthropology Department. In addressing the pressures of the points Western Nepal has a distinctive visual anthropology the discussion that followed, several of the film race, offering a unique proposition component – thus he will be making a full-length enthusiasts present commented on the evidently to undergraduate and post graduate ethnographic film as well as writing a conventional close and respectful relationship between the students in Ireland; and we have grown doctoral dissertation. Takasera is an observational filmmakers and the villagers that underlay the film. into a global university with more than documentary, following everyday life in the remote More recently, Pinter and Pivac have crowd sourced 1,500 international students from more Nepali village of that name, a centre of Kham Magar an initiative to take Takasera and three other than 85 countries. I think this achievement culture as well as a former stronghold of Maoist documentaries back to mid-western Nepal to hold signals how well-placed we are to build on guerrillas. screenings for the local residents whose lives have our success for years to come as a leading Pinter is currently in Nepal conducting extended been portrayed in these films. An example of engaged international university rooted in and fieldwork. The screening of his film was introduced social research, the initiative has received favourable serving the needs of changing country and by his doctoral supervisor, Dr Chandana Mathur attention in the national media in India. changing world,” added Professor Nolan. Discussing Maynooth University’s success, Phil Baty, Times Higher Education World SFI Awards for Maynooth University Researchers University Rankings Editor, said: “The Times Higher Education Young University Two Maynooth University Rankings use the same exacting and tough 13 performance indicators as the researchers have been traditional THE World University Rankings, awarded €2.3million by covering teaching, research, knowledge Science Foundation Ireland transfer and international outlook, so making the world top 50 is an exceptional Dr Neil Trappe, Department of Experimental € achievement.” Physics, was awarded 680,000 for development of a high frequency Terahertz “Maynooth has particular strength in measurement and characterisation facility; its “international outlook” - ensuring it and Dr Tim McCarthy, National Centre for attracts global talent and collaborates Geocomputation, was awarded €315,000 in research with universities across the for the development of an imaging and world. This has helped it achieve a strong sensor pod for drones and light aircraft. Dr Neil Trappe, Dept of Dr Tim McCarthy, NCG score also for its global research impact Experimental Physics SFI awarded a further €1.3mn for research too,” added Baty. infrastructure. as well as for monitoring longer-term climate-change Earlier this year Maynooth University Dr Neil Trappe will establish a Centre of Excellence impacts. recorded its highest-ever level of CAO in high frequency terahertz (THz) measurement The investment is part of €47.4 million announced first preference applications, with more which will facilitate the development of future for 36 research infrastructure and facilities projects. than 3,400 students selecting Maynooth 5-6G communication systems; beyond current 4G as their university of choice for the 2017- Announcing the awards, Minister Mary Mitchell communication networks, higher frequency terahertz 18 academic year. This figure represents O’Connor, said: “investment in infrastructure by wireless networks will offer extraordinary data a 5% increase on applications from 2016, Science Foundation Ireland is an investment in the capacity rates. which was itself a record-breaking year future of research and development in Ireland. It for Maynooth. Maynooth University’s Dr Tim McCarthy is developing an imaging and forms a key part of implementing our science and Bachelor of Arts continues to be the most sensor pod for drones and light aircraft, which will technology strategy – Innovation 2020. Top quality popular course in the country, with first enable the development of decision support services infrastructure combined with our talented workforce preference applications increasing by 2%. for better management of our natural resources, further increases Ireland’s appeal in the global transportation, energy and communication services, market.” FROM THE EDITOR University News is published three Social Sciences Institute Launch times a year by the Maynooth University (continued) Communications and Marketing Office. Commenting at the launch, Professor Linda Connolly, pressing issues facing Irish society today and the For questions, or to submit stories Director of the Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute will provide the resources and platforms to and ideas any time of the year, contact Institute, said: “Today is a proud day for the Institute. build on this in the coming years.” [email protected]. Our researchers are working on some of the most 2 An Taoiseach on Campus to Launch New National Planning Strategy An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, launched the Ireland 2040 National Planning Framework on 2 February at Maynooth University The plan represents a new approach to planning that will enable political, civic, and business leaders to guide our society and economy over the next 25 years. The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a high-level and long-term initiative intended to coordinate the strategic planning of urban and rural areas, to secure overall proper planning and sustainable development, and to set out Prof Jim Walsh, MUSSI; Damien English TD, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Renewal; Prof Linda Connolly, Director of regional spatial and economic strategies and city MUSSI; Prof Philip Nolan, President; An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD; Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Housing, Planning,