Atlantic Technological University Magazine - Issue 16

Editor: Anne Donnelly

Design: The Foundation

Photography: Conor Doherty, Alison Laredo, Anna Leask, James Connolly, Jessica Priddy, Mike Shaughnessy, Clive Wasson, Aengus McMahon. Lauren Fitzgerald, Paul McGuckin, Brad Anderson, Tommy Weir, Katarina Rozvadska, Ugnius Brazdziunas and ATU staff

Cover photo: At our new student welcome event were international students, Salma Alhalawani and Mumtaz Said both from Canada studying Medical Biotechnology at ATU Sligo.

Contributors: ATU Communications team, Lauren Reynolds, Jessica Duffy, Orlaith Ní Mheachair, Elaine Mears, Sinéad Ní Bhroin, Richéal Burns, Carina Ginty, Finola Howe, Rita Melia, Karen Patton, Sheila McArdle, Deirdre Bryne, Anne Conlon and Stephen Glennon.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK: If there is anything you would like to see in future issues of this magazine, please email anne.donnelly@atu.ie

01

Welcome from the Editor 03

University Updates

- ATU to offer Veterinary Medicine Programmes

- New Master of Pharmacy Programme

- ATU Welcomes 4,500 new Students

- Former NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman visits ATU

- Evaluation of ATU’s Quality Assurance Procedures

11

Alumni News

- Inaugural ATU Alumni Awards

- ATU Alumni Mentorship Programme

- 40th Reunion at ATU St Angelas

14

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

- From Baby to Bump and Beyond

- Black History Month at ATU

- Connect, Protect, Respect

17

Research News

- Students’ Whale and Dolphin Expedition

- ATU Investigators Success with PEACEPLUS funding 4.1

and Engagement

- ATU’s External Engagement Strategy

- Stretching our Play Muscles

- TAAS Interreg Europe Study Visit

- Irish American Partnership

- Business Lunch with Minister Paschal Donohoe

- Students Provide Care in Uganda

- Setting New Values for Higher Education - ATU Massive Open Online Courses

- Celebrating SDG Week 2024

Tree Planting at ATU

- ATU Students win National AI Challenge - Séan McLoughlin’s Success at 47th WorldSkills Competition - ATU Awards Honorary Doctorate to Joseph Kennedy III - 'Against the Grain’ Book Launch

MA Leadership and Advocacy in the Early Years

All-Ireland

AI Integration for Business in the West of Ireland

Welcome from the Editor, Anne Donnelly

Dear Reader,

I am delighted to welcome you to Issue 16 of our ATU Magazine and I hope you enjoy reading about our activities over the past two months. We started this new academic year by welcoming over 4,500 new students to ATU in September.

Our new intake includes not only students from the island of Ireland but also many international students and we also had the pleasure of welcoming our first students on the WAVE programme to our campuses. This two-year project provides individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to attend college.

A former NASA astronaut, Cady Coleman came to ATU in September, and she delivered an inspiring talk to over 250 secondary school students. You can find out more about the visit on page 9.

Another significant event in September was the announcement by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O'Donovan TD,

and Minister for Agriculture, Food & Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, that ATU has been selected as the second provider of Veterinary Medicine education in Ireland. You can read more about this exciting new development on page 3.

In October, ATU awarded its inaugural honorary Doctorate to Joseph P. Kennedy III, US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, in recognition of his contributions to civil society, public service, and peacebuilding. Mr Kennedy was very complimentary about ATU’s NorthSouth engagement activities, and you can read more of his words on page 40.

Also, in October we marked Black History month with a series of events across the University and we rolled

out our new Connect, Protect and Respect campaign. We provide a recap of these events on pages 15-16.

There have been several external engagement activities in the past two months and on page 19 Finola Howe, Head of Enterprise and Engagement at ATU talks to us about the ongoing development of ATU’s External Engagement Strategy.

The purpose of this magazine is to keep you updated on our activities and initiatives. So, whether you’re a member of our student or staff body, or are one of our regional, national or international stakeholders, we hope you find something of interest here.

Best Wishes Anne Donnelly

Focal ón Eagarthóir

A chara,

Tá an-áthas orm fáilte a chur romhat chuig an 16 eagrán d’Iris OTA agus tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh sult as na scéalta ar fad ón dá mhí seo caite.

Chuireamar tús le bliain nua acadúil agus thosaigh 4,500 mac léinn nua san

Ollscoil i mí Mheán Fómhair.

I measc na mic léinn nua a chuireamar fáilte rompu tá idir muintir na tíre seo agus go leor mac léinn idirnáisiúnta. Bhí sé de phléisiúr againn freisin fáilte a chur roimh na chéad mic léinn den chúrsa WAVE ar na campais. Tugann an tionscadal dhá bhliain seo deis do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas intleachta freastal ar an gcoláiste.

Tháinig Cady Coleman, a bhí ina spásaire le NASA, chuig an Ollscoil i mí Mheán Fómhair, agus thug sí caint spreagúil do bhreis is 250 dalta meánscoile. Is féidir leat tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoi sin ar leathanach 9.

Ócáid shuntasach eile i mí Mheán Fómhair ba ea an fógra a rinne an tAire Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta, Patrick O’Donovan TD agus an tAire Talamhaíochta, Bia & Mara, Charlie McConalogue TD, go bhfuil OTA roghnaithe ar an dara Ollscoil in Éirinn chun soláthar a dhéanamh ar

chúrsa sa Leigheas Tréidliachta. Is féidir tuilleadh eolas a fháil ar an scéal iontach seo ar leathanach 3.

I mí Dheireadh Fómhair, bhronn OTA a chéad Dochtúireacht oinigh ar Joseph P. Kennedy III, Toscaire Speisialta SAM do Ghnóthaí Eacnamaíochta Thuaisceart Éireann, mar aitheantas ar an méid atá déanta aige leis an tsochaí shibhialta, leis an tseirbhís phoiblí agus le cothú na síochána. Mhol an tUasal Kennedy gníomhaíochtaí rannpháirtíochta Thuaidh-Theas na hOllscoile, agus is féidir níos mó den méid a bhí le rá aige a fheiceáil ar leathanach 40.

Chomh maith leis sin, i mí Dheireadh Fómhair rinneamar mí Stair na nDaoine Dubha a chomóradh le sraith imeachtaí ar fud na hOllscoile agus chuireamar ár bhfeachtas nua Connect, Protect and Respect i bhfeidhm. Tá achoimre ar na himeachtaí seo ar leathanaigh 15-16.

“ Má tá nithe faoi leith ar mhaith leat a fheiceáíl sna heagráin atá le teacht, is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh liom anne.donnelly@atu.ie ”

Bhí go leor gníomhaíochtaí seachtracha rannpháirtíochta ar siúl le dhá mhí anuas agus ar leathanach 19 labhraíonn Finola Howe, Ceann Fiontaríochta agus Rannpháirtíochta in OTA faoin bhforbairt leanúnach ar Straitéis Rannpháirtíochta Seachtrach na hOllscoile.

Tá sé mar aidhm leis an iris seo daoine a choinneáil ar an eolas maidir leis an méid atá ag tarlú ar fud na hOllscoile, idir gníomhaíochtaí agus tograí. Mar sin, más ball foirne nó mac léinn atá ionat, nó dream dár bpáirtithe leasmhara réigiúnacha, náisiúnta nó idirnáisiúnta, tá súil againn go bhfeicfidh tú rud éigin a mbeidh suim agat ann.

Le dea-ghuí, Anne Donnelly

University Updates ATU to offer Veterinary Medicine Programmes

On 18 September the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O'Donovan TD, and Minister for Agriculture, Food & Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, announced that ATU has been selected as the second provider of Veterinary Medicine education in Ireland.

The new veterinary school aims to address the increasing demand for veterinary professionals, particularly in rural areas, while significantly boosting educational opportunities in the West and Northwest regions of Ireland.

ATU’s new Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS)

Dr Orla Flynn also extended her congratulations to South East Technological University’s (SETU) on also being selected as a provider of veterinary education in Ireland.

“We are immensely proud that Atlantic Technological University has been chosen as a second institution in Ireland to offer Veterinary Medicine. The new veterinary school will play a pivotal role in ensuring that Ireland has the veterinary workforce it needs to support its vibrant farming, food and animal health sectors.”

Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President programme will open its doors to a new generation of Irish veterinary students, providing them with worldclass education closer to home.

Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President welcomed the announcement and thanked Minister O'Donovan, Minister McConalogue, and the Higher Education Authority for their support. She said: “This announcement is not only a testament to the confidence placed in ATU but also a significant boost for the West and Northwest, creating new educational and economic opportunities. The impact of this new veterinary school will be far-reaching, benefiting both the veterinary profession and the agricultural and food industries for generations to come."

The new BVMS programme will be delivered through a dualcampus model, primarily based at ATU Donegal in conjunction with Mountbellew Agricultural College. This innovative approach will allow students to benefit from ATU’s cutting-edge facilities, practical experience in rural environments, and a strong focus on large-animal care, an area in which Ireland faces shortages. Subject to programme validation and other required approvals, ATU aims to commence this programme in September 2025 with an initial intake of 30 students.

Left to right: Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, Dr Edna Curley, Principal of Mountbellew Agricultural College and Dr Joanne Gallagher, Head of the Faculty of Science and Health at ATU Donegal.

Dr Joanne Gallagher, Head of the Faculty of Science and Health at ATU Donegal, who led the bid, highlighted the programme's potential to transform education provision in the region and support the veterinary profession nationally: “The provision, by ATU, of new opportunities to study Veterinary Medicine in Ireland will enhance the accessibility of veterinary education, allowing students from all over Ireland to study here and make an immediate impact across all areas of veterinary medicine. We are confident that the graduates of this programme will help alleviate the challenges currently facing the profession."

The veterinary profession in Ireland is currently facing several challenges, including an aging workforce in rural areas and difficulties in retaining veterinarians in clinical practice. The introduction of ATU’s Veterinary Medicine programme will directly address these issues by offering more local training opportunities and increasing the supply of skilled veterinarians. Graduates will be workready, with a strong understanding of rural veterinary practice, ensuring that the veterinary industry can continue

to meet the growing demands of Ireland’s agricultural and farming sectors.

Dr Edna Curley, Principal of Mountbellew Agricultural College, added: "This is a momentous development for both our institution and the wider region and will provide students with access to state-of-the-art facilities, including upgraded animal handling facilities, dairy development and large animal simulators ensuring they receive the highest level of practical training. This will not only benefit the veterinary profession but also the broader agricultural industry by ensuring there are more qualified professionals in Ireland."

The new Veterinary Medicine programme will provide external practical training in a variety of settings, equipping students with all necessary clinical competencies from their first day in practice. ATU will also engage with members of the veterinary profession across Ireland in its development, ensuring that it remains aligned with global standards and the needs of the profession in Ireland.

Students at ATU Mountbellew campus.

New Master of Pharmacy Programme

to right: Dr Marita Kinsella, Head of Department of Pharmacy, ATU; Patrick O'Donovan, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU and Dr Thomas Smyth, Head of Faculty of Science, ATU, Sligo Campus.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD, announced the launch of ATU’s new Master of Pharmacy programme on 18 October. This significant development expands ATU’s educational offerings in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

Pending accreditation by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the new Master of Pharmacy programme will begin in September 2025, initially offering 36 places in the five-year, full-time course. The programme will provide graduates with the qualifications required to register as practising pharmacists in Ireland.

The announcement by the Minister is part of a major increase in healthcare places in Ireland through the creation of six new programmes. Funding of €130 million unlocked from the

National Training Fund will support the growth of key healthcare disciplines, addressing critical workforce shortages and enhancing healthcare education across the country.

ATU President, Dr Orla Flynn, welcomed the announcement and said: “The establishment of a pharmacy programme is a natural progression for ATU, building on ATU’s long-established track record in the delivery of programmes across the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, clinical and MedTech sciences. In addition, the Master of Pharmacy will advance ATU’s leadership in delivering clinical and science programmes. We thank the Minister and the HEA for their support, and we are confident that this programme will deliver significant benefits for both our students and the region.”

Dr Thomas Smyth, Head of the Faculty of Science at ATU, added: “The announcement by Minister O’Donovan marks another step in the development of the Master of Pharmacy programme at ATU. This process, originally led by recently retired Head of Faculty, Jerry Bird, builds on our track record of educational programmes in the pharmaceutical and clinical sectors. With the completion of our new STEM building, students will have access to state-of-the-art teaching facilities, ensuring they are wellequipped to meet the evolving needs of the pharmacy profession in the Northwest region and beyond.”

The new Master of Pharmacy programme is designed to be future-focused, integrating clinical pharmacy practice with cutting-edge healthcare and pharmaceutical sciences research. It will develop

graduates with the expertise required for contemporary pharmacy roles and to take on the expanded responsibilities that pharmacists now have in patient care. The programme will also include 12 months of structured work placements, offering students practical experience across community, hospital, and industrial pharmacy settings.

“In a time of significant advancement for the pharmacy profession, as pharmacists take on expanded roles to enhance health services and patient care, ATU is keen to play its part. A new Master of Pharmacy programme will help to address the significant shortage of pharmacists in our health services and will offer students a new opportunity to study pharmacy in the Northwest.”

Marita Kinsella, Head of ATU’s new Department of Pharmacy

The programme’s focus on cuttingedge research and its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the pharmacy profession position ATU as a leader in pharmacy education. Once accredited, the Master of Pharmacy programme will not only provide students with access to a high-quality education but also contribute to the development of pharmacy services across the Northwest region and the country as a whole.

Left

ATU Welcomes 4,500 new Students

In September we welcomed an intake of approximately 4,500 first-year students across our nine campuses in Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal.

This year, we have seen notable growth in student numbers at our Galway City (Wellpark Road) and Mayo campuses, reflecting a high demand for higher education in these regions.

The top-performing programmes for 2024/2025 are the common entry degrees, which continue to attract strong interest in key areas such as business, engineering, design, science, health sciences, and sport.

Additionally, several specialised disciplines have shown increased enrolment, from computing across all levels, psychology and social sciences, programmes in the built environment and construction, animation, and education.

This academic year also marks the introduction of Tertiary Education learners into ATU’s Nursing programmes, which are now available at three ATU campuses: Mayo, St Angelas and Donegal Letterkenny. The increase in applications from Further Education (FE) / Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) applicants, along with a rise in students applying from Northern Ireland, highlights ATU’s broad reach and inclusivity.

“It is a great honour to welcome you, our newest cohort of students. This is the beginning of what we hope will be an exciting journey for you, and we are proud to have you join our community across all nine campuses. We look forward to seeing you thrive academically, personally, and professionally during your time at ATU.”

Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President, speaking to new students.

First-year students at our new student welcome days

Barham Allakarami studying Interior Architecture and Luke Sinden, Cyber Security, at ATU Sligo.

David Ibrahim and Ibúkún Aládé, students of MSc in Big Data Analytics programme at ATU Donegal.

Nicola Porteous, Donegal studying Applied Social Care; Emma Kelly, Galway studying Psychology, and Caoimhe Feerick, Galway, studying Psychology at ATU Mayo.

Damien Manning studying Construction Management and Cian Diviny and Niall McDonnell both studying Civil Engineering at ATU Galway city campus.

New students in ATU Mountbellew.

New students at ATU Connemara.

International Students at ATU Galway-Mayo: Bastion Guidet, France and Courtney Adis, USA.

ATU Welcomes new International Students

On 10 October ATU welcomed its new cohort of international students to the University from countries all over the world including Afghanistan, Nepal, Spain and Ghana. We have seen yet another increase in the number of international students with new students joining us from over 50 countries this year. ATU offers a truly multi-cultural learning environment with over 2,000 international students, from 93 different countries pursuing their studies across our nine campuses.

International students ATU Sligo: Ondrej Kulhaus, Software Development, and Donatela Hudcekova, Biomedical Science – both from Czech Republic.

Global Connect Podcast

ATU have recorded a special podcast for navigating the journey of studying at ATU in Ireland 2024. The episode covers everything international students need to know about accommodation, visas, airport collections, and more to make their transition smooth and successful. To listen please click here

New Students on ATU’s WAVE Programme

We also had the pleasure of welcoming our first students on the WAVE programme to our campuses in Letterkenny, Castlebar, and Sligo in September. ATU Project WAVE (Working towards Academic and Vocational Equity) is supported through the Higher Education Authority Path 4 funding. This twoyear project provides individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to attend college. To find out more about the project please click here

International Students ATU Galway-Mayo: Celine Choo, Malaysia, Mayara Quadros, Brazil and Jemimah Oghomienor, Nigeria.

Former NASA Astronaut

Cady Coleman visits ATU

Cady Coleman, a former NASA astronaut paid a visit to ATU on 18 September and delivered an inspiring talk to over 250 secondary school students.

The event held at ATU's Sligo campus highlighted the importance of science and space exploration and the need for more young people to explore careers in STEM subjects. The visit was organised by Dr Jerry Bird, Head of the Faculty of Science at ATU Sligo, in collaboration with the American Embassy in Ireland.

Coleman, who is one of just approximately 600 people in human history to have journeyed beyond Earth, captivated the audience as she recounted her time aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and her experiences during her missions to space. She shared insights into the dedication, education, and hard work required to become an astronaut, encouraging the students to embrace science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects to pursue their dreams.

Coleman's journey into space began with NASA in 1992, and she flew two space shuttle missions—STS-73 in 1995 and STS-93 in 1999—before spending nearly six months aboard the ISS in 2010. Over the course of

her career, she logged more than 180 days in space, conducting numerous scientific experiments and even performing a flute duet with the Chieftains and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull from space, a first in the history of music.

Dr Jerry Bird expressed his gratitude for Coleman’s visit. “We are incredibly honoured to have Cady Coleman here at ATU Sligo. Her career with NASA and her time in space serve as a real inspiration to the students, staff, and the entire community. She shows just how far a love of science can take you, and her message will resonate with these young minds for years to come.”

In addition to her educational talk, Coleman participated in a lively traditional Irish music session hosted by ATU’s Traditional Music Society. To commemorate her visit, the society presented her with a tin whistle, a fitting tribute to the former astronaut, who is an accomplished musician herself.

She spoke to our Communications Manager, Aidan Haughey about her journey to becoming an astronaut, the importance of science in shaping the future, and her experiences aboard the International Space Station. To listen to the interview please click here

“The future in space is more people in space.”

Evaluation of ATU’s Quality Assurance Procedures

On 11-15 November as part of the CINNTE review cycle a team of six external experts will visit ATU to review the University’s education and training provision and ensure agreed quality standards are being met. Every university in Ireland must undertake this review every five to seven years.

What is the CINNTE Institutional Review?

The CINNTE Institutional Review evaluates the effectiveness of institution-wide quality assurance procedures to establish, ascertain, maintain and enhance the quality of education, training, research and related services that ATU provides. Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) coordinates these reviews in consultation with the institution. This review provides an external dimension to our internal quality assurance, offering assurance to

learners and the public that the learning experience we provide is being monitored for good practice and that effective arrangements are in place for the quality assurance of our educational services.

Who is on the Review Team?

The review team is a group of six external experts appointed by QQI to conduct the CINNTE Institutional Review of ATU. The team is composed of peer reviewers who are staff, students, and institutional leaders from comparable national and international institutions as well as external experts. Information on ATU’s external review team can be found here.

How have ATU prepared for the review?

Over the past few months, we have produced an Institutional Profile and Institutional Self-Evaluation Report

alongside the two Annual Quality Reports. These documents will frame the review and inform the review team visit.

What happens next?

A site visit to our ATU Sligo campus will take place from 11-15 November. During the site visit, the review team will meet with up to 300 representatives from across ATU, including academics, professional, management and support staff, students, and relevant stakeholder bodies. Having read our submissions, the review team will explore several themes with each group they meet during the visit.

This first Institutional review is an exciting moment for ATU, and we look forward to engaging with the review team. For more information, please contact Jacqueline O’Toole at jacqueline.otoole@atu.ie or John Carrigy at cinnte@atu.ie

Alumni News

Inaugural ATU Alumni Awards to Celebrate Graduate Achievements

ATU recently launched its inaugural ATU Alumni Awards to highlight graduates who have made significant contributions in their fields, demonstrating leadership, innovation, and a positive societal impact since their time at ATU.

The ATU Alumni Awards aim to recognise the exceptional accomplishments of graduates in the fields of Business, Science and Health, Engineering and Computing, and Education, Design and Humanities. In addition, the University is proud to introduce the President's Award, which will be presented annually to alumni who have made significant contributions to arts, sport, society, culture, or the region, through voluntary or professional work.

ATU President Dr Orla Flyn welcomed the launch of the awards, and said:

"I’m delighted to announce our inaugural Alumni Awards,

which will allow us to reflect on the achievements of our graduates and the profound impact they continue to make in their chosen fields. We have a large community of alumni, with graduates coming from our legacy institutes of technology for over fifty years. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and the role that ATU plays in shaping the future leaders and innovators."

Nominations for the ATU Alumni Awards are open to students, staff, and the wider community, and will be evaluated by the ATU Alumni Awards Selection Committee. Each nomination will be judged on the nominee's contributions to their field, leadership, and how their work has inspired others.

For more information, please contact: Lauren Reynolds, ATU Alumni Officer at alumni@atu.ie or click here.

“These awards are not only a celebration of the success of our alumni but also a way to foster a deeper connection within the ATU community. By recognising the achievements of our graduates, we aim to inspire current students, connect alumni, and build a strong network of support that extends far beyond the University.”

Lauren Reynolds, ATU Alumni Officer

Lauren Reynolds, ATU Alumni Officer.

ATU Alumni Mentorship Programme

ATU is pleased to announce a new ATU Alumni Mentorship Programme which connects current students with former ATU students to support their academic and professional development.

Mentors will share their experiences, expertise, and career journeys with a mentee, and thus have the potential to play a key part in a student’s career development and help shape their future.

As a mentee, students will gain practical knowledge and guidance from mentors who have successfully navigated the same journey.

What’s involved in the Mentorship programme?

• The programme will run from October to April, with the mentor meetings commencing in November.

• This is a structured mentoring programme where each session focuses on key topics to help prepare students for the professional world.

• Mentees are expected to arrange a minimum of five one-hour meetings with their mentors, for the programme duration from November to April.

• Mentors are encouraged, where possible, to arrange a workplace visit for mentees.

• The Alumni Office and Careers Office will hold briefing meetings at the beginning and end of the programme to ensure everyone is comfortable with the programme.

If you would like to participate in this programme as a mentor or mentee, please email the ATU Alumni Office at alumni@atu.ie

40th Reunion at ATU St Angelas

The class of ’84 from St Angelas Bachelor of Education – Home Economics recently celebrated their 40th reunion by returning to their alma mater campus. Reminiscing back to where it all started, some of the class tell us about their experiences.

Our class of '84 studied a four-year Bachelor of Education - Home Economics Degree course, which was only the fourth year of a degree being awarded. The elevation and recognition of the qualification awarded for the course to degree status was due to the hard work of

the forward-thinking Principal, Mother Bríd Hanley, who was still Principal of the college when our class of 28 started in 1980.

Entry to the course was based on a written exam, a practical sewing exam, and an interview in addition to qualifying Leaving Cert results.

Our degree was awarded by University College, Galway, which St Angelas was then affiliated to and where we attended lectures for three months in our third year, including lectures in Education, Physics and Microbiology.

While we lived in the college for our first three years, we wore a uniform, which today seems archaic. Our course was extensive, with a significant workload in both academic and practical work, and we can all recall working late into the night (and through the night on occasions), on a regular basis to meet deadlines.

In addition to Education subjects, the academic course in Dress and Design included textile science and our practical work included making a fully tailored jacket in our third year and a creative design in our final year. Food Science included human nutrition and food chemistry with practical

work from foundation level cookery progressing to classic Cordon Bleu level.

We have lovely memories of our time in St Angelas, where we forged great bonds and friendships, and we have previously met at reunions over the years to mark milestone anniversaries.

We would like to remember two members of our class who have sadly since passed: Mary Cunningham Lynch who passed away in 2012 (who left in third year, late of INTO), and Josephine Murphy Devaney, who graduated in 1984 but passed away in 2018. May they both rest in peace.

We would like to extend a sincere thank you to ATU St Angelas for facilitating our visit to the college on Saturday 28 September, to allow us to reminisce fondly on our college as part of our 40th anniversary reunion.

A special word of thanks to Sean Kelly, Marketing/Communications and Student Recruitment, for giving his time so generously in providing us with a guided tour of the college, which was a huge part of creating a wonderful reunion weekend for St Angela's class of 1984.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

From Baby to Bump and Beyond

On 2 October ATU celebrated National Breastfeeding Week by unveiling a striking new mural on the Sligo campus, dedicated to promoting and supporting breastfeeding.

The initiative, a partnership between ATU and the Health Services Executive (HSE), makes ATU the first higher education institution in Ireland to feature a large-scale exterior mural designed to encourage conversations and raise awareness of the importance of breastfeeding amongst all members of society.

The project team is headed by Fiola Murphy, HSE Child Health Programme Development Officer for Community Healthcare in Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, and Sligo, along with Margaret McLoone, SFHEA, Programme Chair and Lecturer in Health Promotion at ATU. Their joint effort highlights the mural’s broader mission to serve as a reminder of the significance of breastfeeding and to promote healthier infant-feeding practices throughout the region.

Cara O’ Neill, Head of Health and Wellbeing, HSE Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo said: “Increasing Ireland’s breastfeeding rates will help improve the long-term population

“This mural is very personal to me, inspired by my newborn niece. It captures a moment of love and connection that is universal and timeless. I hope it encourages and normalises the beautiful act of breastfeeding, making it a more accepted and supported practice in our society.”

Marian Noone (Friz), Artist

health. We hope this impactful piece of artwork by Friz will provoke thoughts and inspire conversations, particularly among young people, staff and visitors which will contribute to creating a society where breastfeeding becomes the norm.”

Located on the wall of the Students’ Union building, the mural is the creation of renowned artist Marian Noone, also known as Friz. She has returned to the Sligo campus after creating The Owl of Wisdom mural on the Innovation Centre Building in 2021. The mural depicts the artist’s niece being breastfed, a scene inspired by the observation of the tender moments between mother and child in the early days of the baby's life. The design focuses on the baby, and highlights the profound bond established as a mother breastfeeds her baby.

Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, said the mural is a true reflection of the collaborative efforts between ATU and HSE and added: “We are honoured to have such a beautiful and meaningful piece on our Sligo campus. It celebrates the natural and nurturing act of breastfeeding, while also showing our commitment to promoting health and wellbeing in many different areas.”

Black History Month at ATU

October marked Black History Month (BHM) with ATU campuses celebrating this year’s global theme, ‘Reclaiming Narratives’.

The University’s libraries put together impressive book displays of Black and Brown authors across a wide breadth of subjects supplemented with online materials.

ATU Galway-Mayo Students Union and the University’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) team with the support of N-TUTORR launched a newly renovated multicultural Union Square.

The EDI team launched an antiracism graphic and explainer at the Union Square event. This useful tool,

developed in consultation with ATU’s Race Equality Network, will be disseminated across the University community to explain antiracism in plain terms.

ATU Donegal welcomed Dr Ebun Joseph, Special Rapporteur on Racial Equality and Racism, Balume Armstrong from Donegal Intercultural Platform and Immanuel Chirwa from the student body to discuss this year’s BHM global theme in an Irish context and the role of Irish media, literature, and the arts in the reclamation of Black narratives. This event was followed by a showcase of ATU Donegal final year law student Nasya Mc Jyn Igelige’s poetry curated during her Donegal County Council’s Cultural Diversity Mentorship Programme.

ATU St Angelas Students Union welcomed Baisat Alawiye, Maynooth University Students’ Union Vice President for Welfare and Equality to a Question and Answer session entitled ‘What I wish my teacher knew’. Baisat is a newly qualified primary school teacher, dedicated to fostering inclusive educational environments. Through her initiative - Minority Teachers Ireland - she works to empower underrepresented voices in education, striving to create classrooms where every student feels valued and supported.

Interactive and engaging ‘Let’s talk about Race in Higher Education’ training was also provided to all staff throughout the month. All in all, it was a busy, productive and thoughtprovoking Black History Month.

“To be

antiracist is to actively challenge racist behaviour when we encounter it in our daily lives and to work towards the achievement of race equality within ATU.”

to

city campus.

ATU Connemara library celebrates Black History Month.

Left

right: Sarah Mohan, Anu Akinsola, Soloman Shomefun and Mary Nestor at the launch of Union Square in ATU Galway

Connect, Respect, Protect

ATU rolled out a collaborative series of events focusing on gender-based violence, and mental health and wellbeing during the first five weeks of the new term. It was coordinated by the ATU RESPECT team and the ATU Mental Health and Wellbeing Officers. They were joined by Student Services, Students’ Union, ATU’s nursing and counselling staff, EDI staff, and members of the AURA LGBTQIA+ staff network.

Representatives from approximately 40 external organisations visited the different campuses throughout the nine days, providing information to students on their support services and raising awareness about the supports available within the community. These included the Rape Crisis Centres, Domestic Violence services, Mental Health support services, community support services, and LGBTQI+ organisations

who provide services in Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway.

Invited services were tailored to each campus’s unique student population. For instance, in the Galway (Wellpark) campus which specialises in design, film and creative arts, Minding Creative Minds were invited. This organisation provides counselling and support services to people studying and working in the Irish creative sector.

On the Mountbellew campus where the focus is agriculture, Macra na Feirme, a representative organisation for young people in rural Ireland attended. Several talks from organisations such as Mental Health Ireland were also provided for students. There was a great response from students and staff, and there were lots of games and prizes which were hugely helpful for engagement and learning.

What is ATU RESPECT?

ATU RESPECT is a new programme which provides training, awareness and supports to students and staff in ATU to prevent and respond to Gender-Based Violence. The new Sexual Violence Prevention and Response roles appointed in ATU are developing this new programme and rolling it out across ATU.

Connect, Protect, Respect event at ATU Mountbellew.

ATU Letterkenny students at the Connect, Protect, Respect event.

Research News

Students’ Whale and Dolphin Expedition

ATU Marine Science Masters students couldn’t believe their eyes when spotting whales and dolphins in abundance off the Blasket Islands on their first marine expedition recently.

Accompanied by their lecturer, leading Marine Scientist Dr Joanne O’Brien, on board the Blasket Princess, the students learnt in real time how to monitor the waters for the animals as the vessel made its course towards the islands and open sea.

“We were extremely lucky to encounter so many species and for humpbacks to put on such an amazing display.”

Dr Joanne O’Brien, ATU lecturer

By the end of the five-hour trip the students had identified fin, humpback and minke whales, as well as bottlenose, harbour purpoise and common dolphins with their young. They also saw great, manx and sooty shearwaters as well as an abundance of gannets and puffins.

The students are studying the postgraduate Master of Science in Conservation Behaviour, and Master of Science in International Marine Biological Resources.

Lecturer Dr Joanne O’Brien said: “This was a first for many of our students and it was so nice to see them excited, engaged and passionate about the conservation of these amazing animals. They learned survey techniques and how

to put together ethograms which record how the animals interact with each other and with the surrounding environment. They also learned about the threats and pressures these animals face.”

Ricardo de Almeida Mendez, a second year on the Master of Science in International Marine Biological Resources, said it was the best marine expedition he was ever on and his first time to encounter Fin whales.

Leanne Tuohy, a first year student on the Master of Science in Marine Conservation, was delighted to be out on the boat so soon after starting the course. She said that while her undergraduate degree (Zoology) covered terrestrial animals she chose the Masters in Marine Conservation because of her wider interest in marine animal behaviour and hopes to have a career in research.

The expedition guide, Jon Biddle shared with the students his knowledge of birds and marine species throughout the trip, telling students about recent sightings of the white-tailed eagle in west Cork, Killarney and other western seaboard counties. To watch a video of a whale surfacing and diving please click here

ATU Investigators Success with PEACEPLUS funding 4.1

On 7 October, the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) announced the recipients of the PEACEPLUS funding 4.1 - Healthy and Inclusive Communities theme. More than €70m of PEACEPLUS funding has been awarded to target health inequalities among communities in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

ATU co-investigators Dr Richéal Burns, Lecturer in Health Information Technology, Faculty of Science, ATU Sligo, and Dr Michael McCann, Senior Lecturer for Research and Development, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, ATU Donegal were successful in two applications led by host institution Ulster University (UU) worth over €20million in funding for health innovation.

iMPROVE

The first project, Innovation in personcentred Medication Prescribing and Review for Optimal Value and Efficacy (iMPROVE) – led by Dr David Gibson at UU focusses on medicine management. The project aims to implement care pathways optimising prescribing of medications, improve community accessibility needs, reduce the burden on primary care and improve patient outcomes across the Northwest/ border region and Scotland.

Within the ATU region, Dr Burns and Dr McCann will work with primary care and lead on data collection, monitoring and analysis as well as the health economic evaluation of the programme. ATU’s Paul Nolan, Clinical Lecturer ATU and Cardiac

Physiologist (HSCP), will also support the delivery of the study in our region.

PEACETIME

The second funded project, PEACETIME, will develop a specialist obesity management service for adults across the border region with Type 2 diabetes in the community. Led by UU’s Professor Alex Miras, the project will give specialist obesity care to up to 9,000 patients (beneficiaries) providing access to a range of services that will assist with sustainable change and improved quality of life.

Within the ATU region, Dr Burns and Dr McCann will work with the National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health and primary care partners leading on data collection, monitoring and analysis as well as the health economic evaluation.

ATU’s Dr Helen McGloin, Faculty of Nursing, leads on embedding a health coaching programme to the management service and Dr Laura Keaver, Faculty of Science, will focus on the nutritional education coaching. Dr Andrew McCloskey will support clinical outcomes assessment with UU leads.

Dr Burns and Dr McCann have highlighted how critical this funding is for prioritising and improving preventative care strategies in the Northwest region. Within the new Regional Health Authority of the HSE West and North West, it is expected these community care initiatives will impact over 12,000 patients.

This funding builds upon previous Interreg VA Peace collaborations with UU in the Centre for Personalised Medicine led for ATU by Dr McCann and recent significant Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) signed with the HSE which Dr Burns worked closely on and the recently announced MoU between UU and ATU. Overall, these two projects will deliver approximately €2m of funding for research posts across the 4-year projects.

Dr McCann and Dr Burns along with Dr Lisa Ryan also lead the TU Rise funded, ‘Translational Health Research Innovation preVention & Equity (THRIVE) PRTP’ which has recruited 15 new PhD students exploring preventative health strategies for improving health and wellbeing across our region and providing a cohesive strategic approach for sustainable ATU research development in the area of health and wellbeing.

PEACEPLUS co-investigators

Dr Richéal Burn and Dr Michael McCann.

Innovation and Engagement

ATU’s External Engagement Strategy

Finola Howe, Head of Enterprise and Engagement at ATU talks to us about the ongoing development of ATU’s External Engagement Strategy and the importance of collaboration on a national and international level.

As we know, the Higher Education Institutes (HEI) landscape across the island of Ireland has changed dramatically in recent years, with the amalgamation of many former Institutes of Technology and designation of Technological Universities (TUs). Since the designation of the TU’s there has been an increased focus on External Engagement (including Enterprise, Entrepreneurial, Regional, Community), within each Institution.

In addition, increasing cross-border collaboration has enabled new models of engagement across institutions spanning the island to emerge. HEIs working together in synergy with regional agency partners on behalf of regional economic development is how we will make the largest impacts for the respective regions we serve.

External Engagement and Regional Development are critical elements of ATU’s Strategic Plan, and therefore a coherent approach is imperative if ATU are to have a positive impact on our region.

To support the development of a coherent external engagement approach across ATU, the ATU External Engagement Team commissioned the University

Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) at the start of 2024, to work with us to develop the ATU External Engagement Strategy. Work is ongoing on this, and we hope to have the strategy developed and begin the implementation from 2025 onwards.

University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN)

The UIIN is a global organisation that specialises in working with Higher Education Institutions to become more innovative, improve their external engagement and increase their social impact. They provide a centralised source of skills development, networking and support for individuals and organisations involved in university-industry collaboration, entrepreneurial universities and technology transfer, all of which is evidence based, through their own research.

ATU has had a relationship with UIIN since before our designation as a TU, having worked with them as part of the Connaught Ulster Alliance on understanding approaches to Strategic Partnerships.

ATU became a formal member of the UIIN in 2023 and since then we have engaged with them in several ways including participating in training, attending and presenting at their international conferences, attending their master classes, members only facilitated networking meetings and participating in their podcast interview series.

The work we do with UIIN and the global network we are part of, enables ATU to learn from other national and international institutions and improve our structures, practices and approaches to external engagement for the betterment of our region.

ATU Hosts UIIN Ireland Conference

Through engagement with UIIN, an informal ‘External Engagement Community’ has emerged across the island of Ireland which includes the HEI’s and stakeholders such as Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Regional Skills and Skillnet.

“Universities have a huge role to play in regional economic development. Enterprise and Regional Engagement is a core part of ATU’s purpose and strategy. We were delighted to host the UIIN Ireland conference in our ATU Sligo campus, it was an excellent opportunity to bring the ‘University Enterprise Collaboration’ ecosystem players from across the island of Ireland together, building the community of practice to elevate the impact universities can have on regional development.”

Finola Howe, Head of Enterprise and Engagement, ATU

To further build on the links established within this community, the ATU External Engagement Team hosted the UIIN Ireland Conference at ATU Sligo in September 2024.

The conference focused on ‘Bridging Boundaries for Effective External Engagement’ and was sponsored by AbbVie. Attendees included representatives from AbbVie, ATU, AIM, DCU, Galway Chamber of Commerce, IUA, ITAG, Mary Immaculate College, Momentum Consulting, SETU, UL, UoG, UU, MTU, TUD, IADT, Belfast Metropolitan College, IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Skillnet, THEA, TUS, TCD, UCD and The Superlative Group.

The day started with a panel discussion on ‘Institutional Strategies for External Engagement’. The panel included Dr Orla Flynn (ATU President), Meabh Conaghan, (Enterprise Ireland), Michelle Hennigan (AbbVie) and Thomas Stone (TU Dublin).

During the conference participative workshops encouraged sharing approaches to external engagement and strategic partnerships, and the afternoon closed with case studies and a panel discussion with Finola Howe (ATU), Rachel Gallagher (IADT), and Michelle Thompson (Skillnet).

It was an extremely successful event which forged strong network links across our growing external engagement community. Commenting on the success of the conference Sarah Jaber, Director of UINN said:

“The higher education community in Ireland continues to demonstrate incredible passion and commitment towards external engagement. The UIIN Forum at ATU was a fantastic opportunity to see that commitment in action, with universities, industry, and other key stakeholders coming together to exchange ideas, collaborate, and push the boundaries of innovation.”

Rachel Gallagher, Enterprise and Innovation Manager, IADT thought that the conference was a wonderful opportunity to network with peers and said: “Sharing best practice, case studies and frameworks in an environment away from the office desk gives you a real chance to reflect and think about (external engagement) strategy going forward.”

Reflecting on the conference, Michelle Hennigan, API Manufacturing Manager at AbbVie said: “It was a very insightful day, with numerous opportunities to explore the value of external engagement and ways to enhance partnerships between higher education institutions and industry.”

A table discussion at the UIIN conference.

Dr Sarah Jaber, Director, UIIN

Stretching Our Play Muscles at ATU

Play and playful learning across our life journey supports high levels of wellbeing and when children, young people and adults have high levels of wellbeing they can become intrinsically motivated to engage in learning.

Play and learning are synonymous on the BA Early Childhood Education and Care programme at ATU GalwayMayo. Students learn to value the importance of play for children’s holistic growth, development and learning as well as children’s specific right to play under Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Playdays at ATU

Play, we know supports 21st century skills such as curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and communication. Our playdays promote these skills for children, parents, communities, and ATU students. One popular location for our playdays is the woodland trail at ATU Mayo. The campus also offers a range of play days to the public including the non-spooky story trail at Halloween and the Christmas market.

In Galway the BA Early Childhood Education and Care students in collaboration with Galway Childcare Committee and Galway

Atlantaquaria facilitate beach play days at Grattan beach.

These playdays support students to become playful educators, while also being used for alternative assessment purpose and they offer challenging play and learning experiences for young children so that they can grow and develop as competent and confident learners.

Playday at ATU Mayo

“Play and being playful is part of our culture, it is constructed from elements of drama, joyful activity, jokes, humour, competition and contests, where all humans are essentially playful or Homo Ludens (man the player).”

Dr Rita Melia,

lecturer in Early Childhood Education and Care

Professor Playdate

As part of Ireland's free day of creativity for young people, the Department of Early Education and Social Studies, ATU Donegal hosted a very successful ‘Professor Playdate’ event on 15 June 2024. Funded by Donegal County Council through the Cruinniú na nÓg initiative, it was part of several nationwide events. Currently, Ireland is the only country to host a National Day of Creativity for children under 18.

Professor Playdate was a student led initiative hosted by past and present Early Childhood students with the support of their lecturers, Dr Karen Patton, Dr Gail Cummins, Dr Maggie Green and Ms Zoe Graham. Children from three to nine years enjoyed a range of creative and exciting interactive play experiences. Participants engaged in messy play, story time, face painting, Lego and STEM workshops along with dance workshops and football skills sessions.

“Our ability to play throughout life is the single most important factor in determining our success and happiness.”

Dr Stuart Browne

Messy play stations at ATU Donegal

Football skills activity with Spiderman at ATU Donegal

Teachmeet

ATU Donegal welcomed early years educators and primary school teachers on 6 June 2024 for Teachmeet – Infant Edition.

The event was organised by Dr Maggie Green, Dr Karen Patton, Dr Dennis Mulligan and Ms. Zoe Graham from the Department of Early Education and Social Studies. The evening opened with an address from Dr Nigel McKelvey, Head of Department of Early Education and Social Studies, who acknowledged the importance of collaboration and sharing of practice as he welcomed everyone to what was to prove a diverse and inclusive evening filled with creativity.

The idea for the event was borne from a desire to support collaboration between early years educators and primary school teachers working in infant classrooms, recognising that each group of professionals have much to share with the other.

The Teachmeet provided an informal opportunity for these professionals to come together to share best practice in relation to play based pedagogy and to learn from one another. This gathering attracted a diverse group of professionals and students, eager to share ideas and learn new approaches. The evening was marked by short, engaging presentations designed specifically to inspire creativity and to introduce

practical, play-based learning approaches.

Dr Dennis Mulligan served as the MC for the night, and presentations covered a range of topics including supporting wellbeing; the new Primary Maths Curriculum; Tús Maith; the balance between product and process in an art activity; teaching music in an autism class; outdoor learning; and children’s strengths and lived experiences.

Teachmeet – Infant Edition was only the beginning, and the Department of Early Education and Social Studies at ATU Donegal looks forward to organising and hosting future events to continue to support collaboration both in the Early Education and Primary sectors.

Left to right: Dr Nigel Mc Kelvey, Dr Maggie Green, Ms Zoe Graham, Dr Dennis Mulligan and Dr Karen Patton.

TAAS Interreg Europe Study Visit

On 18 September ATU and Donegal County Council hosted ten partners from across Europe for a Tourism as a Service (TAAS) Project study visit to Donegal.

TAAS is a Interreg Europe funded project led by the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas in Greece with partners from Finland, Sweden, France, Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, Moldovia and from Ireland, ATU and associate partner Donegal County Council. TAAS aims to aid Smarter Europe achievement, with a special interest on tourism transformation, joining forces to accelerate tourism digitalisation, and improve related policy instruments supporting smart and sustainable development.

TAAS adopts a ‘tourism as a whole’ approach; and will develop digital tools for ensuring that the needs and concerns of all tourism-related stakeholders and users are addressed while respecting sustainability principles and encouraging responsible tourists who make effective tourism related decisions.

The day began with a morning session at ATU Letterkenny campus, featuring a series of insightful presentations from experts in the fields of sustainable tourism and digitalisation including Donegal County Council, James Hanrahan (ATU), Therese Maher (Fáilte Ireland), Stephen Perry (Donegal Local Enterprise Office), Stephen McPeak, Margaret Quinn and Caitriona Strain.

In the afternoon, the group visited Fanad Lighthouse, renowned as one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world. There, the visitors experienced the unique VR exhibit, The Storm, The Sea – The Saldanha which showcases the power of digital tourism. Through these engaging sessions, the partners gained valuable insights into leveraging digital technologies, sustainable practices, and innovative solutions to create exceptional tourism experiences from start to finish.

EU GREEN NOTES Team visits ATU

In May, ATU Sligo hosted the EU GREEN Net Zero for Tourism Educators (NOTES) Project Study visit for tourism researchers from the University of Évora, University of Extremadura, University of Angers and University of Oradea. The NOTES project is a collaboration among EU GREEN universities to support tourism, cultural and natural heritage industries transition to Net Zero.

To address the significant gap in sustainable literacy and decarbonisation knowledge (Conefrey, et al. 2023) this project will assess and identify the skills and training required by the tourism

industry. It will also aid curricula design to provide skilled graduates to facilitate transition towards Net Zero, enable the sector to become more sustainable, align with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and benefit communities and destinations.

The tourism, culture and heritage sector has contributed many economic and social benefits to destinations, but the sector is also recognised as a significant contributor to global emissions (Akadiri et al., 2020). The transition towards Net Zero by 2050 depends on skilled tourism and culture graduates from the universities who are in the ideal position to support

the industry to make a positive contribution to climate change.

NOTES focuses on EU GREEN universities degree programmes and modules to assess the level of provision of these essential skillsets. The project gatekeepers will also assess other universities in the host countries. Thus, giving a wide sample identifying any gaps in the provision of the skillset to transition the sector to NetZero. The findings will be presented in a best practice workshop and published in a peer reviewed journal. Any emergent gaps will be highlighted, and the NOTES team will seek wider EU funding to develop a solutions-based platform to address the transition issues.

Irish American Partnership Visit

On 1 October, we welcomed the Irish American Partnership (IAP) to ATU Mayo as part of their 2024 Leadership Mission, a three-day experience tailored to visit and evaluate programs, including schools, universities, and community development organisations in counties Galway and Mayo.

The Partnership was established to foster Irish American support for job creation, education, and economic development in Ireland. Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President, and Justin Kerr, Head of ATU Mayo campus showcased the University's initiatives and developments with Dr Michele Glacken, Dr Rita Melia and Mairead Cluskey.

Business Lunch with Minister Paschal Donohoe

The Galway Chamber hosted an engaging Business Lunch at the Galmont Hotel on 3 October 2024, featuring a fireside chat between Minister for Public Expenditure, National Plan Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D., and President of ATU, Dr Orla Flynn.

The event, sponsored by ATU, provided an opportunity for local business leaders and policymakers to hear insights into the current economic landscape and discuss the future of Galway and the wider region.

During the fireside chat, Minister Donohoe shared his perspective on Budget 2025, discussing

the rigorous process involved in preparing for the annual financial plan. He also delved into the broader challenges of balancing economic growth with regional development. He highlighted the need for focus to be on transport infrastructure, acknowledging the role of transport projects, such as the Galway Ring Road, rail and bus connects for both city and county development.

ATU's Cáit Noone, the newly elected President of Galway Chamber, said: “Events like today’s Business Lunch are a powerful way for local businesses to engage with national decision-makers and voice the

unique needs of our region. It is essential that Galway continues to receive the investment required to unlock its full potential as a major economic driver in the West of Ireland.”

To read more about this discussion on the current economic landscape, and investment in the West and Northwest region please click here

Students Provide Care in Uganda

As part of Erasmus 2024, students from ATU St Angelas embarked on a trip of a lifetime to Uganda, Africa during the summer. Chloe McCormack, Eabha Herron, Joanne Cullen, Niamh Corcoran, and Tara Kelly spent just over two weeks in Uganda providing care and support through community clinics, eye vision assessments, visiting orphanages, schools, the Irish embassy, and the local college and hospital. Two of our students Chloe McCormack and Tara Kelly talk to us about their experience:

Student Chloe McCormack on her trip to Uganda

Our journey began with two long flights to Entebbe. When we landed, we were brought to the outskirts of Kampala called Banana village, which was our home for the next two weeks.

We conducted community clinics in various locations where hundreds of people travelled far to have wounds looked at, blood pressure checks, full physical assessments, and general health queries. We heard many stories from the locals of their lives and journeys which was a good insight also. The local Ugandan people were extremely welcoming and pleased to host us. We learned how to carry out care with limited supplies and equipment which was a challenge but made us think outside of the box and use what we had.

We spent time in Bright Kids Uganda and Noah’s Ark orphanage which is a home to many children from across Uganda with intellectual disabilities. While we were there, we fostered relationships with the children and carried out assessments. We also conducted workshops to the teachers, nurses, and carers on topics such as hygiene, education on pressure sores, oral care, nutrition, and more.

All of us students learned and gained knowledge and experience not only for our nursing career, but also about African culture and traditions. We have returned to Ireland filled with gratitude. It was a trip of a lifetime, one which we will never forget.

Student Tara Kelly on her trip to Uganda

My trip to Entebbe, Uganda, was an experience that deeply affected me. Meeting the children with intellectual disabilities at Noah’s Ark was eye-opening. Despite the challenges they face daily, their smiles and laughter were a powerful reminder that joy can exist in even the hardest of circumstances. It changed how I see strength and resilience.

At Bright Kids Uganda School, I saw children eager to learn, even though many came from difficult backgrounds. Their determination and hope, despite limited resources, made me reflect on how often we take opportunities for granted. Their spirit challenged me to think differently about the power of education and what it truly means to persevere.

Taking part in the health check clinics, both in the local community and on the islands, gave me a new appreciation for access to healthcare. Meeting people who had to travel long distances just for basic medical care was humbling. The eye clinics were impactful. Watching people receive glasses and seeing their reactions as their world came into clearer focus was unforgettable. It was a simple but powerful reminder of how much we can take small things for granted.

The people I met in Uganda showed me resilience, hope, and gratitude in a way that changed my perspective on life. I came to help, but I left feeling like I had gained more than I gave. This trip wasn’t just about offering care; it was about seeing the world differently, understanding the strength of the human spirit, and finding purpose in connection and community.

Setting New Values for Higher Education

ATU instructional designer, Kate Molloy, has been named among the joint recipients of the Open Collaboration Award from Open Education Global (OEGlobal) for work on a global project which resulted in the publication of the book, 'Higher Education for Good: Teaching & Learning Futures', in October 2023.

Open Education Global recognises people and projects through the Open Education Awards for Excellence (OEAwards) each year, honouring outstanding achievements and contributions in the Open Education community.

'Higher Education for Good: Teaching & Learning Futures', edited by Laura Czerniewicz and Catherine Cronin, is a rich and diverse collection of works by academics and professionals from across 17 countries and many disciplines.

The book addresses the need to set new values for universities, many of which are trapped in narratives dominated by financial incentives and performance indicators.

Kate co-authored two chapters in the book, chapter 14, titled ‘Vibrant, Open and Accessible: Students’ Visions of Higher Education Futures’, and chapter 17, titled ‘Humanising Learning Design with Digital Pragmatism’.

“In late 2021, a call was put out to educators, researchers, and practitioners globally to contribute to a vision of higher education for good, looking at possibilities for teaching and learning futures,” explains Kate.

“I had already been working on design philosophy, which I had coined digital pragmatism, with my long-time collaborator, Clare Thomson.

“Clare and I had both been working in various education technology roles. We had written and worked on various collaborations over the years, and we proposed a chapter on humanising learning design to this idea of digital pragmatism. It reflects on our experience and the transformational change you can affect in the third-level space through small, incremental changes for good,” says Kate, who was already working as university lead on a national project, Enhancing Digital Teaching and Learning, with the Irish Universities Association at the time.

The publication appealed to her, as it sought to collate a mix of new and well-established voices providing hopeful new ways of thinking about higher education across a range of contexts, and to propose initiatives to deal with local and global challenges.

“Thematically, the links were around hope, sustainability and inclusion

About Kate Molloy

Kate started a new role as an Instructional Designer with Atlantic Technological University in May 2023. Prior to this, she had been a Learning Technologist with the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at the University of Galway for eight years and was the University of Galway lead on the Irish Universities Association Enhancing Digital Teaching and Learning project from 2019 – 2022.

Before moving into higher education, Kate was a secondary English teacher in both the United States and Ireland for over a decade. As a teacher, she became interested in critical pedagogy, inclusivity, and the use of technology.

In 2015, she moved into higher education where she supports staff teaching with technology. Her work focuses on the informed and ethical use of technology in higher education, learning design, inclusive teaching, and open practice. Kate is Chair of the National Executive of the Computers in Education Society of Ireland (CESI).

To find out more about Kate please click here

– and, really, the practice of care in higher education both for ourselves and for students,” says Kate.

Kate highlights chapter 14 as a recommended read; it explores tensions in Ireland’s higher education, emerging from a nationallevel student partnership research study focused on experiences of digital education across the sector. The students’ vision as to what our institutions could look like makes for a fascinating read.

Kate explains: “For instance, should there be physical spaces? Or should they be online spaces? And what should those spaces look like? It is a hopeful snapshot of higher education futures, and I’m quite proud to be part of it.”

'Higher Education for Good: Teaching & Learning Futures' is a provocative and inspiring resource for universities, students, and scholars. It courageously offers critique, hope, and purpose for the practice and the trajectory of Higher Education.

Asked if the book fulfils the criteria that it set out for itself – to be a beacon of hope – Kate says that she is hopeful for the future:

“I didn’t realise how hopeful I was until I recently had to record audio versions of our chapters, because it forced me to re-read our work and really sit with our words. It drives home that your everyday practice should reflect the words on the page.”

Kate admits that when listening back to the recording she got emotional looking at some of their conclusions, especially in the chapter herself and Clare worked on together.

“Our work as learning designers, learning technologists, instructional designers, it’s so niche, we’re a small community in Ireland, but that means we give each other a lot of support. This book underlines that open collaboration with colleagues of shared values and visions can move us towards higher education for good.”

'Higher Education for Good: Teaching & Learning Futures' is available in digital and hardcopy format. You can access the book by clicking here.

Evening Events Showcase ATU Massive Open Online Courses

ATU’s Higher Education 4.0 Project will host two evening events in November, with the first to discuss upskilling and reskilling opportunities available to industry and the second to focus on environmental issues.

The first event, titled ‘MOOCs for Industry’, will take place at Hume Hall, ATU Sligo, on Monday, 4 November, and will showcase Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) – free short courses –designed for the workplace, such as Lean Six Sigma OpEx Academy, Lean Construction, Introduction to Marketing and Social Robotics.

Commencing at 7pm, the evening will include a joint keynote address from ATU’s Online, Flexible & Professional Development (OFPD) Head of Innovation, Gavin Clinch,

and ATU Senior Instructional Designer Louise Kearins, who is undertaking a PhD on ‘An Exploration of HEI MOOC development in Ireland and the UK’.

The MOOC model has been championed as assisting industries and businesses to upskill and reskill their employees under the Higher Education 4.0 Project.

The Project is also developing relevant courses in other areas, such as the environment, which is the focus of the second event scheduled for ATU Galway (Theatre 1000) on Wednesday evening, 13 November.

Titled ‘MOOCs for Environment’, it will feature presentations from Dr John Scahill on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);

Award-winning garden designer

Dr Roisin Nash on Ocean Pollution; and award-winning garden designer Leonie Cornelius on the Fundamentals of Garden Design, a course developed by the Higher Education 4.0 Instructional Design team.

These free short courses are available here, and will be officially launched by ATU President Orla Flynn at the ATU Sligo ‘MOOCs for Industry’ event.

There will be several promotional stands set up at both events including MyCareerPath, the flexible, online career guidance service; ATU MakerSpace, which promotes the STEM subjects at third level and second level; and a stand on the SDGs.

Leonie Cornelius who will present at the ‘MOOCs for Environment’ event at ATU Galway. Photo credit: Richard Callaghan.

New content development toolkit

A new content development toolkit – ideal for creating MOOCs and short courses or improving existing modules – has been released by the Higher Education 4.0 instructional design team.

The instructional designers created this to help lecturers quickly understand the basic elements of course design for online teaching. It is also useful for anyone wishing to create a short taster course.

Senior Instructional Designer Louise Kearins says: “This toolkit is for anyone interested in improving their online course content, as well as for anyone setting up an online module for the first time.

“The beginning of the academic year puts lecturers under strain, so we created a toolbox to help them focus on the essential knowledge they will need before creating an online course.”

Welcoming the launch of the toolkit, Gavin Clinch, Head of Innovation (OFPD) and Lead for Higher Education 4.0 Innovation Projects, says: “As we continue to innovate within the Higher Education 4.0 framework, this toolkit empowers lecturers to design and deliver online courses with greater confidence and efficiency.

“It provides practical, accessible resources that streamline the process of content creation, allowing educators to focus on what truly matters - engaging and inspiring their learners in a dynamic, digital environment.”

The resource has been shared locally with the Online and Flexible Professional Development and Teaching and Learning teams – alternatively, you can access it directly here or on the Higher Education 4.0 project website.

Senior Instructional Designer Louise Kearins (right) and Assistant ID Celeste Auge launch their Lean Content Development Toolkit at Digital Ed.

Sustainability Celebrating SDG Week 2024

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Week took place from 20-29 September and to mark the week ATU in conjunction with Mayo County Council hosted a morning of creativity and discussion titled ‘Exploring the Sustainable Development Goals’ on 24 September. The event included a print workshop and a world café discussion.

Then on Friday 27 September a breakfast event took place on the Mayo campus with speakers including Kevin Kelly, Chief Executive of Mayo County Council presenting on ‘What being an SDG Champion means’.

Maura Kelly from Leave no Trace gave a talk on Leave No Trace’s SDG Champion role and opportunities and activities and Dr Deirdre Garvey from ATU Mayo discussed Sustainability and the SDGs.

Mayo County Council who has been selected as one of 20 Sustainable

Development Goals Champions for 2024-2025 by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications embraced SDG Week with several in person events and a social media campaign to promote the work the council is doing to implement the SDGs in its work.

Mayo County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr John O’Hara said: “The SDGs provide a blueprint for a better world, addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation.

“As a Sustainable Development Goal champion, we are committed to integrating these 17 goals into our policies, programs, and decisionmaking processes. By working together, we can create a brighter future for Mayo and the entire world.”

Participants at the SDG print workshop and world café event at ATU Mayo.

Tree Planting at ATU

ATU held a significant tree planting event across its campuses and in partnership with EU GREEN Alliance countries on 14-15 October.

As a powerful symbol of unity and sustainability, native trees were planted across ATU campuses in sequences of nines, representing the nine countries in the EU GREEN Alliance, a dynamic network of universities committed to promoting sustainable education and research throughout Europe. Local primary schools were invited to attend and participate, with events hosted on ATU's campus grounds.

The aim of this initiative was to inspire future generations on the significance of environmental

stewardship and to deepen the connection between local communities and the broader European sustainability movement. By engaging with primary school children, ATU shared knowledge on biodiversity and encouraged citizen science, nurturing life-long environmental champions.

ATU proudly stands as a partner in the EU GREEN European University Alliance, co-funded by the European Union. The Alliance forms a 'super campus' of nine universities from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Poland, Romania, and Germany, unified by a shared commitment to responsible growth, inclusive education, and environmental stewardship. Together,

“This tree planting project highlights the importance of sustainability both locally and internationally. By bringing together our campuses and EU GREEN partners, we’re not just planting trees- we’re planting the seeds of environmental responsibility within our communities.”

Professor Frances Lucy, EU GREEN Lead for ATU

these universities engage students, staff, and regional stakeholders to work towards a sustainable future.

The tree planting event embodies these values, demonstrating the strength of partnerships within the EU GREEN Alliance and furthering the collective mission of sustainability.

N-TUTORR Update

Start your learning journey now with My Digital Backpack and gain a range of Digital Open Badges

The N-TUTORR programme is enhancing the learning, teaching and assessment experience within the Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology across Ireland. A key output from the national programme of work is the creation of My Digital Backpack (MDB).

Led by ATU N-TUTORR team, it is an online learning platform offering several free short, non-accredited courses that allow learners to earn digital open badges. Co-created with students, engagement is growing steadily and this year in ATU we have issued over 3,000 digital open badges to students so far.

Direct access is available to all staff and students and lecturers may consider embedding the short learning resources and badge opportunities into existing modules or learning and assessment activities.

The Digital Backpack provides students and staff with additional skills aligned with themes such as Digital Transformation, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Academic Integrity, Education for Sustainability, Universal Design for Learning, and Employability.

A popular new course on the backpack is the Introduction to SDGs. This short course introduces the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are a shared blueprint and urgent call for action by all countries to achieve peace and prosperity for people and the planet. Students and staff who complete this Introduction to the SDGs course will be issued with an official digital open badge from the My Digital Backpack platform.

Learners in the Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology across Ireland can access the free open platform here through secure single sign on facilitated by the HEAnet. Students and staff in ATU can also access via links set up on the ATU Student Hub/ Staff Portal by clicking on the MDB icons.

N-TUTORR Autumn Lecture

Series with ATU: Education for Sustainable Development

The N-TUTORR national programme of work is running a national lecture series this semester and each partner will host a national lecture for staff, students and external stakeholders. All sessions will be streamed live and are open to anyone interested in attending.

ATU hosted the national lecture on Education for Sustainable Development on 24 October and it included representation from across

the ATU’s nine campuses sharing stories on education for sustainable development. Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President opened the lecture and Dr Mark Kelly, ATU and National Forum Policy Adviser, delivered a keynote on the topic on behalf of ATU. Dr Carina Ginty, ATU N-TUTORR Institutional Lead, chaired the lecture.

The National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) aims to transform higher education by enhancing learning environments, developing educators, and empowering youth as agents of change, while promoting local actions.

ATU Celebrates Students win National AI Challenge

Congratulations to the Bias Busters team from ATU for their victory at the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Challenge 2024. After winning the North West regional round, they claimed first place in the National Finals in Galway.

The Bias Busters developed an innovative AI prototype addressing bias in AI systems. ATU's Dr Saritha Unnikrishnan and Alan Hernon guided the team to success.

The competition, organised by TechIreland and supported by sponsors including Google, OpenAI, ALPHA Innovation EU, Enterprise Ireland, and Data2Sustain, showcased Ireland's most innovative AI talent over a two-week challenge.

"Participating in this challenge has been an incredible experience. From concept development to prototype implementation, the entire process taught us the importance of responsible AI development. We are grateful for the opportunity to showcase our work on such a prestigious platform and to contribute towards building ethical AI systems. "

Obed Adjei Peprah, team member and PhD researcher

Left to right: Nihal Elfodil, Alan Hernon, Dr Saritha Unnikrishnan, Dr Orla Flynn, Obed Adjei Peprah, Una Parsons and Oladosu Oladimeji.

Séan McLoughlin’s Success at 47th WorldSkills Competition

Séan McLoughlin, an Electrical Installations apprentice from ATU, has earned international recognition by securing a prestigious Medallion of Excellence and placing fourth in the world at the 47th WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France.

Held from 10 to 15 September 2024, the event drew over 250,000 attendees and saw 1,400 competitors from 70 countries compete in a global showcase of elite vocational skills.

Séan's impressive performance, scoring 744 points, earned him the Best of the Nation accolade as the top Irish competitor and demonstrated his outstanding technical expertise, perseverance, and dedication. This achievement follows his earlier success at the China International Skills Competition in June, where he won a Bronze Medal for Electrical Installation, further solidifying his position as one of Ireland's most talented apprentices.

“What an amazing achievement for Séan McLoughlin to take home a medallion of excellence in Electrical installations. He really made us all proud. I also want to congratulate Joe Kelly and Keith Roberts for their outstanding displays. No doubt these three students have very prosperous careers ahead of them.”

Padraig McGarry, Head of the Department of Engineering Technology, ATU Sligo

Joining Séan at WorldSkills was fellow ATU apprentice Joe Kelly, who competed in Joinery and delivered an impressive performance with a score of 693, just seven points shy of a Medallion of Excellence. Keith Roberts, also representing ATU in Cabinet Making, achieved the same score of 693 points.

WorldSkills 2024 marked a week of intense competition, where competitors had just four days to complete their exercises within strict guidelines and time constraints.

ATU Awards Honorary Doctorate to Joseph Kennedy III

ATU has awarded its inaugural honorary Doctorate to Joseph P. Kennedy III, US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to civil society, public service, and peacebuilding. The ceremony took place on 2 October, at ATU’s Letterkenny campus.

Joseph Kennedy, a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, has had a distinguished career in public service. Now, as Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, Kennedy focuses on fostering economic growth and advancing peace in a region with a complex political legacy.

During his acceptance speech, Kenndy praised the work of ATU's role in fostering cross-border collaboration and its significant contributions to the advancement of North-South cooperation, as envisioned in the Good Friday Agreement

He said: "Through research and dialogue, ATU is creating real opportunities for engagements between communities in Northern Ireland and the Republic. The

North South Engagement Centre is a model for how education can be used as a tool to unite – not just people, but ideas, aspirations, and futures. This is the work of visionaries. It reflects ATU’s belief in the power of connection and a future filled with possibilities."

Mr Kennedy highlighted the impact of ATU graduates, noting: "Graduates of this university are given the tools to do something transformative –build bridges where there once were walls, and help shape the future not just of Donegal, but of this entire island. This is what ATU is about –using education as a force for unity and progress."

Mr Kennedy concluded by expressing his deep appreciation: "I cannot tell you how grateful I am to receive this honour. Rooted in community, in recognition of our shared humanity, in celebration of our connectivity. Building a future that is bold and bright, together. What a special place. What important work. What a gift you give. The world would do well to learn from it. Thank you, Atlantic Technological University, for this incredible honour. I accept it with

deep gratitude and promise to continue to carry forward ATU’s values of education, unity, and service to others."

In addition to Kennedy’s honorary doctorate, ATU will be awarding a second honorary degree to Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and global leader in human rights and climate justice, in December. Robinson, Ireland’s first female president, has long been an advocate for social justice, human rights, and climate action, transforming these fields globally through her leadership.

These honorary doctorates form part of ATU’s autumn conferring ceremonies, which will take place from October to December across the counties of Donegal, Galway, Mayo, and Sligo. These celebrations will recognise not only the contributions of distinguished individuals but also the accomplishments of ATU’s graduates, emphasising the University’s role in education, research, and community engagement across the region.

Left to right: Maura McNally, SC, Chair of the ATU Governing Body; Joseph P. Kennedy III, US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs and Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU.

‘Against the Grain’ Book Launch

Authors of ‘Against the Grain: Community Development Work in the West of Ireland,’ left to right: Eoghan Murphy, Dr Mark Garavan. Dr Sheila McArdle, Sr Maureen Lally, Dr John Mulloy and Mairead Cluskey (Missing from the photograph is Terry Reilly who wrote the Foreword).

A new book titled ‘Against the Grain: Community Development Work in the West of Ireland,’ written by ATU academics and Tochar Valley Rural Community Network (TVRCN) staff was launched in ATU Mayo on 24 September 2024 by the Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr John O’Hara.

The authors are ATU lecturers Dr John Mulloy, who also illustrated the publication, Dr Sheila McArdle, Dr Mark Garavan, Eoghan Murphy and Mairead Cluskey and TVRCN member Sr Maureen Lally. Former Western People editor Terry Reilly wrote the foreword to the book.

The book is dedicated to the late Terry Gallagher, a native of Currane, Achill. Terry was a proud Mayo man with a never-ending passion and commitment to the development of rural and urban communities in Co Mayo. He recognised that each community member, young and old, had something to contribute to

their community. Terry believed that part of the role of people working with communities is to inspire and empower others to unlock their potential and make positive change, to promote equality and justice.

The initial catalyst for the book came from Tochar Valley Rural Community Network who are proactive in promoting community participation in decision-making.

The book is designed to guide the reader to consider an ever-changing world, to participate in reflective tasks and consider the intricacies of processes and actions to bring about social change and promote equality drawing on the five core values of Community Development, 1) collectivity, 2) community empowerment, 3) social justice and sustainable development, 4) human rights, equality and antidiscrimination, and 5) participation.

Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President, welcomed the publication of

‘Against the Grain’ as a new addition to the list of books recently authored from within the ATU community. “I want to congratulate ATU colleagues on this work, undertaken collaboratively with Tochar Valley Rural Community Network. At the heart of ATU’s mission is engagement with the communities of our region.”

Dr Flynn continued to highlight the importance of links with communities to form collaborations and develop projects and thanked Torchar Valley Rural Community Network in taking the initiative in this project. “ATU continues to forge strong relationships with local communities, organisations and networks where possible to benefit all concerned.”

Mary Prendergast of the Tochar Valley Rural Community Network said: “It was a pleasure to work with ATU on this book. Terry Gallagher was committed to promoting justice and equality, he was a firm believer in action, holistic and practical education and that everybody has something to bring to community. I am delighted that Terry’s experience and insights are reflected in this new textbook for future Community Development Work.”

ATU will offer a new Level 6 part-time programme titled Higher Certificate in Community Development and Youth Work commencing midJanuary 2025. Dr Sheila McArdle, lecturer and co-ordinator of the book launch event, said: “We are delighted with everyone’s support for ‘Against the Grain’ and look forward to our new exciting programme and ongoing links with community groups into the future.”

ATU Podcasts The Learning Journey Series

These podcasts are brought to you by the Higher Education 4.0 Project, which uses innovation and technology to provide pathways into and through higher education and employment.

Career choices and changes

Host Joseph Murray talks to life coach and former Galway senior hurler Tony Óg Regan on career choices and changes. An experienced performance and wellbeing coach, Tony Óg has a Masters in Sports Psychology and is an accredited executive coach.

He is joined later in the podcast by Bridie Killoran, Manager of ATU’s MyCareerPath online guidance service, and Mark Willis, Career and Learning Pathways Advisor at ATU. Please click here to listen.

Chasing dreams and challenging the norm

Lawyer Caoimhe Heery, who always wanted to work in law talks about finally deciding to take the plunge into legal studies after watching the hit movie Legally Blonde!

Caoimhe is now a Partner and Head of Flynn O’Driscoll’s Employment Team. She is joined later in the podcast by Tony Óg Regan, and Eamonn Walsh, Head of Department of Online, Flexible & Professional Development at ATU Galway-Mayo. Please click here to listen.

Reskilling and upskilling in Industry

Joseph Murray talks to special guest, JP McGonigle, Head of Business Improvement at Forward Emphasis International in Donegal, where JP heads up the Learning and Development Team in the company.

Later, JP is joined for a panel discussion by Gavin Clinch, Head of Innovation (OFPD) at ATU Sligo, and Bridie Killoran, Project Manager of the MyCareerPath programme. Please click here to listen.

Universities and the future of work

Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President talks about the role universities and ATU are playing in the future of work. Dr Flynn is joined later in the podcast by Carina Ginty, ATU Institutional Lead on N-TUTORR and Co-Lead on ATU Higher Education’s 4.0’s Theme I, and Ruth Moran, Graduate Education & Research Integrity Officer and a part-time Doctoral student focusing on Research culture at ATU. Please click here to listen

News in Brief

ATU academic to advise on national policy for Education for Sustainable Development

ATU lecturer Dr Mark Kelly has been seconded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education to serve as Policy Advisor for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Dr Kelly will help shape the national approach to embedding sustainability within teaching and learning curricula in Ireland’s thirdlevel education system. To read more please click here.

National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards

ATU has been shortlisted for the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards 2024 in the category of Age Friendly Active and Healthy Ageing Award.

The awards ceremony, hosted by Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service in partnership with Meath County Council celebrates innovative and creative initiatives across the country that have made a significant impact on the lives of Ireland’s older citizens. To read more please click here

New Civil Engineering Apprenticeship programmes at ATU

ATU welcomed 47 civil engineering apprenticeships to its Sligo campus and 45 to its Galway city campus in September. Apprentices hail from counties Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, Tipperary and Cork. ATU is the lead provider for these new Civil Engineering apprenticeships. To read more please click here

Plans progress for Mountbellew Agricultural College ‘SmartDairy’

Dr Edna Curley, Principal of Mountbellew Agricultural College, has welcomed Galway County Council’s recent decision to allow construction of a new dairy facility at the Mountbellew campus. Galway County Council granted permission to Mountbellew Agricultural College to replace the current facilities with a new, state-of-the art suite of buildings. The new development will include a milking parlour, animal handing facility, dedicated classroom and training room, viewing gallery and canteen. To read more please click here.

Galway Climate Inspirations Festival

On 14 September, a powerful ocean literacy music piece titled, ‘Leave No Trace’, composed by Naomi Berrill for the Galway Bay is Calling project was performed at the Galway Climate Inspirations Festival. The composition emerged from a series of workshops involving community groups including the Galway Jam Circle, Voice of Galway, and Galway Camerata.

The project brought together artists, scientists, and community members to highlight the importance of Galway Bay’s conservation. To find out more about the project please click here and to listen to the song you can watch a recording by clicking here.

New Programme in Jewellery and Goldsmithing

The Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) in partnership with ATU have officially commenced the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Jewellery and Goldsmithing at the DCCI Academy of Jewellery & Goldsmithing in Sessions House, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny This is the first full time three-year programme of its kind in Ireland and welcomes 16 students with different backgrounds, skill levels and a passion for design and craft. To find out more about the programme please click here

Student-driven injury clinic provides care to local athletes

ATU’s Athletic Therapy & Exercise Rehabilitation programme is transforming the University's sports teams and the campus community with its Studentled Clinic.

Designed to give students hands-on experience in their field, the programme offers a blend of academic learning and practical application through placements with the University’s sports teams and a student-led injury clinic. To find out more please click here

Planning permission for Regional Sports and Activity Hub

ATU has secured planning permission for the development of Letterkenny Regional Sports and Activity Hub at its Donegal Letterkenny campus. The new facility will be in Knocknamona, approximately 1.8 kilometers from the Port Road campus. To find out more please click here

ATU researchers recognised in the world's top 2% science rankings

Five of ATU’s researchers have been named among the World’s Top 2% Most Cited Scientists, according to an updated analysis by Emeritus Professor John Ioannidis from Stanford University in collaboration with Elsevier BV and SciTech Strategies Inc.

This list is part of a comprehensive study of over 100,000 scientists and represents the top 2% globally, in terms of citation influence. To find out more please click here.

ATU in the Media

Increase of female and young sperm whales off Irish Coast

ATU researcher Seán O'Callaghan’s study of sperm whales has revealed that there is an increase in female and young whales off the Irish coast, likely due to climate change. Marine heatwaves have increasingly become a concerning issue for the world's oceans, given that they permeate into deepwater habitats and may affect depths down to 200m. To find out more please click here.

Building trust in AI for breast cancer diagnosis

ATU’s Dr Saritha Unnikrishnan discusses AI research and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in an interview with Silicon Republic, To read the interview please click here

Outdoor Education graduate wins Innovation award

Josh Naab an ATU Outdoor Education graduate has secured a grant from Three’s Grant for Small Business programme to develop his company Panza Fins which focuses on developing high performance fins for surfboards. To find out more please click here

ATU Conferences

MA Leadership and Advocacy in the Early Years Research Colloquium

The Dept of Social Sciences MA in Leadership and Advocacy in the Early Years in ATU Sligo opened the new academic year with their inaugural Early Year Education Research Colloquium showcasing the research finding of our MA graduands on 6 September.

The colloquium, informed by translational research and community of practice principles, sought to provide a platform for students to critically explore key challenges they have identified in the sector. Dr Niamh Gallagher, Research Co-ordinator on the MA programme said the colloquium acts: "To bridge the gap between their research and practice, through reflective dialogue and dissemination of research findings with academic peers,

practitioners, policy professionals and other key stakeholders in the ECEC sector."

Research topics addressed at the colloquium included the following:

• Supporting Transitions for Children with Additional Needs in the Early Years

• Professional Identity within the Early Childhood Education & Care Sector (ECEC)

• Quality Relationships in ECEC Settings

• Creative Pedagogy Among New Graduates in ECEC settings

• Leadership in the Early Childhood Education & Care Sector (ECEC)

Students presented their research findings to an audience of sectoral representatives and academics from across ATU. In addition to colleagues from ATU Sligo, colleagues from the Early Childhood Education and Care programmes in the Galway, Mayo and Letterkenny campuses also attended the event.

Participants were facilitated in critical debate and discussion regarding the implications of the graduands’ research for policy, practice and further research in the Early Years sector. Feedback from participants highlighted the translational nature of the colloquium experience as the ATU MA in Leadership and Advocacy in the Early Years continues to support the development and dissemination of research and communities of practice within the sector.

Participants pictured at the research colloquium included: Sinead Barrins, Programme Chair, MA Leadership & Advocacy in Early Years, ATU Sligo; Louise Kilbane Fearon, ATU Galway-Mayo; Patsy Callaghan, ATU Donegal Letterkenny; Dr Niamh Gallagher, Research Co-ordinator, MA Leadership & Advocacy in Early Years, ATU Sligo; Sinead Regan, ATU Sligo; Anne Price, Lead Educator, Galway; Ciara McNally, Better Start; Laura Scollan, Pobal; Hannah McLaughlin, Lead Educator, Donegal town; Martina Gavin, Galway County Childcare Committee; Joanne Doherty, ATU Galway-Mayo; Nadia Karim, Lead Educator, Dublin and Sharon Boles, Sligo County Childcare Committee.

All-Ireland Mammal Symposium

The All-Ireland Mammal Symposium 2024 organising committee, front row, left to right: Nigel Monaghan, National Museum of Ireland; Elaine O’Riordan, University of Galway; Dr Allan McDevitt, ATU; David Smyth, ATU; Ruth Hanniffy, Biodiversity Officer, Sligo County Council.

Back row, left to right: Colin Lawton, University of Galway; Dr Samantha Ball, ATU; Ferdia Marnell, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Rachel Coleman Horgan, ATU.

The All-Ireland Mammal Symposium, hosted by ATU in Galway city on 4-5 October recorded the biggest ever gathering of people for a conference on mammals in Ireland, more than doubling the attendance of the two recent events in 2015 and 2019. The conference gathered over 200 people from across Irish universities, government bodies and industry to deal with the pressing questions relating to Irish mammals and foster collaboration, bridging cuttingedge research emerging from Irish universities to on-the-ground application in terms of monitoring,

managing and conserving Irish mammals into the future. Over 60 presentations were given, covering every aspect of mammal conservation in Ireland, with every key group of species covered.

Dr Allan McDevitt, lecturer and researcher in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, ATU Galway-Mayo said: “Many wild mammals in Ireland are facing increasing conservation pressures, with concerns around the long-term future of several native species such as the red squirrel for example.

“In contrast, certain other mammal species bring different pressures such as those which require some form of management or control. These include invasive species, for example American mink predating on birds, species which may spread disease to livestock, for example badgers, or cause damage to forestry (deer).

“With many of these issues requiring complex solutions, gathering scientists and practitioners from across the spectrum of academia, government, wildlife charities and consultancies continues to be of the upmost importance in tackling these big questions.”

On Friday (4 Oct), the opening keynote by Dr Samantha Ball of ATU covered the ecology of hares at Dublin ‘Hareport’, with sessions covering disease in Irish mammals and its implications for domestic animals, and the increasing use of non-invasive genetic methods to monitor mammals and bats.

The second day, Saturday, introduced a keynote from Dr Josh Twining of Oregen State University, USA, who spoke about the use of complex models to estimate mammal abundance, with sessions following on marine mammals and squirrels to name a few.

The event was kindly sponsored by the National Parks and Wildlife Services, Vincent Wildlife Trust, ATU, Galway City and County Councils and consultancies Scott Cawley and MKO.

AI Integration for Business in the West of Ireland

ATU hosted a business-focused event titled ‘Super Charge Your Business with AI,’ on 11 October 2024, aimed at exploring the practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) for businesses in the West of Ireland. The event, held at the University’s Mayo campus, was organised by ATU in collaboration with Castlebar Chamber of Commerce, the Local Enterprise Office Mayo (LEO), iHub, and Data2Sustain.

Opening the event, Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President highlighted the role of academic institutions in supporting business growth through technological innovation. Dr Flynn noted that AI is increasingly central to industrial transformation and affirmed ATU’s commitment to helping local businesses integrate these advancements to enhance their competitiveness in the global market.

Minister Dara Calleary, delivering the keynote address, said there was an urgency for businesses to engage with AI technology. He noted that the proliferation of AI is reshaping various industries and stressed that organisations must prepare for its impact. “The AI train has already left the station,” he remarked, urging business leaders to assess whether they are adequately positioned to incorporate AI into their operations.

The event featured several presentations from industry experts, illustrating how AI is being applied in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture and sports. Presenters focused on the accessibility of AI tools for businesses of all sizes, outlining how AI-driven technologies can streamline processes, improve decision-making and enhance efficiency.

Networking sessions provided attendees with opportunities to discuss potential AI solutions tailored to their specific needs, promoting further engagement between businesses and technology providers.

President of Castlebar Chamber of Commerce, Anne Conlon, said: “AI is no longer just a buzzword; it's a practical tool that can transform how businesses operate, from improving customer service to streamlining production processes. Our role is to

Minister Dara Calleary with Anne Conlon at the ‘Super Charge your Business with AI’ event in ATU Mayo.

help local businesses understand and implement these technologies, ensuring that the West of Ireland remains at the forefront of this digital revolution."

Dr Meghann Drury-Grogan, MC, concluded the event by recapping on the takeways. She said:” With an incredible lineup of speakers from across industries, we learned that AI is an industry disruptor that still requires the human element. AI cannot replace humans. Rather, AI

handles the mundane processing tasks which helps increase our productivity and opens other opportunities for us to be creative and innovative. We need to be drivers of that train that Minister Calleary referenced at the start of the day!”

The event forms part of a broader effort to ensure that businesses in the region are equipped to leverage emerging technologies in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Left to right: Michael Gill, Seamus Lennon, Sharon Boyle, Laura Hegarty, Minister Dara Calleary, Dr Meghann Drury-Grogan, Marian Staunton and Anne Conlon.

ATU Donegal Letterkenny

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