ATU Applicant News 2023

ATU’s First Bir thday Celebrations

It has been a year of firsts at Atlantic Technological University that has been characterised by several noteworthy milestones. One of these was the successful recruitment and induction of students, marking the amalgamation of different institutions into a single university. Additionally, ATU celebrated its inaugural conferring ceremonies, wherein over 5,000 students received awards in 21 ceremonies across various locations, including Donegal, Galway, Mayo, and Sligo. These events transformed several towns into university towns for the first time, presenting new opportunities for education, investment, and employment.

Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, took a moment to look back on the university's journey. “From the outset, we aimed to become a TU of scale, quality, and impact, with a greater capacity for collaboration with regional, national and international partners. In just our first year, we have made great strides towards achieving these aims.”

ATU has prioritised innovation, entrepreneurship, and community engagement as key pillars of its mission. The impact of these values is already being felt throughout the region. The university's research initiatives are actively addressing pressing challenges such as climate change and sustainable development, making a meaningful contribution to the local community. Moreover, ATU's commitment to inclusion and diversity has paved the way for significant outreach efforts and

community initiatives.

Looking ahead, ATU is poised to continue its trajectory of growth and excellence. The university's commitment to collaboration with regional, national, and international

partners ensures a vibrant and interconnected academic environment. As ATU embarks on its second year, it is wellpositioned to further enhance its standing as a hub of knowledge, fostering innovation, and making

a positive impact on society.

As ATU enters its second year, it remains dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders, fostering an entrepreneurial spirit, and promoting community engagement.

New Building Developments across ATU

ATU prides itself on its commitment to providing world-class facilities to its students and researchers, with a strong focus on delivering practical and applied programmes. To achieve this, the university is undertaking several projects aimed at expanding its capacity, improving its facilities, and reducing its carbon footprint.

ATU Sligo and St Angela’s

• The phase two extension and refurbishment of the Yeats Academy of Arts, Design and Architecture Department is on track for completion by September 2023 and will provide additional accommodation for teaching and two black box performance spaces.

• The second project also due for completion by September 2023 will see a 3,700m2 four storey extension provide additional teaching, computing and research facilities including a high-specification clean room together with state-of-the-art online professional development department offices and support spaces.

• Planning is due to commence shortly on a multi-million euro investment associated with the incorporation of St Angela’s College into ATU.

• A new Advancing Innovation in Manufacturing (AIM) Centre in Sligo is under construction. It will give companies in the region access to new and emerging manufacturing and supply chain management technology.

ATU Galway-Mayo

• A new 5,500m2 STEM building for ATU Galway City, Dublin will cater for the growing number of students studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) courses. Construction is expected to start in early 2024,

Available Places

with an expected finish date in late 2025.

• Work has commenced on the CREW Creative Enterprise Hub to support start-up and earlystage companies in the creative industries. Enterprise space, collaboration areas and event space for 150 entrepreneurs will be provided in areas such as game development, animation, immersive technology, content creation and digital design.

• Expansion of the electrical apprentice education and science lab provision at ATU Galway City’s Dublin Road campus has started to cater for rising student numbers in those fields.

•A Learner Centre on the Galway City campus has been given the green light to proceed to the next phase of proposal development. It will serve up to 3,000 students and provide a central location for learners and include consolidated and additional facilities.

ATU Donegal

• Funding has been secured for the design of a sports and activity campus, the Letterkenny Regional Sports-Activity Hub. The project will see the creation of a high-quality, multi-pitch sports facility and community hub. The project will deliver multiple sport pitches, a centrally located pavilion building and a sports dome. A walking trail loop, informal cross-country route and children’s play park will also be included. The project is at preplanning and consultation stage.

• A 840m2 Ocean Innovation Centre at the ATU Donegal Killybegs campus will be a flagship rural regeneration stimulus to develop a blue economy hub of enterprise, innovation, applied research, commercialisation and learning. The procurement process for a design team is currently in progress.

• A new Library, IT and General Education Building is underway for the ATU Donegal Letterkenny Campus. The impressive 5,066m2 campus extension is expected to become operational before the end of 2025.

• A 1,400m2 office block will

If you find yourself without an offer of a place in a university for September, or if you do not want to accept the offer you have been given; you can apply for a new programme through available places. ATU will publish programmes that have vacant places on our website and on the CAO. The Early Available Places window will open for application for 10 days at the end of July before the normal Available Places window after the Round 1 offers are issued. New and existing applicants can apply for Available Places through the CAO application process. Follow us on social media for more information.

Campus Tours

ATU campus tours are ideal for applicants who are considering a programme at ATU or who would like to see the campus, explore the facilities, and discover more about our programmes. Places are limited, so booking is essential. Visit atu.ie/cao for more information where virtual tours of our campuses are also available.

SAVE THE DATE: Alternative Maths Assessment

ATU may offer an alternative maths assessment to applicants who did not get the required results in the Leaving Certificate to satisfy entry requirements on our programmes. This may include a two-week Enabling Maths programme or alternatively an independent mathematics examination (one set at Honours Level and one at Ordinary Level).

GRADUATION

First ATU Conferring takes place

Atlantic Technological University marked a significant milestone last November when over 5,000 students were the first graduands to be conferred with ATU awards. Nine ceremonies took place across five locations in the west and northwest. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, said, “As an ATU graduate, no matter where you have studied in our University, you have been given one of the best starts

and have met excellent academic standards upon which our reputation is built – I urge you to seize everything you have learned and don’t be afraid to aim high! I look forward to the significant contributions to Irish and global society that you will make in your future careers. I am confident that you have acquired the knowledge, skills and competencies to be successful. You should be proud, as should all who supported and assisted you in your efforts."

provide office accommodation for a growing workforce, incorporating flexible and hybrid working spaces. Additional capacity for the expansion of post-graduate research and industry tenants. The project is at business case and briefing stage.

Minister Harris Announces Approval for Key Milestone Project for St. Angela’s College

On April 24th, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris announced a significant milestone in respect of moving towards the proposed integration of St. Angela’s College into ATU.

Approval has been given to allow the strategic case for capital investment to further facilitate the integration of St.Angela’s College into ATU and progress to the next stage under the Technological Sector Strategic Projects Fund Framework (TSSPF).

Dr. Amanda McCloat, President of St. Angela’s College said: "As we celebrate 70 years of education, we are excited about this capital investment and the next chapter in our journey with the integration of St Angela’s with ATU, one of Ireland’s largest universities."

Both options will take place in late August/early September at multiple ATU campus locations. These initiatives aim to provide applicants with a “second chance” opportunity to achieve the minimum mathematics entry requirements for their chosen ATU programme. To register for your place on either the Ordinary Level or the Honours Level exam, please visit atu.ie/mathsexam

If maths is not your strong point, don’t worry, ATU offer lots of programmes that do not require any form of maths as an entry requirement. Check out the entry requirement information on our prospectus or website. You can also contact cao@atu.ie to help you identify some suitable programme options.

Free Maths Grinds YouTube channel

Two ATU lecturers, Eva Murphy and Seán Mullery, have produced a Free Maths Grinds YouTube channel to support students with Leaving Cert Higher and Ordinary Level Maths Exams and Junior Cert Higher Level exams.

The channel has almost 500 video tutorials, and the team continues to add to the collection. All the videos are saved in playlists so students can focus on particular exam levels and subjects when they need it. Search for ‘Eva Murphy Maths Grinds’ on YouTube for more.

E01 Extension, ATU Sligo

STEM Building, ATU Galway

Library, IT and General Education Building, ATU Donegal

ATU Open Days

ATU and Junk Kouture celebrate successful partnership in inspiring sustainable fashion innovations

Always ATU

ATU Alumni can stay connected and tap into the lifelong support an Alumni network offers. Among ATU Alumni is any person who has ever studied at one of our ATU campuses, whether they graduated or not. ATU Alumni also includes organisations and people affiliated with ATU. The ATU Alumni Office helps connect the ATU Alumni community to each other and to the university through lifelong learning, networking opportunities and invitations to participate in programmes and events. Visit atu.ie/alumni for more information.

Leaving Certificate Revision

Academics from across ATU were delighted to host Leaving Certificate revision classes again this year. A combination of online and on-campus classes took place throughout March, April and May for Accounting, Maths, Computer Science, History and Physics. Everyone at ATU wishes all students sitting state exams in 2023 the very best of luck!

Taster Days

Secondary schools from all over our region visited our campuses to take part in Taster Days across lots of programme subjects this year. These days give secondary school students, normally fourthand fifth-year students, the chance to start considering which area of further study might be for them. The students engaged with ATU academics and students in various workshops, from lecture theatres to hands-on lab experiments. They enjoyed being university students for the day, soaking up the university atmosphere and getting to discover each campus they visited.

More than 10,000 prospective students attended Open Days across ATU this year. Events were held on all campuses on multiple occasions which started October 5th at the Mountbellew campus and ended at the Mayo campus on May 11th. St. Angela’s College hosted a joint Open Day with ATU Sligo for the first time this year. Prospective students came from all over Ireland, with people also travelling from Europe and the United States.

International Women’s Day at ATU

SciFest at Atlantic TU

Second-level students participated in SciFest in Galway City, Sligo and Donegal across April and May. SciFest is Ireland’s largest second-level STEM fair programme. It takes place locally, regionally and nationally. The event is inclusive and free to enter.

ATU host VEX IQ Robotics Competition

We celebrated our first International Women’s Day (IWD) as a university on March 8th. ATU’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team organised several events to mark the day. The first of which was an ATU photography exhibition. This gave staff and students the opportunity to create a visible space for a woman who has

inspired them. Other events included a monoprinting workshop, an IWD lunchtime seminar, networking events for females in engineering and construction, and Irish food and beverage. ATU Libraries held a lunchtime talk on Aleen Cust, the first woman veterinary surgeon in the world.

ATU partner with Sea Sessions Surf and Music Festival for 2023 Surf Open

With only weeks to go, Sea Sessions Surf and Music Festival have announced they are building on their partnership with Atlantic Technological University with plans for a massive Surf Open at Tullan Strand, otherwise known as Surfers Paradise, in Bundoran Co Donegal. New for 2023, The ATU Surf Open will be hosted by surfing’s National Governing Body Irish Surfing and will see the best male and female surfers on the island compete against top international surfers from the likes of the UK, France, and Australia. Alongside the ATU Surf Open, the ATU Surf Expression Session will see surfers truly express themselves in a 'best move' contest.

Festival Director Ray O’Donoghue says, “The ATU Surf Open is very much an integral part of Sea Sessions and along with the beach sports, skating, and BMXing it’s the thing that sets us apart from all the other festivals. Not only have we a great music lineup with the likes of Kasabian, Becky

ATU sees double at inaugural Apprentice of the Year Awards

Two Atlantic Technological University apprentices were among the winners of the inaugural Apprentice of the Year Awards announced by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, in the Mansion House, Dublin.

ATU participated in the national final of Junk Kouture, the internationally renowned sustainable fashion competition, in Dublin in May 2023. Students, lecturers, and marketing staff from across ATU attended the event, showcasing the university's commitment to design and creative excellence.

ATU has worked closely with Junk Kouture to develop a strong and meaningful alliance between the university and the competition, inspiring young creative minds in Ireland and beyond. Fostering deep collaboration and offering schools and students a creative platform to actively engage in climate change initiatives. Many ATU graduates now work for and lead the Junk Kouture organisation, a testament to the fruitful partnership between the two institutions.

One of the collaborative projects involved outdated promotional marketing material from the legacy institutes of technology brands being sent to post-primary schools participating in the Junk

Kouture competition. The ATU campuses donated brochures, promotional merchandise and other reusable materials to second-level students competing in Junk Kouture 2023 and 2024. Ursuline College Sligo students joined ATU at the national finals in Dublin to model their upcycled dress made from such materials.

The recent highlight of the partnership was the creative design of the awards presented at the Junk Kouture World Finals in Abu Dhabi by ATU Donegal fashion students. This collaboration provided ATU students with an opportunity to share their values and objectives, promoting innovative design for a more sustainable future. Sixteen trophies were designed for categories including World Designer, Purposeful Plastic, Best Performance, Wearable Art, Dear to Wear, Best Make-up, Innovation, Cultural Couture, Glamour, and Junior Designer. Additionally, six trophies represented the six cities: Abu Dhabi, London, Paris, Dublin, New York, and Milan.

ATU campus designated as Ireland's first Autism Friendly Technological University

Hill, and Groove Armada, but we also have a really talented bunch of Irish and international surfers lined up. We are delighted to be in partnership with ATU once again.”

Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU added, “We are excited for this partnership as Sea

Sessions attracts up to 10,000 young people annually and promoting culture, sport and the arts scene in our region is important to our university. The ATU Surf Open is a chance to experience the Atlantic and all its power, naturally fitting with the vision for Atlantic TU.”

ATU hosted the VEX IQ Robotics regional finals for both primary and secondary schools on our campuses in Galway, Donegal and Sligo.

The competition includes awards for excellence and teamwork. The VEX IQ Teamwork Challenge consists of a series of matches where participating schools design and build a robot to play with other teams in a game-based engineering challenge. The competition also includes awards for driving and coding skills.

December 7th, 2022, with ATU Sligo receiving this accolade. ATU Sligo joins DCU and NCI in being designated as Autism Friendly and is the first in the west of Ireland to achieve the award. ATU’s Disability and Inclusion Officers, Dr Shelley Brady and Linda Mulligan, have worked with the national autism charity AsIAm’s international accreditation committee in developing a three-year action plan for the university.

These actions will bring the nine principles of an autism-friendly campus into practice to help remove barriers in day-to-day campus experiences for students with autism. The principles include additional supports, the provision of quiet spaces and securing employment after third level.

Over 180 apprentices were nominated from around the country. Twelve awards were announced, with Brendan Giles and Mairíde Bennis from ATU among the winners. Accepting the awards, both Brendan Giles and Mairíde Bennis said they were delighted to receive the

Engineering awards from Apprenticeship Ireland. Mairíde added that she hopes it encourages more women to pursue a career in engineering.

New degree options outside CAO points race

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD confirmed in April the details of 14 new degree programmes available around Ireland, outside the CAO system. The move is part of a drive to create alternative pathways to third level without the need to secure high points.

These courses will start at a further education college before transitioning to a university or technological

university. The pathway to accessing these courses will mirror the existing application process for further education and training. Courses in Engineering, Business, Science and Nursing are being explored with ATU under this partnership project. ATU is working collaboratively with the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) across the West and Northwest to develop a suite of exciting and engaging programme offerings.

Reconnecting, Re-energising, Renewing

Atlantic Technological University welcomed the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC) National Conference to their first in-person conference in two years last March. The conference theme was Reconnecting, Re-energising, Renewing.

The event was sponsored by ATU, who worked alongside the IGC Sligo branch and the conference organisers to ensure the highest calibre of facilitators and an impressive range of workshops were available to meet the needs of IGC members during the two-day conference in Sligo.

ATU became the first TU to have one of its campuses designated as Autism Friendly at a ceremony on

Hello ATU - How Are You?

ATU took part in the Mental Health Ireland “HELLO, How Are You?” campaign this year. The purpose of the campaign is to tackle the lack of connection or belonging that people experience by inspiring individuals to ask how others are feeling. The events held across

ATU campuses included tea and coffee mornings and organised walks to encourage conversation, allow people to listen, and encourage action by signposting to local supports and services. ATU students can access a wide range of health, counselling, chaplaincy and wellness supports free of charge.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

ATU awarded an Athena Swan Legacy Award

ATU celebrating Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Providing university students in Ireland with 24/7, online peer-to-peer support

ATU announced the launch of Togetherall last November, providing 24/7 online peer-to-peer support across the university to all students. Togetherall, an ATU Student Counselling Service initiative, provides round-the-clock access to an online community moderated 24/7 by healthcare professionals who are trained to intervene or escalate whenever necessary. The support network is designed to provide preventative and early intervention support that integrates with existing higher education mental health services, augmenting traditional services such as counselling with online

platforms and tools. Togetherall is the only digital mental health provider with such a large student community providing managed peer-to-peer support. The project is led by and delivered through Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education Ireland (PCHEI). This project was made possible by funding from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), that supports sectorwide projects that deliver on the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework, and matched funding from HSE Mental Health Operations.

ATU celebrates International Culture Week and International Day

ATU is a multicultural university with over 93 nationalities represented in our student and staff population.

On April 20th, ATU celebrated International Day. The day showcased and celebrated cultural diversity across ATU. On the same day, we officially launched ATU Global, which is a rebrand and relaunch of the International Office.

ATU Donegal’s international student ambassador team, in collaboration with the Indian and international societies, celebrated International Culture Week in March. They were joined by international students across all ATU campuses. The week allowed students to experience cultural diversity and inclusion across the ATU community.

ATU celebrated International Day of Persons with Disabilities with a panel discussion for staff and students on December 2nd. The focus of this international day is to promote understanding of disability issues, including the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. Ruth Lennon, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, ATU Donegal, chaired the discussion, and the panel members included Sean Paul Lafferty, a graduate of ATU Donegal, Eilis Boileau, a Neurodiversity Support worker with The ADHD Learning Curve and Marcie Roth, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, World Institute on Disability.

Find the right career path for you

My Career Path advisors can help you find the learning path into and through higher education to achieve your career goals. This FREE programme from ATU will enable you to:

• Reflect on your personal skills and abilities

• Identify learning gaps and access customised e-learning content

• Choose the right course for your career goals

• Understand how your work experience and prior learning can help you access the ATU course of your choice Make an appointment with one of the ATU Careers and Learning Pathways advisors at www.mycareerpath.ie

Careers O ce shortlisted for Employability Awards 2023

ATU Careers Office was recently shortlisted for the Association of Higher Education Careers Service (AHECS) Employability Awards 2023 for its online Webinar Wednesday series of industry-led career talks. In these webinars, professionals share their industry expertise and hiring plans with students throughout the academic year. The weekly webinars cover a broad range of topics, which this year included Building Your Brand, Workplace Etiquette, Graduate Assessment Centres, Adaptability and Diverse Skills - Key Career Enablers, CV and Interview Tips, and Careers Working in the Non-Profit Sector.

The online webinars have proven to be a game changer in how ATU works with employers and complement ATU’s campusbased career events.

An Athena Swan award recognises inclusivity and has a solid foundation for eliminating gender bias and developing an inclusive culture that values all staff and students. ATU created a singular Gender Action Plan developed from the Gender Action Plans of the three Institutes of Technology (IoT). This plan was submitted to Athena Swan Ireland as part of our application for an Athena Swan Legacy award, which was granted in October 2022. Work began in May 2021 involving EDI Team members and the Self-Assessment Teams (SATs) of the three IoTs. The award is valid until March 2025. Work has already begun on the implementation of this plan.

Diversifying our Libraries

Pride is an opportunity for people from the LGBTQ+ community and their allies to come together to celebrate sexual and gender diversity and support their LGBTQ+ friends and colleagues. ATU staff and students participated in several Pride events across the west and northwest regions. In June, we took part in Donegal’s first ever Pride event in Buncrana, Co. Donegal. In July, we walked in the Mayo Pride

Parade in Westport. In August, we unveiled two rainbow walkways at our Sligo campus and participated in the Sligo Pride Parade. We then celebrated the Galway Pride Festival by raising the Pride Flag at the ATU Galway City campus and participating in the Galway Pride parade. We finished the series of summer Pride events by attending the first ever Leitrim Pride in Carrickon-Shannon.

On January 25th, ATU Libraries, in conjunction with the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) office, launched their new collection of books covering themes of equality, diversity and inclusion. The collection of almost 100 books and ebooks on all aspects of diversity was funded by the EDI Office and covers fiction and non-fiction on the themes of race, gender, ethnicity, LGBTQ+ and ability. The collection shows the university’s commitment to having inclusive content that is representative of our diverse ATU community and provides a focus for students and staff to explore these themes.

LinkedIn Learning partnership

Sustainability at ATU

ATU is committed to creating a more sustainable future for the broader community and reducing its carbon footprint across all campuses. ATU Mayo

(formerly GMIT Mayo) was the first Institute of Technology to be awarded the Green Flag in 2011 with other ATU campuses achieving the prestigious award since.

Energy efficiency projects are happening across ATU facilities to meet government energy and decarbonisation targets which plan for a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

Improving the sustainable management of materials and resources are fundamental to university operations. Most recently, ATU Sligo and Donegal Letterkenny campuses have made significant changes by "greening' their canteen facilities in a commitment to eliminate single-use items on campus and significantly increase waste recycling levels.

Sustainable transport choices are promoted amongst staff and students to encourage the use of public transport and car sharing. Electric vehicle charging services, electric and hybrid bike hire options, walking routes and flexible

working arrangements for staff to reduce day-to-day commuting and business travel contribute to the sustainability vision and decarbonisation targets. Biodiversity and habitat protection through ground-keeping initiatives are an additional key feature. President of ATU, Dr Orla Flynn says "We have a responsibility to protect the environment for future generations, and this includes reducing our waste across all our campuses. The university's commitment to sustainability has already received positive feedback from students, staff, and the wider community, and we should be proud that we are part of the growing movement towards a more sustainable future."

ATU accepted an invitation this year to become a member of EU GREEN, which is an alliance to create a European “Super Campus” focusing on responsible growth, inclusive education, and the environment.

ATU has partnered with LinkedIn Learning, an online library with over 18,000 courses delivered in seven languages, to suit the training needs of staff and students. All staff and students at ATU have full, free and unlimited access to on-demand training on any device at any time. The course topics range from leadership, engineering, and business management to Excel and beyond. The resources comprise highquality video learning resources plus downloadable exercises and workbooks.

The alliance comprises nine European universities whose aim is to be a gateway to sustainability and who believe in the development of the empowerment, capabilities, opportunities, and cooperation of society for a better and more viable environment in the long run.

“EU GREEN will allow students, staff and researchers to work together across the EU. It will also bring social and economic benefits to the region through an educational environment committed to sustainability.” Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President.

‘Connect for Success – Your First Five Weeks’ Induction programme

All first-year students are encouraged to engage in our Induction Programme at the start of term. Planning for Induction 2023 is already well underway. ‘Connect for Success – Your First Five Weeks’ is our comprehensive induction programme to help you settle into college life. In the initial days, the focus will be on getting to know your lecturers, meeting

fellow students, finding out about your programme and the supports that are available to you at ATU. This will be followed up with five themed weeks concentrating on different areas of support you can access during your time at ATU. The programme is designed to help you settle in, meet new friends, get to know our staff and access vital information you need to

SUSI Grant

The SUSI grant support is now open for application for the 2023/2024 academic year. A change made to the income thresholds means that more students than ever before may be eligible for a grant towards their student contribution fees. Income thresholds are between €62,000 - €100,000 and the upper-income threshold for the 50% student contribution grant was increased from €55,240 to €60,000. A number of eligibility criteria apply. To check whether you may be eligible, go to the SUSI website www.susi.ie

Students' Union

get started at ATU. Details of Induction 2023 will be provided to all students who accept an offer at ATU at the end of the summer.

After you have completed registration, you will be able to log in to our network, plan your study calendar, use our comprehensive library services and access the free student supports available to ensure your success.

Learn more about Induction 2023 after Round 1 CAO offers are dispatched. Keep an eye on our website (www.atu.ie) for our dedicated induction page.

Tips to Thrive in First Year

1. Attend Induction – The first week of college is important – learn how to access student facilities, get to know your timetable, take campus tours, discover fun activities.

2. Attend all classes – new friendships begin in the lecture theatres from Day 1 - get to know your classmates.

3. Make friends – Discover your community, enjoy social areas on campus, join clubs and societies.

4. Get to know the campus – Discover your local campus and all the facilities available, you may need to get between lectures quickly.

5. Ask for help when you need it - If you think you made the wrong course choice, you can sometimes change direction up to six weeks after term starts.

6. Keep to a budget - Use your student card for discounts - take advantage of freebies!

7. Eat healthy - Stay healthy and eat a balanced diet, enjoy subsided meals in our canteen.

8. Don’t be lonely - Join a club or society and make contact with your Students' Union.

9. Be sensible - Attend “Drugs and Alcohol Awareness” sessions during Induction.

10. Have some fun - Join a club or society - find people who like the same thing as you. Be part of a team or community.

11. Continue your passion for sport - Check out the sport facilities on your campus and surrounding town.

12. Aim for balance - A balance between your studies, social life and part-time work commitments is important.

Cost of Living and Your College Experience

Understanding the cost of living is an important aspect of choosing where to study.

ATU students not only get a world-class education and a great lifestyle, but they also have the benefit of living in one of Ireland’s most affordable regions.

Travel Costs

Outside of living away from home, travelling is an option that many students take daily. Our university locations are well serviced by public and privately managed bus services that often drop off and pick up

What is Erasmus+?

Erasmus+ provides opportunities for students and academic staff to study, train, get work experience and volunteer abroad. Through a network of partner institutions, ATU can assist you in securing a study or placement mobility period abroad, or a blended study mobility. Hundreds of students and staff from Erasmus+ partner educational institutions join ATU each year. The ATU Global Offices provide advice and guidance to incoming and outgoing students on everything from student registration to accommodation to finding a job. ATU students benefit from the ability to interact and work with individuals from different cultures.

Study Abroad

ATU Global supports students and staff to complete an exchange period at one of the partner universities or colleges. Many ATU

degrees offer students the opportunity to study abroad or complete an international work placement. These will greatly enhance employability prospects in today’s globalised economy. Depending on the degree, students can apply to study abroad for a semester or a year. Opportunities exist with numerous EU universities. These are financially supported by the Erasmus+ Mobility Programme. Additional opportunities exist with partner colleges and universities outside the EU, such as the USA, Canada, Brazil and many more.

Most ATU students study abroad through English. However, some students undertaking a foreign language module may have the option to study through this language.

Work Placement Abroad

Many degrees in ATU include an international

NORTHERN IRELAND APPLICANTS: Why choose ATU?

There are several benefits to choosing to study in ATU:

FEES - At a maximum of €3000 per year, the Student Contribution Fee is more affordable than in Northern Ireland and the UK.

GRANTS - Northern Irish students can also apply for a fee grant through SUSI (www.susi.ie). If you qualify for a fee grant, then SUSI will pay your Student Contribution Fee. Unlike student loans, fee grants do not have to be paid back.

work placement. In some instances, grant aid is available to support students on these placements.

Learn more by visiting atu.ie/international

ATU wins prestigious award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning

ATU won the prestigious John Kelly Award for Universal Design in Further and Higher Education at a recent event in Dublin. This award recognises the innovative practice of teaching staff in further and higher education engaging with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. The goal of the UDL is to use a variety of teaching methods to remove barriers to learning. It is about building in flexibility that can be adjusted for every person's strengths and needs. This delivers a more inclusive learning experience for all students.

You will meet the Students’ Union (SU) at Induction who will prepare a fun programme of events at the start of the term to ensure you get to meet and make friends. Your Students’ Union can help you with many aspects of student life, helping make your transition to university easier. They will look for class representatives at the start of the term so be sure to consider being that spokesperson for your class where you will acquire lots of new skills such as negotiation, organisation, leadership and advocacy.

Become a Student Ambassador

LOANS - You can apply to the Student Loans Company for a student contribution loan.

CAO APPLICATION – The CAO will remain open until July 1st at 5pm. You can add courses and rearrange the order of your choices until this time free of charge. You can include 20 courses in total – ten at Level 8 and ten at Level 6 or 7.

WORLDWIDE DEGREE - A degree from ATU can take you anywhere in the world. We have graduates employed in every corner of the globe - there are no limits to what you can achieve.

LOCATION – As a multi-campus university, ATU offers students a diverse range of experiences, from bustling cities to wild Atlantic coastal regions, across the west and north-west of Ireland.

Learn more by visiting atu.ie/northernireland-applicants

students from our campuses. Some of our locations are also serviced by train lines, helping students commute on a daily or weekly basis. Most of our campuses also have good walking and cycling routes, allowing students to use their own or rented public bikes where available.

Student Discounts

A lot of our university location businesses offer student discounts. From the high street and boutique retailers to coffee shops, restaurants, and nights out – students can

enjoy savings on a variety of goods and services.

Food and Drink

Students can access the major supermarkets and a wide variety of restaurants. The ATU restaurants and cafes provide subsidised, healthy meals. There are lots of options daily to suit every taste – healthy, varied and cheap!

The FREE Stuff

Explore the great outdoors across the ATU region and the Wild Atlantic Way. Climb mountains, swim in the sea, and walk the beaches and picturesque locations. Stroll around the numerous weekly markets, take in the art collections, or join one of our 70 clubs and societies.

Looking after yourself

Whilst there are so many fun and exciting experiences to be had, we also realise students may need a little extra support and help from time to time. Here at ATU, our student health service and academic supports are completely free.

The Induction programme and Students' Union will also give you a chance to check out and perhaps join one (or more!) of the university’s many Clubs and Societies that cater to any interest you already have, or would like to develop, during your studies.

Free Course to prepare for University

A free, non-accredited foundation course is available at ATU, enabling students to access academic support before they enter university. It will help them hit the ground running and settle in quickly to the first semester. This selfdirected, interactive online course supports students in gaining a solid foundation in the key academic skills and writing standards required for third level. Any student can enrol in it at any time and learn at their own pace. Students can complete any or all of the units covering Academic Skills and Academic Writing. Students completing all units in the Academic Writing and Academic Skills Badges will be awarded the ATU Foundation Course digital badge. To enrol in this course or discover other free courses available at ATU. Please visit freecourses.atu.ie

ATU will be recruiting student ambassadors for the upcoming academic year. This programme is a great way to gain experience working at ATU events and outreach activities, getting involved with marketing by showcasing your ATU experience, and representing ATU students at important university events. There are lots of ways to get involved, so be sure to keep an eye on our social media posts in September to apply.

Online, Flexible & Professional Development

As leaders in flexible learning, ATU offers students fully accredited qualifications matched to industry demand in areas such as Science, Engineering, Design, Computing, Tourism, Education, Nursing, Business and much more. Built on our expertise and in collaboration with industry partners, our accredited courses support students at all stages, regardless of location, to access and continue lifelong learning, develop new skills, and advance

their careers.

With over 350 online, blended and oncampus courses now open for application for a September 2023 start, from Higher Certificate right up to Masters level, our graduates are equipped with the skills and confidence to excel in their chosen career.

Embark on your learning journey your way at ATU.

Visit www.atu.ie/flexible to view our full course list.

Architectural Technology Summer School for Secondary Students

ENGINEERING

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Unveils Cutting-Edge"Maker Space"

The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in ATU

Galway formally opened its Maker Space, housed in the Engineering Workshop, on Wednesday, 29th March 2023.

The Maker Space is a multi-use, creative educational space which houses a range of additive manufacturing technologies, such as a Laser Cutter, Vacuum Former, along with a bank of 3D Printers.

Housed within the same area are a suite of VR goggles for conceptual design, along with a 3D Scanner and Coordinate Measuring Machine which can be used to profile, reverse engineer and accurately precision measure components or parts. In the future the School of Engineering plans to add a bank of miniature CNC machines.

The Maker Space is currently used by students studying Engineering or Entrepreneurship programmes, but the School of Engineering hopes to make the area accessible to everyone.

Engineering students use the Maker Space to advance the design of protype or bespoke products by using the digital data stored in the CAD model.

Students like Roy Sheridan, who is studying Energy Engineering were first introduced to additive manufacturing when studying Manufacturing Engineering in stage 1 and have to use the technology assignment purposes. Roy has used the

technology to work on his Major project and said: “I love going down to the area to see the parts of my Major Project, Miniature CNC Machine, being made. From the project outset, I always knew I had to use additive manufacturing to accelerate my project. I engineered and adapted my design to best use the

technology.” The majority of the equipment in the Maker Space is funded by the Higher Education 4.0 project under HCI Pillar 3 which supports innovation, agility as a response to future skill needs.

To learn more about our range of engineering programmes on offer visit atu.ie/engineering-galway

CABE Honours ATU Civil Engineering Student

Ellen Ward for Top Grades in First Year

David Courtney from the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) presented the CABE Southern Ireland Region student bursary and certificate award to ATU student Ellen Ward at ATU Galway City campus in

ENGINEERING ATU GALWAY-MAYO

Unveiling the Future - Architectural Technology Students Host Public Exhibition

One of the highlights of the year in ATU

December.

Ellen, who is from Galway, achieved grades of over 80% in her first year of studies on the Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering programme in Atlantic Technological University (ATU). Civil

Engineering student Ellen won the accolade for her outstanding academic achievement during her first year of study in ATU Galway City. Ellen was delighted to receive the CABE award and is eagerly looking forward to commencing

her industrial placement this year. David Courtney congratulated Ellen and complimented her on the award, noting the commitment she had obviously put into her studies and wished her well on her industrial placement and future career.

Lecturer Malcolm Hosty said that Ellen had put exceptional effort and dedication into her studies and achieved remarkable results and thoroughly deserved the recognition that the CABE award brings.

During 2022, ATU Galway City Department of Building and Civil Engineering underwent a detailed accreditation process with CABE and now has 12 fully accredited programmes and awards with CABE including Construction Management, Architectural Technology, Civil Engineering and Quantity Surveying and Building Economics all at both ordinary and honours degree level.

Ashar Zafri is originally from Pakistan and moved to Ireland in 2016. He is a graduate of the Software and Electronic Engineering degree in ATU Galway City campus.

What did you enjoy most about studying at ATU in Galway?

ATU provided me with an excellent academic foundation and a thriving social environment. I have made connections that will last a lifetime.

What would you say to somebody interested in studying this degree?

Joining ATU has been a life-changing experience for me. It has opened countless opportunities within my career.

What career path did you pursue?

After graduating in 2022, I was fortunate enough to secure a job as a Customer Support Engineer for SAP in Galway.

An Architectural Technology Summer School will be held in ATU Galway City campus this June 12th-16th, from 10am-4pm each day. The Summer School will focus on entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation in the context of Architectural Technology. Students will learn about the built environment and the choices we make in relation to design, material choices, sustainability and more. The Summer School is for 14–17-year-olds in full time secondary school education who would like to experience a fun FREE week-long programme on the ATU Galway City campus, Dublin Road, Galway. Students will take part in group work and practical activities, from design understanding and idea generation, sketch design and model making using a variety of materials, 2D and 3D illustration and design. At the end of the week, there will be prizes for the top three teams based on the quality of their technical designs and/or business plans, and the pitching of those ideas to a small panel of judges. For more information check out atu.ie/resourcesforsecondaryschools-galway

HDip in Civil Engineering Accredited as Pathway to Chartered Engineer status

Galway is the annual Architectural Technology Exhibition in May where student projects are on display to the public on ATU Galway City, Dublin Road campus.

Mary Rogers, Head of the Department of Building & Civil Engineering in ATU Galway City, says:

“Our Architectural Technology graduates are more in demand than ever before, both for their detailing and analytical skills as well as their proficiency in Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Computer Aided Drawing (CAD), which are very real, marketable skills.”

ATU's Architectural Technology degree students also gain practical experience through a 13-week industrial placement. The programs are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) and Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), promoting a strong work ethic. As a student of Architectural Technology, you will be encouraged to appreciate

architectural design concepts and apply technical design principles in building development to meet the project brief, the regulatory requirements and the performance requirements for energy efficiency.

Practical modules are delivered in a studio environment using 2D and 3D modeling for sustainable design solutions. Projects progress in complexity throughout the program, culminating in the research

and analysis of existing building adaptation and upgrades. For more information on our Architectural Technology degrees, visit atu.ie/au637 (Level 8) and atu.ie/au537 (Level 7)

Engineering Lecturer Honoured with UK Award for work on Digital Open Badges

Students studying Software and Electronic Engineering organised a remarkable series of Scratch workshops in ATU Galway City for local national schools Radharc Na Mara and Gaelscoil Dara. From January to March 2023, these aspiring engineers devoted their time and expertise to empower young minds in their community.

They also teamed with Engineers’ Ireland to deliver classes as part of Engineers’ Week for Radharc Na Mara and Creagh National Schools.

A total of 151 children attended the workshops where ATU students shared their enthusiasm and technical knowledge as part of an elective Civic Engagement module.

The module gives students an opportunity to develop a sense of global citizenship and contribute to the achievement UN SDG 4 “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning for all.” ATU Galway City has developed close relationships with local schools since delivering its first workshop in 2012, continuing its mission to bridge the gap between academia and the local community.

For more information on our Software and Electronic Engineering degrees, visit atu.ie/au642 (level 8) and atu.ie/au542 (Level 7).

ATU Galway's Higher Diploma in Civil Engineering has received accreditation from Engineers Ireland, meeting the educational standard for Chartered Engineer. This program offers graduates a simpler route to the professional title of Chartered Engineer (CEng MIEI), a protected title under Irish Law. It enhances students' professional skills and employability, with collaboration from Engineers Ireland and employers. Graduates can apply for Chartered Engineer status through further learning or the standard route. The program was funded by the National Forum for Teaching & Learning, focusing on collaboration with Professional Bodies and Industry Partners. The next intake begins in September 2023, and applications are open at atu.ie/hdip-engineeringgalway.

ATU’s Dr Wayne Gibbons, lecturer in Civil Engineering, won the Association for Learning Technology (ALT) Learning Technologist of the Year (Individuals) 2022 award at the annual ALTC Conference in Manchester, UK. He is the first Irish academic to be awarded this international accolade.

The ALT Learning Technologist of the Year Awards revere excellent research, practice, and outstanding achievement in Learning Technology. The Awards have set a benchmark for outstanding achievement in Learning Technology on a national scale (UK) and attracts competitive entries internationally. An independent judging panel chaired by the President of ALT, reviews all entries. This award recognises the positive impact that Dr Gibbons doctoral study had on the learning and teaching experience in ATU Galway-Mayo. He investigated best practice for designing and implementing digital open badges into a module through engaging with students, lecturing staff, institute management and an employer over a three-year research period.

This research found that since the digital badges were implemented into the curriculum, an increase in motivation, engagement, confidence, peer learning, attendance and enhanced links to employability has been evident.

He says: “The badges are a great way to recognise and reward the types of attitudes and behaviours that are not captured in an exam or a numerical grade.

such as teamwork, mentoring, attitude to self-improvement and commitment to learning. These are traits that employers are keen to know about but can be difficult to provide evidence for. This allows them to tell the full story about their experience, not just their grades.”

To learn more about Civil Engineering at ATU Galway, checkout Dr Gibbons’ podcast 'Being Civil'.

ATU Students Partner with Local Primary Schools to Deliver Scratch Workshops

Jack Fleming, 3rd year Architectural Technology student with his project

SCIENCE AND COMPUTING

ATU Galway Physics Student Awarded €5k Scholarship from Huawei

ATU Sport and Exercise Science Graduate Awarded Best Oral Presentation at National Conference

Fueling Curiosity and Innovation: SciFest Draws Crowds of Secondary School Students to ATU Galway

ATU GALWAY-MAYO

SCIENCE AND COMPUTING

Public Health Nutrition Degree at ATU Galway

Accredited by the Association for Nutrition

ATU Science graduate, Colette Collins, from Mayo, won the 2022 SURE Network Award for Best Oral Presentation, at the Science Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Network Conference.

In October 2021, Colette completed a research project entitled “Exploring the Relationship between the Menstrual Cycle and Markers of Physical Performance in Inter-County Ladies Gaelic Football Players”. Colette, who graduated in 2022 with her BSc (Hons) in Sport & Exercise Science, recruited 20 Inter-County players during the pre-season training phase for this month-long study. Two distinct phases of the menstrual cycle were subsequently identified, the early follicular phase (day 1-5) and the mid-luteal phase (20-25).

The participants were tested during these two phases; via a 20m sprint test and a maximal jump height test. Overall, the participant’s sprint time decreased in the early follicular phase in comparison to the mid-luteal phase with no difference in jump height observed.

SciFest took place in ATU Galway City campus on Thursday May 11th with around 200 students presenting their projects on physical sciences, life sciences, and technology.

SciFest is an accessible and inclusive science fair that gives second level students an opportunity to explore the scientific method from observation to result and to present their work to third level and industry-based judges.

SciFest’s main objective is to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education as a forum for students at local/regional/national level to present and display their scientific investigations.

Huawei's “Seeds for the Future” ICT talentnurturing initiative awarded €250k in academic scholarships to 50 third-level STEM students in Ireland in 2022.

One of the winners was Christoph Brink, a 2nd year Physics student from ATU Galway City.

“My experience with the Seeds for the Future programme was fantastic.” said Christoph.

“It was great being among peers that were highly motivated, engaged and passionate, I truly felt like I was able to contribute meaningfully to the project with my own skillset, meanwhile I could trust my team-mates to look out for each other.

I think the stand-out experience has to be the Tech for Good project, we made a slide-deck for a recycling app "Toss It" that would incorporate machine learning and provide

useful information on what products and materials could be recycled, where the nearest recycling centre is, and gamifying the experience to build good recycling habits.”

€5,000 bursaries were awarded to 50 students, of which 40% were female, from DCU, UCD, University of Galway, UCC, Trinity College Dublin, TU Dublin, UL, MTU, ATU Galway City, South-East Technological University and Maynooth University.

Breaking Barriers: ATU Student Makes History as First Medical Science Representative in All-Ireland Challenge

ATU Medical Science student Éilish McDonnell was the first Medical Science student ever to participate in the All-Ireland Interprofessional Healthcare Challenge (AIPEC), hosted by

University of Galway on Friday 24th March.

AIPEC is an extracurricular competition for university students across all health disciplines, aimed to develop key skills in collaborative and effective teamwork across healthcare professionals.

Éilish McDonnell is a third-year Medical Science student at ATU, Galway City who is currently on clinical placement and joined the University of Galway/Saolta team along with students from Medicine, Nursing, Social Care, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy.

Teams from across Ireland’s Universities were tasked with presenting their management plan of a client with complex needs, demonstrating their expertise in teamwork and collaboration. It was a close competition with exceptional presentations from all. University of Dublin were crowned winners on the day.

To learn more about our Medical Science degree, check out atu.ie/au671

The successful students were selected based on their performance during this year’s initiative which took place online in October. Now in its eighth year, the 2022 Seeds for the Future programme received almost 500 applications. In total, there are 88 graduates of which 31 are female students.

To learn more about our Physics and Instrumentation degrees, check out atu.ie/au675 (Level 8) and atu.ie/au575 (Level 7)

“Qualitatively, all players reported experiencing menstrual cycle symptoms and 50% believed that these symptoms affected their playing performance. A qualitative survey analysis highlighted the lack of player awareness or understanding of the potential impact of the menstrual cycle on sport.” said Collette.

“The findings of this study indicated that women’s health should be considered during formal reviews of athlete performance and strategies should be implemented to encourage more open communication between coaches and their athletes.”

She was one of 61 students from six HEIs to present their research projects to an audience of 400 final-year undergraduate students.

To learn more about our Level 8 degree in Sport and Exercise Science, visit atu.ie/au662

Science Labs Achieve “My Green Lab” Sustainability Certification

The ATU Galway City campus has been awarded “My Green Lab” certification in recognition of trojan work by staff and students in making all teaching science laboratories on campus more sustainable.

“My Green Lab” certification is an international gold standard for best practice in laboratory sustainability which is recognised in the United Nations’ Race to Zero campaign as a key achievement in working towards a zero-carbon future.

Sustainable laboratory practices are key to preparing graduates who are sustainability-literate, environmentally conscious and capable of using green solutions in their future employment.

A dedicated team of staff and students worked towards improving

laboratory practices in all the teaching laboratories across ATU Galway’s School of Science & Computing.

Aileen Gill, Green Labs and Chemistry Technician at ATU Galway City says:

“We have reduced our use of energy, water and plastics across all our labs. For example, we have reduced single-use plastic cuvettes by 75% following a pilot study demonstrating that cuvettes could be reused in chemistry practical's without affecting experimental results”.

Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, says:

“Sustainability is very much to the fore in ATU, and the “My Green Lab” certification reflects the hard work of our staff and students in addressing sustainability goals on our campuses.”

Students can win a wide array of awards and the student that wins Best Project also has the opportunity to compete at a National and International level.

This year, Angelina O’Neill from Presentation College Headford was awarded the Best Project Award for her project "Comparing progression to STEM courses and careers between all girls and co-educational schools".

Diving Deep into Discovery: Celebrating 50 Years of Freshwater and Marine Biology at ATU

The BSc (Hons) in Public Health Nutrition at Atlantic Technological University, Galway, was awarded accreditation by the Association for Nutrition (AfN) in April 2023.

It is a mark of professionalism and indication of quality, assuring potential employers that graduates from an AfN accredited degree programme have covered relevant competencies and are bound by Standards of Ethics, Conduct and Performance.

The AfN governs the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN) and ATU Galway graduates can apply for direct entry to the UKVRN as Registered Associate Nutritionist.

The programme helps graduates stand out in the jobs market for a variety of roles in health promotion and public health nutrition as well as opportunities in food and nutrition-related industries such as research, product development, food safety, regulation, consumer information and

marketing. Dr Evelyn Hannon Linnane, a registered public health nutritionist and programme chair of ATU Galway City's Public Health Nutrition programme said “We are delighted to receive our AfN accreditation. This is a practical-based course, grounded in science, designed to fully prepare graduates to make a strong impact in the workforce.”

Further details on the BSc (Hons) in Public Health Nutrition degree can be found at atu.ie/au663

some aspects before starting the course. There is a great balance between practical labs and lecturers. I’m not a fan of big, long essays, I love the practical nature of our projects and creating apps.

Freshwater and Marine Biology has been taught at ATU Galway City for 50 years.

Incoming first year students join a community of almost 300 staff and students studying and researching Freshwater and Marine Biology. Students benefit from the applied nature of the degrees featuring extensive practical and fieldwork, as well as a work placement. Many graduates go on to work in a range of roles in marine and freshwater ecology.

Students who opt for further study can complete postgraduate degrees in ATU such as the MSc in Conservation Behaviour, or the MSc in Applied Marine Conservation.

ATU also provides research opportunities for PhDs in the Marine and Freshwater Research Centre at ATU Galway City campus with a community of more than 30 PhD students and 38 academic and research staff.

For more informaion on our Applied Freshwater and Marine Biology degrees, go to atu.ie/au655 (Level 8) and atu.ie/au555 (Level 7)

Mary McDonnell is a current 2nd year student of the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computing in Software Development, and a past pupil of St. Cuans College, Castleblakeney Co. Galway . We asked Mary about her time studying at ATU Galway and her future plans.

Why did you choose to study Software Development in ATU Galway?

Initally, I was unsure of what I wanted to study in college. I heard this course was great and that a degree in computing could advance me into many career choices.

What are your favourite modules?

Anything in the computer labs, probably procedural programming, where you learn different languages that create different types of effects for the projects you design.

I also enjoy the math's modules.

What did you enjoy most about the course?

That the lecturers teach everything from scratch, and I wasn’t expected to know

Advice for anyone interested in studying this degree?

If you have an interest in this degree, go for it! It's interesting and diverse, you get so much support from your lecturers. The small class sizes really help in making friends too.

What career path do you hope to follow after graduating?

I’m not sure of my career path yet as there are many possibilities; I would like to see myself working in a software company in Ireland after graduation, with lots of opportunity to travel too. Technology is advancing with such speed that the job I could go into in a few years may not exist yet!

Learn about our Computing in Software degrees on atu.ie/au676 (Level 8), atu.ie/au576 (Level 7)

Angelina O’Neill and Hugo Rowsome, Project Manager at SciFest, with her award.

ATU GALWAY-MAYO Irish Hospitality Institute Graduate of Year Awards

GALWAY INTERNATIONAL HOTEL SCHOOL

Culinary and Hospitality Students win France-Ireland Competition with Innovative, Sustainable Menu

Two ATU students have won the France Ireland Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism (FICAHT)

Strand Two competition in France. Adam Walsh, a second year Culinary and Gastronomic Science student and Emma Ryan, a second year International Hotel Management student represented ATU at the competition.

The FICAHT network brings together French and Irish Higher and Further Education Institutions delivering education and training in Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism, encouraging student mobility, developing EU-wide programmes through the Erasmus+ scheme. FICAHT is supported by the Embassy of France in Ireland, the Higher Education Authority, the Irish Embassy in France, and Campus France.

Irish students are partnered with French students and through a series of interactions; teams develop, plan, and serve a threecourse menu with drinks celebrating Irish and French produce. The competition’s theme was Innovation, Teamwork and Sustainability. Locally sourced Irish and French ingredients were at the heart of the

BUSINESS ATU GALWAY-MAYO

Three graduates from the Galway International Hotel School at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) were selected among five finalists for the Irish Hospitality Institute Hospitality Graduate of the Year award; Róisín Corrigan and Max Reid from Co Wicklow, and Hannah Smyth from Co Waterford.

The competition is open to all higher education institutes in Ireland to nominate graduates, who went through a rigorous online screening process. A panel of industry judges selected five finalists for an interview in October, with the winner announced at the event.

The gala event was held in Dublin in November 2022. Over 550 attendees from across the Irish Tourism and Hospitality industry witnessed 13 awards and four individuals enrolled as Fellows of the Irish Hospitality Institute (FIHI).

ATU Business Students and Sta Tour

European Institutions in Frankfurt, Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Brussels

Digital Accounting: Developing Future-proof Accountants for the Evolving Business Environment

menu. Their choice of centrepiece was a 3dimensional mimosa tree which had different audio features and was decorated with both French and Irish herbs and flowers. ATU students teamed with Juliette

Grell and Alexis Wiard from the Lycée Savary, Ferry, Arras tutored by Mathieu Scipilliti. Judges commented that the standard of food and service was equivalent to a Michelin star restaurant.

Discover Ireland's Rich Rail History with a New Digital Map

Eighteen students studying BA in Heritage in ATU Galway City, have completed a two-year project as part of a module, Geographic Information System (GIS).

The project was to map the historical rail

network for the Island of Ireland and make this data freely available to the public. The project was launched at Ceannt Station in Galway city on Thursday, 4 May 2023 by Mayor of

Galway City Cllr Clodagh Higgins.

The new resource has brought the rich heritage of Ireland’s rail history to life with an online open-source resource showing all of Ireland’s rail network past and present.

It was developed with the support of Iarnród Éireann, and the generous assistance of Stephen Johnson, whose printed Atlas and Gazetteer of the Railways of Ireland from 1997 has been a much sought after reference guide. It was also collated from the national archive of architectural heritage.

Available to the public through atu.ie/heritagemaps and the Iarnród Éireann website www.irishrail.ie, the online resource will allow users to explore the historical rail lines across the island of Ireland.

For more information on our heritage degrees, visit atu.ie/au625 (Level8), atu.ie/au525 (Level 7) and atu.ie/au425 (Level 6)

Celebrating 50 Years of Culinary & Hospitality Education

The 26th of April marked 50 years of excellence in Hospitality and Culinary education in our Galway campus with a Jubilee celebratory dinner.

Galway International Hotel School (GIHS) has an international reputation in offering courses to support the Culinary, Hospitality, Event, Tourism and Heritage Industry. We were the first higher education institute in Ireland in 1977 to award degrees in Hotel Management and have successful alumni networks across the world. For information on all our courses, work placement and careers check out atu.ie/gihs

Beginning his career at age 15 Andrew Ryan worked in a fine dining restaurant, Idás, in Dingle. There, he fell in love with the pastry kitchen. After three years of working Andrew decided to take the next step in his career by studying Culinary Arts at ATU.

Andrew started the programme in 2016 and graduated in 2019. The programme taught Andrew cooking fundamentals. He worked in Restaurant Le M in France for his three-month placement.

Andrew also competed in the IFEX National Culinary competition with the support of the college, he was awarded a silver medal.

Andrew’s final placement was at Ashford Castle. At age 21, Andrew was in his first Sous Chef position. After over four years at Ashford, Andrew moved on to work in a one Michelin Star restaurant and later, took the position of Head Chocolatier at Grá Chocolates.

Andrew has since returned to Ashford Castle where he is now the Executive Pastry Chef.

Andrew Ryan, graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Business in Culinary Arts which has recently been redesigned to Bachelor of Arts in Gastronomy Science and Food Innovation. Visit atu.ie/531 for more information.

In January, students and staff of the School of Business in ATU - Galway City completed an impressive five-day tour of four countries, visiting European Institutions in Frankfurt, Strasbourg, Luxembourg, and Brussels. Ronan Sheridan of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt gave the students an in-depth description of the ECB’s role in Europe. The students were guests of Maria Walsh, MEP when visiting the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where they were able to view the parliament in session and afterwards attended presentations given by MEPs. During the trip to the European Court of Auditors (ECA), the students were addressed by the President of the ECA, Mr. Tony Murphy and Emily O’Reilly EU Ombudsman. This was followed by a visit to the European Court of Justice where judges gave the students presentations on the work of the Court of Justice and its role with the Irish legal system.

A visit to the European Investment Bank gave a look into the work of the EIB in supporting infrastructure projects in Ireland and across Europe.

On the final day of the trip the students visited the European Commission building in Brussels. During the trip, the students also visited two World War 2 cemeteries,

one American and one German.

Sinead Ryan, fourth year student in Economics & Finance said “The trip was an amazing experience! It was a once in a lifetime opportunity it really helped me in

my studies, as we cover the European Institutions and European monetary policy in our course.”

To learn more about our business courses, check out atu.ie/business-galway

ATU Students' Business Ideas Win Them Places on Coveted Student Inc. Programme

Two ATU students and a graduate have won coveted places for their business ideas in the Student Inc Programme. Each student receives office space in ATU’s Innovation Hub, €4,000 seed funding and access to a network of entrepreneurs, trainers, mentors and investors.

Shane Lydon graduated in 2021 with a

BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering (product design stream), and supervised by his lecturer David Keary. During his final year project, he investigated the optimisation of a cooling system for a liquid-cooled two-stroke engine. Using Ansys Software he tested potential systems, researched operating conditions and material properties, and determined

factors which improve cooling efficiency where the project yielded significant results.

His business idea “A bladeless modular wind power generation device” shows Shane utilising his knowledge and skills learned over the four years of the programme to develop an emerging technology.”

Mairead Clarke, final year student on the Bachelor of Business (Hons) programme, was supervised by her ATU lecturer Dr Miriam McSweeney who helped develop the prototype using SAP’s Design Thinking methodology. “It’s wonderful to see the fruits of our collaboration with SAP enabling student progression.

Mairead took this excellent business idea and built this prototype software application which people all over the country will welcome on their mobile devices.”

Paul Daly, final year student on the BSc (Hons) Business Information Systems, was supervised by his lecturer Kevin Derrane who says: “It’s beyond heart-warming to see a student’s work come together in this way. Through his own initiative Paul was able to bring his idea “EmployMe” to a place none of us could have imagined.”

The speed of global technological developments has changed the business environment and the role of accountants in this evolving world. Accountants are expected to add value and support decision making by integrating their financial knowledge with new technologies. The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Digital Accounting will provide accounting graduates with traditional accounting competencies and applied digital technology skills, ensuring graduates have the skillset to operate in current and future business environments.

This four-year, level 8 programme (including a placement) offers a direct pathway into a full-time career in accounting, decision making, systems accounting, digital auditing, process design, business and data analytics, blockchain, and other disciplines.

Lecturers on this programme are highly qualified professional accountants and digital technology specialists, many acting as examiners and lecturers for the professional accounting bodies.

This is a future proof, leading programme in this emerging area. The knowledge, skills, and competencies of the future graduates of this programme are critical and in short supply.

Aidan Clifford, Technical Director with ACCA Ireland (one of the world’s largest Accounting Professional Bodies) said:

“The ATU Galway Digital Accounting degree will provide the skills that add value and support decision-making for future business leaders. This degree will ensure that graduates start working at the higher end of the value chain immediately on graduation.”

To learn more, check out atu.ie/au607

Business Degrees Update at ATU Galway: Practical, Future-proofed, and Flexible

ATU Galway City has revamped its Business degrees, which will start this September. The new courses come with a range of features, including work placements, practical learning in computer labs, teamwork projects, and an opportunity to earn additional accreditations from the Digital Academy, such as Microsoft Accreditation, Quality awards, and other qualifications. The courses are applied and designed collaboratively with employers. Students can change their degree course in the first two years, based on their interests and skills. The work placement option helps students kick-start their career, with many students receiving employment offers from their placement organisations. The courses have been designed to ensure students gain critical skills, such as project management, teamwork, critical thinking, and initiative. The hands-on approach, using case studies, brings business subjects to life, providing a unique and future-proofed educational experience.

The winning team from ATU Ireland and Lycée Christian Bourquin – L to R: Emma Ryan, Adam Walsh, Juliette Grell and Alexis Wiard.

ATU School of Business students at the EU Parliament building in Strasbourg with MEPs Maria Walsh, Deirdre Clune and Sean Kelly

ATU GALWAY-MAYO Graduate Exhibition Spotlights Creativity

GALWAY CITY WELLPARK ROAD

Teaching Students Embrace Nature to Create Art Sculpture on Lettergesh Beach in Connemara

CONNEMARA ATU GALWAY-MAYO

Out of the Woods - An Exhibition of Furniture Designed and Made by Final Year Students

An exhibition of furniture designed by final year students of the B.Sc (Hons) in Furniture Design and Manufacture programme was showcased in the gallery space of Joyce’s Craft Shop Recess, Connemara. The winner of the inaugural Joyce’s Craft Shop Design & Make Award was announced at the opening reception on Wednesday the 10th of May. Matthew Sexton was the deserving recipient of the award along with a cheque for €1000 kindly sponsored by Mark Joyce. Mathew’s chair was inspired by the intersecting joints of construction scaffolding fixtures and demonstrated an innovative approach to the design brief which was created by ATU Connemara

lecturer Jeremy Madden. Joyce's Craft Shop, since the '60s, and the Recess gallery showcase top Irish craft highlighting design and quality. The Design & Make Award by Joyce's Craft Shop supports Irish design and craftsmanship standards for emerging designers. Our next exhibition, ‘Trees to Treasure’ showcasing excellence and innovation in furniture, design, manufacturing, technology and education by our students, staff and graduates will be taking place will be taking place in Farmleigh Gallery, Farmleigh, Dublin which runs this Summer from 19th May to 27th August 2023. Details of these exhibitions and the students work can be viewed on Instagram @atuconnemara

First year student teachers of our Art and Design & Communication Graphics degree spent a day on Lettergesh beach in Connemara as part of their Creative Disciplines - Art and Design module. Students worked collaboratively with local natural materials like stones and seaweed to create an amazing art sculpture. Graduates of this programme, which is accredited by the Teaching Council, will be qualified to teach post-primary subjects of Art and Design & Communication Graphics. For more information on this course, check out atu.ie/au620

Work Begins on State-of-the-Art Creative Enterprise Hub

On April 20th this year, Simon Coveney, TD, Minister for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, placed a ceremonial brick officially marking the construction of the CREW Creative Enterprise Hub located at ATU’s Galway City (Wellpark Road) campus.

The state-of-the-art CREW Creative Enterprise Hub is the first hub in the West region focused on the development of startup and early-stage companies in the Creative Industries.

The CREW Hub will provide shared and own-door enterprise space, collaboration areas and event space. It will house 150 Creative Technology and Creative Digital entrepreneurs in game development, animation, immersive technology, content creation and digital design.

CREW was founded by Atlantic Technological University Galway City (Wellpark Road), the Western Development Commission and Ardán.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Coveney said he was delighted to be in Galway to take part in the brick laying ceremony and to see, via VR, the completed state-of-art

CREW Creative Enterprise Hub.

“Creative Technology is emerging as a key area of opportunity, with the convergence of art, design, and technology opening new possibilities for businesses and entrepreneurs in the region to drive economic growth. The acceleration and

Commendations for Students at Irish Wood Awards

Each year the final year students from Art, Design, and Film and Documentary, hold a Graduate Exhibition showcasing their work from the past year.

On June 2nd, the exhibition will be launched in ATU Galway City, Wellpark Road and opens to the public on Saturday, June 3rd, for one week. To view work from our students, check out our online gallery on atu.ie/sdca-gallery

Change Makers Exhibit Highlights New Irish Designers

development of Irish companies through facilities like this is supported by my Department through Enterprise Ireland and I would like to congratulate Atlantic Technological University Galway City, the Western Development Commission, Ardán and Enterprise Ireland on this.”

“We See You, We Hear You” Art Installation Marks COPE Galway 40th Anniversary

A new art installation in Galway City, commissioned by the charity COPE has been unveiled to mark the domestic abuse network's 40th anniversary.

The sculpture titled, "We See You, We Hear You", was created by ATU Galway City, Wellpark Road graduate, Maura Finnegan, who collaborated with women

that have used COPE's domestic abuse service and members of its staff.

The work is made up of seven display cases on plinths with six containing:

"Heads sculpted from plaster that depict different women. Each one has a QR code that plays an audio recording of an anonymous COPE Galway service user

telling the story of her real experience of domestic abuse."

The seventh box is left empty to represent the women who have lost their lives because of domestic violence.

Details of exhibitions, students and alumni work can be viewed on Instagram @artatugalway

Design Week Ireland 2022 is a week-long national programme of event convened by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI).

The Change Makers exhibit as part of Design Week 2022 was a curated selection of graduate work spanning the disciplines of Textiles and Fashion Design, Graphic Design and Illustration, Animation and Product Design hosted on ATU Galway City Campus, Wellpark rd, 14th November 2022.

The selected works showcased our new Irish designers as they explore themes of concern within contemporary society.

The Irish Wood Awards is an annual event organised by Forest Industries Ireland. This event is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Enterprise Ireland, The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, Rotary Ireland, Society of Irish Foresters and Design & Crafts Council of Ireland.

ATU Connemara students Daniel Stratford and Maighread Bussmann were two of seven third-level Wood Design, Research and Furniture projects that were shortlisted in the RIAI Irish Wood Awards 2022. Highly commended was Luke O’Connor for his research ‘a guide to estimate the carbon footprint of furniture using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). For information on the courses available at ATU Connemara visit atu.ie/connemara

Industry Day Brings Employers and Students Together

Luke O’Connor is a past pupil of Boherbue Comprehensive School, Co.Cork and now a graduate of our Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Furniture Design and Manufacture. We asked him about his time studying in ATU Connemara, his work placement and his current role now as a recent graduate.

What did you like most about studying Furniture Design and Manufacture?

Studying Furniture Design and Manufacture at ATU Connemara was an amazing experience for me. The practical classes in the first year were engaging, and we covered all basics of the course. I enjoyed living in nearby student accommodation and joining the football team.

Can you tell me about your work placement?

For my work placement in the third year, I assisted makers in the workshop and installation of finished pieces at Joseph Walsh Studio in Cork. This was a great opportunity to learn more about the design and manufacturing process.

What did you enjoy most about studying in ATU Connemara?

I loved the practical side of the degree along with the great friends and supportive lectures there.

During my final year I found we were really being prepared for industry, we did project management, CAD/CAM along with a major project. I feel very privileged to have received the James & Mary Elis Award, at the end of the year based off a piece of work I had made, along with commitment and character as a student in ATU Connemara.

Any advice for students considering ATU Connemara on their CAO?

I loved my time there, it's got great facilities and staff and I‘d highly recommend ATU Connemara for anyone interested in design or working with their hands.

This March, ATU Connemara held an on-campus Industry Day. This event provided the students with a chance to learn about the wide range of successful companies operating in the wood and interiors sector in Ireland. 14 companies presented either in person or online. Each representative gave an overview of their company and the placement and job opportunities that are available to students.

Presentations were followed by a panel discussion where students could ask questions.

Events like this are important to network with industry and help 2nd year students choose a placement company for their year-long placement in 3rd year. These events also inform 4th years about the career options available to them after graduation in June.

What career path did you choose after graduating?

After graduating, I was offered a full-time role at Joseph Walsh Studio, where I continue to learn from talented individuals from diverse backgrounds in the industry.

MOUNTBELLEW ATU GALWAY-MAYO

Top Prize for Champion Beef Cow

ATU Mountbellew, one of Ireland’s leading universities offers undergraduate programmes in AgriBusiness, Agri-Engineering, and Agri-Science. With 169 hectares, students benefit from practical, hands-on experience on our working farm. This gives the students invaluable experience for future career opportunities.

ATU Mountbellew has a cow dairy herd with over 80 pedigree Holstein, and dry stock with 60 cow sucklers, 60-unit calf to beef enterprise, and a sheep flock of 250 ewes. A 4-year-old Limousin cow from ATU’s Mountbellew dry stock unit born and raised on the farm won first prize from the Ballinasloe Mart on the 8th of March 2023.

The Limousin cow won “Champion Beef Cow” in the “Beef Cow Class” for being “top of her class.”

John Hurley, Dry Stock Unit Manager at ATU Mountbellew prepared and looked after the winning cow.

Celebrating the Life and Work of a Trailblazing Veterinarian

The Aleen Cust Centenary Conference celebrated the life and work of the first woman to become a veterinary surgeon in Ireland and the UK. The two-day event in ATU Mountbellew in August 2022, hosted a wide range of lectures, talks and demonstrations. Guests included: Maria Walsh MEP, Professor Siobhan Mullan, Professor Temple Grandin, Natasha Meunier, Donal Connolly, Dr Martina Moloney, Dr Denis G. Marnane and other members of the academic, veterinary and agricultural community.

Aleen Cust was the Veterinary Inspector for Mountbellew district from 1905-1915 and assisted in treating horses during WWI in France. In 1924, she sold her property and moved to England due to strict gender roles after the Irish Rising.

Despite this, Cust remained interested in veterinary work, travelling extensively and visiting schools and abattoirs on behalf of the Royal Society for the Prevention of

Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). Cust passed away during a visit to Jamaica in 1937. Her grave was unknown until December 2021, when Mountbellew veterinarian Brendan

One, Two, Three, Four!

ATU Mountbellew had an outstanding number of lamb triplets and quadruplets this lambing season!

Over 200 ewes were in the maternity ward this year with a total number of 32 ewes having triplets and one ewe having quadruplets. It was a busy time for the students helping lamb the ewes when onsite for college and giving a helping hand to the farm unit manager, John Hurley.

To ease the pressure off the mother of the ewe with quadruplets, two of the lambs were fed by mother while the other two were fed artificially by 'The Shepherdess'.

The Shepherdess is a unique lamb milk feeder delivering warm, fresh milk to the lambs twenty-four-hours a day. Alongside feeding from the mother this is the best method of artificially feeding and eliminates the need for bottle feeding. It reduces labour for the farmer and will benefit the lambs in future as they will grow faster and leads to an earlier weaning time.

Learn more about our working farm and facilities, visit atu.ie/mountbellew

MAYO ATU GALWAY-MAYO

CORU Approved Social Care programmes in ATU Mayo

ATU Mayo’s Social Care programmes are approved by CORU, which ensures graduates will be eligible for registration with the new Social Care Workers Register in Ireland

The Atlantic Technological University Mayo has received approval from the regulatory body, CORU, to deliver their social care programmes. Significant work, engagement and change has been invested over the last 5 years to secure CORU’s approval. This approval will further secure the development of the School of Health, Well-Being and Society in the Mayo Campus and will give confidence to the wider social care sector for qualified professional graduates in the years ahead.

ATU Alumni Welcomes President Joe Biden to Ballina

Gardiner, a member of the Aleen Cust Memorial Society, located it with the assistance of Brian Denning, the Irish Consul in Kingston.

Immersive Farm Machinery Simulation Puts Students in the Driving Seat

ATU Mountbellew received funding for two Farm Machinery Simulators by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine via Teagasc for student training with an emphasis on farm safety.

The simulator is designed to provide an immersive, realistic experience for farmers and agricultural professionals. With the Agricultural Driving Simulator, users can improve their driving skills, learn about different types of machinery and terrain, and improve their efficiency and productivity.

The driving simulator features cutting-edge technology and intuitive controls that make it easy to use and incredibly realistic.

Rob Lally is a past student of St. Colmans College, Claremorris and a graduate of our Bachelor of Business in Rural Enterprise and Agri-Business. We asked Rob about his time studying in ATU Mountbellew and ATU Galway and what he is up to now.

Why did you choose to study Agri-Business?

To be honest I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after school, but I knew I definately enjoyed the more practical aspects of school. I didn’t really know if third level was for me at all. My guidance teacher at secondary school encouraged me to explore my interest in agriculture which lead me to starting my journey in ATU Mountbellew. Firstly doing the Green Certificate, followed by the Diploma in Dairy Herd, and then chose to progress into a degree in Rural Enterprise and Agri-Business.

What did you enjoy most about the course?

Whilst studying at the Mountbellew campus I developed one of the most successful Macra Na Feirme clubs in the Higher Education setting, and developed strong friendships, networks and connections during this time.

Your favourite modules?

You’d suprise yourself what you’d enjoy when you're interested in it, business communications and negotiations along with rural development were definitely the ones outside of the practical modules I enjoyed most.

Advice for anyone interested in studying this degree?

The balance between labs and lecturers' is great, along with the small class sizes. The lectures are always there to help you out just don’t be afraid to ask when you need it. Get involved in clubs and societies, its a great way to make friends and contacts for the future.

What has been your career path since you graduated?

Well I’m a full-time beef farmer, work as a sales representative for Agri-Lloyd Ireland and to keep me a little more busier I’m now the newly elected Vice President for Macra Na Feirme.

Dr Deirdre Garvey, Head of Department of Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences, said: “The approval is attributed to the commitment of our staff, students and stakeholders in the region over the past number of years. It means that, from now on, our social care graduates will be eligible to register on CORU’s Social Care Register, when the register opens later this year.”

Finally, the Head of School of Health Sciences Wellbeing and Society and Vice President for ATU Mayo Dr Justin Kerr acknowledges the outstanding commitment shown by the Social Sciences staff members, particularly during the application process Justin says: “This was a challenging process particularly through

Ballina

the pandemic, however, it was important that a regulated professional social care program is available at ATU Mayo and the team are passionate that the region has access to top class graduates in this field.”

For more information on our Applied Social Care degrees, go to atu.ie/au696 (Level 8) and atu.ie/au593 (Level 7).

Explore Human Behaviour and the Mind with ATU Mayo’s Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Psychology

ATU Mayo’s new Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology (AU698) is an exciting four-year, level 8 degree providing graduates with a broad and comprehensive foundation in Psychology—the study of human behaviour and the mind. Students will focus on psychology throughout the entirety of their degree with a major attribute of this programme being the work placement in Year 3. Students gain hands-on experience of the application of psychology.

In Year 4, students complete a research project in their chosen area of interest –

From Croagh Patrick to Niagara Falls

In February 2023, ten students from the Early Childhood Education and Care programme in ATU Mayo went on a once-in-a-lifetime study visit to Niagara College School of Community Studies, Early Childhood Education programme. They were led by Louise Kilbane, lecturer ATU Galway-Mayo and accompanied by Dr Justin Kerr, Vice President ATU Mayo and Dr Rita Melia lecturer ATU GalwayMayo, and a céad míle fáilte was extended to the Irish group.

Travelling on the yellow school bus daily was a treat for students and lecturers, the bus and the bus drivers facilitated transport to the different Niagara College campuses and on the group’s social activities. The students

Challenging the Rock in Spain

integrating knowledge gained across the 4 years.

The degree has been designed to align closely with the requirements of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), providing a broad base in the core areas of biological psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, individual differences, and research methods. ATU Mayo aims to receive PSI accreditation before the first student cohort finish, which will enhance career opportunities for graduates. For more information on our new Psychology degree, go to atu.ie/au698

immersed themselves in the natural beauty of Niagara, seeing Niagara from the sky and exploring above, below and behind Niagara Falls, with some on a zip wire! They also spent an evening at the Ice Dogs, Ice Hockey game with staff and Niagara College students who had visited ATU in October 2022. The visit was an excellent opportunity to progress discussions between ATU and Niagara college across a range of programmes, not only in Early Childhood Education, but also in Nursing and possibly even wine making! Students and lecturers were immersed in teaching, peer learning, sustained shared thinking, social and cultural activities during a packed and exciting study week.

They discussed the approach to early childhood education in both countries. This identified many synergies, particularly in relation to the value and importance of play, partnerships with families and communities, and the potential of outdoor early childhood education and care provision. The common theme of keeping the child at the heart of all they do was core to students and lecturers from both institutions. The study trip facilitated students and staff to build friendships and professional relationships, making this part of a comprehensive strategic partnership between Atlantic Technological University and Niagara College most worthwhile.

Each year in January, ATU Mayo Outdoor Education students spend a week rock-climbing on the Costa Blanca in Spain. A famed climbing destination, even in winter. During the autumn, the students will have learned all the techniques and rope skills required in a variety of locations in Ireland including, the Burren in Clare, Killary in Mayo and Dalkey in Dublin. Sun is nearly guaranteed in Spain, even in January, and there is bolted climbing of all grades in beautiful locations. The trip is a great mix of learning, challenge and fun; also forms forms a key part of preparation for the RockClimbing Instructor Training course. That course is one of the many National Governing body adventure instructor courses which are offered as part of ATU Mayo's Outdoor Education degrees.

Photo: John Hurley, Eilish Curley Manager of Ballinasloe Livestock Mart and Edna Curley, Head of Centre, Mountbellew Campus. Photo by Gerry Stronge Photography.

In April 2023, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, visited his ancestral town of Ballina in County Mayo as the last part of his four-day State visit to Ireland.

councillor Mark Duffy, a former ATU Mayo Students Union President, had the pleasure to meet and welcome President Biden to the stage to address the 27,000 people gathered on the banks of the river Moy, and those watching live from around the world.

Student Zach Wright climbing Mahjong on a recent climbing trip to Spain. Photo credit: Alex Russell, ATU Outdoor Education student.

Why have one reality when you can have two?

STUDENT LIFE

Oisin Kelly a past pupil of Banagher College, Co. Offaly and a graduate of our BA in Graphic Design & Illustration. We asked Oisin about his time studying at ATU Galway City, Wellpark Road and what he is up to now.

Why did you choose Graphic Design & Illustration?

I had a huge love for design, art, and music growing up. It was always going to be this route for me, all I wanted every Christmas as a kid was the next big pack of Crayola markers or an art kit. As I grew older, I became heavily interested in DJing, streetwear and poster design. My biggest influences would be the late Virgil Abloh or Daniel Arsham. I’m passionate about good design but also how design can be used outside of the realm of materialism for doing good in the world.

What did you enjoy most about the degree?

The ability to tailor it to your interests.

I’m big into my music so it was important for me to be able to immerse myself in this area and focus on poster designs, album covers, stage designs and motion graphic promo material. This is a huge advantage of the BA Design course that no matter what your interests are you can find your niche and establish yourself within that field.

Your favourite modules?

Design Thinking, Art History and Digital Media.

Advice for anyone interested in studying this degree?

If you love art and design, but also crave the freedom to explore different pathways within the field of design this is the course for you.

What have you done since you graduated?

Since graduating in 2020 I continued my studies and completed my MA in Motion

BUSINESS STUDIES

Final Year Accountancy Student with Great Career Prospects

Joshua Gillen from Moville in County

Donegal is a final year accountancy student on the fast-track three-year degree programme based on the Letterkenny campus. This programme allows students to complete an honours degree in three years, rather than the traditional four.

When you graduate from ATU, you get exemptions from ACCA and Chartered Accountants Ireland which is a great head start. Professional exams require lots of preparation and they are also expensive, so this is a great part of the accountancy degree at ATU” explains Joshua.

and these companies are global and have lots of international opportunities. In the future I hope to be based at an international office”, says Joshua.

There is no doubt that Joshua will enjoy an excellent career while following his travel dreams!

Nicola Denning is a past pupil of Coláiste Muire, Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, Co. Mayo and a graduate of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in General Nursing.

Nicola tells us about her time studying in ATU Mayo, her career to date to her current role as a Clinical Placement Coordinator

Why you choose to study General Nursing in ATU Mayo

Growing up with a paramedic father, I was drawn to the nursing world's compassionate nature.

I chose to study nursing in ATU Mayo as it was a local campus to me with small class sizes and the choices in clinical placements between Mayo, Galway and Roscommon from district hospitals, private hospitals, palliative care and a

range of different speciality areas.

Your favourite modules?

My favourite modules throughout were the clinical skills and getting an understanding of the fundamentals of nursing.

What did you enjoy most about the course?

The lecturers in ATU Mayo really take

Graphics at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland. I now work as a designer for Orreco, the leading provider of bioanalytics for the NBA, NFL and Premier League.

I also run the audio-visual events company This Is Verve and design posters for various club nights in Ireland and the UK.

the time to invest, support and develop your knowledge and understanding. You weren't just a number to them or a face in the crowd, they knew you by name and became such mentors to me. My classmates were also amazing, all so friendly and supportive.

Advice for anyone interested in studying this degree?

For those considering studying nursing, it's a fulfilling and rewarding career that offers the opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives. With endless progression opportunities and an internationally recognised qualification, the world is your oyster. As a nurse, you'll be there from the beginning of life to the end, providing comfort and support to those who need it most.

What have you done since you graduated?

Since graduating, I’ve worked in a private hospital and ambulance services before progressing to a career in midwifery, with experience in neonatal intensive care and completing a masters of nurse education. Currently, I’m working as a clinical placement coordinator at Mayo University Hospital, supporting future nurses.

Ogie Hollywood a past pupil of Moate Community School in County Westmeath and a graduate of our BB in Business and BB (Hons) in Finance and Economics.

Why did you choose to study Business and then Finance and Economics?

I think I was always quite interested in business and entrepreneurship growing up, so I chose to do a general business and then I specialised in economics and finance for my 4th year.

What did you enjoy most about the degree?

I loved the practicality of the course, and how close it was to business in the real world in terms of doing case study-based projects. Large portions of the modules were continuous assessment as opposed to just all based on the final exam which I liked. There's a lot of practical information about marketing, business, HR, finances that were quite applicable to the real world and it wasn't just all very heavily textbook orientated.

What were your favourite modules?

The entrepreneurship-based modules were always very enjoyable for me. I love kind of brainstorming and ideating around different business plans and business models and putting together different business plans for those businesses.

Advice for anyone interested in studying this degree?

I think the very good base to give you a good knowledge and a good understanding of business, I would say beyond that try, learn the practical skills, and put them into practice as much as you can.

What has been your career path to date?

After graduating from ATU, I founded a not-forprofit for mental health with SCCUL Enterprises in Galway. Later, I worked for Bank of New York Mellon Corp. in collateralising debt obligations and working directly with client relationship managers before receiving a job offer from Google's marketing solutions team. Now in Bali Indonesia, I own a digital marketing agency called High Performance Digital, where we specialise in Google advertising solutions for e-commerce companies. I also have a secondary local business here in Indonesia in property development.

Joshua chose accountancy after studying business studies at second level. He found that he enjoyed the accountancy side of business more than theoretical topics and decided accountancy was the route for him. He began to look at his options and asked practicing accountants what they thought was important when choosing a degree.

“I was told that the main thing to look at when choosing a degree in accountancy was the exemptions the programme would entitle you to upon graduation. ATU Donegal had all the exemptions that programmes in bigger cities had. This allowed me to study closer to home, avoid college debt and get the same degree that I would get if I studied further afield” says Joshua.

“When you complete a degree in accountancy, you must then sit professional exams to become a practicing accountant.

Now completing his final year, Joshua has an abundance of opportunities awaiting him upon graduation. He has four job offers from global companies; KPMG, Grant Thornton, Ernest & Young, and Mazars.

“I accepted a position with Grant Thornton and I look forward to this next chapter in my journey. I will begin as an auditor and complete auditing training with the company for the first three years. I am fortunate that the company will also put me through the rest of my professional exams. After this, I will be a fully qualified accountant.”

Joshua will move to Galway after graduation to take up the position in the Galway City offices. “I am just delighted to have these opportunities. Studying closer to home rather than in the larger cities has allowed me to avoid debt and set me up for my future. I have always wanted to travel,

If you'd like to find out more about the BBus (Hons) in Accounting, visit www.atu.ie/AU300

ATU second and third year marketing students, along with their lecturer, Aine Doherty, visited Fort Dunree to try their newly installed virtual reality experiences as part of their module, 'Contemporary Issues in Marketing', students have been learning about virtual, augmented, and mixed realities. With this module, they have had the opportunity to explore how digital technologies, an ever-growing trend in the marketing industry, can enhance the overall user experience.

ATU Donegal Faculty of Business Awards and Spring Prize Giving

The Faculty of Business Awards & Spring Prize Giving event took place at ATU Donegal in April. This annual event invests significant time and resources in engaging learners and acknowledging their achievements. The Faculty of Business has a diverse mix of programmes across four departments; Business Studies; Design & Creative Media; Tourism & Sport; and Law, Public Service & Education.

Students from the departments were presented with awards for ‘Best 1st Year student’, Lina Borske (Business Studies), Lia Ryan (Design & Creative Media) and Sean Birrell (Law). The ‘Best 2nd Year Student’ was presented to Sandra Olawale (Design & Creative Media), and Jia Min Tai (Law). The ‘Best Final Year Student’ went to Eimear Kennedy (Business Studies) and ‘Best Student in Life-Long Learning’ was awarded to Nora Gormley (Business Studies). Each Department also had various awards for the best student in specific disciplines/projects.

ATU student and prize winner Nora Gormley says; “Balancing life as a mature student while being an owner of a business, along with family commitments, has taken hard work and determination. Returning

to education as a mature student was daunting, and I succeeded only through the support of family, friends, lecturers, and fellow classmates. For anyone contemplating returning to education, my advice is to do it. There is nothing like the sense of achievement you get when you take on a challenge and succeed at it.”

The Department of Business Studies presented awards to the ‘Best Student in Accounting’, Charley-Marie Gavigan; the ‘Best Student in Management’, Lauren Doherty; and an ‘Enterprise Development Award’ that was sponsored by ATU Donegal CoLab to Jodie Bell, Megan Bonner and Aoife Cannon.

The Department of Design and Creative Media had additional awards for ‘Best Competition Submission’, Hazel Gibbons; ‘Best International Competition Submission’, Sarah Denning; and ‘Best Design Project’, Shana Byrne.

The ‘Best Student in Design Theory’ was Shay Mc Paul and Andrea Da Silva Segovia was awarded the ‘Best Collaborative Project’ prize.

The Department of Law, Public Service & Education presented students with awards for ‘Best Mock Trial Performance’ Alan Student and Susan Millar; ‘Best Contribution to

Student Experience’, Pierce Butler; and ‘Best Student Engagement & Contribution to Law Programme’, Callum Orme.

The Department of Tourism and Sport awarded students for the ‘Best Sports Student Performance & Wellbeing’ Erin Pyper; ‘Best Sports

Student Physical Education’, Julie Trearty; and ‘Best Sports Volunteer’, Gavin Maguire. The award for ‘Best Personal Fitness Instructor’ went to Niall Diver. The ‘Best Student Chef of the Year’ was Aoife O Donnell; ‘Best Pastry Chef’, Mark Curran; and ‘Best Front of House’, David

Keaney.

Finally, Dervla Dunnion studying the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Athletic Therapy & Exercise Rehabilitation was presented with the award for ‘Overall Outstanding Student for Excellence’ within the Faculty.

Pictured Right to Left are Patricia Doherty, (Head of Department of Business Studies), Nora Gormley, (ATU Student) and Grainne Blaney, (ATU Lecturer).

ATU DONEGAL

DESIGN & CREATIVE MEDIA From Letterkenny to London!

In February, 28 fashion students and 3 lecturers flew to London to enhance the learning and experience for students on the BA and BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Promotion course. This educational trip, which is organised by the staff on the programme, happened every year before the pandemic, and this was the first year since Covid that fashions students could plan it again.

ATU Donegal Lecturer, Sharon Maxwell remarked, “Whilst we are very fortunate to have our course placed in Donegal, an area steeped in tradition with wool fibre spinning and fabric weaving, we recognise that the students benefit significantly from a first-hand exposure to international fashion and historical referencing.”

A three-day, student-centred educational trip to London was planned with activities to allow the students an opportunity to

End of Year Graduate Showcase

The Department of Design and Creative Media at ATU Donegal hosted their annual end of year graduate showcase on campus. This spectacular event showcased the innovative and exciting work created by ATU Donegal students in Animation, Graphic and Digital Design, Fashion, and Film and Video.

LAW, PUBLIC SERVICE & EDUCATION ATU DONEGAL

Leading the way from Donegal to DC

engage and interact with museums, exhibitions, fabric shops, luxury fashion retailers.

Over the three days, students had a private guided tour of the Alexander McQueen exhibition, which is invaluable to understand the design process, construction techniques, fabrics selected and how that evolved into the final collection. A visit to Harrods/Liberty allowed students to appraise their work in relation to designer collections and inform their design development, target audience understanding, consumer behaviour and expand their knowledge of industry sectors and structures.

Students also got the opportunity to interact with displays and artifacts at the Victoria & Albert (V&A) museum which permitted students to distinguish and identify significant historic fashions from early civilization to the twentieth century

recognising the cultural, economic, and societal contexts that shaped it. Students enjoyed a second private tour of the African Fashion Exhibition at the V&A (from traditional to contemporary).

Lastly, students spent a day at fabric shops at Shepard’s Bush and Soho, which was hugely beneficial in helping the students find the right fabrics for their final collections. With sustainability being at the core of their collections, many students were able to purchase deadstock fabric from previous collections of designers including Burberry and Victoria Beckham. The trip provided a unique opportunity for students to bond as a group and to get to know each other.

If you would like to find out more about the BA in Fashion Design with Promotion, visit www.atu.ie/AU232

From Design to Research, Ruth Keogh’s Story

Having previously studied the BA (Hons) in Digital Film & Video at ATU Donegal, graduate Ruth Keogh was exploring her options, while balancing a newly established business, when she decided to undertake a Master's by Research opportunity at ATU.

It was during the Department of Design & Creative Media’s end-of-year showcase event that Ruth was approached to explore Masters study options at ATU. Ruth knew that she always wanted to undertake Masters study, and when the opportunity

presented itself, she decided to take the chance.

Ruth’s Research Masters focuses on “The role of contemporary pedagogy for the Creative Industries, from the Industry perspective.”

While studying the undergraduate programme in Digital Film & Video, Ruth enjoyed writing and researching. She found modules such as scriptwriting, creative concepts, combined with modules such as cinematography and camera work, engaging and enjoyable.

Ruth added, “The research I undertook during my final year film project prepared me for the world of research. The support from lecturers, the community that exists at ATU, and the project-based learning encourages teamwork and collaboration.

The equipment is also excellent, the department has really invested in state-ofthe-art equipment and for incoming students interested in practical learning, a degree in Design at ATU Donegal offers incredible opportunities.”

If you would like to find out more about the BA (Hons) in Design (Common), visit www.atu.ie/AU330

This year’s showcase took place on the Letterkenny campus and was a landmark event as it was the first time in over two years that graduates, staff, employers and guests came together in-person to celebrate the achievements and successful completion of the Design & Creative Media academic year. Guests attending the showcase experienced striking displays of original fashion collections created by final year students of Fashion with Promotion, with these collections focusing on sustainable fashion and circular design.

The final year Graphic & User Experience (UX) Design students exhibited their diverse body of works encompassing a broad range of multidisciplinary design projects from visual identity, app design, writing/messaging, design for print, motion graphics, website design, illustration, icon design and design for social media.

The showcase opened with a fashion catwalk followed by a "Pop-Up" cinema, where the final work of Animation and Film students was screened.

It was a wonderful event celebrating the creativity and innovation of the students.

From Placement to Permanent, Jacob’s Time at Hen’s Teeth

Hen’s Teeth Gallery, Café and Hifi Lounge is a place where great food, art, music and culture all come together. When Jacob Burrill was exploring his work placement opportunities in the BA in Graphic & Digital Design at ATU Donegal, securing a placement with Hen’s Teeth provided him with an opportunity to develop his practical skills in graphic design.

Having undertaken many graphic design modules during his time on the BA programme, he explored his skills in typography, UX and UI design, and web design, all modules that allowed Jacob to put the theory into practice on his placement.

During his time on placement, Jacob learned how to adapt to deadlines, work with client briefs and deliver on projects for national and international brands including Guinness and Hendricks.

It was at the end of his work placement opportunity that Jacob secured a freelance role with Hen’s Teeth, which subsequently led to a full-time position in August 2022.

Jacob added, “My time at ATU readied me for this position. During my time at ATU, I worked with programmes such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and my immersive experiences in technologies such as UX and UI design helped me when I took on the placement position. While there is only so much that can be done in the classroom, placement gives you a chance to bring your theoretical experience to life. The placement in the BA in Graphic & Digital Design opened so many doors for me and I am delighted to have had this chance to progress my career through this opportunity.”

If you would like to find out more about the BA in Graphic & UX Design, visit www.atu.ie/AU233

First year Law Students Become Lawyers for the Day!

ATU Donegal’s Department of Law, Public Services and Education held its 5th Annual Mock Trial for first year Law Students in Letterkenny Courthouse recently. Over 70 students participated in an innovative and invaluable Mock Trial which took place over two days as part of the "Foundations of Law" first year module. This is the fifth consecutive year of this collaboration, and the trials were yet again a resounding success, largely due to the assistance of the Court Services staff in Letterkenny who ensured the seamless running of proceedings.

Preparation for the Trial, overseen by their lecturer Daireen Laverty, involved interactive individual and team activities during which the students developed legal, analytical, advocacy, communications and team building skills which are then applied in their participation in the mock trials.

The mock trial immerses the

students in the real-life practice of law through which they further develop these skill sets.

The realism of the experience was enhanced by visits from the current President

of the District Court, Judge Paul Kelly, and current sitting District Court Judge, Eiteain Cunningham to two of the trials

- who very kindly observed the students in action and offered

From Leitrim to Europe, the Sky is the Limit for Greta

Having completed her Leaving Certificate in St. Clare’s Comprehensive School in Manorhamilton, Leitrim, Greta Baronaite had heard incredible things about the three-year honours Law degree (LLB) at ATU Donegal. The reputation, the modules and employment prospects intrigued Greta and in September 2022, she made the move to Letterkenny to progress her interest.

Greta commented, “When I started the LLB (Hons) programme I was blown away by how interactive it was, the lecturers on the programme really encourage engagement, conversation and collaboration. The clubs and societies and student life at ATU is focused on togetherness and you never feel left out at ATU. During the year, there was a call-out by the Head of Department of Law, Public Service & Education, Bronagh Heverin to become an 'EU Careers Student Ambassador’. An EU Careers Student Ambassador promotes EU career opportunities in a variety of universities across the EU. The Ambassadors build an exciting student network across Europe and get to meet high-ranking EU officials, an

opportunity that really excited me. I was delighted to be accepted as one of the two EU Careers Ambassadors at the Donegal campus and this October I will travel to Luxembourg as part of this role.”

Greta further added, “When I complete the LLB (Hons), I plan to complete my Masters at ATU, and work in either the EU Courts of Justice or Parliament, or perhaps I will become a barrister based in Letterkenny. You learn so much on this programme and the career opportunities from the programme are incredible. I am excited about my future in Law.”

If you want to find out more about following in Greta’s footsteps, visit www.atu.ie/AU310

some guidance and advice on the rules of advocacy.

If you would like to find out more about the Bachelor of Laws (Hons) LLB, visit www.atu.ie/AU310

Congratulations to ATU third year Law with Criminal Justice student, Emily McLaughlin-Ball, who has been successful in her application to the Washington Ireland Program Class of 2023. This is a fantastic achievement and a super opportunity where Emily will complete an eight Week Leadership Programme in the United States this summer.

Emily will be one of 30 inspiring young leaders from Ireland and Northern Ireland travelling to the United States (25 to Washington DC and 5 to New York) to complete the programme. While in the US, students will complete an individual work placement, best suited to their interests and career ambitions.

Having successfully come through a competitive recruitment process open to all students in Ireland in all disciplines, Emily and the Class of 2023 have just begun the programme and completed their orientation recently in Ballycastle.

If you would like to find out more about the BA in Law with Criminal Justice, visit www.atu.ie/AU210

ATU Law Society Students Raised a Total of €760 for the Donegal Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC)

ATU Donegal’s Law society ran two successful events both of which were in aid of the DRCC. These events were supported by students and staff at ATU. The first event was a movie night with lots of popcorn. The second was a charity quiz night where nine teams participated. On the night there was a raffle, and the Debate team very kindly sponsored a prize. Both events were fun evenings and the Law society raised a total of €760. There was also a collaboration event with the charitable and Human Rights organisation Amnesty International, where they hosted a special screening of "Aisha" a film that captures the true reality behind the direct provision system in Ireland and the difficulties one faces in this system. It was a great night with a fantastic turnout from both students as well as members of the Letterkenny Amnesty Group. There were also guest speakers at the event who shared their stories and experiences from the direct provision system and shelters.

ATU DONEGAL TOURISM & SPORT

Maggie Farrelly, A Trailblazer for Women in Sport

When Maggie Farrelly, graduated from ATU Donegal’s Department of Tourism & Sport, she never thought she would become a trailblazer for women in sport. Achieving many significant ‘firsts’ across her career, Maggie studied the BSc (Hons) in Sports Coaching & Development at ATU

Donegal and then progressed to Masters study in Ulster University.

Maggie’s passion for sport started at an early age. As an underage player and underage coach in her native Cavan, she enjoyed all aspects of sport. She began refereeing at club level and was later nominated to attend the Provincial Referee Academy where she spent two years studying to become a referee, while balancing her Masters study.

Always driven by her love for sport, Maggie achieved

Hostess with the Mostest at ATU Killybegs

CIVIL ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION ATU DONEGAL

Architectural Technology & Construction Management Students Take in the ‘Sites’ and Scenery of Dublin!

many “firsts”. She was the first female to referee a men's Senior County Final in November 2021; in February 2022, she became the first female to referee in the National League; and in May 2022, she became the first female to referee men's InterCounty Football.

Maggie is firmly established in her position as a referee and balances this role with her role as Education and Training Coordinator at the Donegal Sports Partnership.

During her time at ATU, Maggie was a Sports Scholarship holder, and was also awarded ‘Student of the Year’ in the Department of Tourism & Sport. Her time at ATU played a significant factor in building her confidence and skills needed to develop her career in sport.

She attributes her time at ATU as having firmly

established her skills, knowledge and talent in sport.

Maggie commented, “The supports you are provided with at ATU are incredible, from the librarian to the student union, ATU stands out. I often think if I had of chosen to go to a larger traditional university, I wouldn’t have been able to

stand out the way I did at ATU.

I am so proud of what I achieved at ATU and I cannot recommend the department enough. If you are interested in studying sport, ATU Donegal is an incredible place to progress your career. When I look back,

I am so glad I started my university journey at ATU.”

From the Classroom to the Boardroom, O’Reilly Sports

Steven O’Reilly, graduated from ATU Donegal in 2014, and following completion of his studies in the Donegal campus, he progressed to University of Limerick to complete the Professional Master of Education

Academia meets Industry!

(Physical Education).

Steven always had a keen eye and interest in sportswear and a passion for sport. This passion, accompanied by the dream of running his own business, led to the birth of O’Reilly Sports, which was

formed in 2017 by brothers Martin and Steven O’Reilly. The business fundamentals from his undergraduate qualification in Sports Coaching and Development significantly supported Stephen’s transition from the

classroom to the boardroom. Modules such as business management and web design came in useful when Steven was developing O’Reilly Sports. By the end of 2023, O’Reilly’s Sports hopes to have over 20 staff, servicing both the domestic and international sportswear markets from Donegal to America, Tipperary to Australia.

Key to Steven’s success has been his focus on hard-work, commitment and a passion for sport. “Without passion, the company would not have succeeded.”

He further commented, “My experience studying at ATU provided me with the core elements needed to run a successful business, I really enjoyed my experience at ATU and still liaise with my lecturers for support and advice. Having belief and passion, which is instilled in you at ATU, has been critical to my success.”

Our first year Culinary Arts students prepared a fabulous “Afternoon Tea” event at the ATU Killybegs campus in March, one of the many inhouse live experiences that students enjoy in the culinary arts programme.

The students who hosted and catered the event opened the doors of the Killybegs campus restaurant and delighted the taste buds of the 110 people in attendance. Students served platters full of sweet and savoury appetisers, from sandwiches, scones and pastries for all guest to enjoy. If you would like to find out more about the BA (Ord) in Culinary Arts, visit www.atu.ie/AU220

Killybegs Students Raise €500 for Mary’s Meals

Architectural Technology & Construction Management students from ATU Donegal partook in a two-day busy visit to Dublin in March, organised by lecturers Anna Meehan and Karol Dempsey.

As ATU Donegal values the importance of site visits in Architectural and Construction education, the itinerary for the two-day trip was filled with visiting several key projects which had emphasis on Architecture, Performance, Innovation, Modern Methods of Construction and BIM.

As part of the visit, Donal Murphy from Robinson Keefe & Devane (RKD) gave a wonderfully detailed tour of four new and retrofit projects they are currently working on or have completed in UCD. Joseph Little and Barry McCauley also welcomed ATU to TU Dublin and gave a tour of the historic and contemporary buildings that make up the Grangegorman campus for TU Dublin. Additionally, Bryan Sheils presented 26 York Street and the recently commenced link building for the Royal

College of Surgeons (RCSI) by Henry J Lyons.

To round off the trip, Ger Hayes and Darragh Ryan from Extec MMC presented residential projects in Maynooth and Portmarnock, giving detailed insight to how MMC is revolutionising the industry and

delivering quality at much greater speed than traditional construction.

To find out more about BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology, visit www.atu.ie/AU343 and for BSc (Hons) in Construction Management, visit www.atu.ie/AU342

Engineering Graduate Opportunities that span as far as the Arctic

Graduates from ATU Donegal Department of Civil Engineering & Construction have been availing of global career opportunities due to strong links between the department and global engineer contractor, ‘Jones Engineering’.

Graduates from Civil Engineering, Construction Management, and Fire Safety programmes have successfully taken up graduate roles and travelled to international countries, some as far as the Arctic, to work in unique sites. Jones Engineering employees work in extreme conditions including arctic climates, extreme heat, offshore oil rigs, and tunnelling under rivers and cities.

The company offers individuals an opportunity to begin and grow their careers. They have an annual training budget of €2million and encourage all their employees to attend internal and external training

courses on a regular basis.

Conor Doherty, ATU Donegal graduate is a Project Engineer working for Jones Engineering on a project in Copenhagen but has just finished a project in Sweden at the Artic Circle. Conor graduated in 2022 with a BSc (Hons) in Construction Management. Conor says; “I started with Jones Engineering last year as a Project Engineer. The company is well set up and I was offered a lot of different opportunities to work in Ireland or projects in mainland Europe. I like to travel so I thought this would be an ideal opportunity to work and see some of Europe, and it’s working well. Standing out on the frozen river looking up at the northern lights is something most people will never get to do, but this job has awarded me that opportunity.”

ATU Donegal and Donegal County Council have partnered up to give BEng Civil Engineering students work placement opportunities.

All civil engineering students will gain onthe-job training one day per week during the winter semester of their final year. This work placement is made possible by the support of Donegal County Council engineering staff who organise placements throughout the county –including road construction projects, local area offices and the National Roads Office.

Third year Civil Engineering Students marked the launch of the new placement programme in November with Donegal County Council, including Chief Executive John McLaughlin. If you would like to find out more about the BEng (Ord) in Civil Engineering, visit www.atu.ie/AU241

Well done to our second and third year Culinary Arts students along with our first year Hospitality Management students on the recent Millennium Restaurant Charity Lunch which has raised vital funds for Mary's Meals! The students served a beautiful lunch and raised an amazing €500. Fr. Kelly informed the team in Killybegs that these funds will feed and educate 27 children in the locality.

“I’m very glad I undertook and completed the Construction Management Level 8 programme. There is a lot of tough subjects, but when I look back, I can see how they are useful to me in my work environment. I really enjoyed learning from lecturers who came from industry as they brought so much knowledge to the programme, and I am using what they taught me every day. I would recommend this programme to anyone looking to get into construction. It’s given me great opportunities to be on-site and start working my way towards a management role.”

Anthony McElwee, ATU lecturer, fostered close ties with the company and is passionate about taking his learnings from industry to the classroom. Anthony worked in engineering roles and has been an

employee with Jones Engineering for several years. Working in a variety of roles across Ireland, Canada, and Europe, his depth of knowledge and experience provides valuable teaching and insights to students on the programmes.

“I am delighted that our graduates can work in Ireland or International countries on good pay scales and are exposed to large scale technology and pharmaceutical projects. These graduates will start as site engineers and can gradually work their way up to lead engineers, supervisory and managerial roles.”

“In recent years I have been project manager on several large-scale engineering projects, and I see first-hand the importance of educating and training strong graduates to take up positions within the company. I’m delighted that sharing my experiences as a lecturer and working closely with Jones Engineering equips students with the necessary skill set to move successfully into real-life working environments”, enthuses Anthony.

ATU Donegal Department Civil Engineering and Construction second year students visited the construction site for the new Little Angels school. The students on this field trip were studying modules on Advanced Construction Technology and Site Organisation and this site visit provided invaluable insight into the practical application of theory delivered in these two modules.

Boyle Construction kindly accommodated two visits which gave students an opportunity to see both the early stage of construction and later the progress of internal structure, installation of steelwork and completion of aspects of the building envelope. Boyle Construction and Client Clerk of Works lead the visit, outlining the challenges faced in delivering a bespoke school and explained design rationale in terms of day-to-day functionality, adaptability and future maintenance. Thanks again to Boyle Construction for facilitating the site visit.

It’s all go at the Little Angels construction site

Students win “Best 3rd Year Project" prize - Sponsored by Alchemy Technology Services

COMPUTING

A New, Unique Cyberpsychology Degree

Launched at ATU Donegal

ATU Donegal has recently launched a unique and exciting BSc Cyberpsychology degree programme, aimed at exploring the intersection of human behaviour and digital technology in the online world. Through this program, students will gain a deep understanding of various online technologies, including social media, online gaming, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and more, while also studying the psychology behind human use of these technologies.

With the rise of digital technologies, it has become increasingly important for individuals to have appropriate skills to avoid the potential mental health issues associated with the abuse of technology.

This Cyberpsychology programme will equip students with knowledge and strategies to combat problematic internet use and online addictions, while also highlighting the value of cyberethics in a rapidly growing and evolving field.

Graduates from the program will not only understand what people do online, but they will also gain insights into persuasion techniques and hooks that companies use to encourage user engagement. The work placement year within the programme will enable students to implement their skills in a real-world setting, significantly enhancing their future employment prospects with companies across Ireland and beyond. Moreover, Cyberpsychology graduates will be able to assist companies in understanding their customers' behaviour,

making strategic decisions regarding the technology they adopt, and encouraging healthy online activity to stay competitive. Graduates from the programme are highly sought after across various areas, including social media, psychology, gaming design, education, and IT.

Dr. Gerry McWilliams, cyberpsychologist and lecturer at ATU says;

"In today's digital age, understanding human behaviour online is as important as understanding technology itself. This fascinating and engaging programme prepares students for a future where digital

literacy and psychological insight are essential tools for success."

Graduates of the programme can pursue a master's degree in Cyberpsychology at ATU Donegal to extend their expertise in the field. The programme offers a fantastic opportunity to learn skills that apply to any employer with an online presence, making it an ideal course for anyone interested in a career at the intersection of technology and psychology.

If you would like to find out more about the BSc (Hons) in Cyberpsychology, visit www.atu.ie/AU362

Leading the Way in Computer Science Education, for Teachers and Leaving Certificate Students

In September 2018, a new Leaving Certificate subject in Computer Science was introduced on a phased basis to 40 post-primary schools in Ireland. In support of this introduction, ATU Donegal developed a programme for educators and teachers called the Higher Diploma in Computing for Educators, this programme was designed to help teachers upskill and

Engineers Week at ATU Donegal

ELECTRONIC & MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

ATU and NWRC Collaborate to Provide Cross Border Opportunities in Dynamic Changing Industry

Alchemy Technology Services delightfully sponsored the "Best 3rd Year Project" prize to ATU Donegal Department of Computing students once again this year.

As part of the third year “Team Project” module, students analysed, designed, implemented, and tested a software application which provided students with an experience that closely approximates to a real-world commercial project. Projects like these are so beneficial to students where they develop the skills and confidence to be able to work and contribute as part of a team.

Thirteen teams participated in the project and the winning team was selected on the basis of their excellent team work to enable them to submit a high-quality project. Eoghan Casey, Shane Russell, Aoibheann Simms, and Natasha Spratt displayed first-class collaborative problem-solving skills and produced a well-functioning software application to scoop first place.

Students Compete in Zero Days Annual Capture the Flag Tournament

teach the Leaving Certificate Computer Science curriculum. Importantly, the programme has Teaching Council recognition which enables teachers to deliver Computer Science education to Leaving Certificate students.

As this teacher-focused programme developed, Dr. Gary Cullen and John Conaghan, lecturers in Computing at ATU

Donegal, created a new three-year BSc (honours) degree programme in Computer Science.

This programme was developed for Leaving Certificate students who undertake Leaving Certificate Computer Science as a subject, to progress to an honours degree which matches their skills and interests. This one-of-a-kind honours degree programme provides Leaving Certificate students with a chance to enhance and progress their interest in Computer Science.

Over the last five years, Gary and John have developed workshops for Leaving Certificate students, a free Leaving Certificate Easter revision camp, as well as annual workshops that support the Leaving Certificate Computer Science project.

Over 2,000 students from across Ireland’s post-primary schools have engaged in these workshops and sessions, with ATU Donegal leading the way in Computer Science education for Teachers and Leaving Certificate students.

To find out more about studying Computer Science at ATU Donegal, visit www.atu.ie/AU361

ZeroDays CTF is an annual Capture The Flag (CTF) tournament. This year’s CTF took place on the 1st of April 2023 in Croke Park. ATU Donegal had two teams compete in this year’s competition. Team 1: Dominik Kuzmic, Harvey Reynolds, Declan Kelly, Dennis Olubunmi.

Team 2: Anjaly Babu, Liam Gallagher, Brandon Meehan, Ivan Boranijasevi.

The Irish Colleges Cyber-Security Challenge aims to showcase and identify the best cybersecurity students in the country. The event caters for all levels from complete IT beginners to experienced professional penetration testers. Each year the Zero Days CTF has a different theme which sees participants dressed as characters related to whatever the annual theme is. The theme for this year’s event was Harry Potter Vs Lord of The Rings. Themes for previous years have included Superheroes and Father Ted.

The event gave each member of the ATU Donegal team the ability to upskill in cybersecurity in a challenging but also fun environment and gave them the chance to learn a lot more about the work that is expected in the industry.

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and North West Regional College (NWRC) have collaborated to create a unique crossborder pathway for learners to advance their studies in Electric Vehicle (EV) Technology. The initiative endorsed by Hyundai is part of the North West Tertiary Education Cluster and welcomed the first cohort to the campuses this semester.

The North West Tertiary Education Cluster was established in 2018 and brings together the four education partners in the North West City Region namely, Atlantic Technological University, Ulster University, North West Regional College and Donegal ETB. The aim of the cluster is to provide pathways and progression routes for students on a cross-border basis and to work with industry to ensure greater economic prosperity and high

value jobs for the region.

Talking about this new collaboration, ATU Donegal, Head of College, Paul Hannigan says; “I am delighted to see this pathway created for our students. There has been significant emphasis on institutional engagement activity over recent years and it’s great to see our learners benefit from the relationships that have been built in this area. The cluster plays a key role in driving the development of the North West region and this education pathway is an example of the great work that is being done”.

This new collaborative programme (Level 6 ROI, Level 4 Northern Ireland equivalent) is fully funded by the Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland and provides a stepping-stone for graduates to advance to the degree programme in EV Technology at ATU, a

Environmental Research in Mechanical Engineering at ATU

Jamie Farren, BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, and Hugh Coyle, Masters by Research, displayed their work at the Environ 2023 Conference, which was attended by hundreds of visitors and participants, the longest running and most prominent forum for environmental researchers in Ireland.

Jamie presented “Force Analysis for Conversion of Hydraulic Track Drive Machines to Electrification” and Hugh presented “Mobile Plant Electric Track Drives”, both supervised by Department staff.

new cross-border education and training pathway developed in partnership by NWRC and ATU.

This course will allow graduates to work in an industry embarking on the rapid transition to electrified propulsion. This cross-border initiative provides opportunities for learners in the North West region to gain knowledge in this rapidly changing industry and will provide graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue their careers.

During the course, which is 15 weeks in duration, students will spend two days a week learning practical skills at NWRC’s Springtown Campus, with one day of online learning delivered by ATU.

If you would like to find out more about the BEng (Ord) in Electric Vehicle Engineering, visit www.atu.ie/AU252

Engineers Week is an annual national initiative that celebrates the contributions of engineers in society and inspires the next generation of engineers. To celebrate this important event, ATU Donegal held various events on campus.

ATU Donegal’s primary objective of these events and activities is to promote awareness around the importance engineering plays in modern society and the engineering employment opportunities that exist within the North West. Every day, engineers work locally to design and create infrastructure, technologies, and innovations that improve our daily lives, from roads and bridges to medical devices and clean energy.

More than 100 secondary school students from across Donegal were welcomed to our Letterkenny campus on ‘Engineers Day’ and participated in a number of events. These events included engineering presentations, guided engineering lab tours, demonstrations, discussion groups and opportunities to network with industry experts, many of whom are alumni of ATU Donegal.

Dominik Kuzmic, Harvey Reynolds, Declan Kelly, Dennis Olubunmi. Anjaly Babu, Liam Gallagher, Brandon Meehan, Ivan Boranijasevi.

Lecturers, Alan Mitchell and Brendan Corry, pictured with Graham Smith, Jason Armstrong, Michael Porter, Dominic Taitt, Colm McMonagle, Sean Smith, Jordan Mclaughlin and Nathan Wilson.

Sharing is Caring!

EARLY EDUCATION & SOCIAL STUDIES

Inspirational ATU Alumni, Lecturer and Practicing Manager

Zoe Graham’s passion for early years education is infectious. Driven for a career in this area and unaware of the opportunities at ATU, Zoe embarked on a Higher National Diploma in Early Years.

Upon realising the programme offerings at ATU, she came through direct entry to year three of the Honours Degree in Early Childhood Care and Education based in the Letterkenny campus.

Zoe graduated and immediately took up a role as an early years educator. She worked in various settings within the industry including baby room, pre-school room, afterschool, Montessori and inclusion coordinator.

“I worked in different settings to gain as much hands on experience as I could. My passion in the area has always made me dream of lecturing so that I could share my knowledge with learners. I am enthusiastic about education and encouraging and equipping students to be ready to work in this dynamic changing industry after graduation”, says Zoe.

With this dream in mind and her hunger for education, Zoe embarked on the next step of her learning journey. She completed the Masters in Advanced Health & Social Care at ATU Donegal.

“This was an amazing but challenging

experience. In the two years that I studied part-time, I got married and had a baby and got promoted at work. I was juggling everything, but I loved it. I thought the Level 9 Masters programme would provide more of an opportunity for me to realise my dream of lecturing”.

“I now work as a practicing manager in an early years and school-aged setting. I also applied for the lecturing panel at ATU Donegal and was delighted to have been selected for the part-time panel. I now get to enjoy my dream career and I feel that I have so much to bring to the classroom having gained an abundance of experience over the years.”

Zoe worked tirelessly to turn her dream into a reality, and now that she has achieved it, she is delighted all her hard work, determination, and studies helped her get to where she is.

“The programme at ATU is a high-quality programme that has professional recognition. From birth to age five, a child's brain develops more than at any other time in life and as early years educators, we are somewhat responsible for this through our high-quality interactions, education and care.”

“It’s a vital part of society that we provide this service in our communities. In recent

ATU

LIFE & PHYSICAL SCIENCES

On Tour at National Ploughing Championships

As part of their ‘Health Promotion’ module, Health and Social Care students were tasked to create and run health and wellbeing information stands on campus tailored to the college community. Projects created were based on health-related themes of the student’s choice with the aim to inform and educate other students and staff on campus.

Projects, which were thoroughly researched, allowed the students to share information to their peers on topics such as drink awareness, consent, improving sleeping habits, mental health, heart health and road safety. This is one of the many events that run across ATU campuses annually!

The ploughing is known to be one of Europe’s largest outdoor events with attendance figures for 2022 totalling 277,000 visitors and over 1,700 trade stands.

ATU Donegal Life & Physical Sciences lecturers Andrew McNamee and Paddy Solan attended the three-day event, which is predominantly agriculture themed but attracts visitors from all backgrounds, on behalf of ATU.

Cormac Harte Wins ‘Best Analytical Science Student Award 2022’

Cormac Harte, from Malin, Co Donegal is an enthusiastic student ambassador studying Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Science at ATU Donegal.

Cormac’s transition into third level education began with a programme further afield. Cormac relocated back to Donegal as the travelling and expense of living in bigger cities to study became an issue.

times, government have recognised the need for and importance of early care settings and SIPTU have been working with government to introduce mandatory pay scales which graduates will avail of.”

Zoe is an excellent role model for her staff and students and there is no doubt that her knowledge and experience will shine through to others!

If you would like to find out more about the BSc (Hons) in Early Childhood Care, Health & Education, visit www.atu.ie/AU390

A Degree that O ers Abundant Career Paths and Opportunities

The Department of Early Education and Social Studies at ATU Donegal held a ‘Career Pathways Event’ on March 6 at the Letterkenny campus. This event brought together stakeholders and industry experts to engage with students undertaking programmes in the Higher Certificate and Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Early Childhood Care Health and Education.

The Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Early Childhood Care, Health & Education is a four-year programme that equips graduates with the necessary skills to work with young children and their families. It is an invigorating

and exciting career path.

Dr Nigel McKelvey, Head of Department, welcomed guest speakers to the event including ATU Donegal Careers Officer, Catherine Lyster, managers of early childhood services in Donegal, educators from early childhood and primary school sectors and alumni students who have progressed to Masters studies.

There was input from fourth year students who interviewed a primary school teacher and early childhood educators. Students learned about the roles and responsibilities in these professions and the career pathways available on completion of the BSc (Hons)

in Early Childhood Care Health and Education Degree. Reflective discussions informed students of the benefits and value of a graduate qualification, with all stakeholders in agreement that students graduating with a Level 8 BSc. qualification is the trajectory for this sector, in preparation for government funding towards salaries.

The BSc (Hons) programme at ATU Donegal informs the student on research, policy, and evidence-based practice, strengthening the culmination of student’s knowledge, understanding and skills developed at an advanced educator stage.

Patsy Callaghan, lecturer and programme co-ordinator highlights; “Tasks in practical classes, assessment and placement practice have been strategically aligned to assist the student in meeting criterion outlined in national and international Guidelines (EU Quality Framework for ECEC, The Early Years Inspectorate Quality and Regulatory Framework). The programme modules aim to deliver discipline-specific content in preparation for a national initiative for professionalisation and the

Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and SchoolAge Childcare: ‘Nurturing Skills’ (DCEDIY, 2022-2028).

The BSc (Hons) programme assists students to meet these graduate attributes and those outlined in both the QQI Level 8 Professional Award Type Descriptors and the First Five Early Years Strategy (Government of Ireland, 2019). Immense work has been done to align the programme with these professional requirements so that graduates will have excellent career opportunities working in different early years settings.

Not only is the programme a pathway into primary education, graduates also find themselves working in areas such as speech and language therapy, child psychology, child and family support, special needs, and specialist advisors. Typically graduates work in private and public early childhood education and care facilities.

The event was a great success and supported a concerted effort to raise the status of and value placed on completion of a BSc (Hons) in Early Childhood Care Health and Education, establishing a career framework for students.

Health & Social Care Students Completed e-Learning Course as part of Health Promotion Module

Throughout the three days, Andrew and Paddy participated in a busy itinerary, from innovation tents that showcased new futuristic inventions for the agriculture world, guest speakers who delivered informative talks from a variety of industries, reviewed machinery and spectated at an array of competitions.

ATU Donegal lecturer, Andrew McNamee noted; “Attendance at the National Ploughing Championships was hugely beneficial as we got the opportunity to reunite with ATU graduates and more importantly meet potential future students and inform them of the agriculture courses we offer whilst answering any questions they may have.’’

In addition to the activities, with over

1,700 trade stands and 277,000 visitors at the event, the networking opportunities were also endless. ATU lecturer, Paddy Solan says; “It was a great opportunity to speak with the Department of Agriculture in person to relay the current ongoing issues farmers

and students are facing. We met with guest lecturer Patrick Kelly, who hosts placement for our students, plus we got the chance to support one of our graduates, Conor McKeown who was both judging and competing at the championships.’’

Award Winning Science Student Excels on Third Level Education Journey

County Cork native Margaret Brophy had enrolled in various third level programmes over the years but never found the right programme or college experience that suited her hopes. Margaret was always interested in obtaining a qualification and decided to give college life another chance as a mature student.

Now in second year of the Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Science degree at ATU Donegal, Margaret has never looked back.

Having explored his options, his passion for chemistry and physics encouraged Cormac to apply for the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Science at ATU Donegal. Currently in third year of the programme, Cormac says: “I never looked back. I found accommodation and I live in Letterkenny, close to campus. I am only a short distance from home in Malin and I am thoroughly enjoying my time at ATU”. Cormac won an award for the Best Analytical Science Student 2022. Uniquely awarded to the best performing Analytical Chemistry students, Cormac beat stiff competition from third level institutions across the country and will be proud to display his latest accolade on his CV.

The Institute of Public Health (IPH) has launched a free online course to help healthcare professionals support older people to have more physically active lives.

Second year Health and Social Care students recently completed the Institute of Public Health's ‘Getting Active for Better Ageing’ course. The digital learning resource is aimed at general practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists and all healthcare professionals that interact with older persons, as well as anyone interested in supporting older adults getting or staying active.

This provides students with skills and knowledge to assist this generation with a healthier lifestyle.

If you would like to find out more about the BSc (Hons) in Health & Social Care, visit www.atu.ie/AU391

“During my first week at ATU, all students were given the opportunity to take entry tests to determine what kind of

learner you are and how you learn best. During these tests it was flagged that I might have ADHD. I have since been diagnosed. I think in hindsight that my previous attempts at studying may have been cut short because I never knew and I never got the correct supports”, says Margaret.

‘The Curve’ is a tailored learning centre at ATU Donegal that has strong learning support structures in place for all students. It offers advice and supports to a diverse range of students and operates an open-door policy. Margaret found the support provided by The Curve invaluable and it continues to support her through her third level journey.

The Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Science degree is intrinsically multidisciplinary in nature and will open a world of career opportunities across a diverse range of sectors. Students spend extensive time studying in state-of-the-art laboratories and study the full range of core science subjects, with particular emphasis on pharmaceutical science and medical devices.

Margaret says; “I loved the programme from day one. The split of practical and theoretical learning is a perfect balance for me. I learn by doing

so I can really understand theory when I can apply it to practical learning. I like everything about the programme. I enjoy using all the different equipment in the labs and learning what it will be like to work in industry. The labs and facilities are great, and the lecturers are very helpful.”

Margaret has been excelling at her studies, she has recently won an award for ‘Best Analytical Science Student 2023’. Uniquely awarded to the best performing Analytical Chemistry student, with big competition from third level institutions across the country each year.

Margaret now lives in Letterkenny and enjoys life in County Donegal; “I love Donegal. It feels like home. There’s so much to do in Letterkenny, I didn’t expect it to be such a bustling town. In contrast, I love exploring the coast and the peacefulness it provides. Donegal people are so friendly and kind.”

Margaret hopes to follow on with a Research PhD and looks forward to what the future brings and the opportunities that her programme will present upon graduation!

If you would like to find out more about the BSc (Hons) in Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Science, visit www.atu.ie/AU373

Cormac always had an interest in all things science. His love for physics and chemistry are complimented by the programme and both the theory and practical labs allow him to further explore and study in an area that is of keen interest to him. “The lab work is my favourite part. The labs and facilities on campus are very good and there is a whole lab for analysing drugs and chemicals. This is a very interesting part of the programme”, says Cormac. Cormac is an enthusiastic student ambassador and volunteers at numerous events. This will allow Cormac to gain a digital badge in recognition of his efforts. He is also an active member of various societies and arranges guest speakers, events and activities: “I'm also a representative and writer for Astronomy Ireland which aims to promote space education and interest in Ireland. I'm also secretary of the science society in the university. I'm very interested in public outreach regarding science in general”, says Cormac. Cormac is excited for the future after graduation. “The programme opens the doors to a wide variety of avenues. It recently got teaching council recognition which means that graduates could progress to a career in secondary school teaching in the subject area of chemistry. I personally hope to pursue a career in research initially and perhaps undertake a Masters by Research in a specific area”.

Agricultural Graduates become Bord Bia Inspectors

ATU graduates Nichola McGeever who graduated in 2019 and Lyndsey Tinney who graduated in 2020 have gone from strength to strength in their agricultural career following their time at ATU Donegal. Both graduates now work for Bord Bia as on-farm Quality Assurance Inspectors. Nichola and Lyndsey both completed their BSc (Hons) in Agriculture at ATU Donegal. When they aren’t working with Bord Bia they are on their home farms lending a helping hand.

ATU agricultural science lecturers Paddy Solan and Gerard McDaid were both surprised when their former students, Nichola and Lyndsey, arrived on their respective farms as Bord Bia staff to conduct inspections. Paddy and Gerard were delighted that they passed their inspections! Nichola and Lyndsey are only two of several ATU graduates employed by Bord Bia.

Dennis Mulligan, Dariona McClafferty, Zoe Graham, Patsy Callaghan, Patricia Redmond, Catherine Lyster, Dr. Nigel McKelvey)

NURSING & HEALTH CARE ATU DONEGAL

Two Prestigious Education Awards for ATU Department of

Nursing & Healthcare

ATU has recently won two prestigious national education awards, recognising the university's excellence in teaching, collaboration, and outreach. The awards were announced at the Education Awards ceremony in Dublin on April 27, 2023.

The Education Awards recognise excellence in the third level education sector on the island of Ireland from both State and privately funded institutions.

The two awards were presented to the Department of Nursing & Healthcare based in ATU Donegal,

The two awards are for:

• Best Research Project: The Student Psychological Intervention Trial (SPIT)ATU Donegal and Ulster University.

• Best Industry/Business-Academic Collaboration: NCAD - Department of Nursing ATU Donegal, HSE and Axia Digital (Ireland) .

Studying Closer to Home with Placement Opportunities Abroad

Claire McConnell is a third-year general nursing student. Claire, from Churchill in County Donegal, chose the Letterkenny campus as she wanted to stay closer to home. Torn between General Nursing and Midwifery, Claire embarked on the General Nursing programme. Now just completing her third year of study Claire is happy with her choice.

“I came straight from Leaving Certificate and joined the programme when Covid was rampant”, explained Claire. I was a little anxious about starting college during this time, but the lecturers were a great support and helped me get set up with everything I needed. We still had practical classes on campus one and a half days per week which was great”

Claire always dreamed of a nursing role and could never imagine herself in any other career. Her sister is a nurse and, additionally, Claire gained valuable insight working in a nursing home over the years.

ATU DONEGAL

Dr Christopher McEleney - first ever Doctorate recipient at ATU

Christopher McEleney was the first PhD recipient who graduated from ATU Donegal in November 2022. Christopher's educational path was not straight forward, as he left school at 14 years old intending never to return to education. Working as a carpenter during the economic downturn brought a new set of challenges and he returned in 2010 to complete his Leaving Certificate with Donegal ETB and he hasn't looked back since. In 2016, he graduated with an Honours Degree in Science and continued his studies through a Masters by Research in Electrochemistry which he successfully achieved in 2018. He can now address himself as Dr Christopher McEleney with pride! Such a significant achievement.

Achievement Award’ winner who inspires and encourages fellow law students

William Mc Lucas is a final year student studying a BA(Hons) in Law with Spanish at ATU Donegal.

Accommodation in Donegal

Dr Louise McBride, Head of Department of Nursing and Healthcare noted; "These two education awards are a true reflection of our team and partners engagement and collaboration in research, industry and clinical practice. Such awards are important recognition for the tireless efforts to continuously strive for excellence in evidence-based practices, research, collaboration, and engagement.”

The SPIT research project aims to improve student mental health of higher education students by providing evidencebased psychological interventions. The MyCad E-portfolio project collaboration brings together academic, industry and our HSE clinical nursing partners to develop a cutting-edge online access dashboard for nursing students and staff for competence assessment E-portfolio in our nursing education programmes.

These awards are a testament of collaboration, commitment and success of ATU with our University of Ulster, HSE North West Nursing and Axia partners.

Paving a Unique Career in Mental Health Nursing

Keane Ryan, inspired by his father, a mental health nurse, chose to study Mental Health Nursing at ATU Donegal.

“I loved the programme as it was 50/50 theory and placement. The variety of placements gave me insight into different roles and equipped me for the world of work”, says Keane.

After graduation, Keane worked in an acute psychiatric setting in Donegal Mental Health Services. During this time, he noticed a correlation between people with mental health issues and poor physical health. Keane wanted to help address this, and he embarked on a ‘Masters in Exercise Physiology & its Application in Therapy’ to help

build physical exercise into mental health services.

Keane is now a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Physical Health and delivers lifestyle intervention clinics, a service which has since won numerous awards for the service it provides to mental health services.

“The best thing about a degree in nursing is that you get a science degree and that opens a world of opportunities. It doesn’t mean that you must stick to one career path. I wanted to do something unique, and it worked”, encouraged Keane.

If you would like to find out more about the BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Nursing, visit www.atu.ie/AU381

“I was always interested in studying nursing, as I have a keen interest in biology and how the body works. I love the skills side of nursing and I also like that you can approach the skills in different ways. At the beginning, I was overwhelmed with all the technical terms, but I learned quickly and with placements, I got to apply what I learned in class. Every day is a learning day.”

“I had several placements over the past three years including placements in Orthopaedics, Medical Rehab, Endoscopy Day Services, Paediatrics, NowDoc, Maternity, Mental Health, Public Health and Ambulance. This wide variety of placements let me experience different healthcare settings and services. I had insight into documentation, medication, and best practice across each service.”

“This year, in my third year of study, I took the opportunity to complete an Erasmus placement abroad. I spent eight weeks in France on placement, in three different settings - the main hospital, a nursing home and in an emergency department. It was great to have the chance to see different working practices and experience working in another country. I saw first-hand the French E-health system”, says Claire.

Nursing students at ATU are supported with grants for travel and accommodation when studying an Erasmus programme abroad. Claire is delighted to have completed the placement abroad as she was interested to see if working abroad was an avenue she would like to explore after graduation.

Claire has been involved in different initiatives throughout her time at ATU. She organised fellow students to meet with students from Worchester College in America as part of a project with her lecturer Breda Mulgrew. She hopes to go over to America next year to see their system in action along with the nursing department. Claire also arranged a collection for the shoe box appeal in second year on behalf of the nursing department which was very successful. Claire is also a class rep and in this role gets to support her fellow students.

In her spare time, Claire does agency work and works in Letterkenny University Hospital providing one to one care and enhanced care to patients as a care assistant. “This gives me the chance to gain experience in complex care until I graduate as a nurse. I think it’s important to see and experience different situations and working practices to prepare myself for working as a nurse”, says Claire.

“I’m not sure exactly what path I will take after graduation. I change my mind all the time. The good thing about a nursing degree is that it opens so many doors of opportunity. I will aim to work in as many different settings as possible to see what I enjoy”, concludes Claire.

f you would like to find out more about BSc (Hons) in General Nursing, visit www.atu.ie/AU380

When William embarked on his third level journey, he never expected to study law. William chose to study in Donegal because he found that living closer to home allowed him to take up a part-time job in a solicitor’s office which also gave him work experience related to his degree. William immediately settled into university life at ATU. He loves the independence that university provides and has made lots of new friends. William soon became a wellknown personality around the Letterkenny campus. He has been an active member of various clubs and societies and for the past two years has been Secretary for the Law Society. William organised various guest speakers to inspire and motivate himself and his classmates. Furthermore, himself and fellow student Pierce Butler (President of the Law Society) organised trips to Kings Inn, Four Courts, House of Oireachtas, Letterkenny Courthouse, Lifford Courthouse, a prison among various other trips.

ATU Donegal Letterkenny ATU Donegal Killybegs

Donegal is one of the most affordable regions to live, work and travel around. The cost of living is considerably lower than the national average and the region offers a variety of affordable student accommodation. There is no on-campus accommodation, however, there are options for digs, houses to rent on a shared basis, and in Letterkenny there are also a number of apartment complexes built specifically for the student market. Both campuses are quite central and most accommodation is within 10 minutes’ walk of each of the campuses. Each year, the Students’ Union (SU) compiles and updates a list of student accommodation. The list is sent out automatically to students who receive an offer from ATU Donegal and is also available online from early August of each year. Students are advised to begin the accommodation search early as demand can be high. For more information visit: https://atusudonegal.ie/accommodation/

European placement a big success for Leah

The Letterkenny campus is in the heart of Letterkenny town centre. Letterkenny is a lively town, offering excellent shopping, a vibrant nightlife and great opportunities for part-time work, sport, culture and fun. There are plenty of much-loved student haunts such as pubs, music venues, nightclubs and restaurants. In addition, you’ll find an 8-screen cinema and the Aura Leisure Complex, which houses a 25m pool, tartan track and gym. For arts and cultural enthusiasts there is the Arena 7 Entertainment Complex, An Grianán and a Regional Cultural Centre which incorporates an art gallery, an auditorium and full cinema facilities.

The Killybegs campus is located in Ireland’s premier fishing port which is rich in tradition and heritage. Its picturesque location boasts spectacular scenery and harbour views. This is perhaps the most scenic campus in Ireland, surrounded by breath-taking beaches and close to Europe’s highest accessible sea cliffs –Sliabh Liag. Students experience small class sizes and a personal approach to learning in a comfortable and welcoming setting. The campus has an impressive reputation for delivering exceptional academic programmes in culinary arts, hospitality and tourism.

The BSc (Hons) in Food Science & Nutrition programme introduced a four-month work placement to the degree programme in September 2022. Leah Michaelides, a third-year student in the Food Science & Nutrition programme jumped at the opportunity to go abroad on the work placement. Leah became the first student from this programme, to undertake a European placement and was based in Lisbon, Portugal from February to May working as a Nutritional Researcher with the company, Nurservicio. During her time on placement, she was given weekly briefs in the role, and undertook projects which included developing a nutrition plan for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

If you would like to find out more about the BSc (Hons) in Food Science & Nutrition, visit www.atu.ie/AU370

‘Student

Endless possibilities with a Business degree

LinkedIn highlight the opportunities for marketing graduates

BUSINESS ATU SLIGO

Business

and

ICT degree

targeted at meeting teaching and global skills shortage

There is currently a shortage of accredited computer science teachers in Ireland and a worldwide shortage of ICT skills.

A 2023 report highlighted that there were just 34 accredited computer science teachers in Ireland before the start of the school year in August 2022. The report, which was commissioned with the support of Google, highlighted that in 2022, only 15.6% of postprimary schools offered computer science as a Leaving Certificate subject. The Leaving Certificate computer science curriculum was designed and published in 2017. This teacher shortage is accompanied by an abundance of jobs in the ICT sector that are not being filled because of a graduate shortage. Businesses today are finding it difficult to see how they can use the opportunities presented by digital technologies to transform their businesses.

The Department of Skills and Education, alongside the Higher & Further Education and Training Sector, are working with industry to meet Ireland's high-level ICT skill

needs. As set out in the ‘Technology Skills 2022: Ireland's Third ICT Skills Action Plan’, to further expand provision from the education and training system to deliver an additional 3,200 high-level ICT graduates per annum over and above the existing planned increase in provision to 2022.

The BA (Hons) in Business

and ICT degree at ATU Sligo offers students a pathway to becoming secondary school teachers of both computer science and business. The threeyear honours degree also equips graduates with unique skills, as not only will they have the knowledge and practical capabilities of IT infrastructure and information systems, but

they will also have the business acumen to understand and appreciate the business. Graduates have the skills to identify business challenges, find technological solutions, manage technology projects, and analyse business data to lead businesses through this digital transformation. For more information, visit atu.ie/au901.

National award and recognition for Accounting degree

ATU Sligo’s accounting degree received two pieces of excellent news recently. First year student Gary McClintock placed third in a National

Accounting Competition run jointly by CPA Ireland and Quitch. The Donegal native was competing against accounting students from all

Tourism and Event Management students get broad experience

A degree in business opens a wide range of dynamic and exciting career opportunities. In ATU Sligo, we offer several programmes in this area at Level’s 8, 7 and 6. In Year 4 of our BBs (Hons) in Business, students can specialise in HRM, Marketing or Finance. Work placements, Erasmus+ opportunities, professional accreditation, real-life projects, and guest speakers are a big part of all our business programmes. This ensures graduates have the necessary skills to start their own business, take up a management position in a multinational company, become a marketing executive, and so much more.

Trips, talks and debates for Law with Business students

LinkedIn researchers have highlighted the current and future opportunities for marketing graduates. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a shift to a digital world of business. Skilled marketers with business acumen are in high demand in Ireland and across the globe. With business taking place online, now more than ever, graduates in marketing are highly employable.

The LinkedIn report found there was a staggering 374% growth in marketing jobs in 2021, with 1.3 million marketing jobs posted to LinkedIn worldwide. The total number of marketing jobs is expected to grow by 10% before 2030.

Marketing professionals are also securing roles in attractive locations. Cities like New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Singapore, and Sydney have all seen an influx of fresh marketing talent. A LinkedIn survey found a shortage of about 230,000 marketing professionals in major metro areas in the U.S. The report also lists some of the most soughtafter skills globally in marketing. These include social media marketing, digital marketing, merchandising, data analytics, teamwork, and creativity.

years of their programmes across Ireland, which makes this achievement even more impressive.

Next up was the news that

lecturer John Gaynor has been appointed as the head judge for the Irish Accountancy Awards in Dublin. The annual event serves as a platform to honour excellence in the accountancy profession in Ireland, foster growth and set benchmarks for the industry.

John Gaynor stated, "I am honoured to be chosen as the head judge for the 2023 awards. The Irish Accountancy Awards play a vital role in recognising and celebrating the outstanding contributions made by professionals in our field. It is a personal privilege to contribute to the education and development of the next generation of accountants, who will undoubtedly shape the future of our dynamic and ever-evolving world."

No university in Ireland offers more exemptions from the professional accountancy exams than ATU Sligo’s BA (Hons) in Accounting degree. Learn more at atu.ie/au902.

BA (Hons) in Law with Business students recently enjoyed a guided tour of the Central Criminal Courts, which was facilitated by a practising barrister. Students also sat in on a murder trial and experienced first-hand the role played by the judge, jury, solicitors, barristers, court clerk, gardaí, and witnesses.

Next up was a visit to Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. Students received a tour of Leinster House and viewed the Leader’s Questions where a draft law (Bill) featured prominently, giving them a strong sense of the role of the Dáil in Irish democratic life.

ATU Sligo student Alyx Cassidy participated in the Bar of Ireland Intervarsity Debate. The judging panel included a Judge of the High Court and Vice Chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland. Alyx and her classmates received a tour of the Four Courts and reception afterwards in the Distillery Building, meeting members of the Bar and discussing a career as a barrister. Guest lecturers this year included Damien Tansey SC, who recounted his career to date in the legal profession and discussed some of his more high-profile cases.

According to LinkedIn, the “Digital Marketing Specialist” role is among the top 10 most in-demand jobs, with 860,000 job openings. The most requested experience in digital marketing includes social media, content strategy, SEO, analytics, and more. The digital marketing market is expected to scale to a value of USD 24.1 billion, and there will be close to 6 billion internet users by 2027.

All of these key digital skills are incorporated into ATU Sligo’s marketing degrees, which are packed with the most up-to-date modules anywhere in the country. Work placements, group projects, business trips, Erasmus+ opportunities and lots more, ensure graduates have all the skills employers want. For more information on these marketing degrees, please go to atu.ie/au904 (Level 8) and atu.ie/au802 (Level 7).

NEW degree in Business and Irish

ATU Sligo and St. Angela’s have developed an exciting new joint CAO programme, which will have its first intake of students in September 2023. The three-year honours degree offers graduates a wide range of career and further study options, including a pathway to becoming a secondary school teacher of business and Irish. For more information, go to page 41 of this newspaper or visit atu.ie/au906.

Ihas been a busy year for ATU Sligo’s Business in Tourism and Event Management students. Throughout their studies, students are exposed to aspects of business, tourism, and events; and this year was no different. Business insight trips included a visit to The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo to learn how the company hasd to become an internationally recognisable brand, and a visit to the Hive Technology Enterprise Centre in Carrick on Shannon. Tourism visits included Drumhierney Woodland Hideaway in Leitrim Village, a memorable experience at Kylemore Abbey, and meeting the 'world's smartest dogs' in

action at Atlantic Sheepdogs. Students also successfully organised an event as part of the Year 3 Event Project Management module. The Hazelwood 5km Fun Run was professionally planned and managed from start to finish with event design, health and safety, insurance, marketing, and procurement just some of the aspects of event organisation that students successfully navigated.

The Business in Tourism and Event Management degrees in ATU Sligo provide graduates with a broad and exciting platform to build a successful career. As the basis of the degree is in business, this will always open huge job

opportunities. Tourism is Ireland’s largest indigenous industry and the world’s fastest growing sector, accounting for 1 in 10 jobs globally. More than 7 million people visited Ireland in 2022, with that figure forecast to substantially increase in the coming years.

Finally, the most recent Event Industry of Ireland report stated this is an industry that annually generates more than €3.5bn towards the Irish economy, €850m towards the Irish export market and employs an estimated 45,000 workers.

For more information on ATU Sligo’s tourism degrees visit atu.ie/au905 (Level 8) and atu.ie/au803 (Level 7)

Sport with Business students highlight the positives of variety

Following research with current students, an increase in applications to study Sport with Business (Level 8) and Applied Sport with Business (Level 7) at ATU Sligo has been attributed to the range of options available upon graduation. Graduates can secure careers as PE teachers, high level sports coaches, health professionals, take up marketing and management roles in a wide variety of businesses and sectors, or become entrepreneurs.

This variety of options was evident in the range of work placements students secured this year. Work placements included sports journalism with the Sligo Weekender, working with Connacht GAA as a Development Officer, teaching placements, coaching with Sligo Rovers, and business roles in a variety of organisations.

Students remarked on how they loved the mixture of classroom and practical teaching, from digital media and sports marketing to athletics and disability sports inclusion. Outdoor modules take place in settings such as Benbulben and

Strandhill, whilst professional coaches regularly work with students as they obtain their coaching badges, including GAA, IRFU and Basketball Ireland.

Students can also obtain sports industry qualifications, including fitness

instruction and swim teaching. The research proved to be very positive. It highlighted the importance of giving students varied modules and options upon graduation, two key ingredients in these Sport with Business degrees.

ATU Sligo Business Block

ATU Sligo Accounting student Gary McClintock with lecturer John Gaynor.

Tourism students on a recent visit to Kylemore Abbey.

Sociology and Politics graduate now Program Director in Michigan

SOCIAL SCIENCES

CORU Approval – ATU Sligo’s Social Care Practice is Ireland’s first

ATU Sligo’s BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice became the first Higher Education Provider in Ireland to receive approval by professional regulator CORU. The degree was developed over thirty years ago and has a long and established history in Ireland.

CORU (Health and Social Care Professionals Council) is the body responsible for regulating health and social care professions such as social care, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. One of the functions of CORU is to approve the education and training required for entry to the social care workers register.

Head of Faculty of Business and Social Sciences Dr. Breda McTaggart said “While social care has a long and distinguished history in Ireland, the professional regulation of this sector is something we have all looked forward to for many years. To be the first Higher

Education Provider in Ireland to do so is testament to the degree, our academic staff, and students. We are privileged to be able to actively contribute to the fields of

social care and social work professional practice.” ATU Sligo also offer a Masters in Social Work which is also accredited by CORU.

Bachelor of Education in ATU Sligo one of only three in Ireland

ATU Sligo’s Bachelor of Education (Hons) in Early Education and Care is one of three Higher Education Institutions offering this focused education curriculum. The degree, which was recently redeveloped, focuses on children’s early education and care needs from birth to six years of age and is aimed at supporting the evolving Early Learning and Care (ELC) sector.

Modules such as STEAM have been developed, and all graduates will achieve a Digital Badge based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning. Children learn through play, and students on the redeveloped programme will study several modules focusing on this important aspect of children’s lives, such as Outdoor and Nature Based Play, Children’s Play, and Pedagogy.

Placement in various ELC services, including centre-based services, County Childcare Committees, and primary schools, has always been a vital component of the programme, with students undertaking two, thirteen-week

COMPUTING ATU SLIGO

Why Choose Computing in ATU Sligo?

• Our programmes are developed with industry experts. We equip you with the skills employers want.

• A common first year across all our computing degrees gives you more flexibility.

• Three-month work placement on all computing programmes.

• Industry based project in Year 3.

• State of the art facilities, with new computing labs opening in 2023.

• 70% of students gain full time employment from their work placement alone.

• There is a computing graduate shortage in Ireland and globally.

• Graduate salaries of over €30k.

Virtual Reality project wins award

placements in Year 2 and Year 3. The degree now also includes a four-week work placement in Year 1. Students have previously completed placements in

Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Finland and the UK in early years settings, primary schools, and bilingual kindergartens. For more information visit atu.ie/au919

BA (Hons) in Sociology and Politics graduate Seamus Bannon has progressed to the position of Program Director in the City of Flint Mayor’s Office in Michigan. Seamus moved to the USA in 2020 and previously worked as Community Liaison in the Mayor’s Office, which involved the implementation of a $5 million Federal Grant. In his current role, he leads the Community Based Violence Intervention efforts, manages multiple grants, and works with mutisector organisations. During his time in ATU Sligo, Seamus completed his work placement in the European Parliament in Brussels. Learn more by visiting atu.ie/au916

English and Psychology degree applies for PSI accreditation

Huge Demand for Cyber Security Graduates

The 2021 ransomware attack on the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland further highlighted the need for graduates within the area of cyber security. Internationally, there is a severe shortage of cyber security professionals and Cyber Ireland estimate a global shortfall of between 1.8 and 3.5 million security professionals in the coming years.

Our degree programmes in Computer Networks and Cyber Security are available at Level 8 (AU956) and Level 7 (AU846). Graduates have the skills to work anywhere within this vitally important area. We hope to play our part and help ease the graduate shortage issues in cyber security.

We have seen how the cost of a data breach can end up being enormous, with both direct and indirect expenses. The largest data breach to date had three billion account records compromised. These records contained sensitive data about individuals. IBM have stated that the global average cost of a data breach is $3.86 million. The HSE attack saw 700GB of files stolen and a ransom of almost $20m demanded.

The cyber security eco-system has evolved and grown at an exponential rate over the last number of years and is a critical aspect for all sectors of our economy. Paul Brady, Director of Enterprise Information Security, Optum Ireland says “As society becomes more dependent on technology, the impact of a

Social Sciences ‘Blended Intensive Programme’ Project in Finland

Seven students and two staff from the Early Education and Care, Social Care Practice, and Sociology and Politics degrees in ATU Sligo recently completed a BIP (Blended Intensive Programme) project with students from the University of Vechta, Germany, and the Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Finland. Participants spent one week in Karelia University, where an intensive five days consisted of workshops, lectures, site visits, cultural activities, and group work. This was organised and facilitated by staff from the three universities, including ATU Sligo’s Dr. Karin White and Dr. Majella Mulkeen. Students then presented their final presentations which they had worked on in international student groups. ATU Sligo will host this event in 2025.

cyber-attack will be much greater than just financial or reputational. There is a global shortage of qualified cyber security professionals, and we need people who have a passion for technology and lifelong learning to help deliver cyber security solutions.”

Eoin Byrne, Cluster Manager for Cyber Ireland says “Over 60% of our members plan to hire for cyber security roles this year, of which 50% will hire new graduates. However, Cyber Ireland’s Skills Report 2021 found a severe shortage in

cyber security professionals and skills gaps, which are impacting companies of all sizes across diverse sectors.”

A qualification in cyber security can lead to an exciting and varied career in an array of industries too. Eoin Byrne, Cyber Ireland added “Graduate salaries mainly fall into three salary ranges: 31% of respondents hire graduates for cyber security roles between €25k - €35k, while a further 31% pay salaries between €35k€45k. 15% of organisations pay graduate salaries over €45k."

Final year Software Development (AU957) student Cian Tivnan was the computing category winner at this years Sligo Engineering and Technology Expo. Cian scooped up the award for his project titled “Researching the Usability of Virtual Workstations”

The aim of Cian’s project was to examine the usability and feasibility of Virtual Reality for the creation of virtual workstations, particularly for individuals engaged in remote working. Virtual workstations allow users to replace their physical office with a 3D environment and dynamic virtual screens.

Cian conducted research to discover common pain-points and usability principles essential to a usable VR experience. Common issues included a drop in productivity as users’ keyboards were removed from their field of view, users unable to read well when reading text outside of the convergence point caused by the device screen, and the needs for users to be provided with predictable environments that replicate their realworld surroundings.

Through his use of technologies such as Oculus, C#, Unity and Meta, Cian identified several recommendations to alleviate the issues highlighted. This included using tracked keyboards which are positionally tracked by the VR device via built-in Immersive Reality tracking cameras giving the users better spatial awareness. Pinch gestures were also applied which ensures users can see the exact position of their hand over the keyboard, even while immersed in a VR environment

New Computing Facilities in ATU Sligo

ATU Sligo’s BA (Hons) in English and Psychology degree has submitted an application for accreditation with The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI). Throughout their studies, students have 50% of their modules in the English strand and 50% of their modules in the Psychology strand. This ensures career opportunities for graduates are significant and diverse, as are postgraduate options. Graduates may specialise in specific postgraduate studies, apply to complete a psychology conversion programme, or apply to complete a Professional Master of Education (PME) in order to become a secondary school teacher of English.

New Gaming Hub in Sligo as sector continues to rapidly expand

A new €1.9m gaming hub in Sligo will provide a flexible workspace for companies working in the digital gaming sector. The hub will help entrepreneurs start and scale innovative gaming businesses. Strand Campus aims to become an international digital gaming development hub, further enhancing “Silicon Sligo’s” growing reputation as a destination technology cluster. The gaming hub has been constructed next to the existing Strand Campus

Enterprise Hub, which serves tech and digital companies with meeting spaces, networking opportunities and hot-desking facilities. There is capacity for 20 different gaming companies and it can support a further 40 companies through the establishment of a digital games cluster in the northwest. Graduates of ATU Sligo’s Games Development (AU848) degree will be integral to this development.

The digital gaming sector employs

around 2,000 people in Ireland but with the overall industry worldwide worth an estimated $300bn, there is huge potential for growth. A report published by the Financial Times in 2023, following analysis by global consultancy firm Bain and Company, predicts that global revenue for the games development industry will grow more than 50% by 2027. The gaming industry is estimated to generate more money than the movie and music businesses combined.

New high-tech computer teaching labs will open at ATU Sligo in 2023 and give students access to the latest advancements in technology. The labs are part of the multimillion-euro development of Block J, turning the single floor building into a modern four storey complex.

Quantity Surveying students visit multimillion euro sites

Mechanical Engineering students spend a week studying in Germany

Year 2 Mechanical Engineering students spent a full week in Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, near Stuttgart, in October. The trip was for an intensive week studying materials technology and processes, 3D printing, fatigue, deep draw processes, and more. Each morning students participated in classes and laboratory sessions, with an excursion organised in the afternoon. This included manufacturing facility visits to Porsche, Audi, and MercedesBenz. ATU Sligo was joined by universities from South Africa, Cyprus, Greece, Latvia, and Sweden. Students were housed in one apartment building which allowed for discussions and information sharing about studying in different countries.

In October 2023 another group of Mechanical Engineering students will participate in the week long programme.

Sligo Engineering and Technology Expo 2023

The ninth Sligo Engineering and Technology Expo returned to ATU Sligo in May 2023. Over 1,200 visitors to the Expo enjoyed an array of talks and projects, including demonstrations of robotics, automated machinery, and smart-home devices. The annual Expo showcases final year ATU Sligo engineering and computing projects. The Expo is attended by a range of companies including Fortune 500 industry leaders, which allows students to network with potential employers.

Irish Construction Excellence Awards

ENGINEERING ATU SLIGO

Building a sustainable future in Civil Engineering and Construction at ATU Sligo

What is a career in Civil Engineering and Construction really like?

Site visits are a key element of our Quantity Surveying degrees. Students visited several sites this year, including the live site known as E01 on the ATU Sligo campus. This was facilitated by contractor Tracey Bros and allowed students to see the full range of work in progress through an in-depth guided tour. Year 3 students also completed a three-month work placement. The combination of site visits, work placements, and real-world projects ensure graduates have the skills employers want.

New Hydraulics Lab

For the second year in a row, ATU Sligo won the Third Level CPD award at the 2023 Irish Construction Excellence Awards in Dublin. This was awarded to ATU Sligo’s PG Certificate in Mechanical and Electrical Quantity Surveying. The award recognises the quality of this innovative online programme which was developed in collaboration with the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland (SCSI).

If you are practically minded, interested in technology, like solving problems, enjoy variety and working with many different people, then a career in this area is appealing. Working in civil engineering and construction is extremely rewarding as it involves designing and building important infrastructure for our communities such as hospitals, schools, roads, water treatment plants and bridges to mention a few typical projects.

What are the employment prospects like?

Employment in this sector is very strong, and graduates are highly sought after and are being offered very attractive salaries. The construction sector continued to grow in Ireland by 18% in 2022. The government infrastructure strategy, Ireland 2040, outlines a clear roadmap for Ireland to develop world-class infrastructure, and this will require a significant number of professionals such as civil engineers, construction project managers, quantity surveyors and sustainable building technology staff.

Why choose ATU Sligo?

ATU Sligo has been delivering construction related education for over 50 years and has developed a very strong reputation for graduates who can hit the ground running as they enter the

workforce. This reputation has been strengthened further over the last ten years as key national bodies have partnered with ATU Sligo to upskill their staff. These bodies include the Department of Transport, Irish Water, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland (SCSI). This has resulted in strong industry connections, which ensure our programmes are aligned exactly with industry needs. All programmes have the latest digital technologies, incorporate work placements and are professionally accredited to allow graduates international recognition, including accreditation with Engineers Ireland, the Society of Chartered Surveyors (SCSI) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

What programmes are available at ATU Sligo?

Civil Engineering programmes at Level 8 and Level 7 are available. ATU Sligo is the only university in the Northwest that has a fully accredited Level 8 programme with Engineers Ireland, that enables graduates to become Chartered Engineers with further learning.

In addition, there are programmes from Level 6 (Construction Economics) to Level 8 in Quantity Surveying accredited with the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland (SCSI) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). ATU Sligo also has practical-based programmes in

Applied Construction Technology (Level 6), Advanced Wood and Sustainable Building Technology (Level 7) and a programme in Construction Project Management and Applied Technology (Level 8) accredited with the CIOB and the SCSI.

Precision Engineering and Design student wins

Abbott Bursary

civil, energy and more.

ATU Sligo initiative to aid the promotion of gender balance in the construction sector

ATU Sligo has seen year-on-year growth in female student numbers across construction and civil engineering programmes. Building on this progress, a Female Student Network has been established within the Civil Engineering and Construction programmes at ATU Sligo. This allows our students to have a strong peer group, which will help them settle into third level education and aid retention.

Traditionally, careers in construction have mainly appealed to males. As a result, according to the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), only 1 in 10 employees are female. During a time of unprecedented government capital investment plans, to address shortages in housing and improve our roads, rail and water infrastructure, there are significant shortages of graduates from construction

related programmes. Without addressing this gender balance issue, it will be a major challenge to ensure an adequate supply of graduates over the next few decades to satisfy growing demand. In fact, the CIF has highlighted that 112,000 additional construction workers will be required.

Trevor McSharry, Head of Department of Civil Engineering and Construction added, “With improving health and safety, the use of digital technologies and a focus on collaboration and sustainability, I think a lot of females are now considering construction related programmes as the sector evolves. Improving gender balance within the construction sector is a key priority for all national bodies, not only to address skill shortages, but also to improve team diversity, inclusion and overall performance.”

year

ATU Sligo Robotics and Automation and Mechatronic students benefit from an annual exchange programme with Kempten University, Germany. The exchange allows students to build up international connections and immerse themselves in a new learning environment.

Earlier this year, ATU Sligo students spent one week in the German university and participated in robotics lectures with leaders in the field, a practical in virtual welding, and advanced technical subjects. Students also visited the BMW factory, a company that makes equipment for the brewing industry, the 1971 Munich Olympic Village and met the Mayor of Kempten. Kempton University students then visited ATU Sligo in April 2023. Students participated in labs and lectures and visited AbbVie and Prior PLM Medical in Carrick on Shannon. The German and Irish students also enjoyed nights out in Sligo and tried out surfing in Strandhill. There was also a welcome reception at the Riverside Council Buildings in Sligo.

Fine out more about Robotics and Automation by visiting atu.ie/au941

BEng in Precision Engineering and Design student Paul Cleary recently received a fee bursary from Abbott Ireland Diagnostics. Paul competed against his peers and came first after the final stage of interviews held by the company. Several other companies in the field of precision engineering are also currently assessing students for fee bursaries.

Skill shortages have been identified in precision engineering with increased job opportunities for graduates possessing these skills. ATU Sligo have partnered with several companies to offer financial bursaries of up to €1000 to CAO applicants choosing to study the BEng in Precision Engineering and Design. This is to help combat the huge skill shortages. For more information email cao.sligo@atu.ie or visit the programme webpage atu.ie/au834

The Faculty of Engineering and Design recently opened a new Hydraulics Lab. The major investment includes a range of new state of the art thermodynamic equipment. These facilities will be used across disciplines such as mechanical,

Trevor McSharry (Head of Department Civil Engineering and Construction), Kieran Gallagher - (ATU Sligo Lecturer in Construction), Lily Vickers (2nd year Construction Project Management), Amy Donohoe (3rd year Quantity Surveying), Laura Connolly (2nd year Advanced Wood and Sustainable Building Technology), Audrey Adams Horan (2nd year Quantity Surveying), Teni Bada (3rd

Construction Project Management), MaryAnn McCann (3rd year Quantity Surveying), Stef Russell (3rd year Advanced Wood and Sustainable Building Technology), Caoimhe Clark Hagan (2nd year Construction Project Management), Aimee Branley (Construction Project Management) and Lisa Brennan (ATU Sligo Lecturer in Construction).

ATU Sligo Mechatronics student Leah Mc Morrow had her research project titled Remote Patient Monitoring in Respiratory Interventions accepted for presentation at the AllIreland Conference of Undergraduate Research (AICUR

2023). The research explored the role of remote patient monitoring using non-invasive ventilators. The findings showed that hospitalisations of patients with COPD may be reduced by using this technology.

Research on cancer survivor’s nutrition

SCIENCE

Financial Times highlight huge increase in Environmental jobs

Arecent Financial Times article highlighted that the number of green job openings worldwide in the past five years has outpaced the number of people with green qualifications. This is according to LinkedIn data cited in a report from Columbia University. It will not come as a surprise to many, as climate change and sustainability are major global issues.

ATU Sligo’s Environmental Science with Ecology graduates have seen significant demand for their skills in recent years, a trend which will continue to grow. In fact, most students secure jobs before they complete their final exams.

The global nature of environmental issues is also reflected in the ATU Sligo degree. Students have the option to study abroad for a semester or a full year with Mid-Sweden University in Year 3. This year saw five students take this opportunity. Four students completed one semester whilst a fifth student, Claire Doran, spent a full year in Sweden. Claire secured work placement with Mid-Sweden University and got to study in the most environmentally friendly country in the world. Students can also take

part in a two-week international summer school in Netherlands or Sweden.

ATU Sligo has one of the longest running environmental science degrees in Ireland and are experts in this area. Students are

taught by expert academics, spend 50% of their time in fieldwork and labs, graduate with CIWEM accreditation, have access to state-of-the-art environmental technologies, and lots more. Visit www.atu.ie/au966

International accreditation for Health Science programmes

ATU Sligo’s MSc in Health Promotion Practice and PG Cert in Health Promotion and Wellness Practice were both awarded International Union for Health Promotion (IUHPE) accreditation earlier this

academic year. In doing so, they joined ATU Sligo’s undergraduate degrees. There are only four undergraduate health science degrees accredited in Ireland, with three of the four in ATU Sligo –

(AU971) Health Science and Physical Activity, (AU861) Health Science and Physiology, and Public Health and Health Promotion (Add-on). The IUHPE is a global professional organisation

Sligo is a rapidly developing hot spot for BioPharma

SCIENCE ATU SLIGO

New honours degree in Clinical Measurement Physiology

September 2023 will see the first intake of students to the BSc (Hons) in Clinical Measurement

BSc (Hons) in Human Nutrition graduate Niamh O’Callaghan continued her studies in ATU Sligo after obtaining a place on an Irish Research Council Government of Ireland postgraduate programme. Niamh’s Masters by Research is titled Investigating Nutrition Related Life of Irish Cancer Survivors.

The Cork native said, “While carrying out my final year undergraduate project on the muscle strength of ambulatory oncology patients and its effect on quality of life, I was inspired to pursue a Masters in the field. The first-hand experience made me realise for each patient’s nutritional status the one size fits all approach is not applicable, and personalised care is fundamental.”

Niamh has published two peer-reviewed publications from her research and attended seven conference presentations. One of these was at the International Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) held in Arizona, USA. She also received the FSAI Prize for Best Poster Presentation at the Nutrition Society's Irish Section Conference 2022.

New teaching labs in Human Nutrition

dedicated to health promotion around the world. The accreditation is a reference point for employers in recruitment and selection, as they know graduates are educated to a very high standard. This helps graduates stand out from the crowd and enables career movement across roles, organisations, regions, and countries.

ATU Sligo’s undergraduate degrees have also achieved accreditation for meeting the European standards in the training of exercise professionals. Students can obtain embedded awards in Fitness Instruction, Personal Training, and as an Exercise for Health Specialist.

Graduates from these programmes secure careers in areas including sports development, sports science, physical activity promotion, health promotion, and lots more.

Graduates can also pursue postgraduate study in ATU Sligo or continue their studies in Allied Health Professions such as physiotherapy, radiography, and occupational therapy. ATU Sligo graduates have a strong record of successful careers in the Allied Health Professions.

With 19 of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical firms based in Ireland, the demand within the pharmaceutical and medtech industries for skilled graduates is at an all-time high. BioPharmaceutical companies are attracted to Ireland thanks to the deep pool of talent coming out of higher education institutes such as ATU Sligo. Sligo is recognised as a rapidly developing hot spot for the collaborative clusters that develop from operational and research excellence between education and industry.

These collaborative clusters in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical devices and diagnostics have been a key element behind the remarkable growth in a sector that accounts for 39% of national exports. Ireland is now the third largest exporter of pharmaceuticals globally, accounting for €80+ billion in exports annually.

Ireland’s pharmaceutical industry offers a wide range of products and services, from research and development for new medicines to the manufacturing and marketing of new medicines for humans and animals. The sector continues to develop and evolve and, more recently, Ireland has expanded its global hub beyond commercialisation to include innovation, digitalisation and next generation technologies. Over 30,000 people are employed in BioPharma companies in Ireland, with 85+ companies operating here. Skills within biomedical science, pharmaceutical science and other science disciplines are naturally required to fulfil the increasing job opportunities. ATU Sligo is an industry leader contributing to the research and development of this sector to ensure Ireland has the skilled workforce required to ensure we remain a global innovative leader within this ground-breaking industry.

Physiology in ATU Sligo. There are only two clinical measurement physiology degrees in Ireland at undergraduate level, and for the first time, this degree provides students with the opportunity to train in all five disciplines – gastro-intestinal, neurophysiology, vascular, respiratory and cardiology. During their studies, students undertake three minor clinical placements in three of the five disciplines.. These placements are a minimum of 300 hours each. In the final semester of Year 4, students undertake a major placement in one of these disciplines. The degree was developed in collaboration with the Irish Institute of Clinical Measurement and allows gradates to work anywhere in the world. There is huge demand for this profession in Ireland and globally, with the demand forecast to significantly grow in the coming years. Graduates also have many additional career paths available to them. For more information, please visit atu.ie/au973

High demand for ATU Sligo Occupational Safety and Health graduates

The increasing demand for graduates from ATU Sligo’s Occupational Safety and Health degrees continues. The legal requirement for all places of work to manage health and safety, coupled with the practical skills of our graduates, has led to over 90% of final year students securing a job in health and safety before completing their final exams.

For over 20 years, our Occupational Safety and Health programme has fostered very close links with industry. Such is the demand, our industry partners are offering paid work placements to students after second year in addition to the mandatory five-month placement after third year. Many of these organisations use the placements as an opportunity to recruit students once they have graduated.

progression from junior to senior roles across all sectors here in Ireland and abroad. Our health and safety degrees have international recognition with the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) allowing our graduates to take up exciting careers across Europe, Australia and Canada.

Improving career opportunities and increasing employability are at the core of our teaching. Students are introduced to real workplace health and safety scenarios from year one and have several site visits to various work sectors in all years. By third year, our students have the skills to develop safety statements for companies; they are qualified Manual Handling Instructors and Workstation Assessors.

ATU Sligo’s Faculty of Science have invested in the development of a custom-built food technology and sensory unit. The new facilities and state-of-the-art equipment will ensure the continued growth and success of food and nutrition related programmes, as well as encourage and support future research and collaborative activities across the sector. Recently, these facilities were used by Human Nutrition students to develop nutritious products to meet evolving consumer trends. This included flexitarian products, healthy snacks for children, sport nutrition products, foods for older adults, and nutritious convenience foods.

ATU Sligo’s BSc (Hons) in Human Nutrition degree is accredited by the Association for Nutrition. This means graduates are eligible for direct entry as registered associate nutritionists with the Association for Nutrition.

Careers in health and safety are highly paid, challenging and rewarding with rapid

Each year, our fourth-year students work with an Irish company in developing a bespoke Health, Safety, Environmental, and Quality

Fascinating studies for Forensics students

Management System. Organisations worked with recently include Marine Cable Services, ECC Timber Products, KN Circet Telecommunications providers, Good 4U Health

Foods, Aurivo and Golden Vale Co-operative Marts. The range of workplace sectors is an indication of the diversity of employment opportunities upon graduating.

There is never a dull day studying Forensic Investigation and Analysis at ATU Sligo. Some practical highlights this year included experiencing target practice and analysing gunshot residue at Lough Bo shooting range, undertaking a forensic investigation of a car, and a mock murder scene at the Clayton Hotel in Sligo. Students spent a very informative day in The State Laboratory, Kildare and were given a guided tour on a visit to the Beverage Forensic Laboratory at Ballina Beverages, Mayo by Christophe Bouillaud, Analytical Services Laboratory Technical Manager. Students also competed in the Eurachem Analytical Measurement Competition (EAMC) in Dublin, which focused on analytical chemistry.

ATU Sligo Human Nutrition Students Klaudia Gawrecka, Kelli English-Farrell and Areeba Akhter

ATU Sligo lectures in Clinical Measurement Physiology Tanya Byrne Pratt and Paul Nolan, with Karen Dobbyn, Director of Professional Development & Chair of the Academic Accreditation Council for the Irish Institute of Clinical Measurement Physiology (IICMP).

Occupational Safety and Health student Helena Dunne, on work placement on a Construction site working for King and Moffatt Electrical.

ARTS, DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE ATU SLIGO Interior

Architecture and Design published in Dezeen Schools Show

ATU Sligo’s Interior Architecture and Design programme recently had ten student projects published in the Dezeen Schools Show. Dezeen, regarded as the world’s most influential architecture, interiors and design magazine, has three million readers and over seven million online followers.

The invitation from Dezeen to feature in the show was a result of an international presence in student competition platforms.

In recent years, Interior Architecture and Design students have achieved amazing success on the global stage. This academic year seen final year student Karen Keaney shortlisted from over 25,000 entries for the World Architecture Student Awards 2022.

The annual Interior Architecture and Design field trip took place in Stockholm this year, allowing students from all years to immerse themselves in international culture and design.

Creative Design student works with Spotify

BA (Hons) in Creative Design student Korneliusz Dabek worked with Spotify for his final year project on a brief that required him to create a product to enhance the lives of remote workers.

Through extensive research he concluded that remote workers struggled to connect with their co-workers, resulting in low workplace morale. His design process led him to create MusicMates, a new entertainment system that helps connect work colleagues through music.

Throughout the project, Korneliusz used an extensive range of design tools including sketching, prototyping, 3D modelling, and CAD. His design practice also included UX and UI skills to create a full working prototype which users can explore through a QR code.

MusicMates allows users to share, explore, and discover new music through the Spotify MusicMates platform. Find out more about Creative Design by visiting atu.ie/au927

Award-winning Fine Art student

Architecture trip to Copenhagen

102 students, accompanied by staff, from all years of ATU Sligo’s Bachelor of Architecture programme spent four days in Copenhagen recently. The city has been officially designated as World Capital of Architecture for 2023 and is hosting the UIA World Congress of Architects in 2023. Students visited exemplar projects in social housing, urban design projects, and public buildings including CopenHill, the cleanest waste-to-energy plant in the world. This building is topped with an urban recreation centre, a sloping rooftop for a 9,000m2 ski terrain, and an environmental education hub, ultimately turning social infrastructure into an architectural landmark.

Irish Independent role for Seoirse Mulgrew

ATU ST. ANGELA’S St. Angela’s Students Taste for Success

Ugandan Adventure for St. Angela’s Nursing Students

BA (Hons) in Fine Art student Samantha O’Reilly received the Dock Art Centre’s Tina Burke Award 2023 for being the outstanding student on the Fine Art Programme at ATU Sligo. Samantha was also shortlisted for the 2022 RDS Visual Art Awards, with her exhibition making it to the final 25 in Ireland. The RDS Awards provide a curated exhibition and a significant prize fund of over €30,000, as well as vital exposure for emerging visual artists as they move into early professional practice. Some of Ireland’s most respected and successful artists have featured at the awards over the years.

Another production filled year for Performing Arts

Our ever-energetic Performing Arts students had another busy year with incredible productions, stunning exhibitions, and memorable trips as some of the highlights.

Final year Theatre Design students held their graduate exhibition in the Abbey Theatre Dublin, with Dylan Mc Gloin receiving the six-month Yeats Residency. Dylan will now work alongside worldclass directors, designers, and production

staff at The National Theatre of Ireland. Students also presented their Romeo and Juliet designs on the annual international trip to The Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Final year Performing Arts students graduation show, The Laramie Project, took place across three nights at The Factory in Sligo. The Year 3 students production, titled 'After Magritte', took place in the Black Box Theatre in ATU

BA (Hons) in Writing and Literature graduate Seoirse Mulgrew now works as a Fast News Reporter with the Irish Independent. Following her studies in ATU Sligo, Seoirse completed an MA in Journalism before securing a position with one of Ireland’s leading news and media publications. Seoirse said, “The degree in ATU Sligo exposes you to a range of writing disciplines and encourages creativity. The work experience also heavily influenced my decision to pursue journalism as I completed this with Image Magazine in Dublin.”

ATU Sligo’s Writing and Literature degree allows graduates to work as writers and pursue careers in publishing, public relations, communication, film, television, marketing and much more. Graduates can also progress to further study in areas such as journalism, publishing, drama and theatre studies, or can complete a Professional Master of Education (PME) to become a secondary school teacher of English.

In Summer 2023, four nursing students from our St. Angela’s campus will visit Uganda through Erasmus+ International Mobility. Both Intellectual Disability Nursing and General Nursing will be represented as Emily Kelly, Sorcha Higgins, Erin Russell and Éabha Heffron work with ‘Bright Kids Uganda’, an organisation based in Entebbe and set up to care for children with disabilities and their families. Students will also work

in remote village communities to offer vision assessments and deliver eyeglasses, as well as administering general health checks to village members. In addition, a new health clinic will be stocked with supplies brought by the students, and they will also have the opportunity to present at a Maternal Health Conference there.

In preparation for the visit, students will be fundraising and collecting various donations including eyeglasses, learning

aids, sensory board materials and medical supplies. We wish them and their accompanying staff, all the very best and look forward to hearing more on their return!

Interested in unique study abroad opportunities like this? Consider Intellectual Disability Nursing (AU992) and General Nursing (AU991) at St. Angela’s. For more visit www.stangelas.ie

New Joint BA (Hons) in Business and Irish from ATU and St. Angela’s

Final year Nutrition, Food and Business Management student, Jayne McCormack, is passionate about good nutrition for kids and ensuring they grow up enjoying healthy, wholesome and nutritious foods so when her New Product Development module came along, she knew exactly the direction to take. Janye’s innovative creation “Root-Tastic Littles” offers tasty, convenient, and nourishing foods using the best organic root vegetables and ingredients that appeal to kids.

This product is a nutrient dense, veggie enriched shape coated in a crispy golden crumb and comes in two variations: Sweet Potato, Red Lentil and Cheese; and Broccoli and Cheese.

At a recent Aurivo Award ceremony on campus, Jayne won 'Overall Best Innovative Food Product and Presentation’ and will go on to be one of three students competing in the Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards later this year. Our BSc in Nutrition, Food and Business Management (AU989) offers practical learning with industrial placement that continues to secure 100% employment on graduation. For more visit www.stangelas.ie/nutritionfoodbusiness

National Centre of Excellence at St. Angela’s Celebrates World Home Economics Day 2023

Sligo. Both shows were the epitome of professionalism and received rave reviews.

24 first year students and staff visited London this year. The group had guided tours of The Globe Theatre and The National Theatre, visited the V&A Museum and the Tate Modern, and took in several West-End productions including Phantom of The Opera and The Lion King. ATU Sligo Theatre Design student Dylan Mc Gloin receiving the six-month Yeats Residency.

ATU Sligo and St. Angela’s have developed an exciting new joint CAO programme for September 2023. The BA in Business and Irish is a 3-year honours degree focussing on both traditional as well as innovative module content in the areas of business and Irish. Delivered across both campuses, the degree will equip graduates to pursue a range of career opportunities from arts and culture, public sector organisations, ICT, financial services, and marketing. For those interested in post-primary teaching careers, BA graduates can also progress to a Professional Master of Education (PME) as the degree has been aligned with the requirements for the Teaching Council of Ireland. There are also a variety of roles in communication and media, where the Irish language is core. This programme also responds to the recent Official Languages Bill amendment which requires that 20% of public sector employees will be proficient in the Irish language.

Applications for the BA (Hons) in Business and Irish are open through the CAO change of mind facility using the code AU906. For more, visit www.atu.ie/au906

The recent launch was also an opportunity to award Gaeltacht Scholarships through Feis Shligigh, sponsored by both St. Angela’s and ATU Sligo.

Launching the new BA (Hons) in Business and Irish and awarding Feis Shligigh Gaeltacht Scholarships; Dr Fiona Crowe Head of School of Education, St. Angela’s), Michael Currid (Uachtarán, Feis Shligigh), Marie Kelly (Feis Committee member), Caomhán Mac an Bhaird (Scholarship Awardee), Ríona O'Farrell (Scholarship Awardee), Kevin Carroll (Former Gen. Secretary, Feis Shligigh), and Dr Breda McTaggart (Head of Faculty Business and Social Sciences, ATU Sligo).

The National Centre for Excellence for Home Economics at our St. Angela’s campus celebrated World Home Economics Day 2023 on 21st March by delivering an exciting and informative webinar titled ‘Reuse Reduce Regenerate’, facilitated by leading sustainability company 50 Shades Greener.

This year’s WHED theme is ‘Waste Literacy’ and up to 1,000 students attended the interactive session from Home Economics classrooms around the country and abroad. The most powerful message shared at the event was the ripple effect of making sustainable changes in everyday life. According to this concept, if one person makes sustainable changes, they can inspire five others to do the same, and so on, thus improving waste literacy everywhere.

Students passionate about this, as well as the other disciplines within Home Economics, can explore university degrees through the BEd teaching programmes or the BA programme offered by St. Angela’s, who have been delivering Home Economics education for 70-years now.

• BEd in Home Economics and Biology (AU985)

• BEd in Home Economics and Religious Education (AU986)

• BEd in Home Economics and Irish (AU987)

• BEd in Home Economics (single-subject) (AU988)

• BA in Home Economics (AU990)

For more, visit www.stangelas.ie

Seán Kelly (Uganda Programme Co-ordinator), Nursing Students Emily Kelly, Sorcha Higgins, Erin Russell, Éabha Heffron with Dr Edel McSharry (Head of School).

Final Year Nutrition, Food and Business Management student, Jayne McCormack with her new food product “Root-Tastic Littles”

Sligo: A vibrant town with stunning surroundings

ATU CLUBS & SOCIETIES

Below is just a taste of the variety of events and festivals which take place in Sligo.

EVENT DATE

Strandhill Peoples Market Weekly

Sligo Farmers Market Weekly

So Funny Comedy Festival February

St. Patricks Day Parade March

Hazelwood Fun Run April

Wild Roots Festival June

Wild Atlantic Shanty Festival June

Sligo County Fleadh June

Cairde Sligo Arts Festival July

World Sailing Championships July

Sligo Jazz Project July

Sligo Rally Stages July

Black Pig Festival July

Sligo Pride Festival August

Hagstravaganza August

Yeats Summer School August

Warriors Run August

Joining a club or society is a great way to meet people with similar interests, try out something new or pursue your passion. We encourage students to join at least one club or society, and with a huge variety to choose from, ATU has something for everyone. The wide section on offer cover everything from Frisbee to Fine Art and Music to Motorsport!. Also, new clubs and societies are formed every year which means you can even start your own.

Below are just some of the Clubs and Societies in ATU

University life is more than just study. It is also about having fun and making friends. Clubs and Societies play a big role in this. Joining one can often be the start of a new passion or a lifelong friendship. Clubs and Societies Days are held across our campuses early in the university year. This is an opportunity to sign up to as many of them as you like. ATU subsidise clubs and societies so that they are free, as are most of the activities they offer.

Sligo’s thriving culinary scene ensures there is something to suit every taste and budget - from sushi, vegan and tapas to Mexican, Italian and Thai. There are nightlife options for every mood, so whether you are looking for a traditional Irish pub or a trendy cocktail bar, a live music venue or an energetic nightclub, you will find it here. A ten-screen cinema has all the latest blockbusters whilst The Hawk’s Well Theatre, The Model and The Factory host a diverse range of arts and entertainment weekly. For the shopping enthusiast, independent shops are nestled in between popular high street brands, catering for everything from clothes to computers and vintage to vinyl. Famous for its connection to W.B. Yeats, Sligo is also home to a range of literary and cultural options. World class beaches at Strandhill and Rosses Point or the tranquil beauty of Lough Gill, provide the perfect place to get away from it all. Sligo’s rural landscape includes the worldfamous Benbulben Mountain, the Queen Maeve trail on Knocknarea, woodland walks such as Hazelwood and Slish Wood, megalithic sites in Carrowkeel, the beautiful wilderness of the Ox Mountains and so much more.

Sligo has some of Ireland’s most a ordable student accommodation

With a diverse and plentiful range of options available, Sligo has the perfect accommodation to suit every individual. The cost of student accommodation is also much more affordable than many of Ireland’s other university towns and cities, with this also reflected in the cost of living. There are ten purpose-built student villages in Sligo, all within easy access of both campuses. Some student villages offer a laundry service, whilst others have smart TV’s and free Netflix.

Digs accommodation is popular with students moving away from home for the first time, as they live with a local family and all meals are provided. With an excellent selection of private apartments and houses, private rental is popular with students wishing to live with friends. Whilst most students live close to campus, some choose the hustle and bustle of Sligo town centre or the stunning natural beauty of Strandhill and Rosses Point.

STUDENT VILLAGES

Gateway - www.gatewayapartments.ie

Ard Nua - www.ardnua.com

Uni Rooms @ Ard Nua - www.unirooms.ie

Yeats Village - www.yeatsvillage.net

Benbulben Court Apartments - www.benbulbencourt.ie

Clarion Village - www.thevillageclarion.com

The Grove Student Complex - www.thegrovesligo.ie Milligan Court - www.milligancourt.ie

Lake Isle Luxury Apartments - www.lila.ie

St. Angela’s Lakeside Aparthotel - www.sala.ie

Sligo Baroque Festival September

Sligo Live October

ATU Halloween Haunting October

Spilt Milk Festival November

Christmas Markets December

E-Sports Society

*Clubs and Societies available will vary across individual campuses

What does your club do? E-sports is a special branch of digital gaming which plays competitively, commonly for rewards in tournaments, region-wide or world-wide titles. Who is it for? This society is a space if you're looking for digital gaming in any way.

How often do you meet? Twice a week. Both online and on campus, normally with on campus meet ups being something casual for trying new things.

How much do members pay? It is completely free.

Harry Potter Society

What does your club do? We meet regularly to chat and share all things on Harry Potter. We plan lots of exciting events like a Sorting Hat Ceremony, Annual Christmas Yule Ball, Harry Potter movie and book days, Harry Potter themed activity days and lots more.

Who is it for? Anyone with a love and interest for Harry Potter. How often do you meet? Once a week.

How much do members pay? It’s free.

International Society

What does your club do? The aim of the society is to get to know the different cultures we have in university, go on amazing trips and play lots of fun games.

Who is it for? A society where everyone is welcome.

How often do you meet? At least once a week.

How much do members pay? It is completely free

Chess Club

What does your club do? We meet up together to play chess, learn chess and socialise. Our players have all improved their knowledge of chess. We also hold chess tournaments in the university.

Who is it for? Anyone interested in chess, no matter what level they play at.

How often do you meet? Twice a week.

How much do members pay? It is completely free.

Tea Society

What does your society do? The aim of the Tea Society is to provide a space for students to hang out and chat over a hot beverage. Sweet treats are also on the agenda. Who is it for? The society is open to everyone. Some people may find it challenging to get involved with a sports club or special interest society, so this is the perfect solution.

How often do you meet? Once or twice a week.

How much do members pay? The Tea Society is free.

Agricultural Science Society

What does your club do? The aim of the society is to bring agricultural science students or any student with an interest in agriculture closer together through meetings, events, trips, a charity ball and much more.

Who is it for? Anyone interested in Agriculture - farmers or not!

How often do you meet? Once a month

How much do members pay? It is free.

ATU SPORT

All Star for ATU Donegal’s Ciara McGarvey

ATU Donegal’s Sports Scholar Ciara

McGarvey has been named as a Yoplait

HEC LGFA All-Star. Ciara is currently studying a Higher Certificate in Health Science with Physiotherapy Studies at ATU Donegal and is a recipient of a Sports Scholarship. Ciara is a dedicated Gaelic player where she plays with Termon Ladies and with the Donegal

Ladies Gaelic Football side. The ATU Donegal ladies recently captured the Lynch Cup and Ciara was named Player of the Match in the Final. The All-Star player played a significant role in the ATU Donegal Ladies Gaelic Football side throughout the season, as a corner forward she scored 10 goals 51 points during the league and championship. Congratulations Ciara!

ATU and Camogie Association Deliver Pilot Programme for Young Women in Connacht

Boxing Success for Matthew McCole

Karate Victories for Lucas Thornton

ATU SPORT

Historic Year for ATU Connemara Hurlers

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) was delighted to partner with the Camogie Association and Connacht Camogie to deliver a pilot programme for young women in post primary schools across Connacht in 2022/23. This programme, Camán 4 Fun, is a redesign of the traditional Camogie model focusing on the holistic, fun and participation elements of the game. ATU sponsored sporting equipment packs for each school involved and an exciting end of season blitz for schools

held in Galway City in April 2023

The Camogie Association, Connacht Camogie and ATU were delighted with the level of interest in this pilot programme. 10 schools across Connacht took part in this pilot (with over 40 schools registering their interest).

There are plans to extend the programme to schools in Donegal next year through the continuation and strengthening of the relationship between Connacht Camogie, ATU and the post primary schools.

ATU President, Dr Orla Flynn, says: “As a former camogie player myself I’m thrilled to see this collaboration and greatly encouraged to hear of the strong level of interest. It’s so important to keep our young women engaged in sporting activity […] Team sports can have a very positive impact on confidence as well as physical and mental wellbeing.”

Camogie Association CEO, Sinéad McNulty welcomed “this fantastic initiative which will increase participation in Camogie across Connacht and beyond.”

ATU Sligo GAA Club continues to flourish

It was another successful year for the ATU Sligo GAA Club. Whilst there were several cases of what could have been, there were also lots of positives to build on. The Men's Junior footballers were crowned Connacht

GAA champions following a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory over ATU Galway at the Connacht Centre of Excellence. The Men's Freshers football team made it to the quarter finals of the A Championship,

having successfully navigated a group containing ATU Galway, ATU Donegal and the University of Galway. It was heartbreak for the Ladies footballers, who narrowly missed out on winning the Moynihan Cup, losing to DKIT by a single point in the final on a scoreline of 2-06 to 0-11.

The ATU Sligo Camogie team competed in the inaugural Ashling Murphy Cup Final at the Electric Ireland Championships weekend. A very tight game with two super defences meant it was a low-scoring thriller, with UU Magee emerging victorious by 2-4 to 0-7. Finally, the Men's Hurling team also progressed to the Electric Ireland Finals weekend. It was another case of fine margins as they exited at the semi-final stages of the Fergal Maher Cup following a one-point defeat.

ATU Donegal PhD student and Sports Scholar

Matthew McCole has built an impressive collection of wins as an elite athlete in boxing, competing at both an international and national level. Most recently, in April, Matthew won Gold at the Irish Athletic Boxing Third Level Association Championships at the National Stadium High Performance Gym. Matthew powered to victory over Darragh Gilroy (University of Galway) in the Senior Male 71kg category making this his fourth time to win a gold medal in this competition.

Matthew is no stranger to representing ATU Donegal, Matthew represented ATU Donegal and Ireland when he competed in the 2022 FISU University World Cup Combat Sports in Turkey. In this hotly anticipated competition, Matthew defeated Hungary’s Soma Mester in the quarterfinal. This would have guaranteed him a place in the semi-final, but a clash of heads forced his withdrawal from the semi-final and Matthew took home a bronze medal for the Irish team.

ATU Students Receive Connacht GAA Bursary Awards

Nine ATU students were awarded bursaries by the Connacht GAA in their annual student bursary awards for 2023. A record number of 62 promising young Connacht GAA players and administrators were presented with their awards at a ceremony that took place in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence on Friday, March 3rd. All five Connacht counties were represented in the initiative, which provides financial assistance to students who have displayed potential and commitment on the Gaelic games front. The ATU recipients were Alan McGlynn (Galway), Ciaran Reynolds (Leitrim), Con Doyle (Leitrim), Conor Hackett (Leitrim), Darren Shaughnessy (Galway), Eilis Keane (Mayo), Gary Fox (Galway), Nall Treacy (Mayo) and Rhys Henry (Sligo).

ATU Sligo Sports Scholar Lucas Thornton has delivered some excellent performances over the past few months, resulting in two national titles. The BSc (Hons) in Health Science and Physical Activity student won gold in Kumite at the 2023 Karate Intervarsities. He was also crowned National Men’s Champion in Kumite at the Karate Ireland National Championships in November 2022.

ATU Connemara Come Close to the Championship

ATU Connemara’s footballers started their championship campaign with a convincing win over TUD. 3:22 to 1:12, the final score at the Connacht Centre of Excellence. This good form continued in to the second round of the tournament with a 2:14 to 1:12 win over Monaghan Institute.

ATU Connemara were through to the All-Ireland final against The Law School (Dublin). Poor weather and pitch conditions resulted in a hardfought but low scoring game. In the end, a single point decided the match in The Law School’s favour, but the team has a lot to be proud of and has set a high standard for next season.

Swimming Success for ATU Sligo Pair

Ahistoric season saw the ATU Connemara hurlers lift the Fergal Maher Cup for the first time. The group stage saw ATU Connemara, ATU Donegal and ATU Sligo battle it out. Finishing in second place meant they had to take on Marino Institute in a Quarter Final. In a close encounter ATU Connemara triumphed 1-14 to 0-12. A comfortable win against St Mary’s University college in the semi-final secured a chance at the cup. A standout performance in the final against RCSI earned a 5-17 to 1-10 victory and the cup.

Connacht success but All Ireland heartbreak for ATU Sligo students

ATU Sligo GAA players Ross Doherty, Dylan Walsh, Daire O’Boyle, Ross Chambers, Zaac Mahon and Ronan Kelly were on the wrong side of the result in the 2023 AllIreland U20 Football Final. Sligo faced Kildare in the final, but it was the Lilywhites who came out on top on a scoreline of 1-17 to 0-12. It was a memorable season for the Yeats County, nonetheless. They won the Connacht U20 Football title for the second season in a row following victories over Galway, Mayo and Roscommon before defeating Kerry in the All-Ireland semifinal.

Catherine Set for Brazil

Catherine Grier, a Ramelton native who is currently studying BSc (Hons) in Agriculture is set for Sao Paulo in Brazil.

The accomplishments of

Catherine are extremely remarkable in her sporting career. Catherine is a valued member of ATU Donegal’s ladies’ soccer team and is a member of the Irish Deaf Women’s Football Squad.

Catherine represented Ireland in the World Deaf finals in Montesilvano, Italy where she won Player of the Match in the game against Germany.

St. Angela’s student captains Sligo to Connacht Rugby title

Anthony Maher and Dara Ronan achieved success for ATU at the Varsities 2023 swim gala. Anthony won silver in both the 50m and 100m Backstroke, whilst Dara won silver in the 100m individual medley. Anthony and Dara then competed at the Premier Meet 2023 in Sheffield before returning to Ireland for the Swim Ireland Irish Open Championships 2023 at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.

ATU Sligo Sports Scholar Anthony also won three gold medals, two silvers and a bronze at the Connacht Swimming Championships earlier this year.

Catherine sustained many injuries throughout the tournament but was still determined to play. Her determination led her to 6 goals in the tournament and obtained 6 caps. To date Catherine has 19 caps and 13 goals for her country. The Irish Deaf Women’s Futsal team finished 5th overall in the tournament qualifying for the world cup. Catherine will be traveling with the Irish Deaf Futsal team to Sao Paulo in Brazil in November 2023 to represent Ireland.

Orla Evans, from Middleton in Co. Cork, captained Sligo Rugby Club to their recent Connacht Women’s Plate Final victory. Sligo faced Tuam/Oughterard in the final at The Sportsground in Galway and emerged victorious on a scoreline of 24-12. Orla studies the BEd (Hons) in Home Economics and Religious Education in St. Angela’s College.

ATU Donegal Sports Scholar

ATU Sligo's Ross Doherty and Daire O'Boyle

ATU SPORT

Double Win for ATU Donegal Ladies Gaelic Football Team

This year ATU Donegal had a spectacular season in ladies Gaelic football.

ATU Donegal ladies reigned victory as League and Championship double winners. The team was coached by Barney Curran and captained by Julie Trearty.

‘This is my final year in ATU Donegal and having gotten so close in previous years to winning silverware but never managing to get over the line, made the wins this year all the more special! And as a team, it was something we wanted more than ever. Doing the double was beyond our expectations but was always within our reach. To captain this team was an absolute honour, there is a unique bond within the team I’ve never experienced before, and I will probably never experience again.’ says Julie Treaty. The ladies started the season winning the Division 3

Lauren Cadden Continues to Impress

John Gilligan Wins National Boxing Title

ATU SPORT

Emma Doherty: Ireland’s Rising Star

Emma Doherty has firmly cemented her place as one of Ireland’s top emerging football talents over the past year. A key player for Sligo Rovers Women’s National League team, the striker finished her first league campaign at this level with a tally of eleven goals. This earned Emma a nomination for the Women's National League Young Player of the Year award - one of only three players nominated in Ireland. The Donegal native was also named on the SSE Airtricity WNL Team of the Year.

LGFA HEC League vs St. Marys Belfast in November. Then went on to win the Lynch Cup in the LGFA HEC Championship in Connacht GAA Centre, beating DCU in the semi-final and UCC in a thrilling final. Manager Barney

A Night of Celebration

In March, ATU Galway held their Sports Ball & Awards recognising individual and team performances following a successful year. The ATU Sport Galway jersey was worn for the first time by sporting individuals and teams.

Students, staff and coaches were joined by Head of the Galway-Mayo College, Dr Michael Hannon, alongside Irish International Women’s Rugby Star, Sene Naoupu. ATU Galway reached finals in Men’s Soccer, Camogie, Intermediate Football, Rugby, Olympic Weightlifting and Camogie with successes in Boxing, Judo and Hurling. ATU Galway recorded 2391 students engaged in sports and physical activity on their campuses. Spirit of Ireland Executive Travel generously sponsored the awards.

Curran couldn’t believe the result as he sunk to his knees at the end of the game! Also, important members of the squad were the backroom team; Nadine Friel (past student) Tori O’Connor (present student) and Sylvester Maguire

(former Donegal Player) who all provided unwavering support throughout the season. Barney remarked, "Everything I asked was never a problem and the team were all a complete pleasure to work with, they really are a great team."

2023 has already proven to be a successful year for Lauren Cadden. The ATU Sligo student finished second in the 200m final at the National Senior Indoor Championships. The Sligo athlete also ran a new personal best time of 23.97 as she secured the silver medal. Lauren followed up this success by winning gold at the Connacht Athletics Indoor Championships in both the 200m and 400m, running a new personal best in the 400m final.

The BSc (Hons) in Health Science and Physical Activity student is no stranger to success. She has represented Ireland across various age categories and distances over the years. She has also previously broken Phil Healy’s 200m Irish Juvenile record. We are excited to see what the second half of 2023 holds for this very talented athlete.

Ignacio Folgueiras and Andrew McGeever named NBCC College All-Stars

A day of glory for ATU Donegal’s Men's Soccer team

Boxing Champion and Applied Social Care Student Bethany Doocey - Rising Star

Irish boxer and first-year Applied Social Care student in ATU Mayo, Bethany Doocey has been selected for the Irish team to compete at the Felix Stamm International Boxing Tournament in Poland later this month.

Bethany has been climbing up the ranks of world boxing over the past few years and now brings her expertise to college boxing, linking the college club with her local club and coaching others. Next year’s Paris Olympics may come a little too soon for Bethany, who is 19 years old, but it is realistic for the next Olympic cycle.

The student also successfully defended her National Senior Elite title also won the senior title at the IATBA Intervarsity's, which earned her an invite to a weekend training camp with world champion Sunniva Hofstad in Norway.

On her return from Norway Bethany then trained with the Irish Elite team at Sport Ireland HQ Abbotstown for two weeks.

She is a great Ambassador for ATU Mayo and everyone associated with Castlebar Boxing Club are extremely proud of her and wish her every success in her upcoming tournaments and for the exciting career ahead of her.

Ignacio, originally from Malaga, Spain, is studying a Certificate in Access for Higher Education at ATU Donegal. He plays as a power forward and is an allround supremely skilled player with the ability to score from any part of the court. Ignacio is the leading scorer and rebounder on both the ATU Donegal Men’s Basketball and Northwest Basketball National League sides. Ignacio is a recipient of an International Basketball scholarship and was also named an All-Star player. Andrew is a current PhD student at ATU Donegal and a talented basketball player. He is a valued player of the ATU Donegal Men’s Basketball team and was recently named an All-Star in the final of the Intervarsity Men’s “A” Competition. Andrew also plays Super League Basketball with EJ’s Sligo All Stars and is a recipient of an ATU Donegal Level 1 Full-Time Sports Scholarship.

GAA Awards for Quartet

The 19-year-old has also added to her Republic of Ireland caps and goals. Having represented her country at various underage levels, Emma had the honour of captaining the Women’s Under-19s in their UEFA European Qualifiers versus Germany, Norway and Croatia in April of this year.

Emma is currently studying a BSc (Hons) in Health Science and Physical Activity at ATU

Sligo and is a recipient of a Sligo Rovers Sports Scholarship. These scholarships, which are offered as part of the ATU and Sligo Rovers partnership, enable female players to compete at the highest level whilst achieving their academic goals.

Big Wins at InterVarsity

ATU Galway gave a strong performance at the InterVarsity competitions in Cork and Dublin this year. Athletes competed in Olympic weightlifting, Judo and boxing were some of the sports and more. There were firsts for ATU Galway in weightlifting. Mary Wittmer earned a silver medal in the Women's Under 81kg category, while Michelle Dalton took bronze in the Women's Under 81kg category. Pierce Dalton came 6th in the Men’s Under 96kg category.

Competing across nine categories in Judo ATU Galway’s Max Croke, Leah Deegan and Sam Olaoye, won 2 Silver medals and 3 Bronze medals. 9 boxers competed earning big results. The ATU Galway representatives brought back 3 National Titles, Aaliyah Butler Senior Women’s 54KG, Joshua Monahan Senior Novice 86KG, and Erin Corrigan Female Intermediate 75KG.

Lucy Wallace: Athlete by Nature, Nurse by Choice

Lucy Wallace, a passionate nursing student, has seamlessly combined her love for Gaelic Football with her pursuit of a nursing career, reaching impressive heights in both domains. During her Nursing Studies course at Mayo College of further Education in 2021, Lucy was invited to join the ATU Mayo

Ladies Gaelic Football team.

Her exceptional skills proved pivotal in leading the team to their most successful year, clinching both the League and Championship titles.

Lucy's outstanding performance with the college team caught the attention of the Mayo Senior management team, particularly Danielle Caldwell, a Mayo player and All-Star serving as the team's physiotherapist. Recognising Lucy's immense potential, Caldwell advocated for her inclusion in the County senior panel. Throughout the season, Lucy transitioned from a squad player to making her Senior championship debut, featuring in crucial matches, including the All-Ireland Semi-final at Croke Park. While excelling in Gaelic Football, Lucy's unwavering commitment to her nursing career remains steadfast. She secured a spot in the General Nursing program at ATU Mayo in 2022, where her sporting achievements were duly recognised

with a Sports Scholarship award. Lucy's ability to excel in both her academic and athletic pursuits serves as a testament to her remarkable success and resilience.

Emma Doherty celebrates after scoring for Sligo Rovers

ATU Sligo Sports Scholar John Gilligan won gold at the 2023 IATBA National College Championships in the Senior Novice 64kg category. The BA (Hons) in Accounting student won by unanimous decision following his bout against DCU's Peter McConville. John fights out of the Ballinacarrow Boxing Club in Sligo.

Four ATU Sligo students were named as Higher Education GAA Championship Rising Stars for 2023. Roisin Rodgers (Donegal), Lily Vickers (Roscommon), Aoife Morrisroe (Sligo) and Dearbhaile Lynch (Cavan) received the awards following superb performances throughout the Yoplait HEC Championships for the ATU Sligo GAA club.

ATU Sligo students, Lily Vickers and Roisin Rodgers

This year ATU Men’s Soccer team had a spectacular season, despite losing out on the winning title their hard work paid off as they secured a spot in Premier Division for 2023/2024 football season.

ATU SPORT

A Double-Double for ATU Sligo Soccer

The ATU Sligo Soccer club enjoyed another extremely successful year as the Women’s team and the Men’s B team both claimed league and cup doubles. The Women’s team secured the WSCAI Division 1 League title with a 1-0 win over the University of Galway. Emma Doherty’s first-half penalty proved to be the difference between the two sides, in difficult playing conditions at the Athlone Town stadium. The team followed up this success by defeating the University of Limerick to win the O’Regan Cup Final. Goals from Erin Coyle, Kate Nugent and Emma Doherty (2) saw the ATU Sligo team

come out on top in a 4-3 victory. This was a remarkable double for the team, with several players playing third-level football for the first time.

The Men’s B Team faced NRC Coleraine in both of their finals. First up was the CUFL Challenge Cup Final, which they won 2-1 courtesy of goals from Cian Kilcoyne and Rian Gorman. The CFAI Division 2 league final between the two sides proved to be a higher scoring affair. Despite trailing 2-0 at half-time, ATU Sligo claimed a 5-2 win thanks to a superb second-half display. Goals from Darragh McGoldrick, Conor McKeon, James Heraghty (2) and Jack Davitt capped off a memorable season for the team.

ATU Sports Scholarship applications are open

The ATU Sports Scholarship programme provides support to talented student athletes and recognises their need to balance both sporting and academic commitments. Through financial and nonfinancial benefits, the ATU Sports Scholarship programme aims to reward students for their dedication and skill and provide them with further opportunities to develop as students and sportspeople.

ATU Sports Scholarships are awarded across a wide variety of team and individual sports. No matter what your chosen sport is, if you think you could be eligible, then we encourage you to apply. The next application closing date is Monday, June 5th. For more information or to apply, please go to atu.ie/sportsscholarships.

Nicole Gallagher Selected for Irish Academy

ATU Sligo Sports Scholar Nicole Gallagher has been selected as part of the Show Jumping Ireland Young Rider Academy for 2023. Nicole, a Pharmaceutical Science with Drug Development student, began her training with Commandant Geoff Curran at the army equitation school in McKee Barracks at Easter.

Gold and Silver for ATU Donegal Weightlifters

Gary Harvey and Dylan Finucane enjoyed a successful trip to this year’s Olympic Weightlifting Intervarsity in Cork in March 2023. Gary is a fourth-year Computing student at ATU Donegal. He had a powerful display at the Weightlifting Ireland Intervarsity Championship and safely secured first place and a gold medal in the Senior Division, 73kg weight class – making it two gold medals in two years. Gary is a recipient of the FinTrU/ATU Donegal Sports Scholarship for 2022-2023.

Dylan is a first year student at ATU Donegal, undertaking a Higher Diploma in Health Science with Physiotherapy studies. Dylan displayed a very promising and accomplished performance at the Weightlifting Ireland Intervarsity Championships in Cork and claimed second position and a silver medal in the Junior Division, 81kg weight class. Dylan is a recipient of the ATU Donegal Level 2 Full-Time Sports Scholarship.

Karate Intervarsity Champion

Hollie Marie Gallagher is a second year Design student at ATU Donegal and an ATU New Entrant Sports Scholar. She is a current member of the North-West Shotokan Karate Club. Hollie represented ATU Donegal at the recent 2023 Karate Intervarsity Championships in March and brought home both a gold and silver medal in the kata and kumite divisions.