Cover photo: Amy Catterson, the first student to graduate from ATU, pictured with her mother Linda Catterson at the ATU Donegal Conferring Ceremony.
Photo Credits: Mike O Shaughnessy, James Connolly, Fennell Photography, ATU Staff.
Editor: Anne Donnelly
Design: The Foundation
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK: email: anne.donnelly@atu.ie
University Updates
ATU Welcomes Over 4,000 New Students
- Meet ATU’s Governing Body
- First ATU Conferring Takes Place
- ATU - St. Angela’s College Joint Submission for Integration
- ATU Partners with LinkedIn Learning
- Reaching out to our Alumni
- ATU Joins the EU GREEN Alliance for Sustainability
Professor Philip Nolan Launches new Postgraduate Research Training Programmes (PRTPs)
Research Spotlight: How Forensic Science Helps in the Search for Missing People
ATU Libraries Involved in Successful Open Research Funding
Minister Simon Harris visits Advance Centre, ATU Sligo Dalata Hotel Group signs MOU with ATU’s Galway International Hotel School
ATU Partner with Astellas Pharma to Provide Lean Sigma Training
The Radical Sustainability Lab Smarter Travel Charter Green Lab Certification
EmpowerUs Project Launched to Enable Coastal Communities to act for Change
Pioneering Solar Powered EV Charging Hub Launched at ATU Donegal
ATU Sustainability Themed Poetry Competition
ATU Attend MedTech Conference
ATU Hosts Sports Concussion Conference
Women Entrepreneurs Attend EMPOWER II Closing Event
ATU host ‘Smart North West Conference’ Exploring Potential of the North West Region
ATU Students Win Four Awards at WorldSkills National Finals in Dublin
ATU Galway-Mayo Jubilee Celebrations
ATU Students World Combat Sports Success Honorary doctorate for Dr Frances Lucey
Team from ATU Celebrated at National DELTA Award Ceremony
ATU wins The John Kelly Award in Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Lasmuigh: A new Professional Practice Journal for the Outdoor Sector
Contemporary Art Exhibition at ATU
ATU Awarded an Athena Swan Legacy Award
EDI Activities on Campus
- Black History Month
- National Coming Out Day
- We Are Here, HEAR Exhibition (WAHH)
- World Mental Health Day
- Togetherall
Sexual Consent
Beyond Limits
We now have our full complement of members on our Governing Body and you can find out more about the members on page 7.
In our research news we have a very interesting interview with John Cassella on how forensic science helps in the search for missing people.
We continue to expand our research activities and in September we were delighted to have Professor Philip Nolan launch our new Postgraduate Research Training Programmes (PRTPs).
ATU recently joined the EU GREEN Alliance for Sustainability and much has been happening across all campuses in sustainability. We bring you a taster of these on pages 27-32.
There have been many student and staff achievements in September, October and November and you can read about some of these on pages 41-48.
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) colleagues have also been very busy, and we were delighted to have been awarded an Athena Swan Legacy Award. An overview of recent EDI activities can be found on pages 49-52.
The purpose of this magazine is to keep you updated on our activities and initiatives. So, whether you’re a member of our student or staff body, or are one of our regional, national or international stakeholders, we hope you find something of interest here.
Best Wishes Anne DonnellyIf there is anything you would like to see in future issues of this magazine, please email me at anne.donnelly@atu.ie”
I’m delighted to welcome you to our fourth issue of the ATU Magazine. It’s been a busy few months on all ATU campuses.
In September we welcomed over 4,000 new first year students to ATU and in November and December our first ATU conferring ceremonies are taking place.
In September over 4,000 new first year students started programmes across our eight campuses in Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Sligo.
Students from around Ireland were joined by many international students from Europe and further afield including Czech Republic, Latvia, Spain and Syria.
This year ATU experienced a promising increase in student numbers from across the region and beyond bringing the total number of students in the university to almost 24,000.
In a welcome return to the first fully on-campus new student induction
in three years, students were given campus tours and presentations from staff and students’ unions on supports and services available.
There has been an increase in demand for places on programmes across Science, Technology and Engineering with Health Sciences, Computing, and the Built Environment also doing well. There has also been a steady demand in core business and humanities programmes offering general
degrees with strong progression routes from Level 6 through to Level 8.
Dr Billy Bennett, VP for Academic Affairs and Registrar said the increased numbers of students is an encouraging sign for the newly established university.
As we welcome over 4,000 new first year students in our inaugural year as Atlantic Technological University, I would like to extend my best wishes to all our students and staff on what will be a very exciting year as a
new university.”
Dr Billy Bennett, VP for Academic Affairs and Registrar
It is a great honour to welcome our first cohort of full-time undergraduate students to our newly established Atlantic Technological University. This is an historic day for ATU as we begin our first full academic year as a university. In joining ATU our students become part of a very diverse and inclusive community as they start an exciting journey of exploration, discovery and knowledge.”
Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President
April 1, 2022 saw the establishment of Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and the inaugural meeting of ATU’s Governing Body. The first Governing Body comprised four members appointed by Minister Simon Harris and the new ATU President Dr Orla Flynn. Since April, in line with the provisions of the Technological Universities Act 2018, the Governing Body has expanded to its full complement of 22 members.
Governing body members include staff and student representatives, a representative from the education and training board or boards in whose education and training board area ATU campuses are located and external members, at least one of whom has expertise in standards and practice in higher education outside the State. The Governing Body meets once per month. Its meetings are held across all ATU campuses on a rotational basis.
Maura McNally, Chair of ATU Governing Body
Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President
ATU marks a significant milestone in November and December when over 5,000 students will be the first graduands to be conferred with ATU awards. Nine ceremonies are taking place across five locations in the west and north-west from Thursday November 3 to Thursday December 1.
Over 5,000 students will graduate from ATU with 1,390 graduands in Donegal, 1,780 graduands in Sligo and 1,850 in Galway and Mayo.Paul Hannigan, Head of College, ATU Donegal addresses graduands at the ATU Donegal College Ceremony.
On behalf of the staff and Governing Body of Atlantic Technological University I want to congratulate you on your graduation, with a very special acknowledgement that you are the first ever graduating students from ATU! Today is a public affirmation and celebration of your personal achievement on the completion of your course of study with us. Your resilience and commitment over the last few difficult years are now being rewarded. The conferring of a higher education award is a true testament to your dedication, hard work and sacrifices. 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.”
Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President, speaking to graduands at each of the nine ceremonies.
All of our ceremonies were live streamed and you can watch any of our ceremonies on ATU’s YouTube channel by clicking here.
This is an historic moment for Atlantic TU, the first ever conferring as a university… a proud moment, not just for the graduands and their families and friends but for the region and all of us at ATU.”
Dr Billy Bennett, ATU VicePresident Academic Affairs and Registrar
St. Angela’s College Sligo and ATU have officially lodged a joint submission to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Skills for the integration of St. Angela’s College into ATU. The joint application was submitted on November 2, to Minister Harris, triggering a formal process under section 44 of the Technological Universities Act 2018 as amended by the Higher Education Authority Act 2022.
This next phase will see an international panel engaging with both institutions to examine the various academic and structural implications of St. Angela’s joining Atlantic TU.
Our University community is fully behind the joint submission and we are looking forward to the integration of St Angela’s College Sligo into ATU. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring together the collective expertise and experience of both organisations, working together as one University to serve the educational needs of our region and beyond. My thanks to all who have been engaged on this development in recent years.”
Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President
This joint submission marks an historic milestone in the 70-year history of St. Angela’s College. We are fully committed to this integration and look forward to a bright future as we join the ATU family who are already making a mark on the higher education landscape, both nationally and internationally. Getting to this point of the process is testament to the work that has been taking place across all levels and this integration will ensure the stability of university learning across the region.”
Dr Amanda McCloat, St. Angela’s College PresidentATU have 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.
The course topics range from leadership, engineering, and business management to Excel and beyond. The resources comprise high-quality video learning resources plus downloadable exercises and workbooks. For Patrina McCarthy, a clerical officer in ATU’s research office, LinkedIn Learning was beneficial in understanding the Microsoft package better. She says: “Learning quick wins and shortcuts within these packages allowed me the opportunity to be more productive in completing my everyday tasks.”
All staff and students at ATU have full, free and unlimited access to on-demand training on any device anytime. Upon completion of a course, users can choose to add the certificate and new skills to their Linkedin profile, if they have one.
LinkedIn Learning has given me the opportunity to spend more time with students on other aspects of the course teaching, such as work preparation and presentation skills. It also exposes the student to LinkedIn learning as a resource which can be embedded in their lifelong learning approach.”
Mary Nolan,
Lecturer in Mechatronics, ATULinkedIn Learning has greatly benefited me in terms of growth and understanding in my professional career. The variety of courses and modules has allowed me to sharpen skills already obtained, like advanced Excel and Word courses.”
Patrick McDonald, Assistant Staff Officer, ATU
I have really enjoyed using Linkedin Learning to upskill and improve my knowledge and skills in a variety of different areas. There is a vast number of courses in a variety of fields and levels available. The self-paced learning is ideal in allowing me to work in my own time and pace. The short videos with complementary quizzes allows me to learn in bite sizes over time.”
Cillian O’Mhurchu, School of Business ATU SligoAs one of the largest universities in Ireland ATU has a unique opportunity to build an alumni relations programme to strengthen and enhance our relationship with alumni.
We aim to build a distinct alumni programme model that aligns to the vision of our university, and supports its students, its alumni and adds value to our region.
Alumni are usually defined as the graduates of an institution, however as we operate across a strategic ecosystem within the region, we aim for a broader inclusive definition of alumni. Apart from the traditional
graduates of undergraduate/ postgraduate studies, we also view staff, entrepreneurs and incubation businesses as our alumni.
An inclusive alumni network creates an informed group of ambassadors with a potential interest in and support for the ATU vision. In addition, an inclusive alumni relation’s programme offers alumni professional development,
career support, ways to reconnect on a social basis or for networking purposes within the broader community, and ‘home’ to return to in the region.
We are currently building our alumni engagement team and have formed an internal cross campus/function/ faculty alumni engagement advisory board which we will extend to include alumni in the future.
If
Meet one of our Alumni
Rory Fitzpatrick, General Manager, Clayton Hotel Galway.
would like
at atu.ie/alumni or scan the QR code.
join our ATU Alumni community please register
Rory is currently the General Manager in the Clayton Hotel Galway. A native of Waterford Rory graduated from ATU (GMIT) in 1999 with a Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management.
Rory went on to open several hotels after graduating, firstly in Kilkenny and then after joining the Jurys Doyle Hotel Group in 2000 when he re-located to London where he was involved in the rapid expansion of both the Jurys Hotels and Jurys Inns properties.
Rory returned to Ireland in 2006 to take up his first General
Manager position at the Quality Hotel Wexford. He subsequently moved to Galway and took over the Clayton Hotel. He has worked diligently to embed the hotel in the Galway business community and promote hospitality as a career of choice.
Rory also continued his education since graduating by completing an MBS in Business Practice from the Irish Management Institute and participating in several Failte Ireland training programmes in partnership with Cornell University and Boston College.
We look forward to seeing our Alumni programme develop and encourage you to participate and invite your past ATU connections to join our Alumni community.
you
to
your interest
ATU has accepted an invitation to become a member of EU GREEN. The alliance comprises nine European universities whose aim is to be a gateway to sustainability. The nine partners of the EU GREEN Alliance are strategically aligned to engage with all European regions, while globally focused on our communities.
The alliance believes in the development of the empowerment, capabilities, opportunities, and cooperation of the society for a better and more viable environment in the long run.
EU GREEN embraces a mission of actively doing good and place societal responsibility at the heart of their mission as a guiding principle. Their vision is going beyond building a European University.
They aim to train citizens and deliver research and innovation that contribute to the development of local and/or regional ecosystems, thus providing answers to pressing challenges for society at large. For more information on EU GREEN, please click here.
EU GREEN focuses on responsible growth, inclusive education, and the environment. It aims to address sustainability FROM the periphery and FOR the periphery. I see ATU’s involvement in this alliance as a significant element of our strategic activity.”
Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President
Professor Philip Nolan, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and former chair of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET)’s Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group officially launched Atlantic TU’s new Postgraduate Research Training Programmes (PRTPs) on September 28.
PRTPS will produce multidisciplinary research graduates in two key growth areasModelling and Computation for Health and Society (MOCHAS) and Operations and Supply Chain Research (OSCAR).
The PRTPs aim to produce highlevel multi-disciplinary research graduates in MOCHAS and OSCAR, with 30 scholarships funded in the initial awards. A cohort of PhD scholarships are provided under each programme focused around addressing specific societal and industry challenges.
ATU is establishing these PRTPs in collaboration with external partners in industry and academia. This will equip PRTP graduates with the technical, field-specific skills and transferable skills required to achieve employment in high-value jobs and to adapt to rapidly evolving workplaces.
Professor Nolan congratulated ATU on these initiatives and said: “Science Foundation Ireland is delighted to support the Technological Universities as they continue to build excellence and capacity in research and innovation. That development is very evident today. ATU have demonstrated great initiative and ambition in the design and implementation of their Postgraduate Research Training Programmes.”
Dr Rick Officer, Vice-President for Research and Innovation at ATU Galway-Mayo said the launch was a proud day for ATU as it continues to expand its research activities. He added: “The two programmes being launched today focus on key challenges of great societal and sectoral importance: operation and supply chain improvement, and the application of computational technologies in medical-care and healthcare.”
These two programmes were selected through a competitive application process that was independently and internationally reviewed. Each programme is recruiting a cohort of 15 PhD students who will conduct individual 4-year research programmes in collaboration with partners in higher education, public and private enterprise, government agencies, and non-governmental organisations.
I congratulate ATU for their acute focus on societal challenge, research impact and student opportunity. This approach augurs well for further collaboration between ATU and the SFI Research Centres and Programmes. I wish the programme teams and PhD Scholars involved in the MOCHAS and OSCAR PRTPs every success.”
Professor Philip Nolan
Our Postgraduate Research Training Programmes (PRTPs) represent a novel and ambitious initiative for our new university. PRTPs will help to shape the future postgraduate research environment within ATU, and to deliver on our vision for research across key strategic areas critical to our region.” Dr Rick OfficerLeft to right: Professor Philip Nolan, Director General, SFI; Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President; Dr Rick Officer VP for Research and Innovation, ATU Galway-Mayo at the launch of the new PRTPs.
An Interview with Professor of Forensic Science at ATU Sligo, John Cassella. John is a passionate advocate for important police/forensic driven-research.
How did you get involved in what some people regard as a grim and gruesome career?
It evolved naturally from my experience working in biomedical sciences and working in various projects on skin diseases and bone conditions in hospitals in London. Subsequently I moved into teaching anatomy, physiology, pathology, and then finally teaching forensic science. A colleague of mine at Keele University asked if I was interested in working with him on looking for missing items such as bodies or caches of weapons, money or drugs. Dr Jamie Pringle and I began a research project looking for clandestine burials of homicide victims.
The number of people who go missing every year is substantial for example 25,000 people went missing in the UK in 2015. The vast majority will be found within 48 hours but there is a group that will take longer if ever. A percentage of these people are considered to have been murdered and buried either in the ground or in water or disposed of in other gruesome ways.
Forensic science tries to understand where those individuals may have gone or indeed buried, so that when a police inquiry is initiated, we can help by offering the police a scientific toolkit. I worked with the Centre for Applied Science and Technology
(CAST) an arm of the UK Government who set up a group for scientists with an interest and skills and experience in geophysics, body location, victim recovery dog detection or soil forensics to see if we could help identify new techniques to help the police find a missing person.
You’ve been campaigning for some time for what is called a body farm. Can you tell us a bit about that and what are the benefits of this research?
Modern technology has been a game-changer in forensic science particularly the use of drones because they can go to places where we can’t easily get to.
One of the newest techniques we use is hyperspectral imaging. It’s been used by the farming community for a long time. By using a hyperspectral camera on a drone, farmers can look for pests on crops and for soil and crop changes. We’ve adapted that technology to look for clandestine burials. Using hyperspectral, thermal imaging or ground penetrating radar we can potentially locate graves dug over twenty years ago.
Body farm is a term that was coined back in the 1970’s when Dr William Bass was asked questions by local law enforcement in the US. Bass realised that the best way he could help as a scientist was to experiment, so he began working in what they call “death’s acre”. It was a one acre of land in Tennessee where he began conducting very sensitive and ethical experiments on human remains for forensic purposes. There are now approximately eight facilities in the US. Bodies are donated and are used for research so we can learn how to find ways of identifying the who, what, why, where, how and when of death.
Colleagues at the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam are the first to create such a facility in Europe. I’ve been collaborating with them and some very gracious donations of bodies from some of their patients have allowed us to look at how their bodies decompose. We’ve had some amazing findings in terms of the delay of decomposition in the soil in Amsterdam which is very sandy in comparison to the soil here in Sligo, which is very clay-like. We now know that if you bury somebody in Sligo compared to burying somebody in Amsterdam, the rate of decomposition would be very different despite the fact they died
on the same day and were buried in the same way. Understanding the science of how our bodies break down helps us pinpoint the time of death and assist police investigations.
How can your work help police investigations?
Science can help police investigations when it’s needed but it’s not going to replace their investigations. But if they need a question answered such as: is it likely that there’s a body in a lake. Instead of sending in divers, we can use ‘ground penetrating radar’ or hyperspectral imaging or analyse water samples to help and answer that question.
But it’s not just about crime, our work can also help find someone who’s gone missing in say a tsunami or an earthquake or when a building has collapsed.
Science is evolving our understanding of how to look at human beings as a holistic creature that breaks down into tiny pieces. Science can help us find the smallest fingernail or the largest part of a body or indeed the whole person.
Are there any current research projects that you are particularly excited about?
A colleague of mine at the University of Lincoln is developing electrochemical sensors and we want to create simple test kits that would allow police officers to go out into a field, take a soil sample, shake it up in a test tube or use a piece of specially designed electronic kit to see if the result suggests there might be a body buried there.
I would suggest anybody who’s fascinated with chemistry, physics, biology or maths to pursue a degree in the sciences. You don’t necessarily have to study a forensic science degree. Forensic science is nothing more than good science applied to the Law.
Follow your passion and find out who is conducting the research around the world in this area. I have to say there’s not a lot of us. We’re in the hundreds and we all collaborate terribly well. It’s important to understand that all of us are very well grounded and sensible individuals who are asking fundamentally important scientific questions to help find missing persons.
John Cassella holds a degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences and Chemistry from Leicester (1988) and a Doctorate degree in Orthopaedic Pathology from University College London (1993) specialising in brittle bone disease. Having worked in many London teaching hospitals, he joined the University of Central England in Birmingham in 1998 as a lecturer in Biomedical Sciences. He joined Staffordshire University in 2005, and was conferred a Professorial Chair in ‘Forensic Science Education’ in 2008.
The new university brings with it more opportunities for networking with colleagues, for expansion of research opportunities, and for our students to become involved in research. I am currently involving some final year students in some very basic elements of my research.
It’s a wonderful world of opportunity, universities are melting pots of innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm.
John is the author of over 70 peer reviewed journal articles. He works with several international companies developing and testing forensic equipment and is also a patent holder on a device for sexual assault investigation. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences and the Higher Education Academy, and he sits on several national level groups for promoting the development and improvement of forensic education, to improve the links between academia, the forensic industry and Police Services. John is the lead for the UNDER project in Amsterdam – [United kingdom-Netherlands Decomposition Experimental Research] project which is a multidisciplinary, pan-European project investigating all aspects of forensic taphonomy.
Prior to joining Atlantic TU, John worked at the Covid-19 temporary mortuary housed at Birmingham Airport. Previously he worked at Grenfell Tower in London following the fire in 2017 as part of ‘Kenyons International Emergency Services’, a world Leader in Disaster Management, where he is an Associate member.
ATU Libraries is a member of a consortium that has been selected by the National Open Research Forum (NORF) to run a two-year project supported by the NORF 2022 Open Research Fund.
The consortium will create a roadmap for implementing a coordinated open access repository infrastructure in Ireland. Open access is one strand of the larger open research agenda and refers to publicly funded scholarship that is universally accessible via digital repositories at no cost to the reader. At least a dozen institutional open access repositories are currently operating in Ireland, including three maintained by ATU Libraries.
The intention is that the roadmap will provide a gateway for Irish
open access research outputs to become more visible to international research platforms, raising the profile of Irish open access research for a worldwide audience.
University of Galway is leading the project, with partners from across the Irish research community, including University of Limerick, Maynooth University, the Marine Institute, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University College Cork, Queen’s University Belfast, Atlantic Technological University, South-East Technological University, Teagasc, the Health Service Executive, and the Royal College of Surgeons.
Seán Harnett, Research Librarian, ATU Galway-Mayo: “This project is part of a government-led initiative
to embed open scholarship at the heart of the Irish research landscape. Adopting open research will ensure wider and more inclusive access to research outputs, accelerated innovation life cycles, increased diversity in the research community, and enhanced academic integrity – all leading to significant downstream social and economic benefits. And because of our early and enthusiastic embrace of the open research agenda, Ireland has the chance to not only adopt international best practice in the area, but to set the global standards, and become an exemplar in the field. It’s very exciting that ATU Libraries is involved in helping shape these outcomes.”
NORF was established in 2017 to promote the open research agenda in Ireland. In 2021 it published a report on the national open research landscape, and it is currently preparing a National Action Plan for the transition to an
In February this year the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) announced funding of €1.725 million to support the implementation of open research practices in Irish higher education and the wider Irish research system.
The NORF 2022 Open Research Fund is a funding programme supported by the Government of Ireland and the Higher Education Authority.
About NORF
Participation in this project will empower ATU Libraries to support open research at Atlantic Technological University.”
Jim Foran, Head Librarian, Yeats Library, ATU Sligo
“As a consortium member, ATU Libraries will be part of a national initiative that will drive Irish open scholarship to the benefit of society at large and increase our profile at both national and international level. ”
Margaret Waldron, Head Librarian, ATU Galway-Mayo Libraries
The Advance Centre is helping Irish industry to future-proof by delivering the key skills needed to compete in the digital arena, according to Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris, TD.
An education partnership between UCD, ATU, and TU Dublin, the Centre focuses on professional learning – offering accredited courses to help companies and employees address skill gaps that are emerging due to the tech and digital transformations taking place across many different industries across Ireland.
Speaking at the Advance Centre, Minister Harris said by developing industry relevant education, it was delivering a response to Irish industry’s needs in the digital area.
Minister Simon HarrisMinister Harris’s visit to the Advance Centre took place on September 26 shortly after the end of European Digital Transformation Week, which Dr Barry Twomey, Advance Centre Director, said had made clear “that digital skills are of critical importance to economic growth at both a national and European level.”
Dr Xavier Velay, Advance Centre Project Lead, said: “It is very rewarding to be involved with this unique venture, leveraging knowledge and expertise from universities on both sides of the Island, and developing creative solutions to further reduce the skills gap in our industries.”
In the times that we live in, there is a responsibility on universities to share their knowledge and expertise with public and private enterprise, and likewise for enterprise to work with higher education to ensure we create the best graduates and the most modern workforce. [You] are combining and complementing the expertise and experience of UCD and ATU in the areas of digital manufacturing and data analytics, together with TU Dublin’s expertise in key electronic systems design.”
The Advance Centre offers a range of accredited industry relevant courses and qualifications across 11 different themes aimed at part-time learners who want to upskill in cutting edge areas such as Cybersecurity, Quantum Computing, Data Science, Software Engineering, Digital Agriculture, Data Analytics for Health, AI for Medicine, Financial Mathematics, Electronic System Design and Digital Manufacturing. Created in 2020, the Centre is financially supported by the Higher Education Authority under the Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3. To find out more about the Advance Centre, please click here.
Ireland’s largest hotel operator Dalata Hotel Group Plc has signed an agreement with Atlantic TU to develop ATU-accredited training programmes for Dalata employees.
The agreement was signed in Galway by ATU President Dr Orla Flynn and Head of the Dalata Academy Áine Doyle. While both parties have worked together for some time, this agreement will see them develop industry-focused programmes for Dalata employees.
Áine Doyle, Head of the Dalata Academy, says: “Growing our people and developing their careers is of utmost importance to everyone at Dalata. There is a culture of continual learning at Dalata with a range of development
programmes available for staff covering all aspects of working in a hotel and at all levels. This is a great time for anyone considering a career in hospitality. This agreement will bring the Dalata Academy to the next phase in our strategy at an important time for the group and the industry.”
The first course, which will launch this month, is a Special Purpose Award Certificate in Revenue Management led by Martha Mannion, Group Director of Rooms Revenue & Distribution.
Martha Mannion says: “This is an incredibly exciting and timely opportunity for Dalata to focus on revenue management as the distribution and technological landscape evolves within the industry.
Cáit Noone, Head of the Galway International Hotel School (GIHS), welcomed the agreement saying she is looking forward to working with Dalata as the partnership develops. “GIHS have worked with Dalata since 2007 and many of our graduates hold senior leadership roles in this innovative and growing organisation. We hope to expand upon our partnership with Dalata and we thank Aine Doyle and her colleagues for their continued engagement and support of all school activities over the last decade. This is an exciting time for anyone to join the tourism industry and GIHS students and graduates will have multiple opportunities with this leading organisation.”
For further information about programmes in the GIHS please click here.
Relationships with employers and engagement with industry have always been core strengths of the ATU legacy institutes, and I’m glad to see these continuing to be prioritised as we embark on our technological university journey. The tourism sector has significant importance in the west and north-west of Ireland, and ATU’s partnership with the Dalata Hotel Group underlines our commitment to both the industry and the region.”
Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President We are very excited to further our relationship with ATU and the Galway International Hotel School which has already been a very fruitful relationship. Many ATU Galway-Mayo alumni hold management and senior leadership positions in Dalata and many from our Graduate Programme have recently graduated from the university. This new partnership will allow us to further development our accreditation strategy in the Dalata Academy using the strong training culture which already exists and supporting it with the accreditation and academic excellence from ATU”
Áine Doyle, Head of Dalata Academy
Dalata have a portfolio of 49 predominately four-star hotels including Maldron Hotels and Clayton Hotels.
This year saw their first step into the continental European market in Düsseldorf and they have an exciting expansion pipeline with new hotels in Glasgow and Dublin opening this year as well as further new hotels under construction in Liverpool, Brighton, London and Manchester.
In 2022, ATU partnered with Astellas Pharma to provide Lean Six Sigma training
Culture of Quality is one of the critical success factors for the pharmaceutical industry to safeguard data integrity and regulatory compliance across the entire product lifecycle, which ultimately ensures product quality and patient safety. Additionally, Culture of Quality encourages innovation, critical thinking and open dialog on quality, which realizes continuous improvement, “KAIZEN.” Creating less scrutiny, reducing time to market, costs and resource needs will strengthen the confidence and trust with partners and stakeholders, making Astellas a partner of choice. The ATU Lean Sigma training has been instrumental in upskilling our employees to ensure we evolve our Culture of Quality.”
Astellas Pharma are a global pharmaceutical company with 15,000 employees and $11B in revenue. They have two manufacturing sites in Ireland – Dublin and Killorglin, Co. Kerry with over 400 employees.
The ATU Lean Sigma White Belt Massive Online Open Course (MOOC)
Now in its 10th year, the course continues to attract large numbers with a current student enrolment of over 2000 participants. Since it was launched in 2013, it has been delivered to over 20,000 participants from 50 countries. Many of Ireland’s leading employers utilise the course to upskill their workforce in Lean Six Sigma.
The Lean Sigma Quality MOOC (White Belt) is a free sevenweek online course. It provides
participants with videos lectures, discussion forums, quizzes, and additional resources on Lean Sigma Quality topics.
The White Belt is delivered by lecturers Brian Coll and John Donovan, from the Department of Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering and supported by instructional designer Jennifer Gilligan. Brian and John were recognised for their work in this area as recipients of a National
Teaching Expert award which celebrate Ireland’s best teachers in higher education.
If you wish to register on the next White Belt course please click here. We also offer Group enrolment options to employers who wish to register several employees on the course.
The Department is strategically committed to the MOOC in Lean Sigma White Belt. Its global reach proves our expertise, and also acts as a feeder for our suite of programmes in this field. Over the years our academic strength in Quality Management has impacted positively on many industries.”
Xavier Velay, Head of Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering
Lean Six Sigma has been around for more than two decades and since then it has been embraced by leading global companies in the manufacturing and service industries. It has become the foremost process improvement approach for organisations that wish to attain world-class performance in quality and customer satisfaction. The tools and techniques are now expanding to the healthcare and government sectors where benefits have been achieved in productivity, efficiency and elimination of ‘waste’ – a term used in Lean Sigma quality which refers to anything that does not add value to the product or service.
To find out more about the course, please click here to watch an introductory video.
The ATU Galway-Mayo Centre for Sustainability in collaboration with the ATU Galway-Mayo Teaching and Learning Centre recently launched ‘Radical Sustainability Lab,’ which is funded by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. This project will explore creative teaching and learning approaches to embedding sustainability and the SDGs across the curriculum.
The project aims to:
• Cultivate and nurture an authentic and creative education for sustainability community of practice.
• Empower students to take an active part in embedding education for sustainability and the SDGs across the curriculum.
• Provide opportunities for collaboration across disciplines.
• Encourage active citizenship both within and outside the university.
• Increase sustainability literacy amongst students and staff.
• Contribute to the development of Sustainability Literacy to Leadership learning pathways for staff and students.
Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President recently signed the NTA Smarter Travel Charter which commits to:
• Surveying employees and students on their commuting habits via an NTA survey template.
• Encouraging employees and students to use more sustainable transport.
• Developing and implementing an action plan of sustainable travel initiatives.
• Supporting personnel to implement the action plan.
• Dedicating financial and non-financial resources to supporting initiatives.
• Monitoring the performance of the action plan.
TFI Smarter Travel is a national voluntary behaviour change programme, supporting employers and third level institutions to implement voluntary Travel Plans. These plans focus on promoting and encouraging staff and students to sustainably and actively commute and beyond, and for organisations to consider flexible working arrangements. Campuses are also encouraged to promote Smarter Travel as part of the curriculum and through student projects. Behaviour change interventions such as the annual Step Challenges and Cycle Challenge promote active travel and support organisations in encouraging their staff and students to be more active on the commute and for leisure purposes. For more information please click here.
The ATU Galway City campus has been awarded My Green Lab certification in recognition of work by staff and students to make all teaching science laboratories on campus more sustainable.
Sustainable laboratory practices are key to preparing graduates who are sustainability-literate, environmentally conscious and capable of using green solutions in their future employment. The My Green Lab certification provides an example of the ongoing work in sustainability across ATU.
Following a baseline assessment conducted in 2021 a dedicated team of staff and students worked towards improving laboratory practices in all the teaching laboratories across ATU Galway-Mayo’s School of Science & Computing.
“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 practicals without affecting experimental results.”
Aileen Gill, Green Labs and Chemistry Technician, ATU Galway City CampusMy Green Lab certification is an international gold standard for best practice in laboratory sustainability. It is recognised in the United Nations’ Race to Zero campaign as a key achievement in working towards a zero-carbon future. To find out more about My Green Lab click here.
The European Union has launched an exciting new research project to empower coastal communities to transition towards more sustainable, inclusive and resilient coastal development. As part of the project ATU will lead the development of the GIS-based digital empowerment solution and co-lead work package in relation to the use of nature-based solutions to empower communities towards social innovation.
Coastal communities face many challenges including extreme weather associated with climate change, rising sea levels, tourism pressures, changing fisheries and traditional industries and how to adapt to sustainable economic development. Recognising that these complex challenges require multiple, integrated solutions, EmpowerUs is a multidisciplinary, collaborative project that will support coastal communities in their transition to becoming more environmentally,
Living by the sea, I’ve witnessed first-hand the social, economic and environmental challenges faced by coastal communities. To solve these problems, we have to work together. Merging the multidisciplinary background of the EmpowerUs team together with the lived experience and expertise of community members will be a powerful combination. I’m excited to get the project underway!”
EmpowerUs project coordinator, Dr Maiken Bjørkan, Research Professor at Nordlandsforskning AS
“Challenges facing the coastal communities and cities are massive and will severely impact societies if no adaptive empowerment mechanisms are established and activated. The need to establish digital twining solutions is crucial to activate the collaboration and co-creation principles
EmpowerUs is a €6 million project that launched under the - EU Horizon Europe Programme on October 1 2022 and will run for three years.
Working with local, regional, national and international stakeholders, EmpowerUs will cocreate, pilot and evaluate Tailored Empowerment Programmes to support coastal communities in their transformation towards becoming more sustainable.
The Programmes will include a portfolio of flexible, transdisciplinary tools to support social innovations that increase socio-economic
resilience, well-being and job opportunities for a diverse range of community members, ensuring that nobody is left behind. In addition, practical guidance on implementing nature-based solutions to address environmental problems will enable communities to take ownership of their climate resilience.
The Programmes will be implemented across a network of six pilot sites located in Bulgaria (Burgas Province), Cyprus (Eastern Limassol Region), Finland (Åland Islands), Ireland (West Coast), Norway (North), and Spain (Northwestern Mediterranean).
Tools from the Empowerment Programmes will be shared for free on a digital platform so that all coastal communities in Europe and beyond can adapt and apply the lessons learned to their own sites.
EmpowerUs is led by Nordlandsforskning AS (NRI), Norway, and brings together 16 partner organisations from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Spain and the UK. The project will create European leadership in the socio-economic empowerment of users of the sea in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the EU Green Deal and Paris Agreement.
The pilot, part funded by the Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme, project SMARTrenew, is aimed at showcasing renewable energy in the community as well as boosting Ireland’s lagging performance in the transition to transport electrification.
Leader of project SMARTrenew and Academic Director of the WiSAR Lab at ATU Donegal, Dr Nick Timmons, said that such recharging facilities will be crucial in making the transition to EV ownership a viable alternative for many communities.
“The Government’s 2021 Climate Action Plan has set an ambitious target of almost one million EVs on Irish roads by 2030 and the transport sector is the single largest source of energy related emissions in Ireland, representing around 20% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions.”
“One in five cars sold so far in Ireland this year was electric. Although this represents an increase of 13% from last year, the rollout of public charge points has been much slower and could hinder future EV growth.”
“Furthermore, data from the 2022 Census identified the availability of recharging infrastructure as a key influencing factor in the purchase of EVs among the general public and the scaleup of such facilities will be critical in realising Ireland’s zero emission vehicle adoption targets.”
Dr Timmons outlined the benefits in combining multiple energy innovations into the cutting-edge charge point solution, which was completed in partnership with Wicklow based SME, Randridge Technologies, supported by the ATU Donegal Estates team.
“By merging grid energy, solar power and battery storage the system stores and utilises the cleanest, lowest cost energy therefore reducing demand on peak hours grid energy without compromising on charging speed.”
“This installation is a great example of how the greater adoption of slow charge points can turn public areas into renewable energy generating assets, while also accelerating the transition to electric vehicles.”
“The system ensures that EVs can achieve a level of charge that covers day to day driving needs and does it in the most carbon efficient way, utilising dwell times of several hours, when cars are parked. This approach fits with the advice from car manufacturers that slow charging is optimal when maintaining EV battery health over time.”
“In addition, the battery storage captures excess energy which can then be used to power the campus car park lights over the coming months.”
Estates Manager at ATU Donegal, Mary Daly, noted that the new charging infrastructure will complement and build upon the existing green technologies adopted across the campus in recent times.
“With a growing staff, student and visitor base each year, we are seeing an ever-increasing demand for EV charging infrastructure across our campuses.”
“The roll out of this new hub at the Letterkenny Campus, and the installation of further EV charging
A new state-of-the-art electric vehicle charging hub has been unveiled at the ATU Letterkenny campus carpark. The innovative hub, one of the first of its kind across third level campuses in Ireland, integrates three clean energy technologies including 10kW solar photovoltaic electricity generation, a 10kWh battery storage system and 3 twin EV charge points.
points at the Killybegs campus, reflects our ongoing commitment to reducing emissions across ATU Donegal and is one of several carbon reduction measures undertaken recently across the estate. We also have two major retrofit projects underway, and a new biomass heat centre will soon provide renewable heat to our main Letterkenny campus building. These projects are funded by the HEA and SEAI through the Energy Efficiency Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme (EEDPP).”
“Increasing the use of electric vehicles by the members of our community who drive to campus forms part of our overall decarbonisation strategy and these renewable, on-campus charging stations can prove a powerful incentive for those considering making the switch.”
“The energy transition poses significant opportunities for the public sector to spearhead Ireland’s journey to carbon neutrality and we are proud to play our part at ATU Donegal.”
Click here to see the new ATU Donegal EV charging hub in operation.
ATU have recently launched a joint project with Secondary Schools in Mayo and is inviting Transition Year students in Mayo to submit entries for their new sustainability themed poetry competition. This is a competition for unpublished poets, who have an interest in sustainability, climate change, biodiversity and all things green. Three prizes will be allocated, and the winning poem will be installed on a poetry pillar in St. Mary’s Courtyard Garden at the Mayo Campus.
The Poetry Pillar is an initiative by Dr Sheila McArdle and aims to encourage creativity and raise awareness of environmental issues and sustainability. For aspiring poets, the Poetry Pillar provides a space to share thoughts, ideas and work with others.
Theme: Biodiversity
Length: 30 lines maximum
Transition Year Students
Please email your poem to poetrypillartransition. galwaymayo@atu.ie by 5pm on February 24, 2023.
ATU Students
Please email your poem to poetrypillar.galwaymayo@atu.ie by 5pm on Friday, February 24, 2023.
Dr Deirdre Garvey, Head of Department of Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences, ATU Mayo.This year’s competition theme is Biodiversity, which offers limitless potential to be imaginative and creative through the medium of poetry.
Anne Walsh Donnelly, Poet Laureate of Belmullet and Chair of the Judging Panel, says: “There will be a separate poetry competition for ATU students with prizes of €100, €50 and €25. This is a wonderful opportunity for all TY and ATU students to flex their writing muscles. There’s a poem in every one of us. All you have to do is put pen to paper and let your thoughts flow onto the page. The judging panel and I look forward to reading your submissions.”
The prize winners will be announced during Green Week March 6-10, 2023. The prize giving event is scheduled for Friday, May 5, 2023.
Front row, left to right: Dr Deirdre Garvey, Head of Department Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr Sheila Faherty, Poetry Pillar Winner 2021-22, Mr Sean Lysaght, Poet and Writer, Ms Anne Walsh Donnelly, ATU and Poet Laureate of Belmullet, Ms Caomihe Ward, Student Union Vice President ATU and Dr Sheila McArdle, ATU. Background: ATU Social Care Students.
We are focused on a holistic approach to understanding human interactions with the natural, social, and cultural environment across our programmes. Poetry has the potential to emotionally engage and create awareness of the sustainability challenges facing us.”
Medical Technology Ireland held an Exhibition and Conference, at the Galway Racecourse in September. It focused on the design, development and production of medical devices. Research colleagues from across the ATU were in attendance and spoke on our various research activities and on how we are delivering excellence in medtech research and innovation across the region.
September 23, 2022
ATU hosted a free Sports Concussion Conference at its Galway campus titled “Heads Together” on Friday, September 23 for coaches, trainers, athletes, sports organisations and members of the public interested in learning more about concussion injuries and emerging developments in concussion education and management.
Research centre at ATU, Galway. Speakers included Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President; Dr Lisa Ryan, Head of the ATU Sport, Exercise and Nutrition Dept; Lisbeth Lund Pedersen, Physiotherapist, Researcher at SDU, Denmark; Dr Enda Devitt, UPMC Concussion Network Western clinical lead and Galway GAA and Connacht Rugby Doctor; Dr Sean Moffit, UPMC
consideration for women in sports were also presented.
Dr Lisa Ryan, Head of the Department of Sport Exercise and Nutrition, ATU Galway-Mayo, says: “Our previous Concussion in Sport Conference was an overwhelming success, helping to provide support and information for coaches, parents and athletes on the signs
Dr Lisa Ryan, Head of the Department of Sport Exercise and Nutrition, ATU Galway-Mayo
The conference was the last in a series of events delivered through the Erasmus+ funded “Get your head in the game - SCAT” project led by ATU Galway-Mayo and ATU Donegal together with the International Concussion and Head Injury Research Foundation in Tottenham (UK), Oxford Brookes University (UK), the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) (Denmark), and La Trobe University (Australia).
Leading concussion experts delivered talks including researchers from the Concussion
Concussion Network North West clinical lead and Mayo GAA Medical Doctor; Dr Enda Whyte, Certified Athletic Therapist, Physiotherapist, Assistant Professor in Athletic Therapy and Training, School of Health, and Human Performance, DCU. ATU graduate and MsC researcher, Aryton Walshe also spoke at the conference.
Delegates heard about emerging developments in concussion education and best practice diagnosis and management measures for amateur and club sports. New findings on concussion
and symptoms of concussion and the appropriate actions for return to play. We are thrilled to host this, the third in a series of events in Galway as an in-person free event. It is the ideal opportunity for coaches, players, parents, PE teachers (primary or secondary), students or those interested in sport to gain up-to-date information on concussions in sport and ask panelists their questions.”
Gaining up-to-date information on concussions in sport is important for those involved in community and amateur sports at all levels, those working with athletes at risk of concussion in the playground, at training or during a match, in settings that do not have a medical professional on site. They need the know the actions they can take to protect their players, their team and their loved sport.”
The SCAT project was launched in December 2019 to provide an in-depth understanding of the definition and implications of concussion in amateur sports across Europe. To achieve this, the project team have developed an innovative training guide and an online course to equip those providing vocational education training with the essential knowledge and materials that they can use to create concussion-specific training for their students. For further information on the SCAT project, please click here.
The Irish Concussion Research Centre was founded by Dr Lisa Ryan and Ed Daly in 2017 to formalise the concussion research in Ireland and build a concussion research network throughout the country and collaborate internationally.
The centre has secured European and national research funding and published widely in the area. The centre has a team of academic and research staff and postgraduate students dedicated to building a clearer understanding of mTBI and concussion in amateur and elite sports. To find out more, please click here.
September 23, 2022
Women from across the west and north-west attended a celebratory event on Friday, 23 September to mark the completion of EMPOWER II, the female entrepreneurship programme delivered by Atlantic TU Innovation Hubs (iHubs).
Chaired by Susan Hayes Culleton CFA, better known as ‘The Positive Economist’, the event was attended by female founders who completed both the START and GROWTH programmes.
Keynote speakers were Galway natives Ailbhe and Isabel Keane of Izzy Wheels, an Irish company creating stylish wheelchair wheel covers. The sisters have won over 20 international awards including the EU Prize for Women Innovators 2021, Forbes 30 Under 30, and the Accenture Leaders of Tomorrow Award.
Ailbhe spoke about Izzy Wheel’s journey to success and shared valuable insights into life as female founder while Isabel spoke about working with a disability and gave advice to employers on the language to use and actions to take to support people with disabilities in the workplace.
Other speakers were Nadine McCarthy, Transformative Leadership Coach, Niamh Ryle, HomeCheck and Catherine O’Grady Powers, Glen Keen Estate. Both Niamh and Catherine are past participants of the EMPOWER I cycle who now run successful national and international businesses.
Sandra Divilly Nolan, Programme Manager for the EMPOWER II cycle, said: “Our recent event in Salthill was a celebration of our inspiring female founders and all they have achieved in business to date. The guest speakers educated and inspired our attendees. It also provided an opportunity for the participants to network with their peers and make valuable connections for the future.”
The importance of the EMPOWER programme, not only to these women as individuals, but to the economic future of the entire Western Region is abundantly clear. We have had such a diverse range of businesses take part in each programme and it has been just wonderful to see the talented participants grow in confidence as they reach professional milestones.”Sandra Divilly Nolan, EMPOWER II Manager Left to right: Helen Nolan, Denise Rocks, Assumpta Gallagher, Rita Oats, Suzanne Carney and Emer Flannery who all completed the EMPOWER GROWTH 2020/2021 Programme.
The EMPOWER programme is a free initiative run by ATU Innovation Hubs that aims to promote and fast-track female entrepreneurship. It is open to applicants from the counties of Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, and Donegal and is a strong source of economic growth for the region. Over 450 female founders applied for 65 places on the EMPOWER II cycle.
EMPOWER delivers two distinct programmes. START is designed for those with an idea who are seeking to validate their business concept while GROWTH is for established entrepreneurs wishing to scale and grow.
Funding for the EMPOWER II programme was granted by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the European Social Fund Agency and an application is to be made for funding to advance a third cycle of this programme.
On Friday October 7, ATU hosted a conference exploring the economic and social potential of the north-west region in terms of education and employment, with insights from guest speakers.
The conference was addressed by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Mr. Simon Harris T.D., who outlined the Government’s commitment to supporting education collaboration on an allIsland basis.
Over 150 guests attended the event with Economist, David Mc Williams sharing his views on best practice for transforming the region into a growing economy.
Former RTÉ Northern Editor, Tommie Gorman hosted the event which examined crossborder activity taking place in the region and highlighted plans for future collaboration in terms of employment and education, with partners working in collaboration to provide leadership, opportunity, and the development of a talent pipeline for the region and beyond.
The conference was organised by the North West Tertiary Education Cluster (NWTEC) comprising of the four main Educational Institutions in the region, and includes Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Donegal Education and Training Board (DETB), Ulster University (UU) and North West Regional College (NWRC). The cluster was established to bring about real and positive change to the region by supporting enhanced economic prosperity and social benefits to the region through education and employment. Funding for this initiative in 2019 and 2020 was secured through the Irish Higher Education Authority (HEA), and specifically a funding stream to support the restructuring of the higher education landscape.
This is a project of huge strategic importance to the North West and one ATU is delighted to be a partner in. Together with Donegal ETB, Ulster University and North West Regional College, we want to make the North West region an attractive place to study and work and this cluster will play a vital role with other key stakeholders to ensure that we continue to develop the region for everyone.”
Dr
OrlaFlynn, ATU President
“Since the formalising of our further and higher education cluster in 2018, collaboration between the partner institutions on both sides of the border has continued to present opportunities to deliver on our shared vision and objectives for the region and beyond … Through enabling progressive student pathways that reflect current and future careers across diverse sectors such as healthcare innovation, artificial intelligence, industry 4.0 and data science, the North West Tertiary Education Cluster is uniquely placed to support the career aspirations of students and the growth ambitions of the region.”
Vice-Chancellor and President of Ulster University, Professor Paul Bartholomew
ATU Students Win Four Awards at WorldSkills National Finals in Dublin
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) won an incredible four categories at the Worldskills National Final in Dublin on Thursday, September 15. ATU students won in the categories: Automotive Technology, Joinery, Restaurant Service and Plastic Die (Toolmaking).
25 ATU students competed against over 180 other young people in the Worldskills Ireland event which took place over three days in the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin from September 13-15 and at ATU.
The apprentices and students from across ATU represented the university across 10 categories, including carpentry, joinery, cabinet making, electrical, restaurant skills, digital infrastructure design and automotive technology. The three-day competition is the country’s largest experiential skills and apprenticeship event with over 15,000 visitors watching the finals, adding further pressure on competitors.
ATU claimed first, second and third places in the Joinery Category with Barry Gordon from Easkey, Sligo coming first. Barry was pushed all the way through an intense threeday competition by his fellow ATU students, Conor Hannify and Bobby Douglas who finished second and third place respectively.
Dion O’Sullivan from Macroom, Co. Cork won the Automotive Technology category while Hotel Management student and Sligo native Jordan K. Barrins came first in the Restaurant Service category.
ATU student Colm Healy from Lissarulla, Claregalway, now working for RPS won the inaugural Digital Infrastructure Design competition.
Conor Whelehan from Ballintogher, Co Sligo came first in the Plastic Die toolmaking competition which was held at ATU Sligo campus, the only competition held outside of the RDS. Videos of the competition were streamed to the RDS from the ATU campus.
WorldSkills Ireland 2022 aims to promote college courses, apprenticeships and traineeships that offer skills and on-the-job learning. It also aims to help to address the serious skills shortage identified in Ireland and help inform students about the exciting career paths available through such courses.
Atlantic TU has a great reputation for apprenticeship and skills-based learning and these awards are a testament to this. I’ve seen first-hand the pressurised environment of these competitions and these young people have achieved something incredible, in winning four categories and claiming second and third place in several others. I want to congratulate all the participants and acknowledge the commitment and dedication of our students and the supporting staff who have made this possible. This is a great achievement in our first Worldskills as Atlantic TU and shows the breadth of talent in our region. I wish them further success in the World Skills Finals next year!”
Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President
To mark the Golden Jubilee anniversary of the foundation of RTC Galway, ATU Galway-Mayo are running a programme of events throughout 2022–2023 to
commenced their studies at Regional Technological College (RTC), Galway. From the mid-1980s onwards, RTC Galway expanded its presence in the region, by offering courses in Mountbellew, Letterfrack, Castlebar, and Cluain Mhuire. In January 1998, the name of the college was changed to Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT). On April 1, 2022, GMIT amalgamated with
The official opening ceremony of the Golden Jubilee commemorations took place Monday September 19, 2022 at ATU Galway City and was followed by a flag-raising ceremony and a reception.
The day’s event commenced with a lunchtime lecture by former GMIT Registrar Bernard O’Hara on “Regional Technical College
College Dr Michael Hannon. Later in the afternoon, invited guests, staff, retired staff, students, and graduates attended the official opening reception. Dr Gay Corr, who was appointed as the first Principal of RTC Galway in 1972, took part in a flag-raising ceremony.
The Golden Jubilee 1972–2022 Commemoration Committee is chaired by Dr Mark McCarthy.
Senior Lecturer and Programme Chair in Heritage Studies, Dr McCarthy says: “As we contemplate why memory of 1972 and the years that followed matters, it is important to reflect on the power of heritage to comprehend the present and shape the future. As we reimagine our future as part of ATU, it is only fitting that we also embark at this liminal moment on a journey of remembrance and reflection on the last fifty years of technological higher education.”
Colin Kearney, President of ATU Students’ Union Galway-Mayo, says:
“As we venture into our future in a technological university, it is equally important to look back over the last 50 years to 1972. The most important thing I can pick out from then until now and even into the future is the quality, dedication and commitment of our student body. I am proud to say I am a member of this community of people who, without fail, amaze me at every opportunity.”
ATU Galway-Mayo’s programme of events and project for the year ahead is centred around five strands, namely: Ceremonial; Public
History & Heritage; Cultural & Technological Innovation; Alumni & Community Engagement; and Sustainable Futures.
One of the highlights is an exhibition above Union Square in ATU Galway City, Dublin Road, entitled ‘Celebrating Fifty Years of Technological Higher Education in the West of Ireland, 1972–2022’. This display will run until 20 June 2023. A travelling version of this exhibition is on display at Galway City Museum until October 8, 2022. For further information, please click here.
Reflecting back on the values and attributes of the then Galway RTC, we can see how valuable was the role played by the institution over the last fifty years. Providing access to higher education was transformative for students across the region, and for society as a whole. Long may we continue to live up to the achievements of the last half century, in our new capacity as Atlantic Technological University.”
Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President
The Golden Jubilee exhibition, ‘Celebrating 50 Years of Technological Higher Education in the West of Ireland, 1972–2022’ opened on Thursday September 1, 2022 at ATU Galway City. This exhibition will run until June 20, 2023.
Congratulations to Aoibhe Carabine, ATU Galway-Mayo and Matthew McCole, ATU Donegal who won bronze medals at the FISU World Cup Combat Sports in Samsun, Turkey in September.
Mid Sweden University recently presented Frances with an Honorary Doctorate for her outstanding achievements in science in particular her work on joint Sustainability programmes between ATU and Mid Sweden University, and her invasive species research.
Head of Department of Environmental Science at ATU Sligo, Professor Lucy is an internationally recognised researcher in the field of invasive species. She is also a member of the advisory committee of the Irish Environmental Protection Agency and Chair of Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Receiving the honorary doctorate, Professor Frances Lucy said:
“I am very honoured to be granted an honorary doctorate from Mid Sweden University. ATU have a long-standing partnership with Mid Sweden University working with students on environment and sustainability via an annual summer school and Erasmus exchanges. It is gratifying that they recognise my research in invasive species and the environment. Management of invasive species is vital for biodiversity and sustainability at a global level. I look forward to working more with Mid Sweden University in collaboration with our students and staff here at ATU in future years. There is much to do in the field of sustainability to care for our shared planet.”
The First Year Chemistry Team from ATU Galway City were successful in their applications for the National Forum’s Disciplinary Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Assessment (DELTA) Award, in June 2022. They were recognised at an in-person award ceremony at the offices of the Higher Education Authority on October 26, 2022.
The First Year Chemistry Team comprises the academic and technical staff responsible for the delivery of first year chemistry practical classes. The group delivers or supervises the delivery of first year chemistry labs to a diverse cohort of students across several academic programs.
The DELTA Award is granted to discipline groups who demonstrate a record of excellence in teaching and learning enhancement and who commit to an ongoing, clearly articulated, shared process of continued enhancement.
ATU have won the prestigious John Kelly Award for Universal Design in Further and Higher Education. This award recognises the innovative practice of teaching staff in further and higher education engaging with the UDL framework. The goal of UDL is to use a variety of teaching methods to remove barriers to learning. It builds in flexibility that can be adjusted for every person’s strength and needs. This delivers a more inclusive learning experience for all students.
After an international review process, ATU were one of four finalists shortlisted in the Collaborative category. Dr Niamh Plunkett and Maureen Haran, presented on behalf of the ATU UDL Working Group, to a live audience and an international judging panel on October 17, 2022, in O’Reilly Hall UCD and were announced winners
Flynn and Lucia Cloonan were also shortlisted for the individual award,
The UDL in Collaboration category is aimed at higher education institutions (HEIs) and education and training boards (ETBs) who have used the UDL Digital
UDL capacity in their college/ centre, such as the development of communities of practice, institutional projects, and new strategic actions. To watch ATU’s UDL collaborative presentation please click here.
We are formally embedding UDL as one of the central pillars of our Teaching and Learning function and we are developing policies in this area for adoption across the university. I want to congratulate our UDL team on a their well earned award and look forward to further development in Universal Design for Leading.”
Dr Orla Flynn, ATU PresidentATU’s Niamh Plunkett and Maureen Haran accepting the UDL Excellence in Collaboration Award with John Kelly, Mark Glynn, Anna Kelly and Dara Ryder.
BA in Contemporary Art Practices students at ATU have curated an exhibition of contemporary art from the Mayo County Council Art Collection in conjunction with art lecturer Dr John Molloy and Aoife O’Toole Mayo County Council Arts Officer. The art collection consists of a prestigious selection of valuable art works by Irish artists and the aim of the exhibition is to provide secondary school going youth in the region, with an introduction to contemporary artwork. The exhibition was opened on November 16 and is currently on display in the ATU Mayo Campus South Entrance Foyer.
For more information please click here.
ATU lecturers, Stephen Hannon and Mairéad Cluskey have launched a new professional practice journal that aims to inform and reflect the field of outdoor education on the island of Ireland by reporting on and sharing good practice.
The journal will encourage the ongoing development of practice, share ideas and innovations, and increase awareness of research on outdoor practice in Ireland and internationally. Lasmuigh will also engage with and be inclusive of all those who share the outdoor setting for experiences be they recreational, developmental, educational, therapeutic or other.
The editorial panel consists of experts in the fields of education, environmentalism, inclusion in sport and wilderness therapy and welcome submissions that engage with the broad range of those who work in the outdoor sector including articles on research, professional practice, literature and book reviews, and poetry and artwork relating to the outdoor sector. For further information please click here.
ATU submitted a Gender Action Plan developed from the Gender Action Plans of the three Institutes of Technology. 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 started on the Implementation of our merged gender action plan.
The 2022 Athena Swan Ireland Awards Ceremony were held at the ATU Mayo campus on Tuesday November 8. It was attended by staff who are involved in Athena Swan applications in higher education institutions from all around Ireland. The ceremony celebrates awards conferred in the November 2021 and April 2022 rounds.
ATU is delighted work with Advance HE to host the awards ceremony this year. This is the first time that it has been held outside Dublin and also the first in person ceremony post-Covid 19. A warm ATU welcome will be extended to all guests at the ceremony.”
Mary Nestor, EDI Manager, ATU Galway-Mayo
Our ATU Libraries celebrated Black History Month in October with book displays in library foyers that celebrate diversity in literature and raise awareness of race equality.
ATU also held a Black History Month Panel Discussion, which was introduced by one of ATU’s EDI Managers, Tom Reilly, and chaired by Emmanuela Ubah, a social care student at ATU. Panel members included: ATU lecturers, Dr Washington Marovatsanga and Dr Akinlolu Akande; Mary Nestor, EDI Manager, ATU and Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President.
Students and staff celebrated National Coming Out day on October 11. The progress pride flag flew on all our campuses. Coming out often helps people live their lives more authentically but we understand the sensitivity and pressure that comes with opening up about one’s sexuality and gender. The university offers support, guidance or help to those in the process of coming out.
ATU hosted the WAHH Exhibition in October at its Galway city campus with smaller satellite exhibitions at its Sligo, Donegal and Mayo campuses. The exhibition, by College Connect, featured peer-to-peer research with 104 refugees and people in the protection process in Ireland around their experience of accessing higher education in Ireland. College Connect is a Higher Education Authority initiative spanning the four higher educational institutions of; DCU, DkIT, MU and TUS Athlone, with the aim of increasing the diversity of the university student body.
The ATU Student Counselling Service through PCHEI (Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education Ireland) recently launched Togetherall for ATU students. The project provides 24/7 online peer- to -peer support to all students.
Togetherall’s online community is clinically moderated by mental
Our Healthy Campus Teams marked World Mental Health Day on October 10 with many activities.
The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.
students a safe and anonymous place to express their thoughts, concerns and triumphs. Resources are free for students to use and are available around the clock.
Students can draw strength and insights from peers that have real lived experiences, as well as access a range of self-directed, clinically validated tools to promote positive
Togetherall is able to reduce stigma and encourage sharing: 73% of its members shared a thought or feeling for the first time; 65% use it outside normal working hours, when traditional services are more limited; half of all members stated anonymity was the main reason for joining. For more information please click here.
ATU is participating in the #unmuteConsent national campaign to drive positive conversation on consent and to end sexual violence and harassment. The #unmuteconsent campaign recognises the power of the student voice to drive change. We encourage students to stand up and speak out, to reverse the trend of sexual harassment and violence, and to create a truly respectful environment for everyone on and off our
campuses. For more information on the #unmuteconsent national campaign, please click here.
On October 13, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris launched a new implementation plan to address issues regarding sexual violence and harassment in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
The new Implementation Plan builds upon and complements the
wide range of initiatives currently in place to support a zero tolerance approach to issues of sexual violence and harassment in HEIs.
The Minister outlined details of an additional €1.5 million of supports secured in Budget 2023. The new funding will support the appointment of Sexual Violence and Harassment (SVH) Prevention and Response Managers in our HEIs. To find out more click here.
Beyond Limits is an annual event held by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office for children and young people with disabilities, showing the opportunities open to them, talking about issues important to them and highlighting inclusiveness. This year, Beyond Limits Sligo took place on Saturday October 1 at ATU’s Sligo campus.
Young people with disabilities spoke about their experiences, achievements and hopes for young people with disabilities growing up in Ireland. The aim of the event was to generate a conversation about disability and how it affects young people in Ireland and to show others how they can include children with disabilities on a large scale.