Atlantic Technological University - Issue 8

The Farmleigh Gallery in Phoenix Park is currently hosting the exhibition which is open to the public and continues throughout the summer until 27 August.

Photo Credits: Mark Duggan, Mike Shaughnessy, James Connolly, Jessica Priddy, Brad Anderson and ATU Staff

Editor: Anne Donnelly

Design: The Foundation

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK: email: anne.donnelly@atu.ie

Welcome from the Editor

Sustainability News

- ATU Holds Radical Transformational Leadership Workshop

- 75% Increase in Recycling Waste Levels at ATU Campuses

University Updates

- St Angela’s College Incorporation into ATU

- From Trees to Treasures: Exhibition Showcases ATU Connemara’s Expertise in Furniture Design and Making

- 28 Partnership in Innovation Fellowship Awards for ATU

- N-TUTORR Student Champions

- Pilot Programme to Create Alternative Pathways to Third Level Education

- Women in ApprenticeshipsToolmaking at ATU

Innovation and Engagement

- ATU Supports the Cybersecurity Sector

- Upcoming Second Annual Cyber Research Conference Ireland

- New Frontiers Alumus Company Xerotech Expand their Workforce

Cover photo: Exhibits from the Trees to Treasure exhibition which showcases work by students, staff and graduates of ATU Connemara.

The exhibit on the left is a Sligo chair made from oak and black ebonising solution by ATU Connemara student Barbara Doran and the exhibit on the right is a fossil table made from bleached ash by ATU graduate Ryan Connolly of Connolly & Co.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

- ATU celebrates Pride Month

- Student and Community Participants Contribute Artwork to Rios Solidarios Project

- Leadership Development Programme for Women

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Community Engagement

- ATU Students Organise a Fun Run to Raise Funds for North West STOP

46 33

ATU Celebrates

- 2nd Edition of ATU’s Literary and Visual Art Journal Launched

- Tell Me What I Am by Una Mannion

- Antimicrobial Awareness Day competition at ATU

- Ireland’s Historical Rail Network Mapped in new Online Resource with ATU and Heritagemaps.ie

- Poetry Pillar Competition Prizegiving

- ATU Welcomes the Swift

- Student Sporting Successes

- Female Engineering Students Benefit from Scholarships

- Student Entrepreneur Awards

- Institute of Chemistry of Ireland (ICI) Postgraduate Award

- ATU Wins Two Awards at the EURSHAE Skills Conference in Budapest

- Humanitarian Logistics Book Launch

- ATU’s First Spring conferring

Global Network News

- ATU Attends International Educators Conference In Washington

- UIIN International Conference

- WTUN Staff Exchange Bursaries

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Recent ATU Conferences

- Operations and Supply ChAin Research (OSCAR) Doctoral Summer School

- ATU and MTU Host National Conference Promoting Inclusion in Higher Education

- ATU DigitalEd23 Conference

Welcome from the Editor, Anne Donnelly

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Issue Eight of our ATU Magazine. The exams are over, results ratified, our students are taking a well-deserved break from their studies and the sun is shining, (most of the time).

I am delighted to tell you that during the summer we will raise Pride flags on all our campuses in support of our LGBTQ+ staff, students and community. We will also be marching in several Pride Parades in the west and north-west region so if you happen to attend any, watch out for our ATU Equality, Diversion and Inclusion (EDI) banner and please feel free to join us.

We have lots of interesting news in this issue from an article on ATU’s Toolmaking apprenticeship to how we are increasing our recycling waste levels and how we are supporting the cybersecurity sector.

I know I’m biased but it struck me as I put this issue together just how multidimensional ATU is, from our cutting-edge research to our links with our local, regional and global networks and of course our student and staff achievements not to mention our diverse range of programmes.

Creativity is evident in all that we do as a technological university and in this issue, we feature just one aspect of that - our furniture design and making exhibition currently running in the Farmleigh Gallery in the Phoenix Park. If you like our cover photo, then turn to page three for more images from the exhibition. In our next issue we will feature our end-of-year engineering and technology, and our creative arts and design exhibitions.

And finally, if you’re looking for some good quality literary fiction to read over the summer, I highly recommend ATU lecturer Una Mannion’s new novel, “Tell Me What I Am”. I’ve just finished reading it and it was one of those can’t-put-it-down books.

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

Best Wishes

Anne Donnelly

If there is anything you would like to see in future issues of this magazine, please email me at anne.donnelly@atu.ie”

University Updates

St Angela’s College incorporation into ATU

The Legal Agreement pertaining to the incorporation of St Angela’s College and ATU was signed by ATU, St Angela’s College and the Ursuline Order on 31 May. This ensured that the document could be presented to the Minister and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to meet the requirement of the Advisory Panel. The Department has commenced the process, which will enable the Minister to approve a Statutory Order to complete the incorporation. The date of incorporation will be later this year.

Pictured left to right: Dr Amanda McGloat, St Angela’s College President and Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President.

From Trees to Treasures: Exhibition Showcases

ATU Connemara’s Expertise in Furniture Design and Making

Farmleigh Gallery in Phoenix Park is currently hosting the Trees to Treasures exhibition which showcases work by students, staff and graduates of ATU Connemara. The exhibition runs until 27 August and is open to the public. The exhibition focuses on the transition of trees into beautiful and treasured creations, drawing influence from numerous sources, including experience, aesthetics, functionality and the exceptional natural beauty of the campus’s location on the west coast of Ireland.

Over the last twenty years the Office of Public Works (OPW) has worked with ATU, initially with work placement students, advancing to collaborative projects and exhibitions for government departments, Historic Houses and Museums, to the most recent Circular Economy project with Farrell Furniture on sustainability and furniture reuse.

Paul Biesty, Chief Technical Officer at the OPW Furniture Branch highlighted the importance of this relationship with the OPW and the promotion of this exhibition to showcase the dynamic skills on display and creativity of the students, staff and graduates.

“As a former student of ATU, we were always delighted to have the opportunity to work on live projects. This allowed us to gain exposure to a working environment, dealing directly with the client while receiving constructive feedback as part of our learning journey.”

Paul Biesty, Chief Technical Officer, OPW Furniture Branch

“Our programmes are renowned nationally and internationally for the exceptional quality of applied technological education in the fields of furniture and wood product design and manufacture, teacher education, development, origination and creativity, fine furniture making and focused research. These programmes are dynamic, alert and responsive to the needs of industry, society and to the ongoing development of the Irish economy.”

Paul Leamy, Head of Department at the National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design & Technology, ATU Connemara

Above: ATU President Dr Orla Flynn and DCCI CEO Rosemary Steen share a conversation in the contemporary confessional at the opening night of the ‘Trees to Treasures’ exhibition in Farmleigh Gallery. The contemporary confessional was made from Elm, Ash, Birch Plywood and Rivetsby by Domhnall Mac Fhlannchadha.

“ The Trees to Treasures exhibition is an opportunity for those who are interested in pursuing a career in furniture design, making, technology and initial teacher education to see the beautiful pieces on display. The exhibition demonstrates the innovative and creative ways in which the students, staff and graduates are using their skills and the materials to make a positive impact on the world.”

Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President

Photos from the Trees to Treasure Exhibition

Top: Circle of mallets from various woods made by a team of ATU Connemara students.

Right: Sligo Chair made from oak with walnut detailing by Ann Marie Woods

Below: ‘Níl Uainn Ach an Talamh’ made from Connemara marble, bog oak, fibreglass pole and Connemara carpet by Luca McMorrough pictured Catherine O’Connell and John McMorrough.

Clockwise from Top:

L’Art du Trait table made from Ash, glass and stainless steel by Matthew Shakespeare. This piece was the winner of the ATU Connemara James and Mary Ellis Award for Excellence in Making 2023.

Side chair made from dyed ash and fabric by Luke O’Connor.

Scaffold chair made from ash by Matthew Sexton, winner of the inaugural Joyce’s Craft Shop Design & Make Award 2023.

Top: Left to right: Paul Leamy, Head of Department at the National Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design & Technology, ATU Connemara with Trees to Treasures Exhibition Designers and ATU lecturers, Daniel McNamara and Anthony Clare, Right: Lounge chair dyed oak and aniline leather made by Seán Brennan.

Below: Kumiko lamps from various woods and rice paper by Neil Hodges, Daniel Stratford, Elliot Treacy.

28 Partnership in Innovation Fellowship Awards for ATU

Building a university greenhouse, introducing a Peer Led Wellness Café in a third level setting, and developing student-led solutions to combat the emergence and increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) are among the 28 ATU Partnerships in Innovation Fellowship Award projects that have received funding under a new learning and teaching initiative for technological universities titled ‘N-TUTORR – Transforming Learning’.

Under the initiative 131 projects across Ireland’s technological universities and institutes of technology have received funding to a total value of more than €650,000. The projects involve collaboration between students and staff and focus on enhancing the experience of students at technological universities.

The 28 ATU projects will receive up to €5,000 each in support. The projects which are informed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, include one entitled, ‘University Greenhouse’.

For this project, the team plans to build a university greenhouse to enable students to grow and harvest fresh produce. The ATU Green Campus society will play an active role in promoting the use of the greenhouse. With experienced students and staff, available to guide them non-experienced growers will learn how to grow and manage food production.

Davy Walsh, lecturer in Applied Social Care and Outdoor Education said: “The University Greenhouse project is a great opportunity to introduce basic horticulture skills to a whole generation of people who want to embrace sustainable living in a more practical fashion. The greenhouse will help foster new communities of interested, like-minded students, staff and volunteers who may not have the space or the skill to grow their own food. I really hope that the little bit of ‘know how’ they gain from this project will be enough to instil a sense of confidence to continue to grow vegetables long after they have finished their university degrees.”

To find out more about the ATU Partnerships in Innovation Fellowship Award projects please click here

Announcing the N-TUTORR funded projects on 23 May, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris said: “I am delighted to announce the exciting enhancement projects receiving funding today as part of the new N-TUTORR project. This is an innovative, whole-sector collaboration across the Technological University sector that aims to transform the student experience. Collaboration between students and teachers, in co-creating projects to support innovation and enable student success, will enrich the teaching and learning experience, as well as contributing to Ireland’s progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Pictured at the announcement of the Partnerships in Innovation Fellowship Awards funded under the new N-TUTORR - Transforming Learning Initiative, left to right: Dr Moira Maguire, Dr Victoria Brownlee, Dr Carina Ginty, Dr Niamh Shaw, Dr Joseph Ryan, Sharon Flynn and Crow Mullen. Photo credit: Marc O’Sullivan

About N-TUTORR

N-TUTORR is a project for Ireland’s technological university sector, that brings together technological universities and institutes of technology, to develop and deliver on the National Technological University Transformation for Recovery and Resilience programme. The programme is EU funded and overseen by the HEA and THEA.

N-TUTORR aims to transform learning, teaching, and assessment by focussing on transforming the student experience and developing staff capabilities to address a sustainable pedagogical and learning environment with particular focus on digital transformation in teaching and learning, sustainability, and equality, diversity and inclusion.

“Learning positively impacts our society, economy and the environment. The N-TUTORR programme is a significant development of new ways to learn and teach, so that teachers and students are equipped with relevant skills for the future. It is one of many initiatives helping to shape the Technological University sector for the next generation.”

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon

Harris

ATU colleagues left to right: Dr Carina Ginty, Dr Ruth Quinn, Barry Breslin, Annette Cosgrave, Jessica Duffy, Dr Jacqueline McCormack and Dr Ellen McCabe.

N-TUTORR Student Champions

The N-TUTORR programme has also recruited student champions. Their role is to develop student engagement and empowerment. The student champions will engage with the development of an initiative under one of the following N-TUTORR thematic areas:

• Academic Integrity

• Digital Transformation in Teaching and Learning

• Education for Sustainability

• Employability

• Equality Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)

• Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

We have 22 N-TUTORR student champions in ATU.

What our N-TUTORR student champions say

“Being a student champion enables me to have a direct impact on the development of the student experience within the TU sector. The role of student champion strengthens my voice and allows me to collaborate with others in developing and enriching the teaching and learning experience within technological universities.”

Éimear Coyle

“I’m honoured to be part of the N-TUTORR program and hope to help create a safe and healthy environment where everyone can flourish and grow.”

Putul Matin

“I am excited about my role as a champion on the N-TUTORR Project which spurred my interest given the opportunity to be a part of a great initiative focused on educating and empowering the students who are leaders of tomorrow to be ‘sustainable leaders’. I hope to work alongside a great team of similarly passionate and enthusiastic sustainable change-makers on collaborative efforts to a sustainable and inclusive future. I am also interested to see, be part of and learn from the roll out of digital initiatives in furtherance of transforming higher education student experience toward a learning environment focused on innovation and sustainability.”

Dhanushi Rodrigo

“I am a postgraduate student completing a Master’s by Research. I am delighted to have been selected as an N-TUTORR student champion in EDI. This role means a lot to me as a student with a disability and a disability advocate. I will work to ensure that all students find equity in their educational journey and work with stakeholders to remove any barriers that stand in their way. I want to listen to the student voice on what they need and advocate for their needs.”

Vicky Matthew

“I took on the role of student champion as Covid really knocked back my college experience. I figured there was no time like the present to get involved! I’m excited to be a part of ATU and the new projects we’re running to make a difference to students’ lives and to make their experience as fulfilling as possible!”

Emma Weston

Pilot Programme to Create Alternative Pathways to Third Level Education

ATU are currently involved in a pilot tertiary education programme which will allow students from the west and north-west of Ireland to start a programme with their local Education and Training Board (ETB) and finish it in ATU and gain a university qualification.

Eligible students will do at least one year in an ETB in either Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim or Donegal before progressing to ATU.

Under this pilot ATU have developed

and are continuing to develop programmes in collaboration with colleagues in ETBs in Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, and Donegal. The pilot programmes are in the following areas: Engineering, Business, Science and Nursing (subject to confirmation of clinical placements).

The pilot is part of a drive to create alternative pathways to third level without the need to secure high points in the leaving certificate.

Women in ApprenticeshipsToolmaking at ATU

Úna Parsons, Head of College and Head of Faculty of Engineering and Design at ATU Sligo, talks to Julie Coleman, an apprentice student in Toolmaking at ATU

Úna: Thanks Julie for agreeing to talk to me about your experience on the apprenticeship programme in Toolmaking. How did you end up on the programme?

Julie: I didn’t have an idea of what toolmaking was before I started the programme though my father is a toolmaker in Cork. I wanted to do a programme that would be handson. There’s not many students pursuing an apprenticeship which is unfortunate as there are a lot of career paths that you can go down after you qualify.

Úna: That’s very true and a lot of people don’t know what toolmaking is. Toolmaking is not the production of hammers and spanners, but the manufacture and maintenance of “industrial tools” used in the mass production of everyday components. These include moulded plastic components (moulds), formed metal components (press tools)

and also jigs and fixtures used in the automation and inspection of the manufacturing process.

Toolmaking is “high precision” engineering, working to tight tolerances of less than .01mm, 8-10 times less than the average human hair. It requires an attention to detail, and knowledge and skill of a variety of machining techniques, including manual and computer controlled machines to produce the many components that make up these “industrial tools”. These tools are used to produce components from the panels of cars (press tools), medical devices, mobile phones, and ‘keep cups’. We’ve just introduced plastic ‘2GoCups’ here in ATU Sligo. Could you explain to the reader how a toolmaker might be involved in the production of a ‘2Gocup’?

Julie: Basically, a toolmaker designs the metal mould, that the liquid plastic used to make the cup is injected into.

Úna: Yes, and the moulds can be quite complicated. Precision is very important when making the metal mould so that we have a smooth finish and, on this cup, we have a lot of ribs so it would need a complicated mould to this.

Julie: That’s right and we also need to maintain the mould as it can change over time, so that’s a large part of the toolmaking work we do. We need to make sure they stay accurate and precise.

Úna: There’s other jobs that a toolmaker does apart from making metal moulds for cups. The pharmaceutical, and medical device industries also require plastic parts.

Julie: Yes, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, for example there’s an Irish company who make asthma inhalers. Precision is important for making metal moulds for jobs like this. The more technology develops the more critical it is to have the moulds accurate. So essentially toolmaking is precision engineering because it’s the mould rather than the liquid plastic that is the critical part of the manufacturing process.

Úna: Making moulds are just one aspect of toolmaking. One of my first jobs, in 1978 in Braun, was to create the gripper needed to lift a hair dryer out of its metal mould. I liked sewing and that’s what attracted me to toolmaking. Sewing is very precise and toolmaking appealed to me because it’s so precise too. At that time there were very few females working in toolmaking and it seems to be the same today. What’s it’s like for you to work in a male dominated environment?

Julie: I was surprised when I started that there were so few women in the industry. Working in a male dominated industry has its challenges but times are changing. It’s so important for women to be involved in toolmaking. They have a lot to contribute particularly as it requires people who are precise in their work. Toolmaking is a fantastic apprenticeship to do particularly for women.

Úna: When I started in the toolmaking industry there was a lot of manual work involved like polishing the surface of the metal mould, so it was smooth, so the finished plastic product didn’t end up with lumps and bumps.

Since then, technology has changed and we now have Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines which have transformed the way toolmaking is conducted. Our tool room in ATU Sligo now has state-of-the-art computer-controlled equipment. Could you describe what some of that computercontrolled equipment does?

Julie: Yes, I work with CNC machines, and I use design software to create precise tools for pharma companies. Computer programming means that there’s less chance of errors when making the tools. I love seeing something I’ve designed coming to life. It’s very rewarding.

Úna: Could you describe some of the work you’re doing for the pharma industry, like what kind of tools are you making?

Julie: We make a lot of dies for pharma companies. Dies are fixtures they use on their production lines.

Úna: So, you make tools that cut metal for the pharma companies and they use these tools to make

items like surgical instruments?

Julie: Yes, and we also make backup tools for them in case something happens on the production line and a tool is comprised. Back-ups help them stay efficient.

Úna: You started in college and then went into an apprenticeship. What would you say to anyone in school who is interested in either going to college or doing an apprenticeship?

Julie: Apprenticeship is an ideal way to learn, you are paid as you learn on the job, and you also get the experience of going to college and sitting in lectures. The lecturers are industry experts, so you are taught by an actual toolmaker.

Apprenticeship has changed. It’s important, particularly for women to know that there’s so many different routes you can take. You just have to look, and you will find something you’re interested in and allows you to use your talents.

But it’s important to know that it’s not easier than college. You must show up every day at work, you can’t just take a day off. However, there’s a lot of career opportunities when you qualify.

Úna: That’s very true. We have many employers coming to us asking if we know of any qualified toolmakers. Many industries rely on toolmakers so it’s a great apprenticeship to do.

Julie: Yes, and it’s a small apprenticeship for the size of the industry and I’d like to say to any woman reading this article that women can do the job as good as any man.

About Úna Parsons

Úna did her apprenticeship block release in Sligo forty-five years ago studying the trade of toolmaking at what was then called Sligo Regional Technical College.

She later did her Masters Degree in Advanced Manufacturing Systems with Brunel University in the UK. Since then, Úna has travelled the world in various global management positions working in the manufacturing industry across Europe, the USA, Mexico, Hong Kong and China.

An award-winning Chartered Engineer, Úna has worked as Industry Director for Engineers Ireland and was CEO of the Crafts Council of Ireland before taking up an academic management position in ATU Sligo in 2012. She is a Fellow of Engineers Ireland and in the last year was conferred with the distinction of Fellowship of the Irish Academy of Engineering.

About Julie Coleman

Julie is a 24-year-old apprentice toolmaker living in Cork City. She works for Automation & Tooling Specialists based in Carrigaline, Cork. She plans on completing her apprenticeship in toolmaking in 2024 and completing her qualification in mechanical analysis and automation in 2025. Julie is currently working on projects primarily for the pharma industry.

“Facts, Faces, Futures” Women in Apprenticeship Campaign

The National Apprenticeship Office are currently leading out on a new initiative to promote apprenticeship opportunities in girls’ schools around the country.

The campaign will highlight the growing participation and leadership of women in apprenticeships, building exciting careers, women’s participation and leadership across industry sectors, and how this opportunity is available to every girl’s school in the country.

Facts: Apprenticeship is packed with diverse role models and women’s success stories and there are growing numbers of females choosing the apprenticeship route.

Faces: Women are employers, chefs, craftspeople, cyber security specialists, international financial analysts, creators, and leaders.

Futures: More and more girls and young women in school can take inspiration from these role models, seeing what they can be and shaping their future careers.

To find out more about apprenticeships, the apprenticeships available and how to become an apprentice, please click here

Reference

Sustainability News

ATU Holds Radical Transformational Leadership Workshop

ATU recently invited public and private organisations from Mayo to a Radical Transformational Leadership workshop to look at how ATU and local organisations can collaborate to address global challenges locally.

Dr Monica Sharma and Bridget Horkan designed and delivered the workshop. Dr Monica Sharma is an International Expert and Practitioner on Leadership Development for sustainable and equitable change and Bridget Horkan is a Radical Transformational Leadership practitioner coach.

The event highlighted the convening role of a regional multi-campus technological university and the importance of local stakeholders working together to create results-oriented partnerships and projects.

The workshop was developed under the ATU Centre for Sustainability’s Radical

Sustainability Lab project, in collaboration with ATU Mayo’s Department of Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences.

Representatives from Mayo County Council, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Business in the Community, An Táisce, Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education Training Board (MSLETB), Moy Valley Resources, Community group leaders, ATU students and staff, and others involved in biodiversity projects and climate action participated in the workshop.

The day and a half workshop was a learning in action programme designed to awaken potential and ethical leadership in managers, with the aim of transforming lives, work and society.

The workshop was based on Dr Monica Sharma’s 35+ years’ experience in applying the Conscious Full-Spectrum Response model (CFSR) which has generated equitable and sustainable results

related to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), worldwide.

The CFSR model is a foundational development model that has achieved results worldwide.

“The overall purpose of Dr Monica Sharma’s workshop was to work with our local stakeholders to co-design projects aligned to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, using the Conscious Full-Spectrum Response (CFSR) designed by Dr Monica Sharma.”

Dr Deirdre Garvey, Head of Department of Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences, ATU Mayo

It is a transdisciplinary model and template for strategic action and is robust enough to hold the frameworks of different disciplines and various schools of thought. It intertwines three threads of a paradigm shift: (a) source our wisdom/inner potential and universal values for action; (b) shift cultural norms, systems, and structures that maintain the status quo and to become principled game changers; and (c) solve problems to generate specific equitable and sustainable results.

Reflecting on the workshop, Dr Garvey said: “Participants applied the tools and templates and identified break-through projects with synergistic opportunities to work together in Mayo and beyond for stepping up to our commitment to responding to SDGs. A follow-up session has been organised with participants, to continue this work and progress these projects with specific outcomes.”

About the ATU Galway-Mayo Centre for Sustainability

The ATU Galway-Mayo Centre for Sustainability aims to demonstrate leadership through a whole-ofuniversity approach to embed sustainability, the SDGs and climate action at the very core of the university’s values, actions, and culture. To find out more about the centre, please click here.

Dr Monica Sharma at the Radical Transformational Leadership Workshop at ATU Mayo.

75% Increase in Recycling Waste Levels at ATU Campuses

The canteens on the Sligo and Donegal (Letterkenny) campuses have made significant changes by ‘greening’ their facilities.

They have committed to eliminating single-use items in the Sligo and Letterkenny canteens and to significantly increase waste recycling levels.

As a result of implementing the initiative, the Sligo campus canteen has reduced general waste by 50%, increased recyclable waste levels to 75% (hitting 2030 targets), and eliminated 200,000 single-use items.

The move is part of ATU’s ongoing efforts to promote environmental sustainability and reduce its carbon footprint. The elimination of paper cups and replacement by 2GoCups, the introduction of alternative options for all users and the removal of all bins from the Food Court have been key components of the change journey.

ATU are also encouraging students and staff to take individual actions to reduce their plastic usage by bringing their own reusable coffee cups and water bottles to work. Ceramic mugs are also available on both campuses as an alternative.

Michael O’Hehir of O’Hehir’s Bakery, who operates the canteen facilities

on both Sligo and Letterkenny campuses, said he is delighted to lead this as part of a business wide ‘Green mission’.

Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, said that eliminating single-use plastics is a significant step toward creating a more sustainable future for the broader community.

Pictured left to right: Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President; Dr Paul Hannigan, Head of College, ATU Donegal and Gillian Cullen, Business Manager, O’Hehirs, ATU Donegal.

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. Our next step will be supporting all our campuses to build on these good practices.”

Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President

The implementation of 2GoCups was delayed due to Covid so it’s fantastic to see it come to fruition. It is a simple step to less waste on campus, without stopping anyone from taking a hot beverage to go. Win-win.”

Des Faul, General Manager of ATU Sligo Foodcourt & Café with Úna Parsons, Head of College, ATU Sligo.

Dylan Murphy, ATU student

Innovation and Engagement

ATU Supports the Cybersecurity Sector

Cybersecurity doesn’t just affect ‘technology’ companies. All companies now need to comply with a range of security legal aspects and every sector faces the risk of a cybersecurity breach – from healthcare, power grids and telecoms to education.

The cost of a data breach can be enormous, with both direct expenses and indirect expenses. IBM have stated that the global average cost of a data breach is $3.86 million.

According to the recently published “Cyber Security Skills Audit Report” the north-west region is a burgeoning, cyberfriendly ecosystem that could significantly help grow Ireland’s cybersecurity sector. The report identifies at least 10 organisations offering cybersecurity services within the region including large multinational operators, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) via its Letterkenny Global Delivery Centre, and Optum, the international healthcare services provider, who have stated ambitions to further recruit and grow their cybersecurity skills talent base locally.

The report found that the existence of a new university (ATU) in the region was one of the region’s key strengths and would attract companies seeking a new location for cybersecurity. Providing educational and training support

to cybersecurity employees, graduates, and other people aspiring to enter the field will help the sector and the cybersecurity operators seeking to expand.

ATU’s computing programmes all have security elements to their modules, to ensure graduates understand cybersecurity. The university also delivers specific IT and cybersecurity undergraduate and post graduate programmes both on-site and online. You can find out more about these programmes by clicking on each programme title below:

• Bachelor of Science in Network Cybersecurity

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Networks and Cyber Security

• Master of Science Cybersecurity

• Certificate in Network Cybersecurity

• Certificate in Data Cybersecurity

• Master of Science in Cybersecurity Operations

• Certificate in Cybersecurity Operations

ATU staff are also currently involved in writing International Standards Organisation (ISO) standards to improve security in the software development cycle.

Regional Skills North West and Cyber Ireland partnered to commission the audit report to examine the shape of the cybersecurity section in the northwest as well as to identify the key skills gaps and challenges that need to be addressed to help the sector grow and flourish.

The report forecasts 220 new cybersecurity jobs in the region in the next few years growing the total cyber jobs by 88%. These roles span entry to senior-level, with potential to fill many of these with talent from within the region.

Speaking about the Cyber Security Skills Audit Report, Hilary McPartland, Regional Skills Manager said: “As manager of North West Regional Skills Forum this report has captured the opportunity for cybersecurity in the north-west.”

“It finds a vibrant ecosystem with great potential to grow. It’s the first step in our journey to build this sector to be one of the leaders in our region. I look forward to helping the talent and skills needed to support this dynamic sector vital to our economy and future success.”

To read the full Cyber Security Skills Audit Report, please click here

About Cyber Ireland

Cyber Ireland is a national cyber security cluster organisation. It has several Chapters including the West Chapter and the NorthWest Chapter. The chapters bring together industry professionals, academics from ATU, and local government representatives to represent the needs of the cyber security sector in the region. The aim is to enhance the innovation, growth and competitiveness of all companies and organisations working in cybersecurity in the west and north-west region of Ireland.

Pictured left to right at the launch of the Cyber Security Skills Audit Report: Tim Kelley, Strategic Head for TCS Threat Management Centres in UK & Europe; Hilary McPartland, Regional Skills Manager and Paul Brady, Senior Director –Enterprise Information Security Optum.

Second Annual Cyber Research Conference Ireland

ATU will host the second annual Cyber Research conference (CRCI 2023), in Letterkenny on 24 November 2023.

The conference will act as a meeting point where researchers from academia, industry, research groups/centres, companies and public authorities working in the field of cybersecurity and related areas can exchange knowledge and experience with the shared goal of strengthening research and building networks in the field across the island of Ireland.

The CRCI 2023 conference organisers are seeking high-quality regular research papers, as well as industrial papers promoting contributions on technology development, innovations and implementations.

Prospective authors are encouraged to submit previously unpublished contributions from a broad range of topics, which include but are not limited to the following areas:

• Building and managing cyber resilience

• Cybersecurity infrastructure

• Human and legal aspects of cybersecurity and cybercrime

• Cybersecurity education and research

• General cybersecurity issues

The submission deadline is 8 September 2023. For more information on how to submit please click here

New Frontiers Alumus Company Xerotech Expand their Workforce

ATU Galway-Mayo New Frontiers

alumnus company Xerotech, a world leader in advanced battery systems for non-road mobile machinery applications, recently announced that it plans to hire over 100 new employees to meet the growing demand for its configurable battery pack technology.

Xerotech has a proven track record of delivering high-performance battery solutions for a wide range of applications, from mining and construction equipment to marine and aviation vehicles. With a focus on sustainability and efficiency, the company is dedicated to providing the best possible solutions for its customers while reducing their environmental impact.

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has hailed Xerotech’s continued success and outlined what an important contribution this news is to the economy, saying:

“Xerotech is one of the most innovative and interesting Irish companies I have engaged with. Batteries are going to be a big part of our post-fossil fuels future and it’s extra-ordinary how advanced these technologies are. It’s great that it’s happening in the west of Ireland.”

The new roles coming on stream include various technical and support roles, including engineering, production, sales

and marketing, research and development, quality assurance, machine build and design, supply chain, and testing.

Xerotech is an Enterprise Ireland supported company. CEO of Enterprise Ireland Leo Clancy said, “Xerotech is a highly innovative company delivering high performance energy and power management solutions for large machinery. A key goal for Enterprise Ireland is to support companies to make the transition to the low-carbon, resourceefficient economy of the future and innovative solutions like Xerotech’s Hibernium® battery pack technology is key to supporting this critical agenda.”

We are excited to be expanding our team as we continue to develop new and innovative solutions for our customers. Our battery systems are helping to drive the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future, and we are looking for talented and passionate individuals to join us in this mission.”

Dr Barry Flannery, CEO of Xerotech

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

ATU Celebrates Pride Month

During the summer Pride flags will be raised across all ATU campuses in support of our LGBTQ+ staff, students and community. ATU staff and students will also participate in the Pride parades in the west and northwest region. If you happen to attend any, watch out for our ATU Equality, Diversion and Inclusion (EDI) banner and please feel free to join us.

Upcoming Pride Events

Sligo Pride, 2-6 August. To find out more click here

Galway Pride, 7-13 August. To find out more click here

Leitrim Pride, details to be confirmed. To find out more click here.

ATU at Inishowen Pride on 4 June.

To mark the start of Pride Month, Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President raised the Pride flag on 1 June at ATU Mayo.

ATU at Mayo Pride on 3 June.

Student and Community Participants Contribute Artwork to Rios Solidarios Project

Final year students of the BA (Honours) Early Childhood Care & Education and BA (Honours) Social Care Practice in Sligo participated in an Inclusive Arts elective module from September to December 2022. They collaborated with a group from Rehabcare Sligo, to create eight pieces for the Rios Solidarios project at University of Glasgow. The project invites artworks from makers internationally in solidarity with the River Atrato in Columbia. The Inclusive Arts group was supported by artist Anna MacLeod and lecturer Dr Susan McDonnell.

The Rio Atrato is in the Choco region of Columbia, an important area for biodiversity, with an estimated 2000 species of flora and fauna in its rainforests. The ways of life of diverse communities of Afro-descendent and indigenous people who live on the river are threatened by socio-environmental

devastation caused by illegal mechanised goldmining and ongoing conflicts between armed guerrillas, paramilitaries and organised crime.

Social leaders are frequently targeted and traditional sustainable livelihoods are lost due to deforestation, destruction of river channels and pollution. The riverine communities have historically been subject to systemic discrimination and are rarely consulted at national level.

Following long-term organisations and actions at multiple levels by the Atrato communities and their allies, a 2017 landmark ruling by the Constitutional Court (T-622) confirmed the Rio Atrato as a bearer of legal rights and recognised the inextricable connection between the river and its communities. Although this is an important step, implementation of the ruling is slow.

About the Ríos Solidarios Project

The Ríos Solidarios project is for people from anywhere in the world to create artwork which sends messages of love and solidarity from their river to the communities of the Atrato river in Chocó, Colombia.

The project aims to raise awareness of the socioenvironmental devastation affecting the Atrato and the communities who live there.

Through the creation of artworks, the project will forge and strengthen networks of solidarity, centred on an understanding of rivers as the lifeblood of communities across the globe.

To find out more about ATU Sligo’s involvement in the project please click here

Students and their art pieces for the Rios Solidarios Project

Leadership Development Programme for Women

In November 2022, 14 women became the first ATU cohort to participate in the highly regarded Aurora leadership development programme.

Aurora is Advance HE’s leadership development initiative for women. It is run as a unique partnership bringing together leadership experts, higher education providers and research institutes to take positive action to address the under-representation of women in leadership positions in the sector. Since its launch in 2013 more than 10,000 women from nearly 200 different institutions across the UK and the Republic of Ireland have participated in Aurora.

Eight academic and six professional and support staff from across ATU participated on the 2022 programme.

Through a combination of online and face-to-face delivery, they explored key areas of leadership success including core leadership skills, adaptive leadership skills, and power and politics. Participants were assigned a mentor for a oneyear period.

The final day of the Aurora 2022 leadership development programme was held at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Dublin on 17 May and focused on the participants’ future in higher education. ATU is committed to continuing to support participants on the programme. To find out more about the programme please click here.

Pictured above: Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President with some of the ATU participants on the Aurora 2022 leadership development programme at its final day held in the Radisson Blue Hotel in Dublin on 17 May.

The Aurora 2022 leadership development programme was great and I really appreciate the opportunity to have completed it.”

Dr Eileen Armstrong, lecturer in Physics and Material, Department of Life Sciences, ATU Sligo.

I just wanted to say I really enjoyed the programme. I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in it and look forward to implementing the learning going forward.”

JoAnne Kilmartin, Project Development Officer, ATU Donegal.

Community Engagement

ATU Students Organise a Fun Run to Raise Funds for North West STOP

On 1 April, students from ATU Sligo’s Bachelor of Business in Tourism and Event Management, and Bachelor of Business in Marketing and Sales organised a fun run as part of their Event Project Management module.

The students professionally planned and managed the Hazelwood 5km fun run from start to finish. It was held at Calry Community Park Sligo where many happy participants crossed the finish line and received very generous prizes from our sponsors. The event raised vital finds for North West STOP, and the students recently presented a cheque of €629.70 to the local charity.

North West STOP is a voluntary community-based organisation that works to prevent suicide by informing, educating and promoting positive mental health. The funds raised by this event management team will go directly towards providing free counselling sessions to people who are in need of support across the north-west region.

ATU Celebrates

2nd Edition of ATU’s Literary and Visual Art Journal Launched

On 25 April, ATU launched the second edition of Scrimshaw, A Journal of New Writing and Visual Art. The journal is a collection of poetry, prose, and imagery from over 50 contributors from across the ATU community including students, staff and alumni.

Students of the Writing and Literature programme at ATU Sligo edited and produced the journal which was officially launched ahead of National Poetry Day by Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President.

The editorial team comprised of Tony Keenan, Dianne McPhelim, Alice Turpin, Meabh Callaghan, Lucy Goss, and Damien Kelly. Creative Design student at ATU, Ryan Dempsey designed the journal.

The name ‘Scrimshaw’ comes from the artwork created by whalers, engraved on the by-products of whales, such as bones or cartilage. This was a hobby of whalers to pass the time away through creativity.

There are still some complimentary copies available. If you would like a copy please email anne.donnelly@ atu.ie The journal can also be viewed online at this link

Contributors to the Srimshaw Journal at the launch in ATU Sligo on 25 April.

“I am delighted to see such a wonderful showcase of talent from across our campus community. Scrimshaw Journal embodies the sentiment of Atlantic Technological University, bringing together students and staff from across our campuses and is a testament to the creativity and passion that exists within the ATU community.”

Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President

Tell Me What I Am

by Una Mannion

Una Mannion, a Writing and Literature lecturer at ATU, recently launched her second novel, ‘Tell Me What I Am’ (Faber). Una is an award-winning writer, and her debut novel, ‘A Crooked Tree’ was published in 2021.

Tell Me What I Am tells the fictional story of Deena Garvey who disappears in 2004. She leaves behind a daughter and a sister. Deena’s daughter grows up in the country. She learns how to hunt, when to seed the garden, and how to avoid making her father angry. Meanwhile Deena’s sister stays stuck in the city, getting

desperate to see her niece.

“Tell Me What I Am is a sure-footed and emotionally complex second novel which focuses on many of the same themes as Una’s debut – family, loss, grief and identity.”

Edel Coffey, The Irish Times

Una has won numerous awards for her short fiction and poetry and her debut novel, ‘A Crooked Tree’ won the Kate O’Brien Prize, 2022 and was nominated for the An Post Irish Book Awards.

Antimicrobial Awareness Day competition at ATU

Members of the Medical Science programme in ATU, have been working in partnership with the HSE Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, (AMRIC) team for several years. The aim of this work is to raise awareness around antimicrobial resistance.

As part of European Antimicrobial Awareness Day, November 2022, the Medical Science programme at ATU

Galway-Mayo ran several events, including a student-led infographic competition, sponsored by AMRIC.

The competition asked students to design an infographic to help create awareness around antibiotic resistance, with a student focus. The top two infographics were selected, and prizes were awarded in December. Congratulations to the winner, Shane Dirrane, first year Medical Science student, and runner up Sarah Thomas, first year Medical Science student.

At the prize giving were left to right: Shane Dirrane (1st place), Audrey Lambourn, AMRIC team, Sarah Thomas (runner up), Dr Sheila Faherty and Dr Debbie Corcoran, lecturers on the Medical Science programme, ATU.

Click here to listen to Una talk about the book to Seán Rocks on RTÉ Radio One’s programme, Arena.

Ireland’s Historical Rail Network Mapped in new Online Resource with ATU and Heritagemaps.ie

Students from ATU’s BA in Heritage have completed a two-year project 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 on 4 May.

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.

The online resource will allow users to explore the historical rail lines

across the island of Ireland. Its next phase of development will facilitate the uploading of historic photos and information to build a rich resource for community and railway historians alike.

The students developed the resource 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 in that time. It was also collated from the national archive of architectural heritage.

At its peak the rail network on the island extended to over 5,600 kilometres. The online rail map of Ireland will depict:

• All passenger and freight lines on the island of Ireland, including their opening and – in the case of former lines –closing dates.

• All stations which were open for public use during the almost 190 years of Ireland’s rail history, including years of operation.

• Major structures on the rail network, including significant bridges and viaducts.

To view the online map please click here

“We are keenly aware of our role as custodians of the rail network and service, which represents a significant part of Ireland’s modern economic and social history and heritage. We are extremely grateful to the students and faculty of ATU for bringing such a key element of this history to a wider audience and create a resource which will grow in its value over the years ahead. We thank the Heritage Council which is dedicated to making our heritage more accessible to all, and Stephen Johnson who painstakingly collated much of the original data. We also look forward to the resource expanding, as new stations and lines are established in the years ahead.”

Pictured above: The Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Clodagh Higgins with ATU Heritage students’ digital map at the launch with staff from Irish Rail, ATU, Galway City Council and the Heritage Council.

Pictured above, left to right: Dr Mark McCarthy, ATU lecturer; Barry Kenny, Irish Rail; Mayor Clodagh Higgins; Gary Dempsey, ATU lecturer and digital map project lead; Áine McCafferty, student on the BA Heritage programme and Dr Michael Hannon, Head of ATU Galway-Mayo.

Working on a live project such as this provides students an opportunity to learn about the practical process of creating digital maps, and the visual power of maps to tell heritage stories. Making the data openly available will allow the public to interact with the map using it both as an educational tool and a tool for developing future heritage projects at a local and national level.”

Gary Dempsey, ATU lecturer

Barry Kenny, Head of Corporate Communications, Iarnród Éireann

Poetry Pillar Competition Prizegiving

The prizegiving for the ATU Poetry Pillar competition took place on Friday, 5 May 2023 at ATU Mayo campus. In the secondary school Transition Year (TY) category, students from Davitt College in Castlebar filled the top three spots. Eva Garayalde won the TY category for her poem entitled “Dreamscapes”. The TY competition second place prize winner was Alan Nolan, and the third place prize winner was Rory Lowe Walsh.

Eilish McDonagh from ATU Mayo won the ATU student category with her poem entitled “United in Biodiversity”. Eilish is a student on the Masters of Science in Outdoor Education, Sustainability and Wellbeing programme. The ATU second place prize winner was Andrew Goodison and the third place prize winner was Anbar Butt.

Eilish McDonagh, winner of the ATU student category

Anne Donnelly, Judging Panel Chairperson, welcomed the winners to ATU Mayo. She said: “The judging panel really enjoyed reading this year’s entries on the theme of Biodiversity. The standard of entries was very high, and it proved to be a difficult task to pick the winners. Well done to all who entered.”

Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President presented the winners in both categories with their prizes and Dr Deirdre Garvey, Head of Department, Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences, ATU Mayo presented the second and third place winners with their prizes.

The Poetry Pillar competition is a collaboration between Green Campus, ATU Galway- Mayo, the ATU Sustainability Office, ATU School Liaison Team, Students’ Union and ATU Library Mayo.

Dr Deirdre Garvey, Head of Department, Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences said: “It is a pleasure to link with local schools, the TY co-ordinators and their students in such a creative way around the important topic of biodiversity. A special thank you to the organiser (Sheila McArdle) and the judging panel who generously gave their time and expertise to the competition.”

Engraved plaques of both poems are installed on ATU’s poetry pillar in St Mary’s Courtyard Garden at ATU Mayo. ATU plan to run the competition again for the academic year 2023/24. The theme and competition details will be circulated to schools at the start of the next academic year.

The climate crisis and loss of biodiversity are difficult subjects to communicate honestly and accurately about because they are so massive and daunting.

I am glad that my poem was impactful and played a part in bridging this gap.”

Eva Garayalde, winner of the TY category

I was delighted to be part of this poetry competition and celebrate creativity with a lovely bunch of likeminded people. Thank you to all involved in organising and I look forward to reading future poems on the pillars!”

Left to right: Eilish McDonagh, ATU student winner; Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President and Eva Garayalde, TY category winner in St. Mary’s Courtyard Garden, ATU Mayo.

Poetry Pillar Prize Winning Poems 2023

Dreamscapes

By Eva Garayalde

There’s this recurring dream of mine of endless suburbs and grey skies a sea of cargo ships and car rides bitten nails and nuclear tides my world through fear tinted glasses.

In another dream, its antithesis of wolves in the woods and eagles crossing thunder-clad skies Of towns fading to ruins, time taking its due and nature our debt.

Different ends, lives in different eyes shaped in all by humanity’s fickle touch Power slipping from grasping hands like sand in an hourglass, meanwhile meanwhile the world is burning and I am tired of this game of political politeness. Nature will not wait for us to win.

United in Bio-diversity

By Eilish McDonagh

Come now let’s sing our song.

Let every note be in tune, every instrument work in perfect harmony.

Let’s sing our song for the future now, Where all system weave as one, let every creature big and small listen to the call.

Let the gentle music trickle into the sea and spread across the land.

It’s time now, we must sing together, all as one, cease to divide.

Set aside the judgement and the blame now, for that will do no good.

Let’s down the tools and start anew and walk as one, side by side.

We are her and she is us, coursing through our veins.

Come now, let’s sing the song of the future. Let’s sing to the heartbeat of the drum, the heartbeat of mother earth. She is calling us now, to work as one, united in biodiversity.

ATU Welcomes the Swift

On 16 May, ATU Mayo marked the return of the swifts to ATU from their annual migration from Africa with an evening of poetry and music.

Retried ATU staff member, Lynda Huxley and ATU Graduate, Jarek Majkusiak gave a short talk on swift conservation. This was followed by a poetry reading by Dr Seán Lysaght and music by the uilleann piper Diarmaid Moynihan.

Student Sporting Successes Congratulations to

Zach a second-year outdoor education student, has been awarded the Student Sport Ireland Leadership Award 2023.

Zach was shortlisted, for his work across many facets of clubs and societies, alongside students from TU Dublin, Trinity College and UCC. He was nominated for his work in crossing boundaries between adventure sport and team sport, his

behind-the-scenes involvement with a variety of committees, volunteer work and general engagement throughout clubs and societies at ATU.

Following presentations on behalf of all candidates at the SSI Network event in Athlone, on Thursday 23 May, conference delegates voted, and Zach was announced as the winner at the awards ceremony that evening.

Zach Wright Congratulations to Shauna Bocquet

Shauna, a first-year Sport and Exercise Science student at ATU Galway-Mayo won the Elite Wheelchair Category in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon on 4 June in Dublin in a time of 26:59.

Female Engineering Students Benefit from Scholarships

Two ATU engineering students have been awarded substantial scholarships titled “Teen-Turn and Trane Technologies STEMCareer Pathway Scholarships”. Rebecca Dara and Ella Hasty, will each receive €6,000 in support annually and be given a work placement opportunity in TRANE, for the duration of their undergraduate studies at ATU Galway-Mayo.

The first year students were presented with their scholarship certificates by ATU President Dr Orla Flynn and representatives from Trane Technologies and Teen-Turn at the Graduate Engineering Exhibition and Competition which took place in the Galway city campus during the first week of May.

“Receiving this scholarship has made a huge impact on my life, as it has relieved the financial pressure of renting while living away from home.”

Ella Hasty, Scholarship Recipient

“Receiving the scholarship has opened a new door of opportunity for me as it has allowed me to focus on my education and not worry about financial burden. This is an investment into my future I am so grateful to receive.We both thank Teen-Turn and Trane Technologies wholeheartedly

for giving us this fantastic opportunity, we are both extremely grateful.”

Rebecca Dara, Scholarship Recipient

Teen-Turn is a registered charity which aims to provide teen girls with the opportunity to gain hands-on STEM experience so

that they can visualise themselves in those kinds of careers and make third level course choices accordingly. Trane Technologies, based in Galway city, develops sustainable efficient climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. They are also known as Thermo-King.

Pictured above left to right: Isuelt Morgan, Regional Project coordinator, Teen-Turn; Dr Ola Flynn, ATU President; Rebecca Dara, scholarship recipient; Gail Quinn, HR Leader and Isobel Foyle, HR Business Partner, Trane Technologies.

Pictured above left to right: Isuelt Morgan, Regional Project coordinator, Teen-Turn; Dr Ola Flynn, ATU President; Ella Hasty, Scholarship recipient; Gail Quinn, HR Leader and Isobel Foyle, HR Business Partner, Trane Technologies.

Student Entrepreneur Awards

Over 100 students (40 teams) across ATU recently competed in the ATU Entrepreneur Awards which was part of the 2023 Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards competition. Eleven teams from a wide range of disciplines won awards in the ATU competition. The ATU Entrepreneur Awards, sponsored by McHale Farm Machinery, Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), and the Students Union in ATU Galway City took place in the ATU Galway iHub in March. The competition was organised by ATU Galway-Mayo lecturers David Keary, School of Engineering, Mark Campbell, School of Science and Eve-Anne McCarron, ATU Letterkenny. Over €3,000 prize money was awarded to the winning teams including overall winner, winners, runners up, and category awards for entrepreneurship and innovation in engineering, computer science, business, MedTech and the creative arts.

Speaking at the event, ATU President Dr Orla Flynn said:

“Encouraging our students to engage in entrepreneurship is something that will stand to them and help them in their future career, whether starting their own business, working for a multinational or an SME. The entrepreneurial way of thinking is beneficial for whatever type of employment they undertake.”

team of the ATU Entrepreneur Awards.

EveAnne McCarron- External Engagement Manager, ATU Donegal; Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President; David Keary, Engineering lecturer, ATU Galway; Mechanical Engineering student Ronan Porter; Donal Collins, R&D Manager, McHale Farm Machinery (event sponsor); Mechanical Engineering student Harry Kennedy; Mark Campbell, Computer Science lecturer ATU and Mechanical Engineering student Shane Treacy.

Pictured left to right: Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President; David Keary, Engineering lecturer; Noeleen Hussey, Regional Enterprise Executive of Enterprise Ireland; Manufacturing Engineering Design students Pearce Connor, Darragh McHugh and Cathal Monaghan.

right: Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President; Business student Martin Lohan; Colin Kearney, Outgoing Students Union President GalwayMayo; Business student Darren Steed; George Finnegan, Business lecturer; Business students Leigh Moran and Cormac Bohan.

3rd Prize winning team in the ATU Entrepreneur Awards. Pictured left to

Overall winning

Pictured left to right:

2nd prize winning team in the ATU Entrepreneur Awards.

Institute of Chemistry of Ireland (ICI) Postgraduate Award

ATU PhD researcher Kris O’Dowd recently received the prestigious ICI Postgraduate Award, 2023. Kris is a final year PhD student in the Department of Environmental Sciences under the supervision of Prof. Suresh C. Pillai at ATU Sligo.

The ICI Postgraduate Award recognises a registered PhD student in any chemistry discipline working in an Irish Higher Education Institution. The student must have demonstrated excellence in research through publications and must also have demonstrated a commitment to supporting and promoting chemistry within their Institution.

ICI is the professional body representing chemists in Ireland. It promotes excellence in chemistry

through a series of competitions and awards for chemists at all career stages from second level students onwards.

Kris is working as part of the PANIWATER consortium, a Horizon 2020 EU-funded project. He is an outstanding research student and has published in various high-impact journals such as the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. He also presented his work at several international conferences and is one of the two winners of the 2017 Eurachem Ireland Analytical Measurement competition.

In addition to his research accomplishments, Kris is committed to supporting and promoting

Chemistry and research within ATU Sligo and in the north-west region. He is currently participating in the Current Chemistry Investigator (CCI) program, which is an informal chemistry education and public engagement project with students in their senior cycle of secondary education, allowing discussion of research with 16 to 18-year-old students.

Kris also participated in ESB Science Blast at the RDS Dublin as part of the CCI program. This was an educational program for primary school students and took place earlier this year. As part of this program researchers talked with schoolchildren, explaining their work, and talking about what ‘research’ means.

Kris O’Dowd pictured left with his supervisor, Prof. Suresh C. Piillai.

ATU Wins Two Awards at the EURSHAE Skills Conference in Budapest

Ruth Moran, Graduate Education and Research Integrity Office, ATU Sligo along with Nirjole Zinkeviciene, Vice Rector, VIKO International, Lithuania won the Research and Innovation competencies PHE Star Award for their EU RECAPHE project at the EURASHE skills conference 2023 held in Bucharest recently.

RECAPHE is a co-operative project that has developed research modules and tools for enhancing and building staff research and innovation capacity in Professional Higher Education in Europe.

EURASHE is a European association of higher education institutions with professionally oriented courses and programmes. It represents the sector as regards the policy issues at EU level. EURASHE is one of the non-governmental partners of the Bologna process, a process promoting development of the European Higher Education sector. Commenting on the award Ruth Moran said: “The RECAPHE project was very much a collaborative EU project which addressed and supported PHE institutional staff and researchers in bridging a skills gap to allow staff to further engage in applied research and innovative activities. The RECAPHE project created a self-assessment platform

that allowed researchers and staff to self-assess against the researchbased competences that were developed.”

“Thank you to all who supported our RECAPHE Journey across ATU. The EURASHE Research and Innovation PHE Star Award was a final ribbon in our RECAPHE family bow.”

Ruth Moran, Graduate Education and Research Integrity Office, ATU Sligo

ATU picked up a second award at the EURSHAE conference. Paul Hannigan, Head of College, ATU Donegal; JoAnne Kilmartin, ATU Donegal along with a colleague in the North West Tertiary Education cluster (NWTEC) Wendy Gibbons, North West Regional College won the PHE Star Award for Regional Dimension for their presentation ‘Leading from the North West of Ireland’. We will have more on this project in the next issue of our ATU Magazine.

Ruth Moran presenting at the EURSHAE conference in Budapest.

Humanitarian Logistics Book Launch

About the EU RECAPHE Project

Institutions of professional higher education (PHE) play an important role in enhancing European competitiveness and innovation capacity, especially on the regional level where PHE institutions act as connectors between SMEs, local organisations and society. In addition, applied research activities have an important role in developing students’ skills including their innovative thinking and entrepreneurship and contribute thus to further economic growth and jobs within the regions.

Due to its practice-oriented approach and specific characters, the applied research and regional activities do not fit the same metric as the traditional universities’ research and innovation activities. RECAPHE meets the need to support further development and enhancement of the PHE institutions staff capacity to engage into applied research activities, link these to teaching, and develop relevant ways for engagement of students in these activities.

The fourth edition of the book, “Humanitarian Logistics, Meeting the challenge of preparing for and responding to disasters and complex emergencies”, edited by Professors Graham Heaslip from ATU and Peter Tatham, Griffith University, Australia was launched by ATU President Dr Orla Flynn at the inaugural Operations and Supply Chain Research (OSCAR) post graduate research training spring symposium, held in ATU Galway city campus recently.

The book is essential reading for anyone who needs to understand how to effectively manage supply networks during a rapidly developing emergency. From the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, to providing relief to victims of natural disasters, to bringing resources to a growing number of migrant crises, there is a vital need to understand how to conduct operations in confused and swiftly changing environments. This text contains chapters from a wide range of academics and practitioners who have worked in these situations and offers cutting edge research into how these complex problems can be solved.

Speaking at the launch, ATU President Dr Orla Flynn praised the editors for their thought-provoking guidance and discussion of the core issues facing practitioners involved in managing the logistics of disaster relief.

Dr Flynn said: “Why a fourth edition of ‘Humanitarian Logistics? The simple answer is that, sadly and perhaps inevitably, since the third edition, humanitarian crises have continued to emerge and challenge the international community in how best to respond. As prime examples, the ongoing Syrian crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and events in Ukraine, cause significant disruptions to humanitarian supply chains, putting those in need in the most vulnerable of positions. The recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria demonstrated the uncertainty surrounding rapid onset events. This leads to the emergence of unexpected demand for products and short lead times for supplies.”

“The new edition contains new chapters on the challenge of obtaining scarce resources in the aftermath of a disaster, sustainability in a Humanitarian Logistics (HL) context, the logistics of the COVID-19 vaccine, the challenges of procurement in HL, a study of the humanitarian service performance system, cash-based HL systems and the interaction of blockchain and HL.”

Lead editor of Humanitarian Logistics, Professor Graham Heaslip

Professor Graham Heaslip

ATU’s First Spring Conferring

Academic staff from our campuses in Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway came together for our first joint ATU Spring Conferring at our Galway City campus on 4 May. 260 students from our campuses graduated.

Our first ATU Spring Conferring was graduate Wiktoria Galezyka, (pictured left) who graduated with a BA in Hotel Restaurant and Resort Management from ATU Killybegs.

Global Network News

ATU Attends International Educators Conference in Washington DC

Patrick Lynch, Director of Global Engagement, ATU Sligo and Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin, Project Manager for Internationalisation and External Engagement, recently represented ATU at the 75th Anniversary NAFSA: Association of International Educators Conference and Expo in Washington DC.

The focus of attending the event was to develop our network of North American partnerships and to establish ATU as a potential university of choice for North American students who may wish to study for their full degree (undergraduate or post-graduate) or for a semester or year abroad as part of their American or Canadian degree programme.

The conference also provided the delegation from ATU with opportunities to develop partnerships with several universities, education providers and intermediaries working in the global education space.

Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnaracháin said:

“Our goal is to position ATU in the global education ecosystem, where studying at ATU is achievable for prospective students from anywhere in the world.”

The programme included a series of workshops, seminars and roundtable discussions as well as one-to-one meetings with prospective partners. It also included a formal event at the residence of the Irish Ambassador to the US, hosted by the Deputy Ambassador Orla Keane, to mark the visit of Mr Niall Collins, Minister of State for Further Education and Skills, and the official launch of SETU by Prof Veronica Campbell.

Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin, Project Manager for Internationalisation and External Engagement, ATU; Prof Veronica Campbell, President of SETU; Niall Collins, Minister of State Further Education and Skills; Orla Keane, Deputy Irish Ambassador and Patrick Lynch, Director of Global Engagement, ATU Sligo.

Pictured left to right:

UIIN Annual Conference

The University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) held its annual conference in Budapest in May, an event dedicated to university-industry innovation, entrepreneurial and engaged universities, and the future of education.

Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin, ATU Project Manager for Internationalisation and External Engagement; Finola Howe, Head of Enterprise and Engagement, ATU Sligo and Eve-Anne McCarron, Head of External Engagement, ATU Donegal represented ATU at the event.

During the conference, the UIIN marked the occasion of new memberships, as well as acknowledging several universities who have committed to enhanced engagement, including ATU.

The conference, with over 500 delegates, 250+ organisations and 100+ speakers provided the ATU team with some excellent insights that will inform the development of ATU’s External Engagement Strategy.

The conference sessions covered a wide range of topics including industry–university education programmes and research, STEM and arts and humanities projects for external engagement, and corporate and SME support and development.

Finola Howe’s poster presentation on The Role of the University in developing Industry Clusters was well received at the conference.

To find out more about the conference please click here.

ATU Staff Engagement with UIIN

The following staff are the points of contact between UIIN and ATU:

Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin, ATU Project Manager for Internationalisation and External Engagement.

Finola Howe, Head of Enterprise and Engagement, ATU Sligo.

Should you wish to find out more about UIIN, or how you can participate in the many fire-side chats, workshops, or training events, please contact either Ciarán or Finola for additional information.

Left to right: Eve-Anne McCarron, Finola Howe and Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin.

CEO Arno Meerman presents Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin with a plaque acknowledging ATU’s membership of UUIN at Accelerator level.

WTUN Staff Exchange Bursaries

The World Technology Universities Network (WTUN) recently announced several staff exchange bursaries.

There were 14 applications for the bursaries from across the entire membership of WTUN which shows the global reach and research expertise of the network. ATU submitted two applications (the maximum allowed) for outgoing exchanges, as well as facilitating one incoming exchange from University of Bradford.

Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin, WTUN Operational Board member said he was delighted to announce the news of the two ATU successful applicants.

Suresh Pillai and Gerard McGranaghan (ATU Sligo) submitted a proposal to visit MJIIT, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to strengthen research collaboration on net-zero carbon and nanotechnology.

George Onofrei (ATU Donegal) submitted a proposal to visit Ahlia University, Bahrain, to promote research activity on sustainable practices in supply chain management.

For more information on the staff exchange bursaries please click here.

Left to right: Dr Chris O’Malley, VP External Engagement at ATU; Dr Michèle Glacken, Registrar & Vice President Students, Teaching & Learning at ATU; Dr Suresh Pillai; Dr Gerard McGranaghan and Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin.

Left to right: Dr Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin, WTUN Operational Board Member, ATU Donegal; Dr George Onofrei, Senior Lecturer in Operations and Supply Chain Management and John Andy Bonar, VP for Research, Equality & External Affairs.

Recent ATU Conferences Operations and Supply ChAin Research (OSCAR) Doctoral Summer School

About OSCAR

ATU Donegal Letterkenny campus hosted the Operations and Supply ChAin Research (OSCAR) Doctoral Summer School on 8-12 May 2023. The event brought together researchers from across ATU and leading professors in Operations and Supply Chain. It provided doctoral candidates with an important steppingstone in their research journey.

“As early career researchers, the opportunity to learn from and engage with the guest professors was fantastic. The depth of knowledge, advice and insights shared by all five was both invaluable and diverse and will help us all on our PhD journey, not only this year but in the years ahead.”

Niamh Harkin, OSCAR Phd Researcher

The five guest professors were Professor Andreas Wieland, Copenhagen Business School;

Professor Samuel Fosso Wamba, Toulouse Business School; Professor Mark Pagell, University College Dublin; Professor Stefan Seuring, Kassel University and Professor Madeleine Pullman, University of Sussex. Topics covered included:

• The importance of theory in research

• Use of information technology in operations and supply chain research

• The importance of good research design and its impact

• Embedding sustainability in research

The student Phd researchers presented their research to Professor Stehan Seuring who provided them with valuable detailed and constructive feedback.

The OSCAR centre was inaugurated in September 2023, coinciding with the launch of the Postgraduate Researcher Training Program in Operations and Supply Chain Management at ATU. The centre offers advanced training and research opportunities aimed at fostering expertise in the dynamic field of operations and supply chain management. Additionally, the centre promotes managerial excellence through close interactions with various industries and agencies. The OSCAR centre is committed to staying at the forefront of research and innovation, providing students and industry professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the ever-changing landscape of operations and supply chain management. OSCAR operates under four thematic pillars: Sustainability, Industry 4.0, global Supply Chains and Service Innovations. To find out more please click here

ATU and MTU Host National Conference Promoting Inclusion in Higher Education

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and Munster Technological University (MTU) partnered to organise the third annual Climbing the UDL Ladder Conference. The event took place on 1 June, at Hume Hall at ATU Sligo. The conference served as a platform to celebrate and promote Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in higher education, showcasing remarkable efforts being made locally, nationally, and worldwide to improve access and foster inclusion for all students.

ATU and MTU have emerged as national leaders in advocating for UDL and have made significant progress in recent years. With the participation of guest speakers from across the country and internationally, this year’s conference focused on three key themes: UDL in leadership, advancing UDL in the classroom, and empowering an inclusive student experience. The chosen themes underscored the critical importance of a comprehensive institutional approach to address accessibility and inclusion.

Dr Niamh Plunkett, Head of Teaching and Learning at ATU Sligo and ATU Lead for the Conference, emphasised the significance of a multifaceted perspective. She said: “Our focus this year was on overcoming obstacles to enhance and sustain UDL

collaboration in tertiary education by embracing diverse viewpoints that are crucial to advancing UDL and creating inclusive learning environments for all.”

Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President recognised the significance of UDL and addressed this in her opening speech at the conference. She said: “I learned about how important it is for us as a senior leadership team to ensure we embed principles of UDL and targets for UDL in our strategic plan and in our compact aspirations.”

In addition to the three main themes, the conference placed special emphasis on the achievements of the PATH 4 Phase 1 Project, sponsored by the Higher Education Authority. This nationwide initiative aims to enhance inclusion and accessibility for all students through the implementation of UDL. ATU and MTU have taken the lead in numerous national projects and have demonstrated remarkable innovation and initiatives within their respective institutions.

Left to right: Louise Feerick, Administrative Support,Teaching & Learning Centre; Niamh Plunkett, Head of Teaching & Learning, ATUSligo; Colin Tierney, UDL Coordinator for PATH4; Patricia Henry, Teaching and Learning Support Officer; Maureen Haran, Lecturer, Universal Design for Learning,UDL; and Jennette Kilroy, Lecturer, Universal Design for Learning,Path 4.

Aileen Kennedy, Assistant Registrar and Head of Student Engagement and Teaching and Learning, and PATH 4 Universal Design Project Lead at MTU, highlighted the importance of collaborative events such as this conference. They facilitate national collaborative tertiary education discussions to create solidarity of voice to advance strategic policy and practice changes that provide equitable education experiences for all.

To find out more about the Climbing the UDL ladder conference, please click here.

ATU DigitalEd23 Conference

The third annual DigitalEd Conference took place on 17 May and was hosted by ATU Galway city. The ATU N-TUTORR Project Team and ATU Teaching and Learning Centre organised the event and over 400 participants engaged with 19 sessions and showcases from all N-TUTORR partners, including the five technological universities - ATU, MTU, SETU, TUS, TU Dublin and two institutes of technology - DKIT and IADT. The sessions focussed on a variety of teaching and learning themes including:

• Digital Transformation in Teaching & Learning

• Students as Partners in Teaching & Learning

• Embracing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Academic Integrity and Artificial Intelligence

ATU President Dr Orla Flynn opened the conference, which was followed by a keynote address from Neil Mosely, an education consultant and learning designer who specialises in digital, online and distance learning.

Neil’s keynote focussed on how higher education might orient itself and navigate these times of digital and teaching transformation, exploring key relationships between digital

technologies and education, as well as anchors of effective teaching practices and what we know about learning.

Professor Gilly Salmon, CEO and Principal Consultant for Education Alchemists Ltd, delivered a keynote which explored digital transformation and the sustainability of learning design. She also spoke on how educators can achieve more and longer with less by deploying learning design thinking, tools, techniques, and developments.

The organising team wish to thank all the presenters from across the technological university and institute of technology sector who shared their teaching and learning experiences at DigitalEd23.

To view the recordings, graphic illustrations and session outputs from the conference please click here. To learn more about N-TUTORR at ATU please click here

The ATU DigitalEd23 Conference organising team included: DigitalEd Conference Chair (Dr Carina Ginty); Jessica Duffy (Conference Coordinator); Dr Kevin Cunningham, Orla Skehill, Dr Sean Daffy, Emma McDonald, Olga Vaughan, Pat Heffernan, Ivan Marcos and Crowd Comms Media Agency (DigitalEd Hybrid management team) and DigitalEd Session Chairs, Dr Trevor Prendergast (TUS), Dr Sharon Flynn (THEA), Dr Ronan Bree (DKIT), Noreen Henry (ATU).

“The Climbing the UDL Ladder Conference was a resounding success, attracting over 150 attendees to Sligo for an enriching and inspiring day of learning and collaboration. ATU and MTU are thrilled to be at the forefront of this dynamic drive for innovation in higher education, supporting and engaging a broader student population.”

Dr Niamh Plunkett, Head of Teaching and Learning at ATU Sligo

Some of our ATU Galway-Mayo colleagues recently hiked the Bangor Trail. The north Mayo trail (39km) starts in Bangor Erris and ends at the Brogan Carroll Bothy at Letterkeen near Newport. It takes approximately 11 hours to complete.

The trail follows an ancient drover path, which is believed to have originated during the Iron Age. As you walk, you’ll come across remnants of past human habitation, including ruins that predate the Great Famine.

Two ATU graduates Georgia McMillian and Ged Dowling guided the hike. To find out more about the hike please click here.

ATU colleagues pictured at the DiggitalED23 conference, left to right: Dr Noelle Higgins, Dr Deirdre McClay, Dr Carina Ginty, Dr Niamh Plunkett and Prof. Jacqueline McCormack.

Photos taken by Gerard Harrison, ATU Galway-Mayo, School of Science.

At Atlantic TU we serve a diverse group of learners, staff, communities and organisations in the west and north-west and further afield. We offer a rich combination of academic and research excellence, quality of life and opportunity - all of which can be experienced in the most beautiful part of Ireland.