gmit today 48pp3columnv2 layout 1 · gmit_today_48pp3columnv2_layout 1 06/11/2012 09:32 ... and...

TODAY 1972 - 2012

Celebrating 40 years of learning and teaching

GMIT_Today_48pp3columnv2_Layout 1 06/11/2012 09:32

2

GMIT

INSIDE

Making the news at GMIT 31

Introduction

Forty years of service to region

When RTC Galway opened its doors on Monday,September 18, 1972 there were 1,213 studentsregistered on a range of courses designed for trade

and industry. As GMIT marks its 40th anniversary thisacademic year, the Institute continues to respond to theneeds of the region despite uncertain times, providing qualitythird level education to almost 8,000 students in a range ofdisciplines across five campuses in Galway and Mayo.

Times were as challenging then as they are now, as GMITPresident Michael Carmody tells journalist Brian McDonaldin a revealing interview on page 3: “We’ve lost 13 per cent ofour staff since 2008 and our budget has also been cut 12 to13 per cent over the same period...whatever we do, it has tobe the best thing for the students and graduates”.

GMIT’s hopes and plans for the future and the manyachievements of students and staff in all of its campuses arelaid out across these pages under themes reflecting the fivepillars of the Institute’s Strategic Development Plan 2010-2015: Learning & Teaching; Community Engagement;Research & Innovation; Student Environment; and Interna-tionalisation & Collaboration.

Former Registrar Bernard O’Hara, who retired in 2010after 39 years of dedicated service, takes us back to GMIT’sbeginnings and outlines the milestones along the way, withsome very special archive photographs provided by theConnacht Tribune.

Volunteering and fund-raising have always been a hugepart of student life in GMIT, with students and staff raisinghundreds of thousands of euro over the years for the GalwayLions Club, Croí, RNLI and many more. Working withcommunity partners and charity organisations is nowembedded in most GMIT programmes, giving students akeen understanding of the society in which they live and theimportance of being a good citizen.

GMIT is very proud of its graduates who have gone on toforge successful careers, among them furniture designer,John Lee, who came to national prominence last Novemberwhen he designed and made the Presidential InaugurationChair for Michael D Higgins' inauguration ceremony, andFilm & TV graduate, Gary Shore, who is making waves in Hollywood as a promising young film director.

GMIT has played an importantrole in the social, cultural andeconomic development of the regionover the past 40 years and there is nodoubt it will continue to be an invalu-able contributor to Irish education inthe years to come.

Regina Daly,Editor

President on tough times 4

LEARNING & TEACHING

Figuring out a bright future 6Those appy students 9Top teachers honoured 11Sweet success for Julia 13The online explosion 17

RESEARCH & INNOVATION

Start-ups get revved up 18Quite a record for IiBC 19Making a difference 21To the waters and the wild 22Medical matters... greatly 23

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Letterfrack at Farmleigh 27It’s child’s play 28Sharing their talent 29

INTERNATIONALISATION & COLLABORATION

And the winner is... 30A worldwide attraction 32Alliances are key 34

STUDENT ENVIRONMENT

€6m sporting boost 35Castlebar goes green 36Games and glory 37-40

40 years of GMIT 41-45Seat of power 46Artistic Alumni 47

Editor: Regina DalyEditorial Consultant: Brian McDonaldDesign & Layout: ProactivePrinter: Brunswick Press Ltd

Contributors:Brian McDonaldRosita BolandRegina Daly and GMIT staff

Photos:Aengus McMahonAndrew DownesJoe ShaughnessyKeith HeneghanKen WrightConnacht Tribune (archives)GMIT staffGeraldine O’Brien

© Copright Galway-Mayo Institute ofTechnology (GMIT) 2012

GMIT Today is published by theGMIT Communications Office.

We welcome your thoughts on thispublication. Please send them to:Regina Daly, Communications Officer,GMIT, Dublin Road, Galway.Tel. 00 353 91 742826Email: [email protected]


3

Message from An Taoiseach,Mr Enda Kenny T.D.

I am delighted to have this opportunity to mark the 40thanniversary of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technologyand would like to offer my sincere congratulations to thestaff, students and all who have been involved in the devel-opment of the Institute through the years.

Since its birth in1972, this Institute has made a majorcontribution to the development of the western region,facilitating access to third-level education for so manyyoung people from Galway, Mayo and beyond. Moreover,it has played a vital role in developing business andindustry in the region.

The past 40 years have seen remarkable changes inhigher education in Ireland. Third-level education has nowbecome the norm for large numbers of young people.More and more mature men and women are returning tolearning, facilitated, strategically, by GMIT.

Those years have seen GMIT numbers grow from 1,000students to 8,000 students, working in five campuses acrossthe region. The Castlebar campus, established in 1994, wastimely and welcome, bringing new life to the town and itsenvirons.

The new Connacht-Ulster Alliance sees LetterkennyInstitute of Technology, the Institute of Technology, Sligoand GMIT, form a new strategic partnership which will beof enormous academic benefit facilitating networksbetween individual institutions through shared, undergrad-uate and postgraduate programmes.

Furthermore, I am aware of a €12.5 million NationalOutdoor Pursuits Academy currently being planned. Ifapproved, this will involve building a cluster of new facili-ties around Lough Lannagh in Castlebar, as a joint-venturebetween GMIT, Mayo County Council and Castlebar TownCouncil.

It is an excellent example of ‘community co-operation’and ‘shared services’ provision, an approach that is needednow more than ever.

The progress GMIT has made in the last 40 years is atribute to the leadership and staff.

I’m confident that GMIT will lead national and regionaldevelopment in the years ahead. I wish the Institute, itsstaff and students every fulfilment and success.

Teachtaireacht ón Taoiseach,an tUasal Enda Kenny T.D.

Is ábhar ríméid dom an deis seo a fháil 40ú comóradh bliana Insti-tiúid Teicneolaíochta na Gaillimhe-Maigh Eo a shonrú agus bamhian liom comhghairdeas croí a dhéanamh leis an bhfoireann,leis na neacha léinn agus le gach duine a raibh baint acu leforbairt na hInstitiúide le linn na mblianta.

Óna tús in 1972, rinne an Institiúid seo cion mór d’fhorbairtréigiún an Iarthair, agus rochtain ar an oideachas tríú leibhéal áéascú aici don oiread sin daoine óga as Gaillimh, Maigh Eo agusníos faide i gcéin. Lena chois sin, d’imir sí ról ríthábhachtach ibhforbairt gnó agus tionscail sa réigiún.

Tharla athruithe suntasacha ar an ardoideachas in Éirinn lelinn na 40 bliain seo caite. Is norm anois é an t-ardoideachas dolíon mór daoine óga. Níos mó agus níos mó tá fir agus mnálánfhásta ag filleadh ar an léann agus é sin á éascú go straitéiseachag GMIT.

I gcaitheamh na mblianta sin d’fhás líon na neach léinn ó1,000 go 8,000 neach léinn i gcúig champas ar fud an réigiúin.Cuireadh fáilte roimh theacht in am tráth do Champas Chaisleánan Bharraigh (1994), rud a chuir beocht sa bhaile agus sacheantar máguaird.

Leis an gComhaontas Chonnacht-Uladh déanfaidh InstitiúidTeicneolaíochta Leitir Ceanainn, Institiúid TeicneolaíochtaShligigh agus GMIT comhpháirtíocht nua straitéiseach a rachaidhchun tairbhe go mór do chúrsaí acadúla, agus gréasán á éascúaige idir na hinstitiúidí ar leith trí chomhchláir fhochéime agusiarchéime.

Chomh maith leis sin, is eol dom Acadamh NáisiúntaGníomhaíochtaí Allamuigh ar chostas €12.5m a bheith áphleanáil faoi láthair. Má fhaomhtar é, is é a bheidh i gceistcnuasach saoráidí nua a tógáil thart timpeall ar Loch Chaisleánan Bharraigh mar chomhfhiontar idir GMIT, Comhairle ContaeMhaigh Eo agus Comhairle Baile Chaisleán an Bharraigh.

Eiseamláir iontach é sin den soláthar don ‘chomhoibriúpobail’ agus do na ‘seirbhísí i gcomhar’, ar cur chuige é a bhfuilgá níos mó ná riamh leis.

Is a bhuí don cheannaireacht agus don fhoireann a rinneGMIT an dul chun cinn sin sna 40 bliain seo caite.

Táim cinnte go mbeidh GMIT ar thús cadhnaíochta i gcúrsaíforbartha go náisiúnta agus go réigiúnach sna blianta atáromhainn. Guím sonas agus rath thar na bearta ar an Institiúidagus ar a cuid foirne agus neach léinn.

Oifig an TaoisighOffice of the Taoiseach


4

GMIT

Michael Carmody is toopolite to directly quoteUS political consultant

James Carville, the man creditedwith devising the strategy that sawBill Clinton win the 1992 USPresidential election. But he mightwell have done when asked aboutthe biggest challenge facing GMITright now.

Carville’s response to the Clintoncampaign team 20 years ago was “TheEconomy Stupid” and TES has sincetaken its place in the lexicon of no-nonsense insights into difficult times.

It’s inescapable, the GMIT Presidentsimply notes, as he reflects on thereality of running the biggest Instituteof Technology on the western seaboard.“We’ve lost 13 per cent of our staffsince 2008 and our budget has alsobeen cut 12-13pc over the sameperiod”.

Throw in the series of wage-cutsapplied across the public sector, topoff with the requirement for two hoursextra teaching per week as requiredunder the Croke Park Agreement andyou begin to get an idea of the scale ofthe task that greeted the Salthill nativewhen he succeeded Marion Coy inApril of last year.

Right now he’s trying to juggle anannual budget of 50 million euro,provide leadership and vision to 620staff and see to it that 8,000 studentsacross five campuses get the third-leveleducation to which they are entitled.But it’s a challenge he relishes and thereason he called time on his ten-yeartenure as President of IT Tralee.Arriving at GMIT was also, of course, ahomecoming as he grew up onDalysfort Road, attended ScoilIognaid NS and later Colaiste Iognaid,before qualifying as a civil engineer atUCG and afterwards gaining anMEngSc.

He worked with the Office ofPublic Works and subsequently withthe ESB on the design and projectmanagement of the Moneypointpower station construction project inCo Clare before entering the world ofacademia in 1987. Three years aslecturer at IT Tralee were followed byhis appointment as Head of theDepartment of Civil Engineering and

in 1993 he became the first Registrarof the Institute. His decade-long termas President of ITT began in 2001.

“GMIT is a bigger operation, It’stwice the size of Tralee and it’s spreadover five campuses, so it’s a differentdynamic. It tends to run itself like abig liner and moves steadily along in acertain direction.

“The five campuses are quitedifferent. The two campuses based inGalway have a natural advantage inbeing located in a city which is a verypopular destination for students but thatcan perhaps lead to a degree of compla-cency. Castlebar, on the other hand, hasabout 800 full-time students and it tendsto be more adaptable and open tochange and try new things, becausethey’re in a smaller environment.

TESting times arebeing met head-on

GMIT chief chartsan ambitious future

‘The challengehere... is we are becoming

fee collectors’“There is also a much biggermature student population inCastlebar and a lot of module-sharingand cross-disciplinary activity. TheLetterfrack and Mountbellewcampuses on the other hand offerspecialist programmes and have aclose-knit student and academiccommunity as a result.

“I had known a lot of the staff overthe years in GMIT and was familiarwith it (GMIT). I found the staff reallypositive when I came here. I wentaround to the five campuses and hada number of meetings with the staffand I must say I found them verysupportive—a very committed group”.

BY BRIAN McDONALD


5

GMIT Today

GMIT is certainly going to needthat continuing commitment as thereis more pain on the way. MichaelCarmody is under no illusions aboutwhat lies ahead.

“There are more cuts comingdown the line in 2013 and 2014 andthere are so many things that we haveto do. The academic staff are doingan extra two hours lecturing underCroke Park and, while that’s a produc-tivity gain, they have less time todevote to other things we’d like themto be involved in.

“We want to expand our interna-tional activities, we need to get moreinvolved in research and innovationwith industry and we’re trying todevelop new types of programmes ofwork for workforce upskilling. All ofthese challenges have to be met andwe’re doing them with less staff andmore financial constraints, so it’s verydifficult.”

It’s very difficult for students too, hereadily acknowledges. The increase instudent fees (described as contributions)in last December’s budget, has posedgrave problems for the undergraduatesand their families themselves—and forGMIT. The student contribution nowstands at €2,250 and the impact isbeing sorely felt. All third-level institu-tions have attempted to point out thatthis is not extra funding. There hassimply been a shift in State funding—instead of the State writing thecheque, the students have to write it.

“The challenge here, and we’reonly beginning to appreciate it, is thatwe are now becoming fee collectors.When the amount was small, it wasn’tan issue because people just paid it,but we are now seeing defaults on it.The difficulty, of course, is trying toget the fee in while also trying to keepthe students on the programme whichis of course the primary objective.Effectively, it has become a huge issuefor us. We’ve become collectionagents, which is putting hugeresources—which we haven’t got—into trying to collect the money”.

Yet another major task facingGMIT over the next decade is theinevitable drive towards TechnologicalUniversity status. The Governing Body

of GMIT has made it clear that it is theambition to achieve TU designation,but this will require a merger with atleast one other similar institute inorder to meet the first of a series ofdemanding criteria put in place by theHigher Education Authority.

“At this stage we would see Sligoand Letterkenny as the obvious part-ners. But it is very early days yet andthe first thing we are doing is carryingout a feasibility plan to see what isinvolved for us in becoming a TU andhow long that could take.

‘Ultimately, whatever we do, it has tobe the best thing for the students andgraduates—that’s the bottom line.’

“It will be at least five years. Wecouldn’t see it happening in less thanfive. Other criteria involve the studentprofile, the number of postgraduatestudents, the amount of research, thestaff profile, engagement withindustry—those sorts of things. Ulti-mately, whatever we do, it has to bethe best thing for the students andgraduates—that’s the bottom line”.

Despite the ever-present andlooming challenges, the GMIT Presi-dent doesn’t hide his pride in theachievements of the Institute, not leastin fulfilling its remit as a public sectorprovider of education excellence.

And he doesn’t need to bereminded of the continuing barrageof criticism by media commentatorsthat public sector seats of learningprovide poor value for money. It’ssomething he meets head-on andrejects out of hand.

“A private institution can decide, asthey do, to provide business-typeprogrammes which may be very cheapto deliver and very profitable, but wehave to deliver the full spectrum ofprogrammes at all levels to service theneeds of the region - engineering,

science, computing, hospitality,tourism, creative arts, furnituredesign, etc and they can be expensiveto deliver. You won’t find many privatesector companies delivering thesetypes of programme.

“…and yes, I would think institu-tions such as ours are delivering valuefor money. The staff are verycommitted; if you read the reviews ofGMIT —and they’re carried out byexternal experts as peer reviews of thecollege —they are hugely positive ofthe staff and the interaction of ourstaff with students. Really, that’s whatit’s all about”.


6

GMIT Learning & Teaching

Just the business foraccountancy studentsGMIT Business School

celebrated a milestoneduring the past academic

year when Accountancy studentscompleted the ACCA ProfessionalLevel Programme delivered inGMIT for the first time.

The students progressed directlyonto the one-year ACCA programmefollowing completion of a three-yearBachelor of Business (Hons) inAccounting degree in GMIT BusinessSchool.

Dr Larry Elwood, Head of Interna-tional Affairs and Marketing, says theInstitute now offers GMIT students theopportunity to study accounting at alllevels - undergraduate, postgraduateand professional level.

“Students who start studyingaccounting at GMIT have the option togo on to complete their final profes-sional examinations here.”

“There has been a definite upturn inthe number of accounting graduates

gaining full-timetrainee positionsthis year and weare delighted tohave a number oflocal and nationalaccounting firmsrecruit our gradu-ates”. One of the ACCAstudents, Tara

Lavin from Claregalway, Co Galway, wassuccessful in securing a position in oneof the big three accounting companiesin Ireland while pursuing her finals inGMIT. She commenced her trainingcontract in Deloitte after graduationand unlike many of the trainees shewill be working with, she has all herexams completed and looks forward togaining professional accounting expe-rience.

“Having completed my undergrad-uate studies in GMIT helped make mytransition to professional level in the

college easier. Thefamiliar learningenvironmenthelped me take onthe challenge ofprofessional examsand I found thesupport andencouragement oflecturers in GMITvery helpful.”

Another student, RosemaryAtuowku from Oranmore, who alsopassed her ACCA finals, is working infund administration with Credit Suissein Galway. “I found the ACCA Profes-sional programme excellent, thelecturers and tutors were experiencedsubject experts and always approach-able. I can now look forward tobuilding on my ACCA success andbecoming an investment manager inthe hedge fund industry.”

Tara Lavin Rosemary Atuokwu

Jobs future is bright, say expertsThere are good job opportunities forbusiness and accounting students inthe SME sector, according to profes-sional accountancy bodies attending aforum hosted by the GMIT CastlebarBusiness Department for accountingand business students.

Organisations in attendanceincluded the Institute of CharteredAccountants in Ireland (ICAI), Char-tered Institute of ManagementAccountants (CIMA) and the Instituteof Certified Public Accountants (CPA)as well as local career guidanceteachers and secondary schoolstudents.

GMIT Castlebar Accountancylecturer Caroline Clarke says a profes-sional qualification in accountancyallows students to use their qualifica-tion both in Ireland and abroad.

“GMIT offers excellent opportuni-ties to accountancy students.Exemptions are agreed with the ICAI,CPA and ACCA. For example,students obtaining the Bachelor ofArts in Accounting and FinancialManagement (Level 7) and the Bach-elor of Business Honours in

Accounting (Level 8) can qualify forexemptions from the professionalbodies”.

A number of post graduate opportu-nities are also available, in particular

the Postgraduate Diploma in Account-ancy, ACCA Professional Level 9 andMaster of Business in Strategy andInnovation in the Galway city (DublinRoad) campus.

L to R: Ciara Murphy, CPA, Michael Shovelin lecturer, Carmel Brennan, Head of AccountancyDept., GMIT Galway, Don Doyle, Mountbellew, Caroline Gordon, Gordon Accountants,Swinford, Caroline Clarke, Programme Chair, Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and FinancialManagement, GMIT Castlebar, Michele Kavanagh, CIMA (speaker), and Michael Gill, Headof the Department of Business, Humanities and Technology, GMIT Castlebar.


7

GMIT Today

Fourth year student Anita Koitka, studying the B.Sc. (Hons) in Construction Economicsand Quantity Surveying in GMIT, who won Best Poster Award.

Second year student Urzula Jedrol, studying the B.Sc. in Architectural Technology inGMIT, who won Best Project Award.

Architects of their own future

GMIT and NUIG presidents welcomeda group of US Fulbright Awardees toGalway recently to mark thecommencement of Inter-changes: anOrientation Programme for 2011 –2012. Two Fulbright scholars arebased in Galway, Professor GurramGopal in GMIT and Dr Kathryn Laityin NUI Galway.

Professor Gopal has been teachingmodules in Marketing and Entrepre-neurship and is collaborating with the

Fulbrightscholar at GMIT

School of Business on a number ofresearch projects. He is alsoexchanging information on teaching

methodologies, peer-based learningand alumni relations, and has beenproviding career guidance to students.

Pictured with Prof Gurram Gopal (centre), L to R: GMIT President Michael Carmody,Outgoing Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Hildegarde Naughton, Colleen Dube, FulbrightCommission, and Dr Larry Elwood, Head of International Affairs and Marketing.

An extensive exhibition of projects byArchitectural Technology studentsopened to the public in GMIT duringthe summer and at the Open HouseFestival in the city during October. Itshowcased the work of students ineach year of the four year B.Sc.(Hons) in Architectural Technologyprogramme, accredited by the RoyalInstitute of the Architects of Ireland(RIAI).

“Our students are steeped in theuse of new technologies required toprovide performance and efficiencieswithin the field of building anddesign,” says Mary Rogers, Head of theDepartment of Building and CivilEngineering. “Across the broad rangeof disciplines within the department -Architectural Technology, Civil Engi-neering, Construction Managementand Quantity Surveying, we aim to useBuilding Information Modelling as atool for inter-disciplinary projects.”

“GMIT has committed significantfunding to the training and equip-ment required by students in theirlearning. The potential of both thestudents and the technology to meetthe needs of industry into the future isevident at this exhibition.”

Lecturer Denise Dillon,Programme Co-ordinator, says: “Theproject briefs provide for studentlearning, relevant to the currentconstruction climate. The fourth yearstudent projects are two live retro-fitand extension projects, one in Galwayand one in Clare”.


8


GMIT was delighted to be invited toshowcase students’ work at the 2012Volvo Ocean Race Global Village from30 June to 8 July.

A multi-disciplinary working groupof staff from all campuses curated aselection of the best examples ofstudent work from areas such as Art &Design, Furniture Design & Tech-nology, Film & TV, Engineering,Hotel, Computing, Science, Maths,Business, Nursing & Health Sciencesand Outdoor Education.

“The working group’s vision was tocreate a dynamic platform in the heart

Lecturer Marion McEnroy with President Michael D Higgins and Mrs Sabina Higginsviewing GMIT students’ work in the GMIT Pavilion during the Volvo Ocean Race.

Sinéad Kelly, Innovation Award winner 2012, and student on the B.A. in OutdoorEducation programme.

Sinéad proves herselfa classic innovator

GMIT Castlebar student Sinéad Kellywon €1,000 and business supports inthe 2012 GMIT Castlebar InnovationAwards for her start-up businessconcept, an innovative therapeuticrecreational service for teenagers.

The Dublin student was one ofeight finalists in the ‘Dragons Den’style competition which gives studentsat the Castlebar campus a uniqueopportunity to test their creative busi-ness ideas and win prize money andbusiness mentoring support. Sinéad is

studying on the B.A. in OutdoorEducation programme which attractsstudents from all over Ireland.

Over fifty students entered thecompetition this year, says MariaStaunton, Manager of the Innovation inBusiness Centre (IiBC) at the GMITCastlebar campus. “These annual inno-vation awards give students the chanceto explore ideas and see if they arecommercially viable. A panel ofexternal judges decide which idea andpresentation has the greatest potential.”

Big demandfor maths,computinggraduatesJob prospects continue to be excellentfor students of Science, Technology,Engineering and Maths (STEM) relatedprogrammes despite the economicrecession, with local and national soft-ware and IT companies continuallyseeking maths, physics & instrumenta-tion and computing graduates.

Dr Sean Duignan, Dept of Maths &Computing, GMIT, says there is stillvery strong demand for computinggraduates: “The demand for honoursgraduates of the B.Sc (hons) in SoftwareDevelopment—a four-year programmeoffered by the Department of Maths &Computing (School of Science)—isparticularly strong with close to a 100%success rate for those graduates seekingindustry employment.

“We have had a number of gradu-ates receiving multiple job offers, and,in most cases employment has beensecured by these students in advanceof completing their final exams”.

“As with previous years the demandfor graduates is well spread across thespectrum; from small indigenous soft-ware companies, to the largemultinational software / IT houses”.

of the Global Village while the eyes ofthe world were focused on Galway,”explains Marion McEnroy, lecturer atthe GMIT Centre for Creative Arts &Media and Chair of the Working

Group. “Visitor numbers were unprece-dented and we were proud to providean opportunity for our students toshowcase the standards of excellenceacross so many disciplines.”

Worldwideaudienceview students’work


9

GMIT Today

Pictured at home with Ben (left) and Joe Styles are Sharon Boyle, lecturer, Jenny ParkesGMIT student, and Noreen Henry, lecturer.

Helping hand for brothers

A technology student and lecturers inCastlebar have shown how communi-cations technology can enrich the livesof people with severe physical disabili-ties.

Student Jenny Parkes and lecturersNoreen Henry and Sharon Boyle tookon a project to help twin brothers, Joeand Ben Styles who have musculardystrophy, communicate more easilywith family and friends. Theyequipped their computers with highquality mouse-operated cameras andvoice recognition software, enabling

them to get on Facebook and Skypefamily and friends around the world.

Noreen Henry, Project Co-ordinator,says educational projects such as thereare very important. "The traditionalacademic disciplines of social care andtechnology have been very distinctand are now converged into a newprogramme.

A new B.Sc. (Hons) in DigitalMedia & Society (GA884) will beoffered in the Castlebar campus,through the CAO, commencingduring the academic year 2013/14."

This new aid is a gift

Students Christopher Duane and Mark McClean with Ray Weldon, lecturer, Des O’Reilly,Head of Dept, and Basil Larkin, Flaherty Markets, Galway.

Second year B. Eng Electrical Servicesand Automation students are bene-fiting from the Allen-Bradleyprogrammable controller and simu-lator gifted to the college by UScompany Rockwell Automation thisyear through Galway agent FlahertyMarkets. The majority of students onthis programme are experienced, fully

qualified electricians who wereeligible to enter year two of the three-year degree due to their priorlearning and experience.

Lecturer Barry Finnegan says: “All18 students who started in 2011 arestill on-board and in full attendance.Many had never been in full-timethird level education before”.

Apps aremaking quitean impression

GMIT students on the B.Sc. in SoftwareDevelopment programme.

Software Development students arefast gaining recognition for apps theyare developing for the WindowsPhone market – Labyrinth Madness,Space Shooter, Translate the World,Funix and Xylofun, to name just a few.

The students have been developingapps and getting them certified andonto the Windows Phone market on aregular basis in recent months in areassuch as games, education, informationand novelty.

Damien Costello, lecturer in theDept of Maths & Computing, says theincreasing use of mobile telephonyand smart phones has promptedsignificant changes in GMITcomputing programmes to adapt tochanging demands on graduates. “Wehave been using apps as a teaching &learning tool and our final yearstudents are developing these apps forMicrosoft Windows Phone as part oftheir course work”.

“Our students are developing aportfolio of work that they can easilydemonstrate at an interview, forinstance. It’s great for them and it’s anexciting time also for softwaredevelopment”.


10

GMIT

Four GMIT students, representingFáilte Ireland’s Trainee ManagementDevelopment Programme (TMDP),took the top prize in the 2011 IrishHospitality Institute (IHI) NationalBusiness Management Game. TheGMIT team, who work in the hospital-ity industry and attended GMIT’s Col-lege of Tourism & Arts for a block studyperiod each academic year, scored topmarks in the competition that attracted11 teams from all over Ireland.

The winning team, under the tutor-age of GMIT College of Tourism & Artslecturer George Finnegan, includedCaptain Matti Reuter of the Sligo Clar-ion Hotel, Sebastian Block, KnockHouse Hotel, Co Mayo, Eoin Jacob,Lyrath County House Hotel and Estate

in Kilkenny, and Patrick Hogan, Her-itage Hotel in Portlaoise. They com-peted against Institutes of TechnologyCork, Athlone, Dundalk, Dublin, Let-terkenny, Waterford, and the ShannonCollege of Hotel Management.

The participants spent two daysdevising a strategy, planning andmanaging a fictitious hospitality busi-ness in a simulated Irish businessenvironment that reflects currenteconomic and social constraints. Theoverall prize was a three day tutoredtrip for the team and its tutor to Cham-pagne Taittinger’s historic Château dela Marquetterie and Vineyards inReims, North East France, courtesy ofinternational wine importers Febvreand Company.

Katherine Long, student of the Bach-elor of Business in Event Managementwith PR programme, won the “GalwayYoung Volunteer of the year” award forher work promoting and running theGMIT Best Buddies (BB) charity, avoluntary college and civic servicewhich helps people with intellectualdisabilities.

Student volunteers keep in contactwith their buddies once or twice a weekand meet up every two weeks to take

part in an activity. Katherine (right), aGMIT Academic scholarship recipient(2010), is President, chief organiserand administrator of the club in GMIT.

Tomás Mangan, lecturer in EventManagement & PR, College of Tourism& Arts, says: “Katherine and her teamorganised the inter-college soccer tour-nament as part of an elected modulewhich greatly helped promote the BBprogramme.”

Hotel students come upwith winning strategy

Mayoral accolade for Katherine

Learning & Teaching

Front row, L to R: Sebastian Block, Knock House Hotel, Fergal O’ Connell, FIHI President,Matti Reuter (Capt), Sligo Clarion Hotel, George Finnegan, GMIT lecturer. Back row, L to R:Sean O’Malley, Fáilte Ireland, Eoin Jacob, Lyrath County House Hotel & Estate, Kilkenny,Patrick Hogan, Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise, and Monica Murphy, Febvre & Co.

Cathal’siSpeak

a winnerGMIT won first prize in the individualcategory of Galway’s first app competi-tion, CodeNinja, designed by localbusinesses and academics to train andencourage students to be creative inthe cultivation of their own tech-nology-based ideas.

GMIT’s Cathal Mac Donnacha(pictured above), a student on theB.Sc. (Hons) in Software Develop-ment programme, won an iPad for hisapp ‘iSpeak' which allows people withdiffering native languages to commu-nicate with each other through aWindows Phone 7 Mobile application.One person speaks in their phrase, itis converted to text and sent to a trans-lation service, and the result is spokento the second person in their nativelanguage.

Cathal was bestowed with an“Honourable Mention” at the 2012Worldwide Community App Awardsfor Windows Phone 7 hosted byWP7applist.com. The Windows Phonecommunity voted for the onehundred plus apps that were nomi-nated. His iSpeak app also featuredworldwide as “App of the Month” byMicrosoft in May 2012.


GMIT Letterfrack lecturerAnthony Clare is described bycolleagues as “a dedicated,

committed lecturer who has enthusedand nurtured students of furnituredesign and making in GMITLetterfrack for over 20 years”.

Anthony Clare has been lecturingin the discipline of furniture designand manufacture at the Connemaracampus since 1991. He served as amember of the GMIT AcademicCouncil for several years up until 2006and is Programme Chair of theBachelor of Science (B.Sc.) inFurniture Design & Manufactureprogramme since it was first set up asa National Certificate course in thecampus in the early 90s.

He has prepared students forvarious prestigious national andinternational competitions with manywinning top awards in the NationalSkills Competition in Cabinetmaking,and the House & Homes/CraftsCouncil of Ireland Student DesignAwards. He has also led numerous‘live’ student design and makeprojects, with Áras an Uachtaráin (todesign and make three lecterns for use

11

GMIT Today

Barry McMillan, a lecturer inEthics & Religious Studies,joined the teaching staff of

GMIT in September 2008 and currentlylectures in the Schools of Humanities,Business, and College of Tourism andArts. His academic specialities areEthics, Religious Studies, English,Communications and ResearchSupervision. He is a widely-publishedwriter, an acclaimed conferencespeaker, and an experiencedbroadcaster.

Mr McMillan has worked, nationallyand internationally, in the fields ofeducation and community develop-ment since the 1990s. He believes thatevery student can flourish if appropri-ately challenged and supported. Hiscommitment to this ideal is reflected inthe personal testimonials of some ofhis students:

“He was never less than passionate,inspiring, supportive and encouraging”– Ms Trish Thompson.

“His open and honest approach

brought all subjects to life and stimu-lated and fuelled broader independentlearning and research” – Ms AoifeRalph.

“He is so supportive of students,believing in them even at times whenthey didn’t believe in themselves” – Ms

Anthony Clare receiving the award from former GMIT President Marion Coy.

2010 - Anthony Clare’s dedication and enthusiasm

has been instrumental in theprogression, development andexpansion of the campus over thoseyears”, says Dermot O’Donovan, Headof GMIT Letterfrack.

Letterfrack graduate Davin Larkindescribes Anthony Clare as “having apassion for what he teaches and itshows in his enthusiastic approach toevery project and lecture he leads withhis students”.

2011 - Barry McMillan honoured for his vast contribution

Edel Mulvihill.Mary MacCague, former Head of

the GMIT School of Humanities, said:“Barry is a consummate professional,who has the ability to bring out thebest in all his students, regardless oftheir level.”

by the President of Ireland), theNational Museum of Ireland – CountryLife in Castlebar (to design and makeinnovative gallery seating), andKylemore Abbey (a children’s playtrail). Projects such as these providevery rich educational experiences forboth the students and staff at theLetterfrack campus.

“Anthony was one of the firstemployees of GMIT Letterfrack and

Barry McMillan (left) receiving the award from GMIT President Michael Carmody.

President’s Award for Teaching Excellence


12


Anthony,Diarmaidtops forskills

L to R: Laize Wang, Helen Roberts and Yuxian Chen, Michael Meagher, MicrosoftAcademic Engagements Manager, Daniel O’Meara, Cathal Tummon, and David O’Connor.

Microsoft awards heading west

It’s Castlebar’s title

Maths & Computing students scoopedthree awards in the 2011 XNA IrelandChallenge, a Microsoft sponsoredgames programming competition.

The GMIT students won “Best Xbox360 Game”, “Best in Original AudioMusic” and “Best Multiplayer Game” inthe competition judged by industryexperts.

Third and fourth year students onthe B.Sc. (Hons) in Software Develop-ment programme honoured a classic

from the Golden Age of Video ArcadeGames, “Frogger© Konami DigitalEntertainment”; Frogger was releasedby Konami in 1981 and is still recog-nised as one of the iconic games fromthe past three decades. It has featuredon TV programmes, cartoons, carbumper-stickers, T-shirts and cele-brated its 25th anniversary with therelease of a special edition on gamesconsoles such as Xbox 360.

GMIT’s Kayak and Canoe Club wonthe national canoe polo title in thisyear’s Kayaking Intervarsities whichwas hosted for the first time by GMITCastlebar. Over 18 colleges partici-pated in the national event.

The winning GMIT team wereKeith Byrne, Feidhlim Dignan, EricConway, Shona O'Dowd, MarkBrogan, Ken Hynes, Carol Dunphy,

Kevin Pierce and Gavin Porter. Nigel Jennings, GMIT Castlebar

Sports Officer, praised the team fortheir intense preparations during thewinter and paid tribute to the studentsfor organising and hosting this hugelysuccessful competition which broughtover 500 visitors to Castlebar and sur-rounding villages for the four day event.

Participants in the Kayaking Intervarsities, which was hosted by GMIT Castlebar.

A student in GMIT Letterfrack hasscooped the coveted top award in thisyear’s National Skills Competition inCabinet Making, making it the fourthyear in a row that Letterfrack has wonthis award. Winner Anthony O’Neill(above) from Tullow, Co. Carlow, is afourth year student on the Bachelor ofScience (Honours) in FurnitureDesign and Manufacture degreeprogramme. Five of the six finalistswere GMIT Letterfrack students.

And Diarmaid Ó Conghaile (above)won the 2011 National Skills Competi-tion. GMIT Letterfrack has also wonthe accolade in 2010, 2009 and 2007.

National Skills Co-ordinator,Anthony Clare stressed that the stan-dard was very high and thecompetition as keen as ever.

“This achievement by Diarmaidand Anthony demonstrates clearly theexceptional skill level attained bystudents undertaking GMIT Letter-frack courses, given the other finalistswere apprentices working in industry”.


13

GMIT Today

Three culinary arts studentswon Gold, Silver and Bronzemedals, respectively, at the

2012 IFEX ChefSkills nationalcompetition. BA Culinary Arts studentJulia Babikova won a gold medal forher “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”novelty cake. Judges were veryimpressed by the level of skill used tomake the features so perfectly.

Brian Dermody, a second yearstudent on the Higher Certificate inCulinary Arts programme, won a silvermedal in the Ethnic InternationalCompetition. He had 45 minutes toprepare a two-course Italian meal. AndMihai Schirliu, a first year student onthe Higher Certificate in Culinary Artsprogramame, and a trainee chefworking in the Twelve’s WestRestaurant, Galway, won a bronzemedal for his fish dish, preparing andcooking the meal in 35 minutes.

Renowned for its high level of skill,the ChefSkills competitions has a longhistory of honouring some of Ireland’s

Julia wins goldand it’s all thanks to Snow White

John Tunney performing one of hisnew compositions.

most celebrated chefs in the earlystages of their careers.

Maria Conboy, Culinary Artslecturer, GMIT College of Tourism &Arts, says: “With 220 young chefs

taking part in 25 competitions in theIFEX ChefSkills 2012, the three GMITstudents did exceptionally well to winawards in their categories.”

Traditional form,contemporary contextHeritage Studies lecturer andacclaimed Irish traditional performerJohn Tunney was selected as one ofeight singers tasked with writing asuite of new songs in the unaccompa-nied style of the Irish tradition as partof a national project ‘As I roved Out’.

As his theme, he chose the contem-porary story of a Bosnian refugee whoescapes the Balkan war and comes tolive in the West of Ireland, butcomposes it in the traditional style.

As part of his practice-basedresearch, he shared with his studentsthe process by which his song cameinto being. "I wanted to take thetypical emigration song of the Irishtradition and turn it on its head. So, inthis case, Ireland is not the countrybeing ‘escaped from’, but the countrythat is ‘being fled to’. Having placedthe infamous Srebrenica Massacre atthe centre of the narrative, the deci-

sion to make the subject of the song aMuslim was simply a logical one. Thestory is a thoroughly contemporaryone, right down to the hero nowbeing employed by an Irish-basedmulti-national.”

“For me lecturing on Irish musichere in GMIT is probably the most funanyone could have at work. When yousee yourself as a performing artist,participating in something like thisproject is simply another dimension ofpractice-based research. It feedsdirectly into my teaching. Forexample, I shared with students theprocess by which this particular newsong came into being, the nuts andbolts of how someone working withinthe tradition creates something that isat the same time both contemporaryand traditional.”

‘I roved out’ is supported by theArts Council of Ireland, the National

Library of Ireland, the Irish Tradi-tional Music Archive and TheBealtaine Festival. Singers involved inthe project include: Jerry O'Reilly,John Tunney, Brigid Tunney, ClíonaNi Suilleabhán, Brendan Kennedy,Larry Joy, Roisín Gaffney and DickHogan.

Julia Babikova (main) pictured with her“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” novelty cake.Inset, L to R: Brian Dermody (Bronze), JuliaBabikova (Gold), and Mihai Schirliu (Silver) withGMIT Culinary Arts lecturer Maria Conboy.


14


Artists ofthe futureset thestandardHundreds of people attended theannual GMIT Graduate Art Show inthe GMIT Centre for Creative Arts &Media in Cluain Mhuire in June to seethe work of 78 art & design students inTextiles, Painting, Print, Sculpture,Ceramics, Video/Sound work,Photography, Drawing, Performanceand Installation.

Themes ranged from personalmemories and reflections, the envi-ronment and social issues toconceptual ideas around art practices.

The show had both a contempo-rary and traditional feel. Paintings andprints were seen alongside works innew media and technologies. Thescale and presence of some largersculptural works sat comfortably withthe delicacy of small-scale drawingsand constructions in textiles.

Works ranged from a suspendedtraditional wooden currach (centre,left) to cloned terracotta dolls; fromvideo installations in speciallyconstructed dark rooms to live artperformances. The standard was againvery high.

‘Works rangedfrom a suspended

traditionalwooden currach...

to live artperformances.’


15

GMIT Today

Donall’sproject is tops

and John Hanahoe, lecturers in con-struction and environmental studies.

“The Dept of Building & CivilEngineering is delighted with Donall’sachievement. It demonstrates thepotential of collaborative researchbetween industry and the third-level

sector to have a positive impact on thebuilt environment, specifically focusingon resource efficiency at a time wheninnovative approaches to sustainabilitywill play a key role in competitivenessof the Irish construction sector”, saysDr Kelly.

Students on the B.Sc. programmein Software Development havecreated an innovative app that

provides automatic assistance in theevent of an accident.

It works with the driver starting theapp at the beginning of the journey. Ifan accident occurs, a loud alarmsounds on the phone and a count-down timer begins. If the driver isconscious and doesn't need help theyjust press the stop button. Should thedriver be unconscious and the timerreaches zero, then the app automati-cally requests for help from emergencyservices via SMS. The message containsthe user’s details and GPS location.The incase-of-emergency contact willalso receive a message. The app alsostores personal medical details whichwill be of use to the first responders.Some of these details can be sent withthe SMS emergency message.

The emergency services have beenvery impressed with the provision ofGPS location data to them in the eventof an incident as this can save time forthe first responders.

The three app developers, JeremyFreeley from Claremorris, Co. Mayo,Alan O’Connor from Moyross,Limerick and Gerard Nee fromWilliamstown, Co. Galway are veryexcited about the interest the app is

generating although it is not on themarket yet.

Having consulted with the RoadSafety Authority (RSA) and the TrafficCorps in the early design and develop-ment stages, the students have beenencouraged greatly by the responsethey received and are working to getthe app to market by Christmas.

Initially, the app will be available tothe Microsoft Windows Phone market,with Android and iPhone to follow.The students recently showcased theirwork at the Volvo Ocean Race GlobalVillage in Galway where they met and

got positive feedback from members ofthe public.

President of Ireland, Mr Michael DHiggins, was very impressed with theirinnovation and enthusiasm when hestopped by the stand in the GMITPavilion.

Jeremy Freeley says: “The SoftwareDevelopment programme has given usthe skills and know-how to developapps. Also, the encouragement andsupport from all of the staff in theDepartment of Mathematics &Computing, especially our lecturer,Damien Costello, has been crucial”.

Emergency Services impressedby clever new car safety app

PhD research student Donall Dowd (centre) receiving his award from CIWM members.

PhD research student Donall Dowdhelped construction firm John Sisk &Son win “Sustainable construction anddemolition project of the year award” at theannual Chartered Institution of WastesManagement (CIWM) Awards for Envi-ronmental Excellence.

Donall worked on the Mater AdultHospital (Dublin) development as partof his research into elimination ofconstruction waste at the design stageof construction projects which helpsarchitects and engineers prevent wastebecoming an issue on site.

He is a member of the GMIT con-struction and demolition wasteresearch group led by Dr Mark Kelly

Students Alan O’Connor (left) and Gerard Nee (right) with their lecturer Damien Costello.


16

GMIT Learning & Teaching - Upskilling

Castlebar course proves amajor plus for employeesGMIT Castlebar continues to developstrong links with Cisco and the privatesector as part of its Cisco Academyprogramme with students continuingto study the Cisco CCNA qualificationin GMIT Castlebar. GMIT Castlebarhas been offering the part-timeprogramme to full-time students ofGMIT since 2005.

The one-year programme, aimed atthe private sector, is for individualscurrently working in the areas of elec-tronics, computers ortelecommunications who wish toacquire an industry recognised qualifi-cation. A basic appreciation ofcomputers and broadband internetaccess is a prerequisite.

The programme provides studentswith the training necessary, in boththeory and hands-on practical work, toachieve the qualification of CiscoCertified Network Associate.

Mark Frain, lecturer, Dept of Busi-ness, Humanities and Technology,GMIT Castlebar, says there is a bigdemand for this course from peoplecurrently working in the IT area. “TheCisco programme is an upskilling exer-cise and directly relevant to the workthe participants are currently doing.Some participants are sometimesbetween jobs, or looking, and thiscourse certainly increases theiremployment prospects”.

David McDonnell, who is currently

working in the networking area withWestnet in Ballina, says: “I have beenworking in the network industry for afew years and wanted to get a full andproper understanding of thenetworking protocols and concepts.The CCNA course delivered all theknowledge I needed and more tocontinue comfortably on mynetworking career path”.

GMIT Castlebar is currentlyaccepting applications for this coursefor the next academic year. ContactMark Frain, tel. 094-9043116 email:[email protected] for further infor-mation.

GMIT tutors and students of the Cisco CCNA course which was delivered in GMIT Castlebar during the last academic year.L to R: Seamus Dowling, lecturer, GMIT, Patrick McDonald from Louisburgh (Western Care Association), Eadaoin Earley fromClaremorris, David Grehan from Claremorris (Schneider Electric Galway), Mark Frain, lecturer, GMIT, David Donnelly from Sligo(CBE Claremorris), John McDonald from Westport (Ergo IT Services) and David McDonnell from Sligo (CBE Claremorris).

GMIT has been awarded HEA fundingfor unemployed people to commenceScience and Engineeringprogrammes, as well as some specialpurpose awards this academic yearunder the 2012 Springboard initiative.

Over 130 people have commencedprogrammes in Energy Engineering,Mechanical Engineering, Computing,

Medical Device Technology, Pharma-ceutical Science, BiopharmaceuticalScience, Food Science and BuildingInformation Modeling. Twenty-threepeople started on a new conversionprogramme, the Higher Diploma inSoftware Development, in September,which gives graduates of other Engi-neering and Science disciplines an

opportunity to upskill.Peter Butler, GMIT Lifelong

Learning Co-ordinator, GMIT Galway,says the HEA initiative helps peoplewho are out of work get back on theirfeet: "Having the right qualification iscrucial to unemployed people gettingback into employment in time forgrowth areas for the future”.

Funding to help jobless get back to work


17

GMIT Today

Galway-Mayo IT has beenawarded substantialfunding to develop

innovative online training inrenewable energy systems usingthe Institute’s state-of-the artonline energy laboratory.

Engineering lecturers andresearchers were awarded €250,000from the EU Leonardo Da Vinciprogramme to develop high-quality,industry-relevant online training andupskilling programmes for undergrad-uates as well as individuals wishing toupskill or enter the renewable energysector.

Some 45 academic staff haverecently been trained on onlinelearning technologies.

Dr Tom Roche, PrincipalInvestigator of the Innovret EU Projectwhich GMIT is leading, says that oncethe research programme is completed,students countrywide will be able tocarry out online experiments throughdistance learning that would otherwisehave required their presence in thelab. People working in the renewableenergy industry will be able to avail ofindividual online accredited modulesfrom September 2013.

“Our lab is unique in that ourstudents can interact with systems andlearn about the installation, analysisand performance of integrated, real-working renewable energy systemsusing a sophisticated web enabledinterface. The results of this EU

Online training a huge boostat energy lab

Members of the GMIT-led Innovret energy technologies consortium, back, L to R: John Shaughnessy Daikin Ireland, Professor DietrichAlbert, TU Graz, Simone Koplenic, TU Graz, Dr Attracta Brennan, GMIT, Dr Aurora Dimache, GMIT. Front, L to R: Dr Tom Roche,GMIT, Dr Siobhán Wallace, Leargas, April McCale, Unitherm Heating Ltd.

...and Science goes online tooGMIT Science School is now offeringthe add-on honours degree in AppliedBiopharmaceutical & HealthcareScience online. The one year add-onwas previously offered on a blendedlearning basis over several years.

Now, students log in for weeklylectures using the Adobe Connect

virtual classroom facility which allowsfor interaction between the lecturerand students during the lecture and isalso archived and accessible tostudents at later dates.

“Such a delivery mechanism bettersuits the students of this course whoare based at various locations around

Ireland and in Europe,” says DrSeamus Lennon. “A level 6 HigherCertificate in Science is also beingdelivered online, having commencedin January 2012. The online learningstudent cohort now represents approx-imately 10% of students in the Dept ofLife & Physical Sciences.”

project will allow students to carry outtheir lab work while not beingphysically present in the lab. Thefunding we’ve received will enable usto research and develop best practiceteaching for further onlineexperimentation.”

GMIT currently offers a range ofevening courses (accredited modules)such as renewable energy installationmaintenance and system designs inaddition to full-time degreeprogrammes.

The consortium on this InnovretEU Project, led by GMIT, comprisesexperts from academia and industry.


18

GMIT Research & Innovation

Nurturing students’ start-up ideas

Awebsite promoting Irishsummer schools, a device thathelps remove wetsuits, and

unique furniture pieces are three ofseven start-up projects currently beingdeveloped by graduates of GMIT whorecently won places on GMIT’s Grad-uate Entrepreneurship Programme(GEP).

The graduates were awarded placeson the GEP during the 2011/12academic year, giving them valuablestart up supports including desk space,mentoring and training in GMIT’sthriving Innovation in Business Centres(IiBCs) at the Galway and Castlebarcampuses.

Many of their concepts stemmedfrom projects they worked on during

their final year of study in GMIT. Thesuccessful GEP candidates this year are:

Michael Smyth, from Athboy, CoMeath, graduate of the BA i Gno agusCumarsáid GMIT Galway, who hasdeveloped a bilingual website for Irishsummer schools in the Gaeltacht.

Laura Taylor from Gort, Co Galway,graduate of the BA in Outdoor Educa-tion in GMIT Castlebar, who hasdeveloped a device called EasyOffwhich helps remove wetsuits easily;

Jens Kosak from Germany and nowliving in Oughterard, Co Galway, grad-uate of the Bachelor of Science (Hons)in Furniture Design & Manufacture,who offers unique furniture pieces andlighting as well as modular flat-packedsustainable items;

Patrick Dolan from Crossmolina, CoMayo, and Alan Prendergast fromClaremorris, Co Mayo, graduates of theBachelor of Business in Culinary Arts,who developed gluten free products;

Bill Buckley from Kinvara, CoGalway, graduate of the Bachelor ofBusiness degree, who has developed achair that improves attention span andincreases physical flexibility;

John Kavanagh from Borris, CoCarlow, graduate of the Bachelor ofScience (Hons) in Furniture Design &Manufacture, who developed a rangeof outdoor and bathroom furniture.

Danny Coleman from Tuam, CoGalway, graduate of the ProfessionalCookery programme, who offers low-carb recipes using natural ingredients.

Pictured at a reception announcing the winners, L to R: Alan Prendergast, Claremorris, Jens Kosak, Oughterard (and Germany), Laura Taylor, Gort, John Kavanagh, Borris, Co Carlow, Michael Smyth, Athboy, Co Meath, and Bill Buckley, Kinvara. Front row: George McCourt, Manager of the GMIT Innovation Centre, Galway, Des Mahon, Chairman, GMIT, Michael Carmody, President ofGMIT, and Declan Dooley, President of Galway Chamber.

New research scholarshipsGMIT has launched a new annualresearch scholarship competitionmarking its 40th anniversary. TheInstitute will award seven fully funded

three-year PhD scholarships each yearfrom September 2012.

The scholarships will cover feesand provide a €16,000 tax-free stipendacross the disciplines of:

• Marine Science• Biomedical Engineering,• Sustainable Energy Technologies • Humanities.


19

GMIT Today

The Innovation in BusinessCentres (IiBC) at GMIThave nurtured a culture of

entrepreneurship in the west ofIreland and in the GMIT studentcommunity since their establish-ment in 2006.

Start-up companies in both centreshave created over 170 jobs and clientcompanies have raised some €50mfunding in recent years.

Successful companies have transi-tioned to new larger premises makingway for new start-ups every year. Twomajor success stories are Tradecertand Neosurgical:

Tradecert.com provides Certificateof Origin and other documentationand certification services to exportersaround the world, saving time, money,promoting efficiency and enhancingproductivity. The company employsseven people, including a number ofGMIT graduates.

Co-founder Tom Kelly has greatpraise for the staff of the IiBC atGMIT. “The manager, GeorgeMacCourt has lots of experience andis a very good mentor with a goodhandle on the dos and don’ts ofstarting a business”.

Medical devices firm, NeoSurgical,develops innovative products forlaproscopic abdominal surgery and isnow gearing up for commerciallaunch as it appoints partners in theUS, Europe, the Middle East andAfrica and prepares technical files forthe NSAI and the FDA for access tothe EU and US markets.

The company utilised the GMITmedical testing facility, GMedTech,while located at the Innovation Centrein GMIT Galway and engaged instudent projects with the Departmentof Mechanical Engineering.

The GMIT Innovation Centres hostseveral public information events eachyear. Several hundred peopleattended the recent "Spirit of Entre-preneurship" event in the Mayocampus where GMIT PresidentMichael Carmody described thesupports offered by GMIT, EnterpriseIreland and a range of developmentagencies. Among the initiatives andsupports are EI's new CompetitiveFeasibility Fund, Voucher Scheme,GMIT's Graduate EntrepreneurshipProgramme (GEP) Enterprise Accel-eration Programme (EAP), the NewFrontiers Programme and manyothers.

Figures revealstory of successNew IiBC client companies• CGA Software – Integrated

Software Systems using SAAS

• Cloud Strong – Services for SMEsusing Cloud Technology

• Radio Internet GlobalTechnologies – App development

• Hillwalk tours – Self GuidedHiking Tours, Ireland & Scotland

• Xyea Ltd – Compliance softwarethat enables organisations to meetcompliance obligations

• Siscin – 3D Visualisation andAnimation company providingrendering and CAD training

• Visual Brand Communication(VBC) - Innovative InteractiveSignage and Digital Communica-tion

• Horizon West - Engineering tech-nical service provider

• 24handi – 24/7 Emergency Trade& Service provider for your home,business or transport needs

• DoTheTour.com – Audio CityTours

Recent transitioned clients

• eMedia – Interactive 3D Mediaand iPhone Apps

• Neosurgical – Innovative productsfor laparoscopic abdominalsurgery

• Tradecert – Automated InternetSolutions for Export ComplianceDocumentation

• Anacores – Designs integratedcircuits for microchips

• The Geek Store – Online Resellerfor technology gadgets

IiBC output

• 170+ jobs created

• €50m funding raised by clientcompanies

• 14 HPSU (high potential start-up)companies created

• 28 successful spin-outs

GMIT TodayInnovation in Business Centre (IiBC)

Pictured at the Spirit of Entrepreneurship event hosted by the Innovation Centre at GMITCastlebar. Front, L to R: Alan Dowling, MD Visual Brand Communication, StephanieO’Malley, Education Destine and Colm Rochford, Powersavy. Back, L to R:Joe Cawley, AIB branch Manager, Castlebar, Liam Horan, MC, Maria Staunton,Manager IiBC Castlebar, Barry Egan, Enterprise Ireland, George McCourt, Manager,IIBC Galway and Michael Culligan, National Director H Ban.

Proud record of entrepreneurship


Rare black-browed albatross pictured off the southwest Irish coast by GMITmarine research staff.

Marine research staff and students conducting a research sur-vey on board the state vessel, the RV Celtic Explorer, off thesouthwest coast of Ireland, sighted groups of fin whales and arare black-browed albatross normally found in the SouthernOcean.

The GMIT team was among a group of 20 scientists fromIreland and Scotland, including the Irish Whale and DolphinGroup, carrying out a survey of cetacean, seabird and plank-ton along the Irish coast over 11 days. Birdwatch Ireland saida sighting of a black-browed albatross is “very rare”.

The team was led by GMIT researchers Dr Joanne O’Brienand PhD student Conor Ryan. It was the third in a series ofsurveys GMIT has been involved in on board the Celtic Ex-plorer. The team was awarded funding for the trip under theannual Marine Institute Ship Time call.

20


Researchers sight rare albatross

L to R: Cáit Noone, Head of the GMIT College of Tourism and Arts, Tony O’Kelly, GMITInnovation Centre, Eimear O’Donnell, Bord Bia, Richard Nielson, Food ProductDevelopment lecturer.

Coeliac-friendly sauces, chocolate-flavoured hummus squeeze... just twoof many innovative new food productsdeveloped by part-time Culinary Artsstudents who work as chefs in thehospitality sector.

The students travel to GMIT oneday a week from Kerry, Limerick, West-meath, Roscommon, Mayo andCounty Galway to participate in thedegree programme and recently show-cased their food products to a panel ofexperts including Bord Bia.

The chefs are now pitching toretailers and local markets with a viewto commercialising their products.

Bord Bia’s Eimear O’Donnell saidthe products were “well developed andexecuted – a very high standard overallreflecting the dedication and expertiseof the lecturing staff at GMIT.”

New food products hit the spot

International award forresearch on waste practicesGMIT has received internationalrecognition for its ongoing researchon waste practices and environmentalmethodologies in small and mediumenterprises, as part of an EU researchproject “FutureSME” involving 26 part-ners in eight countries.

Sinéad Mitchell, a post-graduateresearcher in the Dept of Mechanical& Industrial Engineering, received abest paper award for ‘The Issue of Wastein European Manufacturing SMEs’ at the

13th International Waste Managementand Landfill Symposium in Italy. Over1,000 submissions and over 800 paperswere published and presented under13 themes.

Sinéad is one of a team ofresearchers in GMIT working on theFutureSME research project. Co-authors of the paper are lecturers DrPaul O'Dowd and Dr Thomas Roche,and post-doctoral researcher Dr.Aurora Dimache.

Sineád Mitchell, post-grad researcher, whoreceived a best paper award.


21

GMIT Today

Centre for the integration of SustainableEnergy Technologies (CiSET)

CiSET was established in 2007with the aim of addressingconcerns over rising energy

costs and security of energy supplies.The Centre conducts applied researchto design, integrate, optimise anddemonstrate the potential ofsustainable energy solutions to delivercost-effective and reliable energy incool-marine climate regions.

Over the past five years, CiSET hasdeveloped a unique research capabilitybased around ten multi-disciplinaryresearchers from engineering andscience who share a common interestand commitment to sustainable energysystem development. The team hasworked on over 40 projects involving arange of industrial and public-bodystakeholders that support the energysector and/or consumer. Some €2.5mhas been invested in fully-integratedand functioning research gradeequipment in the centre.

“Projects span from energy auditingand monitoring to the use of artificialintelligence to generate optimised,hybrid energy supply solutions forspecific energy demand profiles,”

explains Dr John Lohan, PrincipalInvestigator of CiSET. “We havealready sponsored and completed 15

research Masters and PhDprogrammes and published over 50conference and journal papers.”

CiSET projects are already making quite a difference• Total Energy Solutions for

Sustainable Aquaculture(TESSA)TESSA sought to reduce the energy con-sumption of typical Irish re-circulatingaquaculture systems and use sustainableenergy technologies to replace tradi-tional fossil fuel. The project delivered afully functional aquaculture system thatreduced energy consumption by between20-80% and derived its thermal energyfrom a combination of an air source heatpump and a solar thermal collector. Thisproject was supported by a consortium of12 aquaculture enterprises and receivedfunding from the Department of Educa-tion & Science, BIM and IRCSET.

• Improved temperaturecontrol for transportrefrigeration unitsA combination of electronic throttlingvalves and fuzzy logic control wasimplemented to reduce the time

required to reach set-point, increasetemperature control and minimisetemperature interaction betweenneighbouring temperature zones. Otherprojects boosted the heating capacity andintroduced intelligent defrost control.These projects were supported by fourEnterprise Ireland InnovationPartnerships and Thermo King Europe(Ireland) Ltd., Galway.

• Characterisation of anAir-to-Air heat recovery systemA series of projects were undertaken inconjunction with ProAir Ltd., tocharacterise the thermal efficiency oftheir air-to-air heat recovery system,access the influence of building envelopair tightness on system performance anddesign a new frost protection feature.GMIT now operates a fully functional,instrumented and monitored system toaccess the influence of such aspects on a24/7 basis. These projects were

supported by an Enterprise Ireland Inno-vation Partnership Feasibility Study andProAir Ltd., Tuam, Co. Galway.

• Thermal characterisationand optimisation of a heatpump ground collectorThe goal of this industrial researchproject was to establish and increase thethermal performance of a 15kW groundsource heat pump’s horizontal collector.This was achieved by experimental characterisation and numericalsimulation of the 430m2 groundcollector positioned 1m below thesurface. While the collector performed atthe upper end of best practice, validatedsimulation showed that output could beboosted by a further 10% by altering thecollector layout, ground surface layer &feedback.This project was funded by anEnterprise Ireland InnovationPartnership in conjunction with DunstarLtd, Clonakilty, Co Cork.

The GMIT CiSET group, L to R: Dr John Lohan, Principal Investigator, Willie Geraghty,Dr Tom Roche (front), Dr PJ McAllen, Dr Gabriel J Costello and PhD student andlecturer Larentiu Dimache.


22


GMIT has been conducting researchon Marine and Freshwater resourcessince the 1990s. In 2009 the HEA’sinvestment of €1.5m in GMIT’sMarine and Freshwater ResearchCentre consolidated the centre’scapacity in a new, state of the artfacility to explore research synergiesand collaboration.

Nine academic staff and eightresearch staff currently collaborate withsome 20 postgraduate students onapplied research that informs thesustainable management and utilisationof aquatic living resources. The Centre’sresearch focus aligns with currentnational and international researchneeds and is strongly policy-driven.

Research outputs that underpinthe future management of marineand freshwater ecosystems with sound,credible scientific advice are carriedout in collaboration with nationalagencies such The Marine Institute,National Parks and Wildlife Service,Environment Protection Agency andBordIascaighMhara. Commercialaspects of the Centre’s research aim tomitigate the impacts, and maximisethe value from utilisation of livingaquatic resources.

The Centre works with commercialpartners in the seafood capture,processing and transport industries,aligning strongly with the priorities forSustainable Food Production andProcessing identified recently by Forfásin its Research Prioritisation report.

The following are some projectsresearchers in the Marine and Fresh-water Research Centre are working on:

Shelltec researchenhancement centreGMIT’s Shelltec was established with EIsupport in 2005 to conduct multi-discipli-nary research on the condition and re-sponses of crustaceans and molluscs tomanmade and natural stressors. Shelltec’sresearch explores:

• Post-capture handling, storage & trans-port stresses in live shellfish marketingchains, and the development of newtechnologies to reduce their impacts;

• Development of environmental moni-toring techniques and protocols fornovel contaminants in the aquaticenvironment using shellfish as markers;

• Shellfish pathogens and parasites in thewild and captivity, and ways in whichmanagement can prevent or reduce associated impacts.

Environmental factorsaffecting growth, survivaland migration of AtlanticsalmonIn recent decades populations of North-east Atlantic salmon have decreased.GMIT scientists have partnered with theMarine Institute to determine the biologi-

cal and environmental drivers causingchanges in salmon growth and associatedstock declines. Multi-decadal trends ingrowth during the post-smolt phase willbe analysed using archived datasets, andcontrolled rearing experiments. Success-ful completion of the project will allowfurther development of models that fore-cast the numbers and size of salmon re-turning to Irish rivers and lakes.

Assessment and monitoringof ocean noise in IrishwatersNoise caused by human activities is nowrecognised as a pollutant in the marineenvironment. Noise from seismic surveys,sonar, pile-driving, acoustic deterrentsand the use of explosives each effect ma-rine life. These effects are of growing con-cern to scientists, legislators and thepublic. GMIT scientists, funded by theIrish Environmental Protection Agency,have assessed and monitored ocean noisein Irish waters.

GMIT’s research has quantified seis-mic activity within Irish waters highlight-ing particular areas with a greaterfrequency of seismic exploration and seis-mic intensity. The research has delivereda national obligation of Ireland’s commit-ment to the Marine Strategy FrameworkDirective on behalf of the Department ofthe Environment, Community and LocalGovernment.

Marine and FreshwaterResearch Centre (MFRC)

James Keating analyses blue whiting aspart of his PhD on stock identification.

GMIT PhD marine scientist Melanie Zoelck uses an image analysis microscope andsoftware.


As part of its pre-clinical trials, medicaldevices SME Novate turned toGMedTech to develop an artificial veinthat would simulate real-life conditions.In many ways, the choice of innovationpartner was a natural one, according toNovate’s CEO Paul Gilson.

Both GMedTech and Novate arebased at Galway-Mayo Institute ofTechnology (GMIT), where Gilson isalso on the board of GMIT’s businessincubation centre. “We knew thatGMedTech were looking for researchprojects, and we knew that they could

help us with ours,” he says. “The pieceof equipment—a polymeric venacava—was only one part of the overalltesting system, but it was an importantone.” Technology Ireland Spring 2012 Issue2p44-45

23

GMIT Today

Galway Medical TechnologiesCentre (GMedTech)

Since 2006, the GMedTechcentre which was formerly es-tablished under the Enter-

prise Ireland Applied ResearchEnhancement scheme, has de-veloped capabilities in generatingrealistic vascular models frommedical images with the main ob-jective of computationally and ex-perimentally modeling differentphysiological flow conditionsthrough these vessels.

These systems provide the bestphysiological dynamic models neces-

sary for assessing medical proceduresand optimising medical devices forindustrial proposes.

The unique feature within theGMedTech centre is the capacity fordesigning and developing in vitrotesting systems for replicating varioushaemodynamic conditions throughdifferent parts of the cardiovascularsystem that may or may not incorpo-rate a disease type.

This unique capability was recog-nised at last Summer’s ASME Summerbiomedical engineering conference inFarmington, Pennsylvania, USA at

which the researchers within theGMedTech centre were approachedby the Fluids Committee to providebenchmarking test data for next year’sASME summer biomedical engi-neering conference for the inauguralCFD challenge workshop.

These test systems can prove thefeasibility of a product or surgicalprocedure, assess various diseaseconditions and provide benchmarkingdata for the validation of computa-tional analysis. A successful in vitro testsystem can keep animal testing andclinical trials to a minimum.

Novate CEO pays tribute to GMedTech

The GMedTech team, L to R: Dr Liam Morris, Dr Patrick Delassus, PhD students Florian Stefanov and Paul Fahy, and Dr Eugene McCarthy.


24

GMIT

How was the Titanic11- course meal? First Class!

It’s not often you have a dinnerat which 70 guests use morethan 840 glasses. In Galway’s

GMIT (College of Tourism andArts), 70 people sat down tovirtually the same 11-course menuthat was served to first-classpassengers on the Titanic the nightit sank.

As was the case in 1912, a differentwine was served with each course, andthere were so many wine glassesrequired – plus a water glass – thatthere was only room for six per settingon the table at any one time.

The €100-a-head sold-out dinnerwas the idea of Noel Loughnane, alecturer in culinary arts at GMIT, whofirst started thinking about repro-ducing the period menu as a teachingexperience for students three yearsago.

“This is about commemorating thesinking of the Titanic, but it is not acelebration,” he stressed. “It’s alearning experience for over 100 ofour students, and it’s a fundraiser forthe RNLI, who risk their lives everytime they get into a boat.”

Among the 11 courses wereconsommé, cream of barley soup, afish course, two meat courses, foiegras, three desserts, and a cheese-

board. The only difference was thatsome courses, such as the salad, wereserved in a different order.

“The size of the 1912 menu is thebiggest difference from today,” Lough-nane says. “It’s just not done today. Itwas all about showing your wealth –using expensive ingredients andserving lots of meat.” Loughnane esti-mates dinner on the ship in 1912would have taken four hours – aboutthe same time the Galway dinner tooklast night.

“Dinner was such a big part of theday on ships in those days,” he says.“There was a string quartet, but noentertainment of the kind you’d geton cruise ships today.”

From a social history perspective,Loughnane points out that somecourses had Russian references, suchas Oysters a la Russe and ConsomméOlga. “The tsars were still in power in1912, of course.”

“It was a very, very rich menu,” headmits. “Was cholesterol even knownabout that time?”

Second-year student Jason Mullenfrom Sligo said: “We’ve been talkingabout nothing else except preparingfor this dinner for the last sixmonths.”

Among the guests was NoelMcGrady, whose father, William, hadworked at Harland and Wolff in Belfast

BY ROSITA BOLAND

THE MENUReception on arrival with Oysters and Champagne

Hors d’oeuvre Asparagus Saladwith Champagne-Saffron Vinaigrette

Soups Duet of Consommé Olga/Cream of Barley

Fish Salmon with mousseline sauce

Entrées Filet mignon of beef Lili

Sorbet Punch Romaine

Removes Calvados-glazed Duckling

Lamb with mint jelly

Sirloin of Beef Forestière

Served with a selection of vegetables and potatoes

Cold Dish Pâté de foie gras

Sweet Peaches in Chartreuse jelly, Waldorf pudding, ChocolateÉclairs, Vanilla Ice cream

Dessert Assorted fresh fruit and cheeses

Petit Fours

Coffee with Port

L to R: Noel Loughnane, Liz Fox and Máirtin Clancy, lecturers in the College of Tourism &Arts, Cáit Noone, Head of the College, and Ciara O'Byrne, Chairperson of the Galway RNLILifeboat Fundraising Committee.

Former Mayor of Galway Hildegarde Naughton looks on as the Corrib String Quarter play atthe GMIT Hotel School's Titanic Commemorative Dinner in aid of the Galway RNLILifeboat.


25

GMIT Today

as an iron turner until 1920. He neverworked on the Titanic, but as he wentabout his daily work at the docks, hewitnessed White Star Line’s biggest evercommission ship being constructed,and its departure from Belfast.

“He never wanted to talk about theship,” McGrady said. “Because of whathas happened to the Titanic, therewas shame attached.”

Elizabeth Fox, a wine lecturer atGMIT, discovered the wine glasses of1912 were much smaller than modernglasses in the course of her research.

“They may have had 11 courses andwine with each course, and Irishpeople often only have two courseswhen they eat out in restaurants today,but we almost certainly drink more involume than they did,” she concludes.

As part of their preparation for thenight, students gathered 1,513 smallpebbles from around Ireland; one foreach life lost in the sinking. Each guestwas given a bag of pebbles at the end ofthe evening and invited to return themto the sea as an act of commemoration.

Just before the end of the evening,a four-foot reproduction of theTitanic, complete with 20 lifeboatsand constructed of icing sugar andpastillage, was wheeled in by MaryReid, a lecturer in advanced pastry.She explained that huge centrepieces,usually sculpted from ice or butter,were common for the period. Dinersfearing a 12th course were spared: the

icing-sugar ship is inedible, apparentlylasts for years, and will go on show inthe College of Tourism and Arts.

The GMIT students got as manyperiod details right as possible.However, our modern smoking regula-tions meant the cigars the gentlemenwere given at the end of dinner wenthome unlit in their pockets.

This article has been reproduced, courtesy of theIrish Times (2012)

Lecturer Mary Reid (right) and student Paula Stakelum put the finishing touches to theirpastillage replica of the Titanic.

GMIT staff Coleman Shaughnessy (left) and Tom Frawley demonstrating a spark-gap radiotransmitter as was used on the Titanic.

Event Management students greeting guests at the Titanic Commemorative Dinner in theCollege of Tourism and Arts. Right: Table setting replicating the dinner table in first class.


26

GMIT Community Engagement

Cheque it out

Titanic nighthelps Lifeboat

Helping hand forCancer Care West

Catwalk cash fund

Students and staff recently presenteda cheque for €4,000 to Galway RNLILifeboat, proceeds from the TitanicCommemorative Dinner hosted by theGMIT College of Tourism and Arts.

Initiated by Culinary Arts lecturerNoel Loughnane, the event was alearning experience for students anda fund-raiser marking the 100 yearanniversary of the sinking of theTitanic. Students and staff gave gener-ously of their time and expertiseensuring the night was unforgettablefor the 70 guests, many of whom saidit was the best culinary experience oftheir lives.

L to R: Pierce Purcell, Noel Loughnane, Jamie Mullen, Cait Noone, Anne McInerney andSharon Langan, Lifeboat Fundraising Committee.

Business Event Management studentshosted a very successful fashion show inaid of COPE in the Radisson Blu assistedby city college GTI and Galway retailersAnthony Ryans, Born Clothing, Jack ’nJones and Tommy Hilfiger. Models wererecruited from within GMIT and trainedby Galway’s Catwalk Agency. LecturerMonica Nielsen says the event requiredproblem-solving, time management,interpersonal skills and teamwork.“These can be difficult to impart in thelecture hall and are highly valued byemployers.Monica Nielson (left) with the studentspresenting a cheque for almost €1,200 toFintan Maher, Cope Galway.

GMIT presented a cheque for €3,605 toCancer Care West recently, the proceedsof fundraising by staff in the Galwaycampus who ran the Dublin City MiniMarathon.L to R: GMIT staff Linda Gilchrest, PaulaCannon, Valerie Madden (organiser),Lorna Moynihan, Suzanne O'Gorman,Sharon Fitzpatrick, Cancer Care West;Paula Melady, Jennifer Duffy and MenaCostello.

[Missing from the picture are EvelynRobinson, Ann Robinson, MarieMaher, Debbie Molloy and SusanCarolan]


27

GMIT Today

GMIT celebrates its 40thanniversary this year but it alsocelebrates 25 years in its

Letterfrack campus which is run as apartnership with Connemara WestDevelopment PLC.

This year, in recognition of itsimpact both nationally and interna-tionally on the industry, the campus isbeing designated as a National Centrefor Excellence in Furniture Designand Technology.

Over the years GMIT Letterfrackhas established itself as the leadingprovider of third level programmesrelated to the furniture industry. Thecollege has a number of programmesfor initial teacher education, whichqualifies graduates to teach a range oftechnology-based subjects in post-primary schools.

As part of the 25th anniversary cele-bration, the OPW is hosting a GMITLetterfrack exhibition of student, staff

Farmleigh showcases standardsof excellence at Letterfrack

The President of Ireland Michael D Higgins and Mrs Sabina Higgins on a recent visitto the Connemara campus, with Dermot O’Donovan, Head of the GMIT LetterfrackNational Centre for Excellence in Furniture Design & Technology.

and graduate work in FarmleighGallery in the Phoenix Park. The exhi-bition, which runs from 1 Novemberto 20 December, was officially openedby President Michael D Higgins. Itcelebrates excellence and innovationin the fields of furniture design andmanufacture, wood technology andeducation. In advance of the openingof the exhibition, President Higginspaid a courtesy visit to the Letterfrackcampus in May.

Head of GMIT Letterfrack DermotO’Donovan recognises the impor-tance of celebrating such a milestone.“Each year brings something new tothe campus, so it’s important to get anopportunity to reflect on the last 25years and celebrate the achievementsof both staff and students”.

Ardu coffee table by graduateMartin Gallagher.

Wave table by graduate John Lee. Chair by student Simon Doyle. Drift Tallboy by graduates Tim andSean Dunleavy.


28

GMIT Community Engagement

Pupils from Gaelscoil na Cruaiche, Westport, enjoying the new seating designed and made by Letterfrak students.

Child’s play for students

Furniture students at GMITLetterfrack took on a majorchallenge to design and make

appealing, fun, engaging andfunctional pieces of furniture forGaelscoil na Cruaiche in Westport aspart of their ‘live project’ degreestudies.

Some 28 pieces were unveiled at aformal opening of the school by AnTaoiseach Enda Kenny during thesummer of 2012, all designed andmade by students on the B.Sc. degreeprogramme in Furniture Design &Manufacture.

The idea for the collaborativeproject came about after the Gaelscoilbecame aware of last year’s liveproject—a children’s play trail throughthe grounds of Kylemore Abbey. GMIT

Letterfrack staff member GaryGraham, who has children in theGaelscoil, initiated contact betweenGMIT Letterfrack and the Westportprimary school and the project tookshape.

The students were briefed on therequirements at the project launch inFebruary and met the pupils, parentsand teachers. Later, they presentedinterim designs and got feedbackduring a full day of four rotatingpanels in Letterfrack, getting the viewsof the entire school community.

GMIT programme lecturerAnthony Clare says the students weregiven an excellent opportunity tolearn, develop and understand thenuances of working and presentingtheir work to an actual client.

“The resulting work produced is acredit to each of them. The diversenature of the pieces facilitated activecollaborative learning for the studentsand we are delighted that TaoiseachEnda Kenny was the first person to usethe new lectern specifically designedfor visiting dignitaries to Gaelscoil naCruaiche”.

Gaelscoil na Cruaiche PrincipalMairéad Ní Ruáin said “We aredelighted to have been afforded thisunique opportunity to work incollaboration with a third-levelinstitution such as the GMIT inLetterfrack. The creativity andprofessionalism shown by the studentsand their lecturers is truly inspiringand as a result, their carefully craftedfurniture now adorn our school.”

€56,000 inscholarships

GMIT Academic Scholarship recipients with GMIT President Michael Carmody, L to R:Ann Marie Curran (mature student), Loughrea, Aisling Moran, Westport, Aoife Wan,Bishop O'Donnell Road, Galway, Colin Folan, Cappagh Road, Galway, MichaelCarmody, Emer McDermott, Leckaun, Co. Leitrim, Kalila Keane, Ballina, and OgieHollywood, Moate, Co. Westmeath. [Missing from the picture are DiarmuidReynolds, Corrandulla and Ross Mennie, Craughwell]

GMIT awarded 18 scholarships worthalmost €56,000 this academic year.Nine first year students were awardedacademic scholarships for achievinghigh marks in the Leaving Certificatein 2011. Each of the students receiveda cheque for €1,200 at a receptionhosted by the Institute for thestudents, their families and teachers.

Access Scholarships were alsoawarded to nine First Year students forthis academic year. Each studentreceives €5,000 over the duration ofthe programme they study in GMIT.


One of the most beautifulplaces in Ireland has be-come a children’s won-

derland, thanks to the skill ofstudents on the B.Sc. (Hons) inFurniture Design & Manufactureprogramme at GMIT Letterfrack.

The students and staff accepted aninvitation from the owners of Kyle-more Abbey to design and build anoutdoor children’s furniture and playtrail to commemorate the life ofMitchell Henry who built the castle forhis wife and nine children in the 1850s.

Each student was assigned a specificlocation and asked to capture itsessence and adapt the furniture to itsparticular environment. They usedtimber from trees that fell naturally onthe Kylemore estate, just a few of the300,000 trees planted by MitchellHenry 140 years ago.

The finished pieces form part of apermanent interactive exhibition onthe Kylemore estate. With 200,000 vis-

itors to Kylemore every year, it alsoprovides a wonderful opportunity forstudents to have their names—as fur-niture designer/makers—in the pub-lic domain.

GMIT lecturer Anthony Clare says“The potential of engaging the cre-ative minds and technical ability of ourstudents with a project centred on fun,imagination, exploration and discov-ery for young children has broughtabout a project of huge significance,with inspired results. This framedwithin the backdrop of the grounds ofKylemore Abbey has made it all themore impressive.”

Bríd Connell of Kylemore Tourismsays, “We are delighted with the workof GMIT Letterfrack. They have an in-ternational reputation for excellence

in design quality and manufacturingexpertise. The students and their lec-turers have a great energy and enthusi-asm for the project which hastranslated into unique pieces of inter-active furniture.”

29

GMIT Today

Students share their know-how

Sheep made by second year student GavinGriffin who is studying the B.Sc. inFurniture Design and Manufacture.

The GMIT Scratch Tutor Team (Electronic and Electrical Engineering students) with theirStudent Achievement Awards 2012. L to R: Outgoing SU Vice-President, Alan O’Doherty;Abdul Alharbi, Fiona Daly, Brian Quinn, James Gleeson, Gints Petersons, JJ Mahony,Kieran Canavan and Martin Greanham.

Students in the GMIT Electronic andElectrical Engineering Departmentare using their technical know-how toassist people in the local and globalcommunity with projects rangingfrom teaching primary school chil-dren the programming language‘Scratch’, to developing websites forlocal charities and refurbishing PCsfor distribution to schools in Africa.

The students’ work has been incor-porated into their programme ofstudy as a Civic Engagement (CE)module or work placement.

Natasha Rohan, lecturer in theDepartment and volunteering co-ordi-nator, says: “The students have donefantastic work and both they and thecommunity partners have benefitedgreatly from the experience”.

GMIT Letterfrack student Diarmuid O'Conghaile (National Skills 2011 winner)presenting his design to Mother Máire Hickey, OSB of Kylemore Abbey.

Timbertreats in store for kids


GMIT marine scientists are leading anational research project “MonitoringOcean Noise in Irish waters” to helpIreland achieve Good EnvironmentalStatus (GES) in European marinewaters by 2020.

The GMIT Marine Biodiversity

Research Group has won EPA fundingfor the www.monitoringocean-noise.com project and are assisted byThe Marine Institute, TechnicalUniversity of Catalonia (UPC), andBiospheric Engineering Ltd. They willalso work closely with the Irish Navy

and the Petroleum Affairs Division ofthe Department of Communications,Energy and Natural Resources.

Dr Joanne O’Brien, PrincipalInvestigator, says: “The team is workingon the development of criteria no. 11,that the introduction of energy,including underwater noise, is at levelsthat do not adversely affect the marineenvironment. We recently deployedthe first devices with TU of Cataloniaand work is progressing well”.

The team includes Suzanne Beck,Research Scientist, Dr Simon Berrowand Dr Ian O’Connor.

30

GMIT Internationalisation & Collaboration

Lecturers win top EU awardfor language learning kitTwo GMIT lecturers have

won a top European awardfor a free innovative web-

based language learning kit called“EuroCatering”, www.eurocater-ing.org, which caters specificallyfor workers and trainees in thehospitality and tourism industry.

GMIT’s Anne Brindley, Frenchlecturer, and Colin Gilligan, Hotellecturer, represent Ireland on theseven-country team who won theEuropean Language Label of theLabels, a prestigious EuropeanCommission award. They werepresented with the award in Cyprus bythe European Commissioner forEducation, Culture, Multilingualismand Youth, Mrs Androulla Vassiliouand the Vice-President of the Euro-pean Parliament Mr Miguel AngelMartinez.

www.eurocatering.org is nowavailable in 12 languages; English,French, Spanish, Dutch, Norwwegian,Slovenian, Galician, German, Irish,Italian, Finnish and Polish. Thewebsite provides realistic languagetraining with virtual scenes in the

kitchen and restaurant; illustratedglossaries of professional terminologyin each of the languages, a pedagogicaltool with interactions and exercises forreinforcements, a glossary of pertinentcultural work-orientation facts, a videoof pertinent gesture and more.

Dr Larry Elwood, Head ofInternational Affairs, GMIT, says theInstitute is delighted to be involved in

developing this excellent learningproduct with other EU partners.

“This award combining languagetraining with interactive technologiesis a wonderful example of how GMITcontinues to play a leading role in thehospitality and tourism sectors, bothnationally and internationally.”

Marinescientistsmakingwaves

Eurocatering team with Anne Brindley (centre front) and Colin Gilligan (fifth from left).

The Marine Science team with Dr Joanne O’Brien (second right) and Suzanne Beck (centre).


31

GMIT Today

GMIT, IT Sligo and Letterkenny ITheld a briefing in Dublin in Septem-ber for TDs and Senators from thewest and north-west region about thenew Connacht-Ulster alliance, signedin Castlebar during the summer in thepresence of An Taoiseach EndaKenny.

The agreement aims to enhancecollaboration and co-operation be-tween the three Institutes in areassuch as:

Alliancebriefing forOireachtasmembers

GMIT and RTÉ have formed anew partnership involving theGMIT Centre for the Creative

Arts & Media (Cluain Mhuire cam-pus).

A new agreement, approved by theGMIT Governing Body, will see RTÉhaving an on-campus broadcasting fa-cility in the Centre from early 2013.The agreement aims to provide oppor-tunities for GMIT media students toundertake work placements and grad-uate internships in RTÉ; support andadvice from RTÉ in relation to the de-velopment and review of programmes;potential for RTÉ staff as adjunct staffor external examiners; the possibilityof creating an Ideas Laboratory in theCentre; and access to new technolo-gies in RTÉ.

GMIT President Michael Carmodysays the collaboration is an importantstep in establishing the Centre for Creative Arts and Media as a focalpoint for media-related higher educa-tion in Galway.

“The association with RTÉ and itsexpertise in modern media technolo-gies will add a new dimension to ourB.A. (Hons) in Film & Documentary,along with providing work experienceand employment opportunities forour students and graduates”, MrCarmody adds.

GMIT is one of five Institutes ofTechnology partnering with RTÉ.Joint working groups have been estab-lished between each IT and RTÉ tolook at the range and potential ofthese new relationships.

The GMIT Centre for the Creative Arts and Media at Cluain Mhuire, which willaccommodate RTÉ Galway’s studios.

RTÉ now making theheadlines at GMIT

• Programme provision• Programme delivery• Online/blended delivery• Shared services• Research

The ultimate aim of the three insti-tutes is to achieve designation as aTechnological University (TU).

Pictured (left), L to R: Eamon O’Cúiv TD(FF), Galway West; Des Mahon,

Chairman of GMIT; Michael Carmody,President of GMIT; Senator FidelmaHealy-Eames (FG).

Pictured (above) at the briefing in Dublin,L to R: Michael Carmody, GMITPresident; Noel Grealish TD (Ind),Galway West, Des Mahon, Chairman ofGMIT, Michael Comiskey TD (FG),Leitrim; Dara Calleary TD (FF), Mayo,and Frank Feehan TD (FG), Roscommon.


32

Increase in number of international students

An innovative woodworkprogramme, developed anddelivered by GMIT Letterfrack

students and staff in a povertystricken area of Zambia has been

such a success the model is to be rolled out in other African locations.

Graduates Fiachra McInerney, DanWright, Ann Foley, and Ray Griffin,

with the support of GMIT and lecturerDr Paddy Tobin, helped set up thefacility in 2009 in Maamba in additionto teaching at the centre where someof the students are now qualified toteach the skills programme. Thecentre is currently preparing to takecommercial orders which will make itself-sustaining.

Plans are also underway to set upan independent charity organisationdedicated to establishing more wood-work training centres in other parts ofZambia and Africa, involving studentand graduate volunteers led by graduate Fiachra McInerney andsupported by Dr Tobin.

GMIT Letterfrack graduate Ann Foleyteaching her class in Zambia.

Galway-Mayo IT has increasedits number of exchangeagreements with higher

education institutes in Europe, theUS, Middle East and China inrecent years with some 340international students now studyinga range of undergraduateprogrammes in all campuses.

The majority of GMIT’s interna-tional students are from Saudi Arabiaand China, with all Saudi studentsundertaking English courses on campusbefore being admitted to degreeprogrammes and Chinese students(Nanchang University and Wuxi SouthOcean College) transferring directlyinto the third year of GMITprogrammes.

Erasmus students from France,Germany and Spain have been comingon exchange programmes to GMITsince the late 80s and numbers havebeen increasing from Scandinavia, withinterest also from the Central Gulfstates, India and China.

Dr Larry Elwood, Head of Interna-tional Affairs, GMIT, says internationalstudent numbers are expected to growstrongly over the coming years, withEnglish language degree programmesin strong demand.

“International students make a verysignificant contribution to GMIT,culturally as well as educationally andeconomically. We are justifiably proudof our achievement as the Institute ofTechnology with the highest number ofoutgoing Erasmus students last year

when 97 GMIT students went onErasmus placements abroad. We hopeto grow these numbers even further inthe coming years.

“Next year, GMIT staff and studentswill lecture and study in areas as faraway as China and Australia, and we willwelcome faculty and students fromEurope, America and China”.

Erasmus students in GMIT comefrom France, Spain, Germany, Norwayand Sweden. Non-EU students comefrom China, United States and SaudiArabia.

US HE institutions are WesternCarolina University, Columbus StateUniversity, Johnson and Wales Univer-sity, Southern Utah University, andUniversity of Wisconsin Platteville.

Zambia project a modelfor future success

Dr Paddy Tobin (back left), who initiated Letterfrack’s involvement in the Zambia project, withgraduate Ann Foley and Dermot O’Donovan, Head of the Letterfrack campus. Front, L to R:Graduates Fiachra McInerney, Dan Wright and Ray Griffin with Sr Mary Fallon.



GMIT Today

33

Over 150 GMIT students andstaff were joined by some 50practitioners at the second

annual conference hosted by theGMIT Department of Building & CivilEngineering to mark InternationalConstruction Management Day.

Organisations in attendanceincluded Davis Langdon; CIF;Stewarts; Quigg Golden; SIAC; CIOB,as well as GMIT graduates.

Many of the speakers believe thelevel of activity in the industry hasreached the bottom of the cycle and isnow well below the level required tosustain the Irish economy into thefuture. The more optimisticpredictions suggest the industry willdouble from its current size by 2016with an increasing focus onmanagement and organisation andtechnology leading to significant jobopportunities for Irish graduates.

Chris Blyth, CIOB, described how

the industry is changing with areduction in manual trades and arapidly increasing demand forqualified construction managersworldwide. “It is estimated that 30,000new construction managers will beneeded in the UK between now and2016. This provides tremendousopportunities for ConstructionManagement graduates.” he said.

Stephen McGee of locally basedStewarts (JSL) spoke about hiscompany’s use of Building Information

Modelling (BIM) which identifies andeliminates design faults before theyreach the construction phase.

The BSc (Hons) ArchitecturalTechnology at GMIT has a focus onthe use of BIM and the graduates thisyear will be at the leading edge of thisindustry.

GMIT is also planning to provide aB.Eng (Hons) Civil Engineering thisyear with a focus on the use of BIMand related software systems.

L to R: John O’Regan, Davis Langdon; Joe Collier, CIOB; Mary Rogers, Head of theDepartment of Building & Civil Engineering; Steven McGee, Stewarts; MichaelConnaghan CBRE/ Google; Martin Taggart, lecturer, conference organiser and Chair;Niall Crosson, Ecological Building Systems; and John Hanahoe, lecturer.

Some of the delegates attending the ECS conference.

Only way is up forconstruction industry

Whale of a time at cetacean conferenceOver 500 international marinemammal biologists gathered in theGalway Bay Hotel for the 26th annualconference of the European CetaceanSociety (ECS) organised by GMIT andthe Irish Whale and Dolphin Group(IWDG).

The event was formally opened bythe Minister of Arts, Heritage and theGaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan and thePresident of GMIT Michael Carmodyand included two days of workshops inGMIT’s Galway campus.

Keynote speakers were ProfessorLouis Herman of Hawaii, an interna-tional expert on dolphin cognitive

abilities and author of ‘CetaceanBehavior and Language and Communica-tion’ and Greg Donovan, Head ofScience at the International WhalingCommission.

The scientific programme saw 40oral presentations, 30 short communi-cations and over 240 posterpresentations. Dr Thierry Jauniaux,President of the European CetaceanSociety, paid tribute to GMIT’s organ-ising committee led by Dr IanO’Connor and Dr Simon Berrow.“The organising team did excellentwork. ECS Galway will stay in thememory of all participants.” he said.

‘It is estimated that30,000 new

construction managerswill be needed in the

UK between now and 2016’


GMIT is continuously engagingwith external stakeholders in-cluding industry, employers,

professional bodies, public organisa-tions and voluntary and communitygroups to inform key decisions. A num-ber of strategic alliances have been putin place in recent years:

Connacht-Ulster Alliance: This newagreement sees GMIT, IT Sligo and Let-terkenny IT working together on areassuch as flexible learning delivery,research and innovation, bespoke deliv-ery for industry, links to local Educationand Training Boards, international stu-dent recruitment and staff develop-ment. One of the key objectives is tomeet the rigorous criteria required toachieve re-designation as a Technologi-cal University. This alliance forms partof a cluster of higher and further educa-tion providers in the region and in-cludes collaborations with cross-borderinstitutions.

GMIT and NUI Galway Strategic Al-liance: This agreement opens up collab-orative opportunities in teaching andlearning, research, entrepreneurship,regional development, commercialisa-tion, innovation, distance education,and work based learning.

GMIT and the Marine Institute: Thetwo organisations are working togetherto further develop marine research ca-pabilities, undergraduate and postgrad-uate marine science programmes andstaff training & development initiativesin the two institutes. The agreement al-lows for reciprocal adjunct appoint-

ments between the two organisations. Líonra network: GMIT is a partner of

this network, working to develop a col-laborative response by the third-level sec-tor to the development needs of theBorder, Midlands and Western (BMW)region. This collaboration has facilitatedaccess to third-level education, links withlocal communities and social partners,and a synergy in the approach to improv-ing the region’s capacity for sustained de-

velopment and innovation. The sevenLíonra institutions are GMIT, IT Sligo,Athlone IT, Letterkenny IT, NUI Galway,Dundalk IT, and St Angela’s College,Sligo.

EU project FutureSME: GMIT workswith companies in the West of Ireland incollaboration with a wide range of EUpartners to develop the potential of theSME sector. Work of this nature is key tothe sustainability of the region.

In the first such initiative of its kind, agroup of ten final year Applied SocialStudies students from GMIT Castlebarand eight final year Social Work studentsfrom NHL, Leeuwarden in The Nether-lands, have teamed up to collaborate ona series of projects researching specificsocial challenges in each country, com-paring them and making recommenda-tions.

Working together in four cross-nationalteams, the students studied childcareprovision, attitudes towards homosexual-ity among second-level students, earlyteenage perspectives on alcohol and poli-

cies regarding asylum seekers. Theyutilised internet technology includingskype, facebook and youtube, culminat-ing in a joint presentation using video-conferencing in May (2012).

The presentations were the culmina-tion of five months of work involvingGMIT students participating by videoconference at an International Confer-ence on Social Work in Leeuwarden. TwoGMIT students also spent six weeks inLeeuwarden and a number of lecturerexchanges further facilitated the collab-orative work.

“The project is regarded in the wider

Dutch education sector as very innovativeand is one that is being closely watched.”says Dr Mark Garavan, Applied SocialStudies lecturer and programme chair.

“It has been a very interesting projectfor us and offers a unique inter-culturalexperience supported by ICT. The en-gagement by the students has been excel-lent and has profoundly contributed totheir personal and professional develop-ment. We see this e-project forming an in-tegral part of the Applied Social Studiesprogramme in GMIT, with additionallearning partner institutions.”

34


Strategic alliances are keyto a brighter future

International social care e-project

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny in GMIT Castlebar for the formal signing of the Connacht-Ulster Alliance between GMIT, Letterkenny IT and IT, Sligo. Front row, L to R: PaulHannigan, LYIT President, Prof Terri Scott, IT, Sligo President, Michael Carmody,GMIT President. Back row, L to R: Henry McGarvey, Governing Body Chairman, LYIT,Ray MacSharry, Governing Body Chairman, IT, Sligo and Des Mahon, Governing BodyChairman, GMIT.


35

GMIT TodayGMIT Student Environment

€6m student buildingfor Galway campusSeveral new buildings and a

number of extensions and refur-bishments have been carried out

on GMIT campuses in recent years,most notably the new award-winningIT Learning Resource Centre inGalway, two Innovation in BusinessCentres (IiBCs), a new Nursing &Health Sciences Department atCastlebar, and extensions and refur-bishments to the Dublin Road,Castlebar and Letterfrack campuses.

Plans are underway for a new2,600sqm multi-functional studentbuilding to support sporting activitiesat the Dublin Road (Galway) campus.The proposed €6m building includesa modern sports hall and gym and isexpected to be completed in 2014.GMIT Estates Manager David Lee saysthe Institute is actively examining theoptions of gaining rights of access and

use to the various community playingfields and pitches surrounding thecampuses.

“These include soccer, rugby, andGAA facilities run by clubs, someowned-freehold, and some leaseholdfrom Galway City Council. Discussionshave been underway for a number of

months with the various clubs in thearea with the objective of securingusage rights for GMIT groups. Plansare also being considered for an all-weather pitch facility at the DublinRoad campus and an extension andrefurbishment to the existing studentservices areas of the campus.”

The stylish architecture at GMIT is reflectedboth internally and externally in these images.Below, the award-winning IT LearningResource Centre, Galway campus, designed byMurray O’Laoire Architects.


The Castlebar campus ofGMIT marked a milestonein its history last year by

becoming the first Institute ofTechnology campus in Ireland tobe awarded the prestigious inter-national FEE Green-CampusAward, facilitated by environ-mental body, An Taisce.

Within two years of signing up tothe Green-Campus programme,campus students and staff haddiverted twelve tonnes of waste fromlandfill through recycling, cut annualpaper consumption by 2.5 millionsheets, recycled 60kg of printercartridges, and saved 956 litres ofwater per day by installing flushingsystems on urinals.

Other initiatives saw PC remoteshutdown in all computer labs,energy shutdowns during holidayperiods, changeover to renewableenergy supplier ESBIE, thermostaticradiator valves installed throughoutcampus and a range of collaborativeinitiatives involving local communityorganisations.

Lynda Huxley, Chairperson of theGMIT Green-Campus Committee,says they have been busy helping tospread the Green ethos in othercolleges: “We have been workingclosely with the GMIT Letterfrack

campus, Dundalk IT and Sligo IT tohelp them progress towards applyingfor a Green Flag and at the same timeworking on new projects under thethemes of Biodiversity and Transport.

“We have been developing thecurriculum link to GMITprogrammes with student projectsfeeding into Green-Campus andorganised talks tied in with modules.The Students Union President hasbeen a great supporter of Green-Campus to the extent that theposition of Green Campus Officerwas also created.”

“We are delighted to have beengiven an A rating in the recent IBALleague as we’ve been holding regularclean ups. We also have close linkswith Castlebar Tidy Towns and havebeen included in their application

for the Tidy Towns Awards.” Commenting at the Green Flag

presentation ceremony, PatriciaOliver, Director of An Taisce’s Envi-ronmental Education Unit, paidtribute to GMIT Castlebar: “Thesuccessful implementation of theseven steps of the programme andthe partnership which has beenformed by the GMIT CastlebarGreen-Campus Committee isunique in many respects and will, Iam sure, be an example and inspira-tion to many more third-levelinstitutions not only in Ireland butthroughout the entire network ofcountries.”

Follow the committee’ activities on:http://www.facebook.com/greencampus.gmitcastlebar

36

GMIT Student Environment

A green first for Castlebar

DkIT Green-Campus Committee on a visit to GMIT Castlebar: L-R: Sonya Rice, DkIT, Olive Greaney, GMIT, Lynda Huxley, GMIT,Fiona Rooney, DkIT, Ann Cleary, DkIT, Moireen Taggart, Yvonne McDermott, GMIT, Michael Gill, GMIT.

‘Save our swifts’ projectThe swift is a bird of conservation con-cern in Ireland due to loss of breedingsites. They nest mainly in tall build-ings, usually under the eaves. It isknown that swifts nest in Castlebar andin particular at the GMIT campus.

With the aim of raising awarenessof the nesting requirements of thebirds the Green-Campus Committee

has erected nest boxes to providenest sites for swifts.

The project is linked with environ-mental modules on the Heritage andOutdoor Education degreeprogrammes and demonstrates tostudents on the Constructionprogramme how wildlife can beaffected by building renovation work.


37

GMIT Today

For many years the college coloursreflected the Galway inter countycolours of maroon and white but overthe years a sky blue has been introducedto reflect the changing GMIT crest.

The introduction of AnnualSpecial Achievement Awards for indi-viduals and teams vastly improvedparticipation in sport. Ruth Merrigan,General Manager of the GMITStudents Union, organises the AnnualAwards Cermony and Banquet.

The awards have been presented bysports greats such as Joe McDonagh,former GAA President, Packie Bonner,soccer goalkeeper legend and Paul Mc-Grath. Sports bursaries were also an-other incentive to improveperformance and raise the profile ofsport in the Institute.

GAA clubs are setting the standardGMIT’s GAA Development Officer Damian Curley outlines the various GAAactivities and events in the Galway campuses since he first joined GMIT in 1997.

GMIT Fresher Hurling team, All-Ireland winners 1999: Back row, L to R: Mark Finnerty,Niall Caffrey, David Fahy, Diarmuid Cloonan, John O'Donoghue, Micheal Greaney,Eugene Gorman, Niall O'Connor, Fintan McNamara, Mark Ryan, Richie Gilligan,Brian Costello, Colm Pierce, Liam Noonan. Front row, L to R: Johnny Keane, TonyMonaghan, Shane Hynes, Eamon Donoghue, Bryon Duff, Conor Gath, Jamie Cannon,Paul Carroll, Ray Treacy.

GMIT Gaelic Football team, FBD Connacht League winners 2006: Back row, L to R: DamienHealy, Aidan Kilcoyne, Alan Raftery, Ronan McNamara, Brian O'Donoghue, Richie Feeney,Ja Egan, Darren Mullahy. Front row, L to R: Nicky Joyce, Matt Flannery, Alan Burke(Kilmaine), Paul Geraghty (Capt), Barry Prior, Brian Darby, Alan Burke (Corofin).

GMIT has a vibrant GAA scenewith numerous teams and clubscurrently comprising some 350

students.All teams compete in the third-level

colleges’ leagues and championshipsevery year, while the senior teams inhurling and football also compete inthe Leinster Kehoe Cup HurlingLeague and FBD Football League withthe Connacht inter-county teams.

Nowadays, GMIT play something inthe region of 60 competitive gamesacross all sports over a given academicyear, and would also participate in anumber of challenge games and blitzes.

The Gaelic Football Club wasfounded by former GMIT Registrar,Bernard O’Hara in 1973 and partici-pated in the HE Division 2 Champi-onship. While success was hard tocome by in the early years, the clubprospered and helped develop manyfine footballers who went on to repre-sent their respective counties duringthe 70s and 80s. It was in the late 80sthat the club came into its own whenGMIT won the Trench Cup in 1989and 1996 under the guidance of SeanO’Dea, GMIT Computer ServicesDept. Victory in the Division 2 Leaguein 1996 meant that the club moved upto Divison 1 and Sigerson football, aposition GMIT has enjoyed ever since.The GMIT GAA Club also made his-tory in 2006 when it became the firstcollege club to win the Connacht FBDLeague.

The Hurling Club was formed in1973 by former Maths lecturer Donn-cha O hÉallaithe and participated inthe intermediate division of the HEcompetitions. In 1980, John Sherrytook over and made an outstandingcontribution to the promotion of hurl-ing in the college and along with LiamNoonan, Computer Services Depart-ment, ensured that the club went fromstrength to strength. GMIT won theDivison 2 League on four occasionsand the Ryan Cup in 1990. The clubhas played in Divison 1 and FitzgibbonCup since 1997. The winning of theAll-Ireland Division 1 Fresher Champi-onship in 1999 was a major highlightof the past few decades, and the cap-ture of the Leinster Kehoe Cup in

2012, under the guidance of MichaelGeoghegan, is the latest GMIT victory.

Camogie and Ladies Football havebeen an integral part of sporting lifein GMIT since 1997 when a major ef-fort was made to promote the games.Since that time much success hascome the way of both codes, but inparticular Camogie. The club has wonthe Fr Maher Shield and the PurcellShield and has established itself as aPurcell Cup contender in a few shortyears.

The Ladies Footballers capturedthe Donaghy Cup in 2006 and won theLynch Shield in 2007 after being pro-moted to Divison 2. They have alsobeen successful in winning ConnachtDivision 2 and 3 titles over the last cou-ple of years. It still remains one of thefastest growing sports in the college.


38


Ladies football team 1989. Hurling team 1989.

No shortage of sportsoptions on campusFrank Ryan, Sports Officer at GMIT, Galway from 1979 to 2010 casts an eye back over the years.

played their part in preparing teamsfor competition. Sean Gleeson andMhaoiliosa Collins did their bit forwomen’s soccer teams.

Pat O’Connell generated muchinterest in Athletics and CrossCountry running. Former student,Fiona McMurrough won three AllIreland titles in a row.

Eamon Molloy was one of the firstConnacht Branch Rugby coaches togive time to coaching the GMITsquad. Gerry O’Neill from the HotelSchool also enthusiastically gave of hiscoaching expertise. In the late 90s theLions and former Irish coach WarrenGatland also helped coach the GMITteam.

Other popular sports over the yearswere archery thanks to the efforts ofRobert and Clare Dagger and PaulBurke. Joseph Ryan and ShaneFlaherty both represented the collegeand Ireland in Kayaking.

The Equestrian Club was a very ac-tive club for a number of years. Stu-dent Aoife Murray was a winner of theshow jumping at the Intervarsity onone occasion. Paintball was anotheractivity popular with students, as wereaerobics, yoga and kickboxing in morerecent times. Mixed indoor hockeywas an active club activity for a periodand some Galway girls were selectedon Irish College teams for tripsabroad.

fitness Centre in 2002. This wasequipped with state of the art cardiovas-cular and weight training equipmentand gave students the opportunity toget fit, the facility being open from earlymorning to late at night.

Diane Middleton managed this fa-cility until Eimear Glennon took over,assisted by Ray O’Neill. The purchaseof the grounds across the road for theInstitute was another great boost to fa-cilities, providing both a Gaelic pitchand a soccer pitch.

While GAA has been the majorclub attracting students over the years,several other sports made their markat GMIT. The late Nicky Hardimanplayed a big role in teaching martialarts and self defence, as did John Tun-ney, John Creaven, John Allen andDave Ryan. John Eaton and Joel Fran-coise were instrumental in introduc-ing Aikido and Tae-Kwon-Do.

Table Tennis, Tennis andBadminton were all popular, as wereBasketball and Volleyball. Among thecoaches who gave of their time wereMary Kelly, Tony Flannery, JohhnyMurray, Ted Parslow, Eamon Brad-shaw, Mary Barrett, MichaelMcAuliffe, Joe King and James Burke.Soccer was always strong in GMIT andMichael O’Flaherty, Ray Connolly,Don O’Riordan, John Morris Burke,John O’Dowd and David Hand all

Sport in GMIT for the past 40years has been a process of con-tinuing development. For me, it

covered a span of 31 years from March1979 to December 2010. For the firstfew years sport was co-ordinated byPeadar O’Dowd, who cajoled and co-erced other members of staff into tak-ing charge of football, soccer andrugby, the three main sports that werepractised at that time.

A new sportshall was built andopened in 1978 with Jennifer Foleyholding the reins until I arrived in1979. With little activity taking placethere, the emphasis up to then beingon outdoor field games, I embarkedon a plan to start a number of new ac-tivities in the evening.

During the day CERT and ANCOstudents attended Physical EducationClasses conducted by myself and RayMcBride, well known actor and Irishdancer who worked in the college on apart time basis. A number of AdultNight Classes were organised and of-fered to the general public includingBadminton, Basketball and Tennis.

Coaches were engaged for theseclasses and for the student clubs,which also ran in the sportshall overthe years.

A major improvement in the SportsFacilities was the converting of the Caféon the balcony of the Sportshall into a


39

GMIT Today

Small campusbig ambitionsNigel Jennings, Sports Officer, GMIT Castlebar, reflects here on years ofoutstanding sporting achievements by students at the Mayo campus.

Sport has always played an inte-gral role in campus life in GMITCastlebar. In the early years

when there was a small intake Fr MikeMurphy, Chaplain, quickly fashionedrepresentative teams who rapidly es-tablished themselves on the collegescene.

Alongside coach Michael McNi-cholas, Fr Mike took men’s andwomen’s soccer teams to an invita-tional tournament in Paris; the Men’steam surprised many by winning theirqualifying group and returning toParis for the closing stages of the tour-nament. This set the tone for what wasto become a recurring theme – thesmall college with big aspirations.

In the years that followed, GMITCastlebar has continued to punchabove its weight. Establishing a hurlingteam in Mayo, which is no hurlingstronghold, to quickly gaining na-tional honours was one of the most sig-nificant early achievements. Underthe guidance of lecturer Seamus Dowl-ing they won division 2 of the HE hurl-ing league in 2000. Championshiphonours were to follow when in 2004,under the stewardship of Kevin O’Connor, the hurlers tasted All-Ire-land success when they won The Fer-gal Maher Cup, defeating nearneighbours GMIT Letterfrack in thefinal in Athlone as part of the Fitzgib-bon weekend

The hurlers set the tone andwhether it was blackbelt WarrenRooney dominating the collegeskendo scene during his time here, orthe inspirational group of Kayakerssuch as Mike Jones and GrahamClarke, who pioneered adventurousexpeditions to Norway, the Alps andThe Himalayas, victories kept coming.

Most notable is the victory over Uni-versity of Limerick ladies soccer team.The GMIT ladies team started byshocking the “A” team with a 2-1 defeatin the intervarsities in Castlebar inMarch 2005 followed by league andcup wins over the UL “B” team and cul-minating in the victory over the “A”team on their home patch in theWSCAI indoor intervarsity Plate Finalin February 2006 – another nationaltitle and more headlines. Even morewas to come when combined withGMIT Galway, the ladies repeated thefeat the following year, 2007, to success-

fully defend their national title and fit-tingly mark the contribution of an ex-ceptionally talented group of ladiessuch as Louise Mulready and LorraineCoen.

The surfers weren’t going to be leftout if national medals were beinghanded out and Sandra Blong’s fineshowing in the Women’s section was amajor factor in the team claimingbronze at the 2007 intervarsities.

The women’s Gaelic football teamdown through the years have seen ex-ceptional players, inspirational lead-ers, unforgettable teams, entertainingfootball, brilliant coaches (Billy McNi-cholas and Cora Staunton), impressiveachievements and many vintage per-formances but ultimately time andagain, heartbreak.

In 2002, 2003 and 2004 the teamcontested and lost three All-Irelandchampionship finals and one leaguefinal. After a few lean years they resur-rected in 2008 and 2009, but nearmisses were again the order of the day.All the pain and misery was forgottenin 2010 when fate and injury ruledSonya Condon out of the team andwith former student Diarmud Mc-Caughey she took the reins and led,arguably, the most talented group ofladies ever assembled under the GMITbanner to All-Ireland glory, winningThe Lagan Cup in emphatic style in2010. While the following year failedto live up to the big billing, it’s a markof the strength and depth of talentthat in 2012 the girls were again in-volved in the final – ultimately theycame up short but with a very youngteam they are looking forward to nextyear’s challenge.

The men’s soccer team have forthree years running emerged fromtheir group in the CUFL league anddelighted in knocking colleagues andneighbours GMIT Galway out theUmbro cup in 2009, but it was in TheCFAI Umbro Plate that they came clos-est to being rewarded for theirprogress. Having successfully bid to

‘Exceptionalplayers,

inspirationalleaders’

All-Ireland hurling champions, Fergal Maher Cup 2004.


40


host the finals in 2011 they puttogether a great run of games to en-sure they would be in the final in frontof a home crowd. A horrendous nightdidn’t deter a huge crowd coming tothe game under lights in Celtic Parkand creating an incredible atmos-phere. But it did make a lottery of thegame, the wind in particular playinghavoc and the lads eventually were run-ners up.

If there is one area where our smallnumbers truly take bigger colleges bysurprise it’s in the arena of adventuresports; Mick Byrne and Dan Kealyclaimed gold and silver in the 2008windsurfing intervarsities; Jacek To-miak, Dan Keegan and Laura Griffinall claimed medals this year leading tous hosting the prestigious event thefollowing year; Mary Maloney andDeirdre Cormican claimed similarmedals in the rock climbing intervarsi-ties; and Gareth Gargan claimed silver

in the Longboard event at the surfingintervarsities in the same year. No mat-ter how big the college, they knowthey will have stiff competition whenGMIT Castlebar enter the fray.

Nowhere is this more evident thanin Kayaking. In 2011 GMIT Castlebardefeated the best all the other collegeshad to offer to be crowned NationalKayak Polo champions at the intervar-sities in Cork and came third overall.This year we hosted the event—thebiggest participation event in the col-lege sporting calendar—and retainedthe Kayak Polo title.

Adding to these achievements the“fit4work” programme means staff &students alike have access toaffordable accessible exercise classesdaily. The thriving clubs and societiesscene ensures that all tastes and levelsof ability and interest are catered forin all of the clubs above, as well asyoga, dance, judo and golf.

WSCAI Intervarsity plate winners 2007.

Mike Rogerson, GMIT completing aloop Kayak, during the KayakingIntervarsities 2012, hosted by theMayo campus.

All Ireland champions, womens GAA Lagan cup 2010.


41

GMIT Today

An invaluable contributionto Irish educationFormer GMIT Registrar and accomplished author, Bernard O’Hara tracesthe milestones over the last 40 years.

The opening of the RegionalTechnical Colleges from the1970s initiated one of the most

exciting developments in Irish educa-tion during the twentieth century.They brought a strong vocational ori-entation, increased participation andan important regional dimension tohigher education in Ireland.

In the 1960s, Ireland had a smallelite system of higher education, cater-ing almost exclusively to the profes-sions and some employment outlets inthe public sector.

When the process of the industrial-isation accelerated during the 1960s,it became apparent that there was ascarcity of technical, technological, sci-entific and management expertise.

On 20 May 1963, the Minister forEducation, Dr Patrick Hillery, an-nounced the establishment of a num-ber of Regional Technical Colleges.The role of the colleges was specifiedin the Report of the Steering Commit-tee of Higher Education (1967):

We believe that the long-term function ofthe colleges will be to educate for trade andindustry over a broad spectrum of occupa-tions ranging from craft to professional, no-tably in engineering and science but also incommercial, linguistic and other specialties.They will, howeer, be more immediately con-cerned with providing courses aimed at fill-ing gaps in the industrial manpowerstructure, particularly in the technician area.

Organisational structureThe RTCs were established under sec-tion 21 (2) of the Vocational Educa-tion Act 1930. Each college wasmanaged by a Board of Managementoperating as a sub-committee of theparent Vocational Education Commit-tee (the one in whose functional areait was situated). Each college had anAdvisory Council, broadly representa-tive of educational, agricultural and in-dustrial interests in the region.Funding came from the Departmentof Education through the parent Vo-cational Education Committee. Edu-cational awards were made by theNational Council for EducationalAwards (NCEA) which was establishedon an ad hoc basis in April 1972 andon a statutory basis from 16 July 1980.

RTC GalwayGalway, with a population of 27,726 in1971, was one of the locations selectedfor an RTC as it became a growth cen-tre for economic development. The pi-oneering work was undertaken by TheCity of Galway Vocational EducationCommittee. After inspection, it wasagreed that the most suitable site wasone of nine hectares on the then DublinRoad owned by Galway Corporation.The contract to purchase this site for£25,000 was signed on 25 September1967.

John Sisk and Son (Ireland) Ltdwas selected as the main contractor.The floor area of the original building,designed to accommodate 1,100 stu-dents, was 11,410 square metres. Allthe construction work was not com-pleted until early 1973, and cost£950,000, with a separate allocationfor equipment and furniture. Thebuilding had a rather austere func-tional appearance with little aestheticappeal.

First RTC employeesForty-five candidates applied for thepost of Principal in November 1971.Sixteen were short-listed for interview.Gabriel (Gay) Corr, a first class hon-ours science graduate from UCG and

a member of the Royal Society ofChemistry, was appointed as Principal.Gay Corr took up his new role on 1April 1972 in a room in the CountyBuildings in Prospect Hill and did Tro-jan work to have staff and students inthe new college in September thatyear. Philomena Lydon became thesecond employee when she started as aclerical officer on 1 May. During thesummer, four senior staff were ap-pointed; Michael Corrigan, a TrinityCollege Dublin graduate, was ap-pointed Head of Business Studies;Brendán S. O’Foighil, a civil engineer,was Head of Engineering; Gerald BHughes, a graduate of Cathal BrughaStreet College of Catering, as Head ofHotel and Catering Studies; and DrBrian Place, a science graduate fromBirmingham University, was appointedHead of Science. Other academictechnical and administrative staff wereappointed from September 1972.

OpeningThe first students entered the Re-gional Technical College, Galway, onMonday 18 September 1972 and a newera in the educational history of thecity and region began. During the ac-ademic year 1972/73, the college had1,213 registered students (319 full-

Opening day, 12 April 1973.

GMIT 40th Anniversary


time third-level; 76 full-time craft; 42on day and block release courses; 212apprentices and 564 on adult and con-tinuing education programmes). Atotal of 750 applied for the full-timethird-level places and selection wasbased on Leaving Certificate perform-ances and interview scores. Galway be-came the main centre outside Dublinfor both craft and management edu-cation and training for the hotel in-dustry, which generated considerablepublicity.

The Regional Technical CollegeGalway was officially opened on Thurs-day 12 April 1973 by Richard BurkeTD, Minister for Education. Educa-tional curriculae had to be preparedand submitted to the NCEA seekingrecognition. It took time to get all pro-grammes approved. Over a few years, aladder structure of educational qualifi-cations emerged: A National Certificatetook two years, plus one year to a Na-tional Diploma, plus one year to a de-gree, or three-year ab-initio Diploma,or four-year ab- initio degree. The firstgraduation ceremony took place in No-vember 1974.

Binary or comprehensive system?On 16 December 1974, Richard Burke,Minister for Education in the FineGael/Labour Government, caused con-sternation when he made a major an-nouncement in relation to highereducation, including a decision to es-tablish a comprehensive system of

higher education rather than a binaryone. The decision had not been pre-ceded by a White Paper or any discus-sions and, consequently, the issues werenever properly considered or evaluated.

There were also major changes forthe universities. The announcementof a comprehensive system meant theremoval of degree awarding powersfrom the NCEA. The first degree sub-mission from a Regional TechnicalCollege came from Galway in respectof a Hotel and Catering Managementprogramme and it had been evaluatedbut not approved before the 16 De-cember 1974 decision. A period ofgreat uncertainty followed and inMarch 1975, the College was informedthat the NCEA would be allowed to ap-prove the award as ‘a temporaryarrangement’ if all the specified con-ditions were satisfied. In July 1975, thisarrangement was approved by theCouncil of the NCEA for all studentsgraduating up to 1979.

When the NCEA was re-constitutedin February 1976, its powers to grantand confer awards applied tocertificates and diplomas only. Becausethe NCEA had already granted degreerecognition to the Galway course and,as no university was then in a positionto validate it, the Council continued toassess student performance inaccordance with the conditions ofapproval. Students on the first cycle ofthe course had followed thecurriculum and assessment proceduresapproved by the NCEA for degree

recognition and four passed the finalexaminations in May / June 1976.About September of that year, it wasrumoured that the successful studentswere to receive ‘advanced diplomas inhotel and catering management’rather than degrees, as the NCEA wasnot being allowed to honour itscommitment. This rumour was laterconfirmed by the NCEA following aCouncil decision to that effect on 14October 1976. A rubric was to beinserted on each parchment statingthat it was ‘of degree standard’. Therewere protests from students, parents,staff and the Board of Management,but the decision was not altered.

The annual conferring ceremonytook place on Monday 15 Novemberamid protests by students and greattension. Students from the hotel man-agement course were left until last.The first student from the class to becalled to the podium was presentedwith his parchment by Dr Tom Walsh,chairperson of the NCEA. The studentread it and saw that it was called an‘Advanced Diploma in Hotel andCatering Management’. He told thechairperson that he was not acceptingit, and handed the document back.

There was consternation on the plat-form and rapturous applause from theaudience. The same procedure wasfollowed by the other three students.This was followed by three speeches,the first from Dr Tom Walsh, who crit-icised the students for what they did,the second by the Principal, Gay Corr,and the final one by Michael O’Sulli-van, chairperson of the Board of Man-agement, who said that the studentswere ‘perfectly correct in their ac-tions’. Gay Corr in a firm and coura-geous address said:

“Under normal circumstances I would,on an occasion such as this, spend sometime outlining for you the progress of our in-

42


Opening ceremony event, 12 April 1973.

Opening day ceremony, 12 April 1973.


43

GMIT Todaystitution over the past twelve months andthe hopes and aspirations we have for theyear ahead. This, however, ladies and gen-tlemen, is not a normal occasion; it is thefirst time at a graduation ceremony I haveseen students conferred with a qualificationother than that for which they were assessedin their final examinations. It is also thefirst occasion on which I have seen theaward being conferred described as ‘equalto’, ‘equivalent to’, or ‘the same as’ anaward of another designation. Finally, andsadly, it is my first experience of seeingnaked injustice being done to students whosuccessfully completed their examinationssimply because they were unlucky enough tofall outside the structure of some pre-deter-mined administrative framework overwhich they had no control. I am, of course,referring to the graduates of our four yearcourse in hotel and catering management.It is indeed ironic that the new Governmentproposals, whose declared aims were to up-grade the status of the technological sectorof education, should have as its first casu-alties students in a Regional Technical Col-lege who must have their qualificationsdowngraded in order to meet Governmentpolicy. I would humbly submit, ladies andgentlemen, that if we are to build a bettereducational system in this country for ouryoung people, then the structures we con-struct and the means we employ should behumane, based on justice and capable oftreating all our children equally.”

The situation was well publicised lo-cally and nationally with the Students’Union playing a big role. Many localand national organisations made rep-resentations to the Department of Ed-ucation. Richard Burke was appointedas European Economic CommunityCommissioner in November 1976 andhe was very happy to leave Irish poli-tics.

Within a few days of becoming Min-ister for Education on 2 December1976, Peter Barry, to his eternal credit,informed the NCEA that it couldaward degrees to the 1976 class in ac-cordance with the decision taken inJuly 1975. At its meeting on 25 January

1977, the Council of the NCEA de-cided to grant a BA degree to the stu-dents who successfully completed thefour-year course in hotel and cateringmanagement at RTC Galway in 1976.

A special conferring ceremony forthe four students concerned was heldin the College on 9 May 1977, at whichthe degrees were duly conferred by DrTom Walsh. They were the first de-grees conferred in an RTC.

In June 1977, a Fianna Fáil Govern-ment came into office and on 29 Julythat year, the Minister for Education,John Wilson, announced that the de-gree awarding powers of the NCEAwere to be restored. Discussion hadcommenced with University CollegeGalway (UCG) in 1976 to have thehotel and catering management de-gree approved. However, both sidesunderstood that any recognition wasto apply for the future and not retro-spectively. In September 1979, RTCGalway was informed by UCG that theSenate of the NUI had approved theproposal. This development was con-sidered at length at a Board of Man-agement meeting, and eventually itdecided that the course should staywith the NCEA in accordance with theMinister’s announcement of July1977.

Student admissionIn the early years of the RTCs, all appli-cants for third-level certificate ordiploma courses who met the mini-mum entry requirements (Leaving Cer-tificate in five subjects, includingEnglish and Mathematics, or equiva-lent) were called for interview. The

minimum entry for an ab initio degreewas Leaving Certificate in six subjects,including English and Mathematics,two of which had to be passed in higherpapers at grade C3 or higher. Admis-sion was based on Leaving Certificateand interview performance. Specialconsideration was given to mature ap-plicants, those aged 23 on or before 1January in the year of admission. TheCentral Admissions Office (CAO) wasestablished by the universities in 1976to process undergraduate admission,but the RTCs did not join the system atthat stage. A points system and inter-views were continued in the RTCs.

By the end of the 1980s, each of thethen nine RTCs had its own separateapplication procedure and in somecases a different points system. Arisingfrom the initiatives of the Minister forEducation Mary O’Rourke, the admis-sion procedure was simplified andstandardised in 1991 with the establish-ment of the Central Admissions Serv-ices (CAS), operated by the CAO officein Galway. A new procedure wasadopted, under which a single applica-tion form and one fee (£18) coveredall Universities, RTCs, CoACT and DIT.

ExtensionAn extension of 5,835 square metresto the original building was completedin April 1977 by PJ Walls Ltd, at a costof £1m. It was similar to and parallelwith the original structure and con-nected by a bridge. A sports hall waserected in 1977/78. All the early grad-uates of the college secured employ-ment quickly as new multi-nationalcorporations were established in Gal-Conferring, 28 November 1977.

Admiring a new computer, (29 November 1974), donated by Digital Corporation. L to R:Michael O’Sullivan, Chairman of the Board of Management, RTC, Dr FinbarO’Callaghan, Department of Education, Fintan Coogan, Mayor of Galway, Gay Corr,Principal of RTC Galway and Mike Mulqueen, HR Manager, Digital Corporation.


way and the region and local servicesexpanded.

ESF GrantsOn the initiative of Gemma Hussey,Minister for Education from Decem-ber 1982 to February 1986, all studentson a two year Certificate course be-came eligible for European SocialFunding (ESF) grants with effect fromthe start of the academic year1974/85. Diploma courses qualifiedfrom 1989/90. These grants were notsubject to means tests.

Regional linkagesRTC Galway established links and part-nerships with various organisationsaround the west of Ireland, includingMountbellew Agricultural College in1987, Letterfrack in partnership withConnemara West Ltd in 1987. As a re-sult of a local campaign led by PaddyMcGuinness, a campus of RTC Galwaywas established in Castlebar in 1994.Another campus was established at Clu-ain Mhuire in Galway city in 1994.

RTC legislationWith the enactment of the RegionalTechnical Colleges Act 1992 on 1 Janu-ary 1993, RTC Galway became an au-tonomous institution of highereducation with a legal framework to en-gage in various non-teaching activitiessuch as research and consultancy. As aresult, the college severed its links withGalway VEC. The title of Principal be-came Director (later President) andnew posts such as Registrar and Secre-tary/Financial Controller were estab-lished. Under this legislation, the name

of the college was changed to Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT)in January 1998.

Delegated AuthorityFollowing the re-designation of RTCs asInstitutes of Technology in 1997 and1998, the Minister for Education,Niamh Bhreathneach, appointed an in-ternational review team, chaired by Pro-fessor Dervila Donnely of UCD, toevaluate applications for institutions tomake their own awards under dele-gated authority from the national vali-dation body. GMIT was given delegatedauthority to make its own awards at Na-tional Certificate and National Diplomalevel in 2001.

Arising from the implementation ofthe Qualifications (Education andTraining) Act 1999, a new nationalframework of qualifications was estab-lished, with a structure of ten levels in-corporating standards of knowledge,skills and competence for each. Thereare five levels applicable to higher edu-cation as shown in the table:

National Framework of Qualifications:Level: Qualification10 Doctoral Degree9 Master’s Degree/

Postgraduate Diploma8 Honours Bacherlor Degree/

Higher Diploma7 Ordinary Bachelor Degree6 Higher Certificate

All programme in GMIT had to be re-vised to comply with the learning out-comes specified for each level in theframework as well as implementingpolicies and procedures for access,

transfer and progression. By then, therewere honours degrees available in allspecialisms, either ab-initio or add-on,as well as an increasing involvement atpostgraduate level.

Following various internationalreviews, by 2004 GMIT had delegatedauthority under section 29 of the Qual-ifications (Education and Training) Act1999 to confer its own awards at levels6, 7,8 and 9 in respect of all taught pro-grammes, and in respect of levels 9 and10 in two research disciplines – AquaticScience and Mechanical Engineering.All quality assurance policies and pro-cedures were approved in separatereviews.

GMIT won the Sunday Times Insti-tute of Technology of the Year in 2004and 2006.

New facilitiesA new Learning Resource Centre of10,250 square metres, a landmarkbuilding with a design incorporatingstriking green sails reflecting themaritime history of Galway, was openedin 2003. The building comprises alibrary and information technologycentre accommodating some 900learners, a high specification audito-rium, classrooms and someadministration space. Two Innovation inBusiness Centres (IiBC) were opened inGMIT; in the Dublin Road (Galway)campus during 2005 and in theCastlebar campus the following year.

Presidents and chairpersonsGay Corr, who had directed the affairsof the college for thirty years, retired in2002, and was succeeded on 4 Octoberthat year by Marion Coy, an arts gradu-ate from UCG who was the ActingHead of the School of Business andHumanities. She led the college foreight years and retired at the end ofNovember 2010. Jim Fennell, the Sec-retary/Financial Controller was ActingPresident until 19 April 2011, whenMichael Carnmody, a UCG Engineer-ing graduate and former President ofInstitute of Technology, Tralee, tookover as President of GMIT.

The first Chairperson of the Boardof Management of RTC Galway wasMichael O’Sullivan, a member of Gal-way VEC. He was succeeded in July1979 (to 31 December 1992) byMichael O’hUiginn, Managing Direc-tor of T. O’hUiginn Teo in Galway andChair of the City of Galway VEC. Hewas the appointed Chairperson of theGoverning Body from 1 January 1993and served in that capacity until Febru-ary 2005. Rory O’Connor, CEO of

44


RTC Galway Board of Management 1979: Back row, L to R: John O’Donnell, JohnMitchell, Dennis Murphy, Seán O'Regan and James Lyons. Front row, L to R: SeamusMacDomhnaill, CEO of the City of Galway VEC, Micheál Ó hUiginn, and Gay Corr,Principal of RTC Galway.


45

GMIT Today

Hewlett-Packard in Galway, served asChairperson in March 2005 and he wassucceeded in 2012 by Des Mahon, aformer Mayo County Manager.

Institutes of Technology Act2006The Institutes of Technology Act 2006,which came into effect on 1 February2007, amended the Regional Techni-cal Colleges Acts 1992 to 2001. It interalia brought the Institutes under theaegis of the HEA, specified reservedfunctions for Governing Bodies andobliged each Institute to adopt aStrategic Development Plan, an Equal-ity Policy and a Disputes and Resolu-tion Procedures Policy.

Numbers of studentsIn 1972/73 RTC Galway had 1,213 reg-istered students. By 2008/9, the collegehad a student population of 8,999 reg-istered students (5,213 full-time). Workplacements had been incorporatedinto 43 programmes involving 1,270full-time students.

Contribution to Galway andthe regionOver the years from 1972, GMIT madea big contribution to economic devel-opment by providing suitable graduatesin a wide range of specialisms for the ex-panding labour force, as well as facilitat-ing participation, fostering socialcohesion and becoming a driver of re-gional development. Alumni foundready employment and the high de-mand for places, even during a period

of a big drop in the number taking theLeaving Certificate, is a reflection of thereputation it earned. The college madea big contribution to the attractivenessof Galway and the west region for for-eign direct investment and the promo-tion of indigenous enterprises. It alsoincreased access and participation in-cluding from groups hitherto under-represented in higher education.

It developed the ladder system ofprogression, which facilitated theintegration of further and highereducation as well as the developmentof lifelong opportunities. It wasresponsive to providing newprogrammes to satisfy new needs,working closely with regional andcommunity groups. In 2011, GMITsigned a strategic partnership

agreement with the NUI, Galway. InJuly, 2012 GMIT entered into astrategic partnership with IT Sligo andLetterkenny IT. As GMIT celebrates its40th anniversary, there are newchallenges and opportunities on thehorizon.

Bernard O’Hara is a former Registrar ofGMIT, Galway. He was a member of thestaff of GMIT from 1972 to 2010, servingas a lecturer in Business Studies, Head ofthe School of Business and Humanities.He is the author of Regional TechnicalCollege, Galway: the First 21 Years,published in 1993, and a number of otherbooks including Entrepreneurship inIreland and Killasser: Heritage of a MayoParish, both published in 2010.

Pictured at the launch of Bernard OHara’s book “RTC Galway: The First 21 Years” inSeptember 1993, L to R: Mícheál Ó hUiginn, Geraldine Quinn, Henry O’Connor, Mayorof Galway, Bernard O’Hara and Gay Corr.

RTC Galway student protest, Shop Street, Galway, 1986.


46

GMIT Alumni

About that chair...

Since I established my business in 2004I get regular enquiries from people whohave seen my work and want to learn todo the same. I automatically refer them toGMIT Letterfrack.

Over the last few years I have exhibitedin a number of prestigious internationalshows and galleries and the recurringquestion is where I studied. I’m continu-ally surprised by how many people haveheard of the college and its great reputa-tion.

Upon reflection of my time spentstudying in GMIT Letterfrack the privi-lege of having world class visiting lectur-ers such as the late Alan Peters wascertainly one of the highlights of a verymemorable two years. In addition, thestaff and facilities at the college are sec-ond to none.

One of the most satisfying aspects ofmy job is the process of seeing an initialdesign concept develop into a uniquepiece of furniture and the feeling of pridewhen delivering it to the client or gallery.

The highlight of my career to date waswinning the commission to design andmake the new Presidential InaugurationChair used in the inauguration ceremonyfor President Michael D Higgins in 2011.The chair will be used in all future Presi-dential Inaugurations so in a small way itwill play a part in the history of ourcountry.”

“My grandfather and father were both cabinetmakers sothe decision to pursue one of the 15 places available atthe time on the Furniture Design and Manufacture

programme was a simple one for me.I was in GMIT Letterfrack from 1991 to 1993 and graduated with a dis-

tinction. I was delighted to be awarded the ‘Student of the Year’ award andthe following year I won the Irish National Apprentice Cabinet-Making Com-petition. A GMIT scholarship for a six month work placement withrenowned furniture designer, Andrew Varah then brought me to the UKwhere I stayed for almost five years.

Pictured at the State reception, John Lee withPresident Michael D Higgins and his wifeSabina.

Furniture designer and maker John Lee graduated from GMIT Letterfrack in1993. Here, he reflects on a career that has shot him to international attention,not least for THAT chair.


47

GMIT Today

Since graduating from GMIT tenyears ago Gary Shore is now asuccessful Hollywood film

director. Gary completed a three-yeardiploma in Film and Television in2002. He was nominated for theJameson Student Film of the YearAward for his short film ‘180’. Thiswas quickly followed by a win for hissecond film ‘Stella and Cowboy’ at theOxygen Student Film Awards. Thelatter was selected for RTE’s ‘Debut’season. He established Shore Imageslater that year and work includedconceptual designs for the PointDepot Theatre.

Gary worked for some years as adirector of music videos and adver-tisements. His work has been seenaround the world on major TV andmusic channels, exhibitions and festi-vals. Clients included Adidas, EMI,Vogue, Nokia, the Irish Governmentand the Montenegro Ministry ofTourism.

Gary has worked for WarnerBrothers, and he was invited recentlyby Hollywood’s Universal Studios todirect a revival of ‘Dracula Year Zero’and to write and direct a sciencefiction film titled ‘Our House’.

Asuccessful artist who exhibits inthe premier internationalgroup exhibitions in Ireland –

EVA (Limerick), RHA (Dublin), Tulca(Galway) and Galway Arts Festival,Jennifer exhibited work at ShanghaiExpo 2010 and in Reykjavik, Iceland,in 2008. She has held numerous soloshows throughout Ireland. Her work isin many collections including theOPW, ESB, Siemens and Galway CityCouncil.

Jennifer graduated from GMIT in2002 with a first class honours degree,having specialised in Printmaking. She

won the Taylor Art Award, the HenryHiggins Travel scholarship, MurrayO’Laoire Award for Printmaking,Norman Ackroyd Award for Etching2002, Arts Council Travel andTraining Award and the ThomasDamann Travel Award to New York in2008.

In 2005, Jennifer completed an arttherapy course at the CrawfordCollege of Art & Design, Cork,followed by VTOS study in Film, TVand video production. In 2008,Jennifer was awarded a Masters degreein Fine Art at NCAD.

Graduates making theirmark across the world

Gary ShoreGMIT Film & TV graduate

Jennifer CunninghamGMIT Art & Design graduate


Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), Dublin Road, Galway, Rep of Ireland.Tel: +353 91 753161email: [email protected]: www.gmit.ie

Galway

Cluain Mhuire

Mountbellew

Castlebar

Letterfrack


gmit today 48pp3columnv2 layout 1 · gmit_today_48pp3columnv2_layout 1 06/11/2012 09:32 ... and...

Documents