· B. Eng Degree in Mechanical Engineering on Energy Systems ". added Dr Roche. Duncan Stewart,...

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT),

Dublin Road,

Galway,

Rep of Ireland.

Tel +353 91 753161

Fax +353 91 751107

email: [email protected]

website: www.gmit.ie

www.gmit.ie

We'd like to keep in touch with you in the futureso please send us your contact details.

Benefits of the GMIT Alumni Association include:

• Organisation of class reunions and professional networking events.

• Preferential membership rates for GMIT Library.

• Special rates for GMIT Gym .

• Health insurance - 10% discount with VHI and Quinn Healthcare.

• 10% discount at Blacoe Jewellers Galway and Claremorris.

• 10% discount on accommodation and leisure club membership at Ardilaun Hotel, Galway.

• Two-for-one admission at 67 OPW sites throughout the country.

Contact the GMIT Alumni Association [email protected], and complete the briefonline application form at www.gmit.ie/alumni/

GMIT Alumni AssociationInsert IiBC Advertfull page colourwas used in theGalway conferringsbooklet 06(inside front cover)

Innovation inBusiness Centre (IiBC)

The Innovation in Business Centres (IiBC) at GMITCastlebar and GMIT Galway are strategic resources

for new start-up companies.

The IiBC supports the development of new enterprises in the region byproviding incubation space and business development supports for thenurturing of new ideas and the commercialisation of applied research.

It is another step in GMIT’s innovative approach towards facilitatinglearning and economic development in the regions.

Supported by Enterprise Ireland, the Innovation in Business Centresalso provide a Concept Desk facility to support entrepreneurs whohave a good idea for a new business venture, which may in time

develop into a project for the incubation space.

Business development supports available to new start-up companiescover such areas as Marketing, Sales, Finance, Legal, Intellectual

Property, Export Development, Mentoring, Networking and access toResearch competencies at the Institute.

The IiBC enables companies to work in a secure, innovative,entrepreneurial environment as they progress through the various

stages of a new company start-up.

Maria Staunton

IiBC, Castlebar

094-9027492

[email protected]

George McCourt

IiBC, Galway

091-742822

[email protected]

An important new language-trainingproject for transnational placementtrainees in the catering industry is tobe developed in GMIT over the nexttwo years, with funding of almost€400,000 from the EU Leonardo daVinci programme.

A project team made up ofpersonnel from GMIT and six othercountries - Belgium, England, France,Norway, Slovenia and Spain, are

collaborating on devising andproducing a web-based and DVDlanguage-training package for traineecatering students.

The package will address theshortfall in the provision of languageand cultural preparation forplacement students, based on theneeds identified through surveyssubmitted by Small and MediumEnterprises (SMEs) and trainees in the

catering industry, as well as promotersof transnational mobility projects andshort-term placement trainees.

GMIT is the only Irish third-levelcollege involved in the project.

The DVD/website will provideaudio-communicative scenes with avariety of situations, which relate tothe demands observed in service inthe catering industry. .

The web-based and DVD languagetraining package will be available toall vocational training organisations,hotel groups and SMEs in the cateringindustry.

GMIT project co-ordinator AnneBrindley says: "There is a strongdemand for this training package asthere is greater mobility now morethan ever between third-levelvocational training institutes and thecatering industry in the EU. GMIT isdelighted to be involved in thisproject."

2 GMIT annual 2006/2007

institute news

L-R: Mayor of GalwayCity Niall O'Brolcháin;

Lucy Shale, UK;Isabelle Frechede,France; Christian

Goethals, Belgium;Beit Finne, Norway;

Darja Stiherl, Slovenia;Paul Midha, UK;

Acosta Garcia, Spain;Stuart Jauncey, Head

of Hotel School, GMIT;Anne Brindley, Project

Co-ordinator, GMIT;and Mary MacCague,

Acting Head ofHumanities, GMIT.

The GMIT Governing Body was established under theRegional Technical Colleges Act 1992. It comprises aChairman and 17 ordinary members, as well as theDirector of the college. Members are appointed by theMinister for Education, six of whom are drawn from theVocational Education Committee(s), two from academicstaff, one non-academic, two from the student body, onefrom the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu), and fivefrom organisations in agriculture, business & industry,

and the professions.The Governing Body manages and controls the affairs

of the college including all its property. It performs thefunctions conferred on it by the Act and has all suchpowers as necessary to carry out those functions, subjectto policies determined by the Minister for Education. Theordinary members, with the exception of the twostudent representatives, are appointed for a period offive years, with effect from 1st April 2005.

Back row, L-R: Jim Fennell, GMIT Financial Controller and Governing Body Secretary; Debbie Molloy, Outgoing President, GMIT Students Union;Hugh McBride, GMIT academic staff; Andrew D’Arcy, Head of Development, GMIT; Bernard O’Hara, GMIT Registrar; Dr Deirdre O’Keefe, FáilteIreland; Chris McLoughlin, GMIT staff; Cllr Teresa Maguire, Mayo Co Council; Brian Walsh, City of Galway VEC; Padraic Flesk, Incoming President,GMIT Students Union; Front row, L-R: Carmel Brennan, Galway Chamber; Donagh O’Donoghue, Ibec; Maria Heneghan, Teagasc; Marion Coy, Director GMIT; RoryO’Connor, Chairman, GMIT; Dr Íde Ni Fhaoláin, GMIT academic staff; and Seosamh MacDonncha, Co Galway VEC. (Missing from photo: BrendánO’Collerán, City of Galway VEC, Joe Beirne, Institution of Engineers Ireland; Joe Cunningham, Ictu; Fidelma Healy-Eames, Co Galway VEC; and PatMcMahon, Co Clare VEC).

Eurocatering language training project

GMIT Governing Body

GMITAnnual 06_07_32Pagesv5.qxd 24/4/07 11:50 pm Page 2

3GMIT annual 2006/2007

GMIT first to runBuilding Energy Rating(BER) training

GMIT is currently rolling out itsBuilding Energy Rating (BER)training programme for assessorsacross the country. The programmetrains participants to analyse theenergy efficiency rating of building,in line a new EU Directive.

The Institute is the first third-level college to offer the BERassessor training in Ireland, inconsultation with sustainableEnergy Ireland (SEI).

Its first round of training (of 60assessors) took place in December2006 in Dublin, Galway, and Cork.The second round is ongoing sinceFebruary in Galway, Dublin andCork. The first Dublin event in thisround was launched in March inDublin’s Cultivate Centre by Aboutthe House and EcoEye PresenterDuncan Stewart.

The EU Energy Performance ofBuildings Directive (EPBD) obligesthat the energy performance ofdwellings be provided to thepurchaser or tenant, so thatowners/tenants know the exactenergy efficiency and likelyrunning costs of the dwelling. Italso encourages designers toinclude new energy saving featuresin building design.

GMIT sees it as essential thatexperienced energy practitionersare used to train the Auditors inbuilding energy assessmentbecause of the nuances andcomplexity in the assessment ofdwellings using the DEAPmethodology. To this end, GMIT isemploying experienced energyassessment practitioners to deliver

L-R: DuncanStewart, Dr Tom Roche,BER ProgrammeDeveloper, GMIT, and Ray Clarke,Researcher, GMIT.

A new woodwork teaching degree- the Bachelor of Science (Hons) inDesign & Technology Education, isnow available at GMIT Letterfrack.GMIT is the first of the ITs to offera woodwork teaching degree.Students who complete the four-year (Hons) programme will bequalified to teach Architectural

Technology and Design &Communication Graphics toLeaving Cert (Hons) standard.These subjects are replacing theexisting Construction Studies andTechnical Drawing subjects from2007 and 2008. The new course,approved by the Dept ofEducation, the Teaching Council

and HETAC, is a majorachievement for GMIT and meetsa key objective of MichaelHannon, Head of CentreLetterfrack, on his appointmenttwo years ago when he mobiliseda team of experts to develop thisteaching degree.

Another first as GMIT offers woodwork teaching degree

institute news

training nationally to ensureconsistent assessments andinformed advice for the customer.

The Institute has been innovativeand dynamic in its rapid response tothis training need by: developingthe first certified programmenationally; allowing exemption toparts of the module based oncertified prior experience,specifically for energy consultants;launching a registration web sitewww.buildingenergyauditing.com;using high-quality energypractitioners as trainers; andoffering training at many distributedcentres nationally to ensure an evenspread of highly qualified assessors.

GMIT’s Dr Thomas Roche, BERProgramme Developer, says: “Thehigh demand for our programme isvery encouraging and is testamentto GMIT's high-quality standards ineducation and its dynamicresponse to meeting national andregional needs.

“The Institute has a stronghistory in environmental and

energy research having establisheditself on the national andinternational stages in areas suchas renewable energy technologies,biofuels, green building design,waste management, and design forenvironment. We have over twelvepostgraduate researchers workingin the field currently. Furthermore,the Mechanical EngineeringDepartment has just launched aspecialisation in its undergraduateB. Eng Degree in MechanicalEngineering on Energy Systems ".added Dr Roche.

Duncan Stewart, launching theDublin programme, said: “It iscritical that the problems of ourexcessive and increasing CO2

emissions and our over-dependence on imported fossilfuels be addressed. The role of thebuilding energy assessor both asan energy auditor and as an energyefficiency advisor is critical and afirst step to addressing theseproblems.”



institute news

The Innovation in Business Centre(IiBC) at the Dublin Road campushas had a very successful year sinceits official opening in January 2006.There is 100% occupancy: threeHigh Potential Start ups (HPSUs) in2006 - Novate Medical, EFAST andATFM Solutions. Three researchprojects are also in place withincubation clients.

A total of 37 new jobs werecreated since the IiBC opened (19

promoters and 18 employees).Three student projects are in placewith incubation clients. The centrerecently commenced a Midlands &West Enterprise Programme withAthlone IT. Ten new start-upbusinesses will participate on thisprogramme in GMIT.

The IiBC is managed by GeorgeMcCourt who holds a B. Eng degreein Computer Systems and an MBA.He has 18 years experience with USand European multinationals in thecomputer, electronics, plastics andmultimedia industries includingnine years experience at seniormanager and plant manger level.Prior to his appointment asManager of IiBC, GMIT, heestablished Midland Precision Tool& Die Ltd, from a green fieldsituation. The company won theNational Enterprise Award in 2002.

The IiBC at the Dublin Roadcampus is one of two industrysupport centres established by

GMIT. The second centre is locatedat GMIT's Castlebar campus and ismanaged by Maria Staunton. Thecentre accommodates sevenincubation units and two appliedresearch units, which complementthe research activity at theCastlebar campus.

The centre reached a milestonerecently when one of its clientcompanies, InTime Media, wasawarded funding for an InnovationPartnership Programme fromEnterprise Ireland.

InTime Media is an interactivemedia start-up focussed ondelivering new functionality to thelatest mobile phones so that userscan interact directly, via theirphones, with television.

The innovation partnershipresearch programme, the first forGMIT Castlebar, will assist InTimeMedia in the development of itsmobile phone technology. A postgraduate researcher and a researchofficer will shortly be appointed towork for the research team underthe supervision of GMIT.

The purpose of the InnovationPartnership Programme is toenable research projects throughcollaboration with third-levelcolleges such as GMIT Castlebar.This results in mutually beneficialco-operation and interaction innew product and processdevelopment for companies suchas InTime Media.

Bernard O’Hara, Acting Head ofCentre, GMIT Castlebar, said it is amajor development for thecampus. "It links academicprogrammes with research,innovation and enterprise." he said.

The two IiBCs are part of theGMIT Strategic Plan 2004–2009 toboost economic and culturalinnovation and integrate research,teaching and regionaldevelopment. The innovationcentres will drive the newenterprise model of market-led andknowledge-based industrialdevelopment.

Pictured outside theGMIT Innovation in

Business Centre(IiBC) at the Dublin

Road campus:Minister for

Enterprise, Trade andEmployment

Micheál Martin, withGeorge McCourt,

Manager, IiBC.

At the opening of theInnovation in

Business Centre(IiBC) at the

Castlebar campus, L-R: Enterprise

Ireland’s Seamus Bree, Director Marion Coy,

Minister forEnterprise, Trade and

EmploymentMicheál Martin, and

the former Head ofCentre, GMIT

Castlebar, now CEOof County Mayo VEC,

Dr Katie Sweeney

Full occupancy in Innovation Centre



institute news

Science4Summer GMIT ran its first summer schoolfor children “Science4Summer”last year. The pilot programmewas a great success and will runagain this year for three weeksfrom Monday 9th July. Theprogramme is supported by theMarine Institute’s ExplorersProgramme, which promotesmarine awareness in primaryschools in Galway andsurrounding areas.

The week-long course runsfrom Monday to Friday, 10am to2pm in GMIT’s Dublin Roadcampus. The programmeincludes classes and practicalexperiments and fieldtrips onzoology and marine biology andis pitched at three levels: eightto 12 year olds (beginners), eightto 12 year olds (advanced) and

12 to 14 year olds (advanced).GMIT Science4Summer was

set up by GMIT CommercialFisheries researcher Nóirín Burke.Brochures have been distributedto schools in the Galway areaand are also available from locallibraries, as well as Leisurelandand Atlantaquaria in Galway city.For further information tel. 087-1301974 (m) [email protected] [email protected]

The first ever Institutes ofTechnology Libraries StrategyStatement was formally launchedin GMIT in 2006, by GMIT DirectorMarion Coy. The five-year guidingstrategy, drawn up by librarians inthe State’s IoTs, consists of anagreed mission statement, set ofvalues, objectives and specificgoals. Libraries play a vital role inLearning in the IOTs.

In the past 35 years IOT librarieshave responded to the constantchange in learning methodologies,technology and in highereducation provision generally. Thescale and level of cooperation hasresulted in important collaborativeinitiatives such as the An Chéimproject, which saw the Millenniumlibrary management systeminstalled in all IOT libraries and thePartners Agreement, which allows

for inter-lending of stock.A new IOT Libraries Partner

Reader Card was also unveiled. Thecard is given to the student by theirhome institute and is accepted byany IOT for accessing an agreedrange of services.

GMIT also launched its ownLibrary Strategy Plan 2006-2011 inSeptember 2006. It outlines themain focus for the library and isclosely aligned to the GMITStrategic Plan: student centred,staff centred, research-lead andregionally focused.

At the launch of the IoTLibraries StrategyStatement in GMIT, L-R:Marion Coy, Director,GMIT, MargaretWaldron, ActingInstitute Librarian,GMIT, and Jim Foran,Institute Librarian, ITSligo.

Excellent prospects forgraduates - survey

Over 90% of GMIT graduatesare in further studies oremployed, according to thelatest GMIT Graduate Survey.The report, compiled by theInstitute's Careers Office,surveyed 2,142 graduates, ofwhich there was a 74%response rate. 69% wereengaged in further study and25% were in full-timeemployment. Starting salaries are shiftingupwards with 47% earning inexcess of €24,000. 66% areworking in counties Galway,Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo while15% of graduates are workingin counties Dublin, Kildare,Meath, Kilkenny, Wicklow andCarlow.

Student completionrates higher thannational average

A national study oncompletion rates for studentstaking courses in IOTs showsthe GMIT completion rate isthe highest of all the IOTs,rising from 58.6% to 81.3% insix years, 6% higher than thenational average of 75%.

The report, prepared by theCirca Group for the IOT Councilof Directors and DIT, looks atcompletion rates for studentstaking full time IOTprogrammes between 1999and 2004. GMIT certificateand diploma completionshave risen 24 percentagepoints above previouslyreported OECD sector figuresto 74%, and degree-levelcompletion in the Institutejumped to 89.6% in 2004, 13percentage points above theOECD sector mean.

IOT Library Strategy



institute news

A unique programme to promotethe conditions for an enterpriseculture in the Border Midland and

Western (BMW) Region, bytraining potential entrepreneursto set up successful businessesand for existing entrepreneurs toraise their skills levels, waslaunched in GMIT last year by theMinister for Enterprise Trade andEmployment, Micheál Martin.

The programme, the HigherCertificate in Business inEnterprise Development, is ablend of practical learning, hands-on experience and one-to-onementoring by establishedbusiness people, giving learners

the know-how to run or improve abusiness based in the BMWregion, and capable of thriving innational and global markets. Atthe same time successfulparticipants can secure arecognised academic qualification.

Completion of the programmesecures participants a recognisedacademic qualification. The two-year programme is funded by FÁSand is designed by Líonra, acollaborative higher-educationnetwork of all the third-levelcolleges in the BMW region.

The School of Business, GMIT, hassuccessfully rolled out the newenterprise developmentprogramme in Galway, Ballinasloe,Tuam and the off-shore islands.

The Higher Certificate inBusiness in EnterpriseDevelopment is a two-year part-time programme for matureapplicants including owners andmanagers of small businesses,those with a business idea, thefarming community and peopleworking full-time or part-time inexisting enterprise.

The programme is beingsupported by the FÁS Training inEmployment programme, whichaims to increase the knowledge,skills and competencies of the Irishworkforce.

The programme in Galway has28 participants. The programme inBallinasloe, delivered inconjunction with Athlone IT, has 22registered. The Tuam programme,supported by the Western Travellerand Inter-cultural Development,Tuam and Tuam Chamber ofCommerce, has 35 registeredparticipants.

Martin Ward, Manager, TheWestern Traveller and Inter-culturalDevelopment said the organisationis delighted to be associated withthis initiative. “A lot can be gainedfor Tuam in relation to integrationin our community from running theHigher Certificate in Business inEnterprise Development here inour centre in Tuam.”

Ivan Mc Phillips, Programme Co-

ordinator, and Maureen Melvin,School of Business, GMIT, recentlyran a series of short courses onenterprise development forislanders in conjunction withComhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann/TheIrish Islands Federation. Theorganisation represents islanderson 33 islands, with populationsranging from just one person tounder 800.

Thirty-three islandersparticipated in the weekendcourses which took place inGalway, Bantry and Gweedore.Discussions are ongoing betweenthe School of Business andComhdháil Oileáin na hÉireannregarding the provision of moreenterprise programmes.

Back row, L-R: JefferyMoran, Conor O'Neill,

Rita Chambers, WalterCox, Catherine Munnelly,Michael Goggins, Martin

O'Grady, AnthonyCanning.

Front row, L-R: NoirinHolland, Stella O'Malley,

Nicola Harcourt,Margaret Reilly, LenaMcManus, Margaret

Sweeney

At the launch of the Líonra programme:Minister Micheal Martin, Marion Coy,Director, GMIT and Paul Hannigan,Director of Letterkenny IT.

Líonra and FÁS promote entrepreneurship

GMIT takes enterprise programme to communities

As part of GMIT's strategy to support regionaldevelopment, a unique science course was deliveredto employees of Allergan Pharmaceuticals. TheHigher Certificate in Science (Good ManufacturingPractice & Technology) was delivered at the GMITCastlebar campus over two years at times that suitedthe employees; Friday afternoons with someSaturdays. Modules included the core sciencesubjects and pharmaceutical science. Students alsocompleted a project. Many of the graduates of thiscourse are now studying for a Bachelor degree inPharmaceutical Technology, which is also beingdelivered part time at GMIT-Castlebar. Furtherinformation: Seamus Lennon, Science Dept, GMIT,Dublin Road, Galway. Tel: 091 742081.

Allergan graduates


appointments

Higher EducationAuthorityScience lecturer Kathleen Loughhas been appointed to the HEA fora five-year term. The StatutoryAuthority is responsible forplanning and developing highereducation and research in Ireland.As well as its core role in allocatingfunding to the various institutions,the HEA's brief covers a very broadcanvas: it is responsible for policy,strategic planning, equality ofopportunity, and quality assurancein higher education.

The Teaching Council Assistant Registrar Michael Hannonhas been appointed to theAssessment Panel of the TeachingCouncil, a statutory independentbody replacing the TeacherRegistration Council. His role is toreview all programme submissionsfor teacher-recognition status thathave a technology bias. The TCprovides an important forum forpresenting the views of theteaching profession on all aspectsof teaching.

IRCSETSenior lecturer in the School ofScience, Dr Pauline King, has beenappointed to the Irish ResearchCouncil for Science, Engineeringand Technology (IRCSET), whichstrives to stimulate internationallyrecognisable excellence in research.

Dr King’s appointment is for fouryears. Membership includes senioracademic and industry figures.

Dr Teresa Hanley was appointed GMITSchools Liaison Officer in January 2005.Her role is to further develop GMIT’srelationship with second-level students,career guidance counsellors andteachers in schools in the region. DrHanley visits schools, givingpresentations on GMIT programmesand activities in all its campuses. Shealso co-ordinates visits to the Institutefrom schools and Career Guidance

Counsellors, attends national andregional conferences and fairs, and co-ordinates ‘GMIT Taster Programmes’which give secondary-level students achance to sample GMIT programmes inareas such as: Engineering, Maths &Computing, Business & Technology,Humanities, Science, and Hotel &Catering Management Studies. email: [email protected] tel. (091) 742186/(087) 9162932.

GMIT graduate and lecturer Mary Healyhas been appointed Placement Officerto the GMIT School of Hotel & CateringManagement Studies. The School haslong recognised the value of practicallearning through work experience.Students can now get placementsthroughout Ireland, the UK, France,Spain, Germany, Switzerland and theUS. Further opportunities are currentlybeing sourced in countries such asDubai & Canada. The work placements

are in prestigious establishments inwell-known worldwide hotel groups. Allcourses now have compulsory workplacements and are fully qualityassured. By investigating best practiceacross the globe, the Hotel School hasdeveloped flexible methods ofassessing placements. The PlacementOfficer also organises the popularannual Graduate Recruitment Fair.email: [email protected] or telephonethe Hotel School: (091) 742343/22209.

Kathleen Lough Michael Hannon Dr Pauline King

Dr Teresa Hanley, SchoolsLiaison Officer, GMIT

Mary Healy, Hotel SchoolPlacement Officer, GMIT

GMIT Schools Liaison Officer

GMIT Hotel School Placement Officer



interview


Shaping the future An interview with the Director - Marion Coyby Lorna Siggins, The Irish Times

If Marion Coy’s office at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) can boast the best balcony inany Irish third-level institution, the incumbent also has a vision to match. "We're living longer,getting more confident, but our timelines are shorter," she says. "Yet in an organisation like this,people have to be able to think together, and to think much further ahead."

One recent developmentfacilitating this has been theInstitutes of Technology Act 2006.Under the new legislation, a rangeof responsibilities relating to thegovernance, funding andoperations of the State's 14institutes of technology have beentransferred from the Department ofEducation and Science to theHigher Education Authority (HEA).The HEA already holdsresponsibility for the sevenuniversities.

"In the US they are

fascinated at the idea that

we [GMIT] can have

apprentices studying at one

end and PhDs at another.”

The legislation aims to extendsignificant new managerial andacademic autonomy to theinstitutes - as in the 13 originallyestablished as regional technicalcolleges, along with DublinInstitute of Technology. Thebackground to the Act was a belief

that control by the Department ofEducation did not allow for fullpotential to be achieved. Therecent OECD report on Irish third-level education supported this inrecommending greater autonomy.

Marking publication of thelegislation in early 2006, Ministerfor Education Mary Hanafin said itwould allow for a "cohesive"approach to the strategicdevelopment of higher education,"drawing on the diverse strengthsof all of our universities andinstitutes." Marion Coy hopes it willcreate a better environment, butregrets that "regional " was omittedfrom the legislation's title.

"We're too small a country, andwe're not going to get anywhereunless we view the region as aentity," she explains. "Nothing willhappen immediately as a result ofthis, but it will create theconditions for a more flexibleresponse to the challenges comingour way. It will create a coherence,it will facilitate decision- making,and will enable us to work towardsmeeting our national objectives."

The GMIT Director is committedto diversity in education. As a

mother of three, she believes "onepot" does not "fit all" in terms ofindividual needs - and in terms ofeducational models. She alsobelieves one should study subjectsone feels a passion for. Originallyfrom Glenamaddy, Co Galway, shetook History and English at NUI,Galway (then UCG), and thoughtabout teaching and journalismbefore opting for the former.

People are not holding

their hands out for grants

here. What they want, and

are entitled to, is better

infrastructure, like roads,

broadband, and general

access which can provide a

counterbalance to Dublin.

In 2002, she succeeded Dr GayCorr, then retiring, as Director ofGMIT. She is responsible for theeducation and welfare of 9,000students on four campuses inGalway, Letterfrack and Castlebar,and the direction that GMIT takesduring her ten-year tenure.


interview

"In the US they are fascinated atthe idea that we can haveapprentices studying at one endand PhDs at another, " she says. "Their system is so boxed in andthey have huge problems withsocial cohesion as a result."

She has been watching theprogress of US senator BarackObama, one of the DemocraticParty's "possibles" for presidentialnomination. Obama, the son of aKenyan and US mixed marriage,was raised in Indonesia and Hawaii,studied political science andworked for a non-profitorganisation in Chicago, beforepursuing law at Harvard. Helectured in constitutional law at theUniversity of Chicago from 1993until his federal election.

"I've been monitoring his pathsince 2003, and it is the nearestthing to watching a rising star,"Marion Coy says. "It doesn't matterif he doesn't become US president,but he has created the climate forsomeone like him to run for thatoffice."

"Similarly, if you come here toGMIT to take a two-year certificateand you then discover theconfidence, passion and sense ofyour own capacity, there are placesyou can go, and things you can dohere that you might never havethought of before," she says.

"When one looks at socialcohesion and economicdevelopment, underlying all that isthe business of individualdevelopment - and creating theopportunities for that."

The Director's holistic approach toeducation extends to GMIT's placewithin the city environment. Shewould like to see the instituteworking with Galway City andGalway County Councils to developcommunity facilities in what shedescribes as something of a cultural"black hole" on the east side.

In terms of the region, she isfirmly committed to bridging theeast-west economic divide, and hasdelivered numerous papers atconferences on same. "We are verygood at planning and not very

good at implementing, and yet theway we deal with the west coast isgoing to be very significant for thefuture of the island," she says.

GMIT's student completion

rate is now six per cent

higher than the national

average, rising from 58.6 per

cent to 81.3 per cent in

six years.

"People are not holding theirhands out for grants here. Whatthey want, and are entitled to, isbetter infrastructure, like roads,broadband, and general accesswhich can provide acounterbalance to Dublin. This isnot just about the western railcorridor. When you look at thepressure on Dublin airport, forinstance, you can see theenormous potential of Shannon asa base for developing hubs."

GMIT's student completion rateis now six per cent higher than thenational average, rising from 58.6per cent to 81.3 per cent in sixyears. Marion Coy believes the

Institutes of Technology Act willallow for the operational freedomto develop new courses, which maypush this figure even higher. Shewould like to see establishment ofa new centre for studying digitaland social networking and theimpact of same. "We need to createan opportunity to look beyond thegadgets, if you like."

"You take the iPod - what abrilliant name - which is all-pervasive and which creates acocoon from reality. One canimagine some difficulties arising ifpeople think that a digital worldwould be preferable to that reality.At the same time, the digital worldalso provides spaces for people tore-engage with others."

Institutes of Technology (or RTCs)created a new landscape ineducation 20 to 30 years ago, shenotes. Their "three pillars" involvedpromoting the economicdevelopment of the country,developing the regions in whichthey were located, and dealing withissues of socio-economicdisadvantage. Marion Coy believesthe institutes will continue toreshape that landscape, and sheintends to remain true to that remit.

Director of Galway-Mayo

Institute of Technology (GMIT)

since 2002, Marion Coy cut her

educational teeth teaching at

second-level in Dublin before

joining GMIT as a lecturer in

Communications in the early

1980s. The Institute was then

know as the Regional Technical

College or ‘RTC’.

In 1993 she set up a new

Department of Humanities and

successfully lobbied for the

establishment of an arts-based

campus in the city, Cluain

Mhuire. Under her guidance RTC

Galway became one of the first

Irish colleges to offer theology

courses. She was appointed Head

of Business Studies & Humanities

in 1998 and succeeded Dr Gay

Corr as Director in 2002.

As Director of GMIT, Marion

oversees a community of almost

9,000 students and 1,000 staff in

five schools - Business,

Engineering, Hotel & Catering

Management, Humanities, and

Science & Computing, spread

over four campuses - two in

Galway, one in Castlebar and

Letterfrack, and a link with

Mountbellew College.

She has three children and

lives near Tuam with her

husband Joe, who teaches

second-level English in

Glenamaddy, her hometown.

interview



awards & achievements


The President of Ireland, MaryMcAleese, officially opened thenew Furniture Gallery in Letterfrackin 2006 and presented sixdelighted students with theirStudent of the Year awards. Thestudents got top marks in their

respective programmes - FurnitureProduction and Furniture Design &Manufacture. The Presidentaddressed a large gathering andpaid tribute to students and staff inthe Letterfrack campus. Sheunveiled a wooden plaque to

mark the opening of the newgallery, and was presented with aspecially made cake from theSchool of Hotel & CateringManagement to mark her birthdayon the day.

President presents awards to Letterfrack students

A team from the School of Business won the inauguralNewstalk 106-108 fm StudentEnterprise Competition, seeing off259 teams and some 1,000students from all over Ireland. Thecompetition, run in associationwith The Irish Times and campus.ie,

was set up to foster a spirit ofenterprise in IT colleges.

The winning team are all final-year students on the Bachelor ofBusiness (Hons) programme inGMIT's Dublin road campus,Galway. For their prize, the GMITteam and their mentor Shane

Moran and coach Carmel Brennanwill travel to the Caribbean wherethey will shadow 'real time'decision makers in the DigicelGroup. The prize includes a three-month internship for each of thefour winners from GMIT.

Business students win Newstalk competition

Pictured after thepresentation of theStudent of the Yearawards, L-R: DirectorMarion Coy, MartinMcAleese and PresidentMary McAleese withstudents Noel Whelan,Ennis; David Duffy, Kells;Nigel Paxton, Cartron Hill,Sligo; and Alan Flannery,Castlebar.

L - R: Denis O'Brien; Cathal Flanagan,

team captain,Headford;

Eoin Tighe, Tuam; Conor Moran,

Salthill; Dermot Healy,

Renmore



Back row, L-R: Jamie Wilson,Castlecomer, Kilkenny; TeresaNolan, Clarinbridge, CoGalway; Michelle Finnegan,Ballycostello, Dunmore, Co. Galway; Iarla Fitzpatrick,Convent Road, Claremorris, CoMayo; Grainne Feeney,Killarainy, Moycullen, CoGalway; Laura Cunningham,Clareview Park, Ballybane,Galway.Front row, L-R: Brian Kelliher,Killarney, Co. Kerry; Lorna Halligan, Loughill,Ardagh, Co Longford; MarionCoy, Director GMIT; KatherineEgerton, Duntaheen, Fermoy,Co Cork; and Patrick Moore,Ballyshannon, Carbury, CoKildare.

Back row, L-R: Ada Farrar, SUPresident, Castlebar campus;Mark Bevans, Birr, Co. Offaly(Hurling); Mark Regan, Co. Clare(Hurling), Castlebar campus; EoinConcannon, Renmore, GalwayCity (Gaelic Football); PadraicFlesk, SU Vice-President, Galway;Donal Shine, Drum, Co.Roscommon (Gaelic Football);Gearoid O Leidhinn, Salthill,Galway (Soccer); Wayne Murphy,Cultural Award, Castlebarcampus; Debbie Molloy, SUPresident, Galway; Paul Conroy,Renmore, Galway City (Soccer);and Aidan Campbell, Swinford,Co. Mayo (Gaelic Football). Front row, L-R: Lorraine O’Connor, Co Clare, (GaelicFootball), Castlebar campus;Dara Reid, Castlebar campus(Handball); Marion Coy, DirectorGMIT; Martina Conroy, Killimor,Co. Galway (Camogie); and PaulMcGinley, Killybegs, Co. Donegal(Gaelic Football).

GMIT Scholarships

Recipients of the GMIT Sports & Cultural Scholarships 2006, from counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Clare,Donegal and Offaly.

Recipients of the GMIT Academic Scholarships 2006, from counties Galway, Mayo, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny andLongford.





Fourth-year construction students won the NationalFinals of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

Student Challenge 2007, seeing off LIT, DIT, WIT, ITCarlow and IT Tralee. The GMIT team, who are studyingtowards the Bachelor of Science (Hons) inConstruction Management, and other finalists werepresented with a realistic construction scenario on themorning of the final and given four hours to prepare areport and make a presentation to a panel of industryand academic experts.

L-R: Students Ronald Regan, Moygownagh, Ballina, Co.Mayo; James Mannion, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe; SeamusMcWilliams, Athenry; and Brian Holmes, Mulranny,Co. Mayo, talking to Limerick City Cllr and competitionjudge John Ryan .

L-R: Student Robert Spillane,Killarney; Gerry O’Neill, GMIT Tutor;student Tara Kennedy, Nenagh, Co.Tipperary; Gregory Alken, Febvre &Co; Douglas Jordan, Chairman of IHI,presenting the trophy to DeirdreBourke, GMIT Captain, CaherdavinPark, Co. Limerick; student HelenCormack, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary;Seán O’Malley, Fáilte Ireland; andstudent Mark McNamara fromWestport, Co. Mayo.

Engineering students win national challenge

Údarás scholarships

Hotel & Catering Managementstudents scored top marks in theIrish Hospitality Institute (IHI)Business Management Game 2007,in association with ChampagneTaittinger and Fáilte Ireland. Theoverall prize was a three-daytutored trip for the team and itstutor to Champagne Taittinger's

historic Château de la Marquetterieand Vineyards in Reims, North EastFrance, courtesy of wine importersFebvre.

Ten teams in total spent twodays devising a strategy, planningand managing a fictitioushospitality business operated in asimulated dynamic business

environment and created by HOTS,company leader in hospitalitybusiness management simulationsoftware. Each team's businessdealt with real-life issues includinginteraction with competitors andthe wider business environment,while managing a number ofinternal business issues put to them.

Top award for Hotel Management students

Grúpa macléinn Gaeltachta, atá sa chéad bhliain dencúrsa céime BA (Gnó & Cumarsáid) i GMIT. Bhronn an An t-Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, Éamon ÓCuív scoláireachtaí, urraithe ag Údarás na Gaeltachta, arna micléinn de bharr a dtorthaí Ardteiste. Is tré Ghaeilge a

dhéantar an cúrsa.Taobh leis an Aire, ag seasamh sa lár archlé, tá Rónán Mac Gearailt (Comhordanóir an Chúrsa)agus ar dheis tá Stiúrthóir an GMIT, Marion Coy agusPríomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta, Pádraig ÓhAoláin.



Graduate is top chef at National SkillscompetitionA graduate of the Professional

Cookery course Cian Mulhollandhas won Top Chef in the NationalSkills Competition. Cian competedagainst the most talented studentsfrom Irish catering colleges. Cian isemployed in Ross Lewis' ChapterOne award-winning restaurant.Martin Clancy represented thecollege as a judge for the week-long competition.

Best in electronicsDavid Maher from Renmore,Galway City, winner of the Dept ofEducation medal in the NationalSkills Competition (Electronicscategory). David is picturedreceiving his medal from theMinister for Education and ScienceMary Hanafin, with Frank McCurry,Head of Dept of ElectronicEngineering, GMIT. David is a third-year student in the B. Eng inComputer and Electronic Engineeringprogramme at GMIT. Last year, hewon first prize in the IntelExcellence in Electronics competition.

Artists lauded atopening of City museumThree Fine Art graduates of GMITand a GMIT Ceramics Lecturerwere presented with Bank ofIreland Awards totalling €10,000at the official opening of the NewGalway City Museum in June.

Graduate Michelle Lynch fromMountnugent, Co Cavan, won firstprize of €2,500 for her sculpturalinstallation “The Wall”. Aoife Gearyfrom Carna, Connemara, wonsecond prize of €1,500 for herinstallation “Ualach Dosheachanta/Imminence ‘06”, built from planksof wood from currachs andderelict cottages around Carna(pictured). Máiréad Harley fromBruckless, Co Donegal, won thirdprize of €1,000 for her work “Lace– Light & Shadow”. Bank of Irelandpurchased a large painting by

another GMIT student, FionaMoore, from Ballinalsoe. GMITalso purchased a painting byFiona. The Bank of Ireland Toradh

Award for an artist in mid-careerwas also presented. KatharineWest, Lecturer in Ceramics, GMIT,won this award of €5,000.

L-R: KatharineWest (winner ofToradh Award),Máiréad Harley,Michelle Lynch,Gerardine Quinn,Lecturer, and AoifeGeary, in front ofAoife's installation'UalachDosheachanta/Imminence '06’.

L-R: GMIT Head ofDept of Hotel &CateringOperations RobertDagger, CianMulholland,(winner), CiaranGantly and PeterLaffey, bothlecturers andGMIT graduates.



Two Physics students won topawards at the Instrumentation,Systems and Automation Society(ISA) Ireland Awards.

Conor Fahy from Enniscrone, CoSligo, won the top TechnicianAward and Damian Howard fromEnnis Road, Limerick, won the GerDullea Award.

Conor was nominated for theTechnician award because of hisachievement on the CertificateCourse in Physics &Instrumentation at GMIT. Hegained an average mark of 91.6% -the highest ever standard achievedfor this certificate.

Damien was nominated for theGerard Dullea award because of hisoutstanding achievement in theBSc Honours Degree in Physics &Instrumentation. He achieved anaverage mark of 80% for his theorysubjects and a mark of 87% for hislaboratory work. Damien alsocompleted a highly complexproject developing systems tomeasure stress by examininginterference of light throughoptical fibers. He is currentlypursuing a post-graduate course inWaste Power Engineering inQueen's University Belfast.



Fourth year Business student inCastlebar Jennifer McDonnell wonthe GMIT Innovation Award 2007for her business idea of a uniquechild safety device. She received acheque for €2,000 from AIB, a Delllaptop and a specially designedlogo from Snap Printing, Castlebar.

Second prize went to electronicsstudent Damian Keane, who won aNEC laptop, and third prize to GMITgraduate John Kelly, who won amobile phone from CNC Cellular.

Innovation Awards 2007L-R: Andrew D’Arcy,

Head of Development;Brian Mulhern, ActingHead of Business andTechnology; Damian

Keane, 2nd runner-up;Jennifer McDonnell,

overall award winner;John Kelly, 3rd runner-

up; Maria Staunton, IiBCManager, Castlebar

campus; and BernardO’Hara, Registrar and

Acting Head of Centre,Castlebar.

Physics students taketop awards at the

annual ISA IrelandAwards, L-R: Damian

Howard from EnnisRoad, Limerick and

Conor Fahy fromEnniscrone, Co Sligo

ISA Ireland awards for Physics students

Letterfrack student is top cabinetmaker

Letterfrack student Patrick J. Murphy has won the 2007National Skills Competition in Cabinetmaking.

Patrick,from Ballindive, Ardrahan in County Galway,

took the overall prize and beat off stiff competition ina tightly fought final.

Patrick and two fellow students studying on theFurniture Design and Manufacture programme - SeanCostello, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo and Stephen Richardson,Blackrock, Co. Dublin, each obtained marks highenough in the preliminary stage of the competition toplace them as one of eight finalists from all overIreland.

The 22-hour competition entailed making a free-standing solid wood storage cabinet.

This year the National Skills Competition celebratesits 50th anniversary and every second year aWorldSkills Competition takes place with one plannedfor November in Shizuoka, Japan.

Patrick is now eligible for selection for an Irish teambeing drawn together to compete.

GMIT Letterfrackstudents, L-R:

Stephen Richardson,Patrick J. Murphy

(winner) and Sean Costello


student union news

Students Unionelections

This year’s GMIT Student Unionelections had an impressiveturnout, with over 1700 voting,generating huge interestamongst the student body.Padraic Flesk was elected GMITSU President. Warren McElhone, afinal-year student in the School ofHotel & Catering Studies, came aclose second.

Incoming President Padraic Flesk

Padraig completed a BA inTheology and Business in May2006 and has spent the last yearserving as SU Vice-President. He

will take up office in June. Duringhis time as a student in GMIT, hewas extremely active in the GAAclub as well as the SU.

Outgoing SU President DebbieMolloy, a graduate of the GMITBusiness Studies Degreeprogramme, is currently in the

final year of a BA in PersonnelManagement.

Four candidates ran for theposition of Vice-President, allfourth year Business Studiesstudents. The winner wasDonegal’s Patrick Bonner whowas elected on the first count.

Outgoing SU President Debbie Molloy

Incoming Students Union President Padraic Flesk


Final year studentscelebrate graduationday.


interview


An interview with Jim Fennell, Financial Directorby Barbara KcKeon

When RTC graduate Jim Fennell returned to his Alma Mater in1993 to take up the position of Secretary & Financial Director ofGMIT, it felt like he was stepping back in time.

Responding to change

"When I walked back into thebuilding 11 years after being astudent here what struck me fromthe student perspective was thatnot a lot had changed. Even thecolour of the walls was the same."

“At that time (1993) it wasprojected that the college wouldgrow considerably in the comingyears looking at the demographictrends. However, I don't think

anybody expected the economywould be as buoyant as itsubsequently became. Thedirection of the college waschanging but I could see from astudent’s perspective that thingshadn't changed at all."

Fennell, from near Kilrush,Co Clare, graduated in BusinessStudies in 1982. He worked in theprivate sector in various financial

and accountancy positions inIreland and Portugal for over tenyears. When he came back to GMITin 1993 he took charge of functionareas of Finance, IT, and HumanResources Services, as well asBuildings & Estates pending theappointment of a Head ofDevelopment.

His own student experience(s)helped shape his approach: "I recallvividly my time in class, theexperience of acquiringknowledge, the interactions andthe debates. All of this wasfacilitated by a dedicated academicstaff - some of whom are mycolleagues today, such as BernardO'Hara, GMIT Registrar, and DennisMurphy, Lecturer in Economics.”

“While on many fronts I advocatechanges, I wouldn't want to seethat ethos of quality teaching andacademic support provided bylecturers to students lost. And itwon't be, as long as we maintainthe same relationship betweenlecturers and students."

The biggest physical change inshaping the future of GMIT was theexpansion of the building itself, tocreate a learning environment forstudents. The construction of adramatic exterior of giant greencopper sheets and canopy coveredwalkway to the new entrance onthe Dublin road announced its newdirection. Two major acquirementswere a new state-of-the-art libraryand an open-access IT centre forstudents to use as learningsupports, reflecting the college'svision of modern education.

Another area of radical changewas that of studentaccommodation - the lack of it, theprice of it and the quality of it,according to Fennell. Two superb,purpose-built student villages werebuilt by private developers atGlásan on Ballybane Road, andGleann na Rí in Renmore, and anumber of smaller complexes. TheCastlebar campus also has similaraccommodation.

"I think students living togetheras a community fosters a betterlearning environment," saysFennell, whose daughter Niamh is

GMITAnnual 06_07_32Pagesv5.qxd 25/4/07 12:12 am Page 16

interview

following in her father's footstepsdoing her first year in businessstudies, and her studentaccommodation in Glásan is, asFennell describes it, another worldfrom what he experienced as astudent in the 80s living in adraughty flat on Prospect Hill.

"Student life is about going tocollege and having a good time andcoming out with a qualification, butin the end it is about getting a goodjob," says Fennell, who not onlyfound the desired good job but alsomet his wife, Siobhan MacMahon, atcollege. The couple live in Siobhan'shome town of Kinvara in southCounty Galway.

His job is varied and involved.Under his wing are human resourcesand all that entails, recruitment,industrial relations, as well asfinances, IT services and capitalexpenditure for purchases ofequipment and such. He is alsosecretary to the Governing Body,and is responsible for the legalaffairs. He also fulfils certain roles forthe Institute in a wider context, suchas being a director of An Cheim,which provides MIS services to allthe institutes of technologycountrywide, and on variousinterview boards pertaining to thecollege's needs.

"People can have genuineconcerns regarding changebut that resistance can be

overcome if you can convince people of the merits

of the change, and if they can see that it is for the

greater good...”

"It's my job to create theenvironment so others can get onwith their jobs. It's important for theInstitute to establish its prioritiesand to make a strong case for thesepriorities as this makes the job ofsecuring the finance much easier."

The biggest challenge facingGMIT and any organisation,according to Fennell, is the need todevelop an ability to respond tochange: "People can have genuine

concerns regarding change but thatresistance can be overcome if youcan convince people of the merits ofthe change, and if they can see thatit is for the greater good of thestudents. A lot of information andconsultation has to take place toreassure people". he explains. "Butwe also need to be flexible andadaptable for changes we haven'teven anticipated," he concludes.

It costs one million euro

a week to run the college

Since its establishment in theearly 70s, Galway Regional TechnicalCollege (RTC) has changeddramatically, and is in many ways amicrocosm of the State. Today theInstitute has two campuses inGalway city and one each inCastlebar, Letterfrack andMountbellew. GMIT is run onDepartment of Education & Sciencemonies (now Higher EducationAuthority monies) amounting to€45m per year, with another €5mfrom other sources. It costs onemillion euro a week to run thecollege.

Castlebar campus was opened in1994 in response to demand froman action group in Mayo and thethen-government keeping its by-election promise. Fennell and formercollege Director Gay Corr went toCastlebar scouting for suitable sitesand were offered an army barracksor the old St Mary's hospital. StMary's was chosen and a 50-yearlease was acquired on the west wingof the hospital and all the grounds.

Within four months the buildingwas refurbished, staff recruited andthe first 100 students admitted. TheCastlebar campus today offerscourses in General and PsychiatricNursing, Business Studies, IT, andOutdoor Education, and caters foralmost 1,000 full and part-timestudents.

The Cluain Mhuire campus onMonivea Road was established in1997 when it was bought from

Galway County Council for £1.5m(punt). The campus is now home tothe Department of Art and Design,catering for creative arts, film andtelevision. Future plans includemusic studies.

Back in the late 80s the Institutehad formed a partnershipagreement with Connemara WestPlc to deliver programmes infurniture design and production atits centre in Letterfrack. The range ofprogrammes has since beenexpanded along with the furniturecollege itself, now called GMITLetterfrack.

Also a partnership agreement wasestablished with the MountbellewAgricultural College in East Galway.The first year of the Agri-businesscourse is delivered there andresearch activities are also carriedout in the Mountbellew centre.

Asked if GMIT is producinggraduates to fill the country'seconomic needs at the expense ofits academic and intellectual needs,Fennell disputes this. "The reality isthe State invests vast amounts ofmoney in education - educationbeing the second biggest spender ofExchequer funds. The reasongovernments spend so much moneyon education is not only is there asocial need but there is clearly aneconomic need that has to besustained. And it would be foolish toignore that.

“I hear the arguments, are wedealing with the academic needs ofthe individual or are we dealing withthe economic needs of the country?I would love to think we are meetingthe needs of both - the individualand the economic needs of thegovernment that pays for it. I don'tthink they are mutually exclusive.Our range of programmes reflectthis.”

"You cannot provide third-leveleducation without allowing theindividual to develop, and youcertainly can't deliver third-leveleducation to the individual withouthaving government money."

Having said that, Jim concludeswith a quote from Spencer“Education has for its object theformation of character.”



18 GMIT annual 2006

retirements

18

Lochlann Hoare with his

former student

international jeweller Slim

Barrett, at the Cluain

Mhuire Show in June.

For over thirty years, Lochlann hasbeen an inspirational teacher. Hemade a major contribution to thedevelopment of the Art & DesignDept. He kept abreast ofdevelopments in art educationinternationally and wasknowledgeable on the strengths ofeach third-level art institution inIreland and many in Great Britain.He was an external examiner forthe Dept of Education in the earlyeighties, and later was externalexaminer at DIT. He was a visitinglecturer at the National College ofArt & Design, Dublin and afrequent visiting lecturer on the ArtTeachers Diploma course atLimerick School of Art & Design. Hedeveloped a special relationshipwith the University of Ulster wherehis Foundation Course in Galwaywas seen as a model.

Lochlann took a genuine interestin each individual student. Heencouraged them to see thepotential for creative expression intheir own lives and backgrounds.

He taught with passion andconviction and led stimulatingseminars. Students greatly valuedhis tutorials; these were energising,challenging and motivating. Hewas respected by students throughthe decades, and his insights werealways relevant. He encourageddebate and questioning and alwaysmanaged to get shy studentsinvolved. Seeing their developingconfidence heartened him. Hefrequently enlivened discussions byrecalling his own days at ArtCollege in London in the headysixties, and relayed manyanecdotes.

He cared not for praise, andremained faithful to his deeply heldconvictions concerning arteducation. He held that art practicehad intrinsic academic andeducational value. He was not shyabout being critical of somecurrent approaches to visual arteducation and voiced his criticismswith gusto! Though he lamentedthe devaluing of traditional skills of

representation in drawing andpainting, he neverthelessembraced experimentation. Hebelieved some academic andmodernist teaching methodologiescould be successfully employedalongside postmodernistapproaches. His teaching methodsprovided a thorough foundationand a clear path for ongoingcreative development.

Lochlann encouraged studentsto critically examine the worksvalued by our culture, and made nosecret of his disdain for pretentious,derivative or contrived work. Whenhe taught Foundation Studies, heemphasised the importance ofanalytical drawing in developingthe students’ powers ofobservation. He also emphasisedthe importance of gaining anunderstanding of the underlyingstructure of objects, both naturaland manufactured, and woulddiscuss perspective and anatomyas happily as he wouldcontemporary issues.

He set up the Sculptureprogramme 17 years ago. Hisdynamism ensured it would thrive,and today it is a vital, excitingprogramme ranging from objectmaking to installations and live artperformances. Lochlann exhibitedhis own installations throughoutthe eighties – the Galway ArtsFestival (1981 and 1983), UCGGallery (1984), Spanish Arch Gallery(1988) and EV+A Limerick (1989).

It is probably just as well that heis leaving as the modular mode ofteaching and learning isintroduced. Lochlann’s unique formof student and tutor interaction,which was not book-ended by anyparticular framework, wouldundoubtedly be compromised.

Many of you will want to sendhim a good-will message; I recommend you address it toCluain Mhuire, c/o Reception. Mycolleagues and I will miss that bigpersonality; I will miss him as acolleague and friend with whom I worked closely and shared anoffice for many years. All at the Art& Design Dept wish him a happyretirement with his family.

Lochlann Hoare - an outstanding educator

Lochlann Hoare retired in 2006 and asked that there be no fuss,no gifts, no social evening, leaving his friends and colleagues in aquandary.

Gerardine Quinn, GMIT lecturer and artist, felt compelled towrite a tribute to an outstanding educator.


clubs & societies


When the Regional TechnicalCollege Galway opened on 18September, 1972, sporting andcultural activities initially foundrather bumpy berths on this shipwe call the GMIT today. At first, thisrather plain-looking educationalvessel ploughed somewhat aimlessly inthe winds of change with noplaying field to test the sportingmettle of its students. Worse stillthere was no captain at the helm todrive extra-curricular activities.

Destiny always has a datehowever, and 15 November, 1974was the day a Post of Responsibilityfor Clubs and Societies landed onmy desk. I took command withsome trepidation. The pitchproblem was first to be tackled andduly solved when, quite byaccident you understand, youngornamental trees were somehowharvested with the acre or so ofhay in front of the building, and aspace for a playing pitchmiraculously appeared.

Although the student populationinitially only numbered in the lowhundreds, fierce warriors withhurley sticks or rugby caps alreadyvied with leathered-toed Gaelicfootballers or soccer players forpossession of that rather sacredsward. Pitch time co-ordination

was not just the problem, however,because it was not possible for meto manage all four teams while atthe same time lecture in thenormal way.

The answer, as usual, was rathersimple. Delegation. So it came topass that Donncadha Ó hEallaithebecame manager to the hurlers,Peter Clarke controlled the rugbyteam, Bernard O’Hara managed theGaelic footballers, while dapperLiam Hanratty ensured his soccercontingent did not let the sidedown. A whisper in a manager’sear noting the success of anotherworked miracles, of course, andtrophies in all four codes decoratedGay Corr’s office resulting from thisdreadful subterfuge.

Indoor sports also demandedattention, especially when theHigher Education SportsFederation came into being andtable tennis, basketball, volleyball,badminton were initially farmedout to various outside halls, beforeour own sportshall finally openedin 1978. Many successes wererecorded in these sports also notleast because we were the largestregional college at the time, whilelosing offered the option ofwalking home from away fixturesin order to get fitter still.

Clubs and Societies in the early years by Peadar O’Dowd, former lecturer

Somehow, the Olympic spirit neverquite agreed with me!

On the cultural front, the originalcollege theatre was a Mecca forvarious cultural societies not leastthose in the drama side of things,while the Archaeological, Historical& Folklore Society, founded byEddie Fox, as well as the Speakers’Club initiated by Michael Lallyhosted internationally renownedconferences there. Other societiesin my time included CumannGaelach founded in 1973, whileone of the strangest was theEquestrian Society under Chef d’Equip Fintan Coogan at thewheel of car and horse box, withstudents hanging out of each!

Staff, too, were catered for in mytime, with the Bridge Club formedin 1974 keeping heads down, whilethe Golf Club singularly (for someand myself in particular) failed todo so, founded as it was after a‘lacklustre’ outing to Roscommonin 1973.

With the appointment of JenniferFoley and later Frank Ryan asphysical education teachers at theend of the seventies, my post ofresponsibility disappeared in thewake of this great ship and I wasconsigned to the joys of a deckchair in its various lecture halls withmemories to burn.

Clubs and Societies 2007by Ruth Merrigan, SU Administrator

In my nine years working in GMIT Inever knew that the very firstmanager of Clubs, Societies andActivities was the one and only Mr.Peadar O’ Dowd. Peadar, on behalfof our students past and present,the Students Union extends asincere thank you.

Extra-curricular activities at GMIThave progressed nicely since 1972.Over the years, GMIT students,whilst not always as successful incompetition as we might havehoped, have been renowned fortheir extraordinary dedication toour clubs and societies. We areproud of all students who haveparticipated in any club or societyduring their time at the Institute.


clubs & societies

We must bear in mind thatsecuring a trophy will not aloneensure a successful club or society;it is the camaraderie that is mostimportant. Many a romanceblossomed thanks to the GMITClubs and Societies. I have yet tobuy a hat, but I am hopeful!

In September 1997, we secured aGAA Development Officer, thesuperb Damian Curley. SinceDamian’s arrival the organisationand development of Gaelic Gameson campus has improvedsignificantly. In September 2006the IRFU provided us with a full-time Rugby Development Officeron campus – James Wakley. James,a Welshman, is currently workingon improving the standards of our

Rugby Team, promoting Women’sRugby on campus and preparingfor the first ever GMIT Tag RugbyLeague.

In recent times the profile of ourClubs, Societies and Activities haschanged. This is due to the changingdemographics of our students andalso in having to ‘keep up with thetimes’. Along with the traditionalactivities such as GAA, Soccer andRugby, we now offer Cricket,Juggling, Kickboxing, Sub-Aqua,Yoga, and Dodgeball – don’t ask! Onthe cultural side we have Debating,Film, Heritage, International &Excursion and Modern Dance tomention but a few.

In January 2000 the SU, withfinancial support from the Institute,

opened an ultra-modern FitnessCentre. The fitness centre has gonefrom strength to strength thanks tothe excellent fully trained staff, theManager Eimear Glennon andInstructor Ray O’ Neill. With over550 members currently, it is afacility that we are very proud ofand we are committed tomaintaining the existing highstandards.

Whilst the facilities available forsporting activity are not fulfilingour needs at present, we know thatthe Institute, through the purchaseof land at Murrough, is striving toimprove these inadequacies. Welook forward to having first-classfacilities in the very near future.

GMIT Cricket Club was set upthree years ago and has reallytaken off in the last year.

Club captain Farhan Afzal says:“After a good bit of training wegot a team together and decidedto go and play in the Cricketintervarsity competition in Corklast June. Our first game wasagainst Queens Belfast and theyhave a very good side with a lotof their players playing in the topleague in Northern Ireland. Thiswas compared to our guys whowere very inexperienced, but wedid well and put up a good showand just lost out.”

After the Queens game, theteam went into their crunch tiewith UCD to see who wouldprogress to the Shield Final. Aftersetting a target of 224 runs GMITseemed set for victory but anamazing comeback from the menfrom Dublin secured an unlikelydraw and unfortunately due totheir superior run rate GMITprogressed out of the group. Fortheir first competitive outing itwas a remarkable performancefor GMIT and this year the clubhas gained momentum.

Cricket is a slave to the weatherand Galway’s traditional monsoonseason between September andMay means that the club gets

limited time playing on propercricket fields and have had tocompensate by playing indoorcricket. Although not ideal,indoor cricket has provided someexciting times for both thecolleges in Galway and inFebruary the two clubs jointlyheld an Indoor Cricket intervarsityattended by third-levelinstitutions from all around thecountry. GMIT reached the semi-final despite missing three topplayers.

This joint venture betweenGMIT and NUIG demonstrated ahuge bond between the twoteams but Afzal states thisalliance stays purely off the field.

“The rivalry is big time. We haveplayed them a number of timesindoors. Unfortunately they havehad the upper hand on us but lastyear we beat them when it reallymattered. That was when weplayed each other for the onlytime outdoors at the Galway Clubin Claregalway so that was great.”

It is wins like this that havegiven the team great confidenceas they look forward to this year’soutdoor intervarsity to be held inBelfast this June.. Afzal has aimedfor at least a semi-final berth,which for a team with limitedfacilities would be an amazingachievement. © GalwayFirst, March 07

Members of theGMIT Cricket Clubat the 2006 StudentAchievementAwards, withoutgoing GMIT SUPresident DebbieMolloy.

GMIT Cricket Club



life after college


For GMIT graduate David Collins,being named captain of the Galwaysenior hurling team for 2007 isnothing less than a dream cometrue. Like every young aspiringunderage hurler, Collins haddreamed of one day leading hiscounty out onto the field of battle,and perhaps taking them to thehallowed turf of Croke Park andlater, with the maroon and whiteflags flying proudly from the fourcorners of Ireland’s modern daycoliseum, up the celestial steps ofthe Hogan Stand.

On Sunday, February 18 of thisyear, at the tender age of 23,Collins became one of theyoungest Galwaymen ever tocaptain his county’s senior hurlers.On any other occasion, a league

opener against Antrim would be alow-key affair, but given this wasalso former Clare supremo GerLoughnane’s first game in charge,there was plenty of significanceattached to the contest.

Indeed, over 5,000 hardy soulsbraved the elements on thatSunday afternoon to bear witness.It was a far cry from two yearspreviously, when less than than1,000 die-hards turned out in thesummer climes of July for animportant All-Ireland qualifier clashbetween the same two sides.

That league opener againstAntrim in February proved asuccessful outing for Galway, withCollins leading the Tribesmen to afacile 3-25 to 0-12 victory. A win tohis credit, it was a beautiful way for

Collins to open his account asGalway’s newly appointed captain.While Collins always hoped of oneday being handed the mantle ofcaptain, he still must have beensurprised to have been chosen byLoughnane and the managementteam, given that he is only a youngman of 23 years of age.

“I was shocked really,” saysCollins. “He (Loughnane) came tome at training one evening andsaid would I be captain. Of course, Iaccepted and later in the trainingsession he informed the rest ofsquad. It was fantastic to get it.Now hopefully, I can lead Galway tothe Liam McCarthy.

“I had always hoped that someday I would get the captaincy, butbecause of my age, I didn’t think itwould be this soon. I supposethough by getting it, I must haveshown that I had leadershipqualities. So it’s great.”

That said, Collins has alwaysbeing recognised as a player whotakes the initiative. Havingestablished himself in the Galwaysenior side in 2005, the LiamMellows wing-back played anintricate part in guiding theTribesmen to an All-Irelandappearance against Cork.Unfortunately, the day ended indefeat, and one of the abidingmemories of the aftermath was adejected Collins ambling slowlydown the semi-lit tunnelunderneath Croke Park. Asilhouette, head bowed.

“I’m absolutely heartbroken,” saidCollins, as he hugged the cold walloutside the losers dressing-room atthe time. “But I have the U-21 (All-

David Collins GMIT graduate and Captain of the Galway Senior Hurling teamtalks to Stephen Glennon, Connacht Tribune.


life after college

Ireland final) next week to lookforward to, so hopefully we canbring a Cup home in that.” Even inAll-Ireland defeat, Collins waslooking for the next challenge. Thatstatement alone summed up DavidCollins and the maturity of theLiam Mellows man. The Westernerssubsequently claimed that U-21accolade, defeating a highly ratedKilkenny outfit by 1-15 to 1-14.Collins played his part, as he haddone with the seniors all year, andwas later named as the 2005 YoungPlayer of the Year.

A natural leader, Collins thoughbelieves his five years at GMIT,where he studied Digital andSoftware Systems, was the idealplace for him to hone his talents,and nurture those leadership skills.

“I have to say GMIT was great forthat,” states Collins. “In college, youare not only working with a group,but you also have to stand up andmake presentations throughoutthe year. That is one of the greatadvantages of going to an ITcollege like GMIT. You would be ona bit of a high after giving apresentation, it is actually afantastic feeling.

“That is something you wouldn’talways get to do in a university,where you maybe just attendlectures for 14 hours a week. InGMIT, we would have about 39 to40 hours a week, and then youwould be hurling on top of that. Itmeant there were a lot of 7 o’clockstarts,” chuckles the HewlettPackard software technician. “Itcould be pretty intensive.”

That aside, the Galway city nativeenjoyed his time immensely at thecollege. “It was good craic and thehurling kept me going. The collegebrings you on so much in yourhurling. When you are a young lad,you are getting to play some of thetop hurlers in the country, throughsuch competitions as theFitzgibbon Cup.

“You would be going out andmarking Eoin Kelly (Tipperary) andHenry Shefflin (Kilkenny), and youhad to raise the standard of yourplay. So your hurling had toimprove. It also helped to build

leadership qualities, without ashadow of a doubt. The set-up inGMIT was very good, and it was anideal place to prove that you didhave leadership qualities.”

Unfortunately, Collins and GMITwere never to taste success in histime there.

I had always hoped thatsome day I would get thecaptaincy, but because of

my age, I didn’t think itwould be this soon.

In his first year, 2001, Collinscaptained GMIT to the fresher’ssemi-final, but cruelly lost by twopoints to UCD. Collins continues: “Isuppose we were unlucky not tohave won a Fitzgibbon the secondyear I was there. We had a goodteam, with Eugene Cloonan(Athenry and Galway), DamienHayes (Portumna and Galway),Brian Duff from Tipperary, andKilkenny’s James Ryall, who nowhas three All-Ireland medals to hisname.

“We reached the quarter-finalthat year and were beaten byWaterford IT. We lost by fourpoints. We were up by four pointsat half-time and ended up losingby four. I was playing half-back andI was marking Shefflin in the firsthalf. He then moved into full-forward and he ended up scoringsomething like 1-5.”

While success eluded GMITduring Collins’ tenure, he says hecouldn’t imagine going to anyother college bar GMIT. “I madegreat friends there and I would sayI am still in touch with 80 to 90percent of the lads on the teams Iplayed with at GMIT.

“They are either ringing you ortexting you, wishing you well orsometimes even slagging you,hoping you get beaten byTipperary or someone else,” laughsCollins. “I think though that wasone of the best thing about beingin college in GMIT. You felt like youbelonged there, and that was alldown to the friends you made.“Then you had Damien Curley, whois the main man there. Damien isthe GAA Development Officer. Hehas been the one keeping thingsgoing, and only for him, it wouldn’thave been the same.”

No doubt, Collins’ GMIT epochserved him well. He talks about theimportance of a good work ethic,be it at hurling, college or career,noting it is only through hard workthat you achieve your goals. “Mygoal for the year is to hopefullycaptain Galway to an All-Ireland. Ifyou have a dream, you have towork at it. The Galway lads areworking very hard at that at themoment, and I think we will. I thinkwe will bring Liam McCarthy backto Galway.”

If they do, GMIT will certainlyhave played its part.

David Collinspresented with a GMITStudent AchievementAward 2006 , followinghis selection as "SeniorHurler of the Year". L-R:Debbie Molloy, GMITOutgoing StudentsUnion President,Marian Byrnes, AIB,and Marion Coy,Director GMIT.



international


New exchangeagreement with OhioCollege

A new educational exchangeagreement has been established toallow students at the Castlebarcampus to study in Ohio andCleveland students to study inCastlebar for one semester, fromJanuary 2007.

Baldwin-Wallace College is aprivate liberal arts Methodist-related college with over 4,700enrolled students. GMIT Castlebaralso has an exchange agreementwith Western Carolina University.

Nanchang University

GMIT has signed a majoreducational exchange agreementwith China’s Nanchang University.It is the third largest university inChina in terms of studentnumbers, with some 85,000registered students. The collegewas founded in 1940 and offers arange of liberal arts, sciences andengineering programmes.

The agreement between thetwo educational institutions is avery positive step for GMIT. Itfulfils a key element in the GMITStrategic Plan 2004-2009, todevelop and support internationalstudent mobility.

L-R: BrendanHeneghan, CAO,

Teagasc; SenatorMichael Kitt,

Mohamed RashadAbdelgayed Ali

Mohamed, AgriculturalEngineer, CA 17

International, France;and Tom Burke, Head

of Centre,Mountbellew

Agricultural College.

GMIT Director Marion Coy withthe President of NanchangUniversity, Professor Dr ZhouWenbin.

Egyptians complete training at Mountbellew

Thirteen Egyptian agricultural engineers completed a four-week intensivestudy programme at GMIT Mountbellew delivered by the Agricultural College,GMIT and Teagasc. The programme was arranged through the French agencyCA17. Mountbellew Principle Tom Burke said the visit was an important step inthe advancement of partnership delivery of training for international groups.

Mahidol University, Bangkok

The Director of GMIT and theDean of the Mahidol UniversityInternational College (MUIC)signed a collaborativeagreement during the NAFSAconference in Montreal last year.

Mahidol is the oldest universityin Thailand and the Dean visitedGMIT in October to discuss thenature of the exchanges in moredetail.

Wuxi South Ocean College

GMIT has signed an agreement with WSOC whereby students will berecruited for a joint programme leading to the Bachelor of Business inHotel & Catering Management.

The Chinese students will spend two years in WSOC developing theirEnglish language skills and studying other modules before transferring toGalway for semester three onwards.

The programme has commenced and the first students will arrive inGalway in August 2008.


international

GMIT received a visit from theAmbassador of the Kingdom ofLesotho, Mannete MaletholeRamaili. Mrs Ramaili had aninformal meeting with the InstituteDirector Marion Coy and senior management.

They discussed the economicdevelopment of Lesotho andpotential ties with GMIT. Theambassador also attended one of the many induction sessionsdelivered to the Institute’s 1700 first year students.

A seven-man delegation (above)

from the General Organisation for

Technical Education and Vocational

Training (GOTEVOT) in Saudi Arabia

visited GMIT in December to

discuss possible links with GMIT

and other Institutes of Technology.

The delegation was led by His

Highness, Dr. Ali Ghafis (centre-

right), Governor of GOTEVOT. The

heads of a possible co-operation

agreement were initialled. The

delegation also visited DIT, WIT and

AIT.

In January, the Director took part

in the Enterprise Ireland trade

mission to Saudi Arabia and the

United Arab Emirates led by An

The Norwegian Ambassador toIreland, H.E. Mr Truls Hanevold, metwith the Director of GMIT, MarionCoy, and senior management inFebruary to learn about theInstitute’s remit and in particular itsresearch and innovation activities.Mr Hanevold spoke with Dr MartinRobinson about GMIT’s commercialfisheries development project (ARESHELLTEC) and with GeorgeMcCourt, IiBC Manager, aboutactivity in the Innovation inBusiness Centres. While in Galwayhe also visited the Marine Institute.

The Ambassador hopes that theinformation and experiencesshared in the areas of innovation,commercialisation, and technologytransfer supported by targetedR&D, will act to encourage similaractivity within Norway and,significantly, in strengtheningcross-country collaboration. MrHanevold strongly believes thatNorway and Ireland could benefitgreatly from a sharing ofinnovation knowledge.

Taoiseach. During the visit theSaudi Government agreed with theMinister for Education & ScienceMary Hanafin that the KingAbdullah scholarship schemewould be extended to include theIT sector in Ireland. Four instituteshave submitted a list of suitableprogrammes to the SaudiGovernment.

The NorwegianAmbassador toIreland, H.E. Mr TrulsHanevold, withGMIT DirectorMarion Coy

L-R: GMIT Director Marion Coy, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Lesotho,Mannete Malethole Ramaili, and Des Foley, Head of School of Science.

Saudi Arabia

Lesotho

Norway



research


GMIT is collaborating on two newnational initiatives to buildimproved education programmesfor postgraduate researchers in thenear future.

The first will see GMIT partnerwith 12 other Institutes ofTechnology to form an ‘Institute ofTechnology Research Alliance’ todevelop jointly accreditedprofessional qualifications inresearch practice for staff andstudents, both undergraduate andpostgraduate. While each Instituteof Technology currently deliversbroad-based and specialistpostgraduate training, this is thefirst time that all the Institutes havecollaborated on such a sector-wideinitiative. This important projectwill lead to improved course

content and structures for thedelivery of high quality post-graduate education across theparticipating institutes. Thealliance will provide support andtraining in coordination,benchmarking, training anddissemination of research bestpractice. This project is lead byInstitute of Technology, Sligo andwas funded by the HigherEducation Authority under itsStrategic Innovation Fund.

The second project will establishthe ‘Irish Marine Graduate School‘to develop and deliver specialisteducation programmes for Marineresearchers. GMIT partners withNUI Galway, UCC and TCD on thisexploratory project, which wasfunded jointly by IRCSET and

IRCHSS under the GraduateResearch Education Programme(GREP). With over 40 researchersworking within its SHELLTECResearch Centre and the Marineand Freshwater Research Centre,GMIT looks forward to the IrishMarine Graduate School deliveringits first education programmes in2008. This project commenced inJanuary and GMIT is representedon the project Steering Group byDr. Elizabeth Gosling.

GMIT’s Head of Research, Dr.John Lohan says both theseinitiatives will greatly increase theavailability and enhance the qualityof training being made available tothe 150-strong researchcommunity currently active withinGMIT.

GMIT recently completed an audit of its researchactivity which highlights rapid expansion.

Figure 1(a) highlights the rapid growth in awardedfunding over the past six years, which exceeded €5million during the last academic year, 2005/06.

Figure 1(b) highlights how these trends are alsomirrored by the steady growth in the number of full-time postgraduate researchers and staff, which nowexceeds 90. This excludes over 60 academic staff,which brings the active research community to over150 researchers.

A breakdown of the research activity is presented onthe Institute Research Web site. The Institute focuseson three strategic research themes:

• Natural Resources and Sustainability

• Design and Innovation• Tourism, Culture and Humanities

These strategic research themes reflect GMIT’sresearch strengths and track record, have a regionalrelevance and impact, and complement the researchactivities of other higher education institutions (HEIs)in Ireland.

The Institute looks forward to extending the existingcritical mass of research in the three areas identified bycontinuing to implement research-friendly policiesand working with external collaborators and agenciesto build on existing research infrastructure.

Research projects will align with regional, national andEU development policies, and deliver maximumsocietal impact to the region.

(Fig 1(a) Awarded research funding per academic year (99/00 - 05/06) (Fig 1(b) Growth in the base of full-time researchers (00 - 07)

GMIT contributes to Graduate Researcher Education Programmes

GMIT research activity


research

Something for nothing is nice ifyou can get it, but particularlywhen it comes to a supply ofenergy. Researchers at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology(GMIT) hope to achieve thisattractive financial equation bycapturing unused energy given offby decomposing organic material.

Brendan Allen is a researchscientist and project manager inthe research section at GMIT. Heand his group recently received€225,000 from the Department ofAgriculture and Food to developmethods for maximising heatoutput from green compost andfrom slurry and trapping this forspace heating.

"We are using compost andtrying to optimise that heat at afarm-based level and at a municipallevel," Allen explains. "We arecoming up with technology tomaximise that heat and use it inhorticultural tunnels."

The large plastic and framegreenhouse tunnels are in regularuse by farmers across the state.They are typically heated usingelectricity or gas, but are expensiveto operate.

"The tunnels lose heat at aphenomenal rate. They are tooexpensive to heat during thewinter," says Allen. Yet they onlyhave to be kept at between 17 and23 degrees to be useful and a heatsupply taken for free from thecomposting process could providethe answer.

Two master's degree studentsare studying the compostingprocess, how much heat is beingproduced and how it might berecovered. Green plant waste isbeing tested, with the studentsusing standard wheelie bins to findthe best mix of green materials toboost heat production. "We arealso going to look at aerobicdigestion of slurry," adds Allen. Heknows significant heat is given off

during composting, having oncemeasured the centre of a greencompost heap at 60 degrees."It can get that hot in the centre.There is a lot of heat there but it isbeing lost to the air. If you get thecomposting vessel right and theingredients right we could use thatheat for some useful purpose likeheating a horticultural tunnel.”

The result will be usable compost to improve soil

and productivity, but also anextended growing season when

using difficult to heat tunnels

The ingredient mix could beimportant, he believes. Thestudents will assess how critical thegreen plant mix is and what mightbe added to boost heat output.He assumes that some form of heatexchanger based on pipedcirculating water will allow the heatat the centre of the compost to betaken out and put to productiveuse. "We are trying to get themaximum heat without damagingthe compost making process."The result will be usable compostto improve soil and productivity,but also an extended growingseason when using difficult to heattunnels.

The initial designs for this two-year research project will be used

GMIT ResearchScientist Brendan Allenwith research studentsSonya Fitzgerald andDonal Chambers.

to set up a pilot system based oncomposting that can provide a lowlevel of heating in a tunnel. Allenisn't limiting himself to thisapplication however.

"We want to see how far we cantake this," he suggests. Towns andcities produce large volumes ofgreen waste from trees, grass andhedging. Large scale compostingplants might be able to produceenough heat to partially warm anentire building.

This represents a saving even ifthe building gains 50 per cent of itsheat from composting. "If youcould tap into that heat it will saveon fossil fuel costs," says Allen.The students got going on theresearch last month. "By thesummer we will know a lot aboutthe composting process and howto maintain heat levels." Hebelieves that they will have aworking system to test by nextwinter, when the cost of heating atunnel using gas or electricbecomes too high.

The research is also supportedby Galway County Council and byCáit Curran, a local organichorticulturist. Most of thecomposting and prototype workwill take place at the MountbellewAgricultural College, a partnercollege with GMIT. Any laboratorywork will be conducted in GMIT'sDublin Road campus.© 2007 The Irish Times

Plan to harvest compost powerby Dick Ahlstrom, The Irish Times.

The project is led by GMIT’s PrincipalInvestigator, Dr Martin Robinson, whojoined the Institute from TrinityCollege Dublin in 2005.

Hopes are high of developing free energy by utilising heat givenoff by composting green waste.



research


“Fishing is a vital source ofproduction, employment andrevenue for most coastalcommunities in the region, andinnovative approaches todevelopment are required to meetthe challenges of current changesin the structure of coastal societies,the Irish economy and our naturalenvironment.” says Dr MartinRobinson, Principal Investigatorand Project Manager of SHELLTECCentre, GMIT.

The SHELLTEC research team atGMIT is operating fourexperimental shellfish holdingunits that have been importedfrom Canada. These provide cleanand stable environments that arechilled to maintain animal healthand increase survival rate overlonger periods than are possiblewith traditional, low-technologymethods. This allows industry tomatch the supply of shellfish toseasonal variations in marketdemand, rather than sendingproducts directly to the continentat low prices, which are dictated byEuropean buyers.

SHELLTEC has also joined forceswith Bord Iascaigh Mhara to run apilot programme to transfer acommercial one ton capacity unitto Comhar Caomhan Teo(fisherman’s co-operative), Inis Oirr,this summer and train the local

fishermen to operate the unit. Untilnow they have been unable to storeshellfish on the island or to delivertheir products to the mainland forexport when poor sea conditionspersist in autumn and wintermonths. The holding system willgive the co-operative the ability tosupply fresh seafood throughoutthe vital tourist season on theisland. Training courses for industrywill be developed in collaborationwith NUI, Galway and delivered toother members of the industry thissummer. The cost of attendingtraining events will be support bythe Accel Innovate West networkbeing co-ordinated by GMIT.

The chilling equipment used tomaintain low water temperature inthe systems produces a largeamount of heat as a by-product.Rather than venting this energy tothe roof of GMIT for dispersal, it isbeing passed through a heatexchanger to remove any odourand moisture and used to heat thefoyer at the old reception, near theCentre. The SHELLTEC team areadapting the design of the systemsto ensure that they use theminimum amount of energypossible, thus reducing operatingcosts, the environmental impact ofthe units and maximising theeconomic benefit that can bepassed to industry. The SHELLTECteam also has a refrigerated vehicleto conduct research intotransportation that is helpingindustry to improve the methodsand protocols used to moveshellfish within Ireland and toEuropean markets.

The project will continue for atleast another one and half years,but Enterprise Ireland is currentlyreviewing a revisedimplementation plan that will seean expansion of activities well into2009. Other sources of funding arealso being pursued to ensure thesustainability of the facility andteam.

Dr Martin Robinson, Principal Investigatorand Project Manager, SHELLTEC Centre, GMIT.

GMIT SHELLTEC CentreThe Enterprise Ireland funded Applied Research Enhancement(ARE) SHELLTEC project at GMIT is examining the responses ofvarious shellfish species to medium to long-term storage andsubsequent transport, and using the knowledge gained todevelop innovative technologies that enhance the competitiveability of the Irish fishing industry.

Researchers in theGMIT SHELLTEC

Centre.


research

GMIT recently secured over€1.2m funding, under theEnterprise Ireland AppliedResearch Enhancement(ARE) Programme, which hasallowed it to establish aMedical Technologies Centreof Excellence, known asGMedTech.

This funding represents the largestfund awarded to a single researchproject in the Institute’s history. Thefunding was provided under theNational Development Plan, 2000-2006 and part-financed by theEuropean Regional DevelopmentPlan. The ARE funding is supportingthe start-up and initial runningperiod of GMedTech.

The Centre is offering theregional and national medicaldevice cluster an advanced productperformance testing service, aswell as informed product designand development support.

GMedTech is actively engaging withmedical device companies;identifying their product test needs;

and developing specialised testsystems to meet these needs. Theinformation gathered from the testsystems is used to support devicedesign and development decisions.The Centre is also assisting theInnovation in Business Centre (IiBC),in GMIT, to attract medical devicestart-ups as spin-offs from themedical device cluster in the regionor arising from the GMedTechresearch and development.

The GMedTec Centre is locatedon the Dublin Road campus inGalway and employs a CentreDirector, John Kelly, a post-doctoralresearcher, Dr. Magdalena Tyndyk,

and four post-graduate researchers.It is intended that the Centre willemploy up to ten personnel in theinitial phase, including additionalpost-graduates researchers,research engineers as well astechnical and administrativesupport staff.

The Centre is the culmination ofthe research achievements of theGMIT Medical Technology ResearchGroup over the last six years. TheGroup, all stemming from the Deptof Mechanical and IndustrialEngineering, is led by Dr PatrickDelassus.

The West Coast of Ireland is hometo numerous species of whales,dolphins and porpoises. GMITscientists from the Biology andPhysics/Instrumentation areas,along with The Shannon Dolphinand Wildlife Trust, are workingtogether to increase ourunderstanding of the behaviourand habitat needs of thesemammals and in particular thoseof the resident population ofbottlenose dolphins in theShannon Estuary.

Whales and dolphinscommunicate, navigate andexplore through sound rather thansight. Sound travels five timesfaster in water than it does in airand most of their time is spentunderwater where vision is oftenvery limited.

Bottlenose dolphins use a

variety of sounds in the course oftheir various activities. Theseinclude: ultrasonic echolocationsignals; narrow band, frequency-modulated whistles; and burstpulse clicks. They use theecholocation clicks to detect andrecognise objects underwater fromthe returning echoes – a biologicalversion of sonar. Whistles andburst pulse clicks are used mainlyfor communication.

The current research in Physicsat GMIT focuses on these narrow-band, frequency-modulatedwhistles, particularly on the socalled signature whistles, whichare thought to establish dolphinidentity.

The research is being conductedby lecturer John Cunningham andpost graduate Sabina Clarke, inconjunction with Joanne O’Brien

of GMIT’s Marine BiodiversityResearch Group.

John Cunningham says: "We areextracting the whistle contoursand then determining how manydistinct signature whistles thereare. This will provide an indicationof how many dolphins werepresent in the area over theperiod. When correlated withvisual observation, we can get anestimate of the dolphin populationand how it varies over time.

"It should even be possible insome cases to visually matchindividual dolphins to theirsignature whistles. Abundanceestimates are critical to themonitoring and protection of theresident dolphin population in theShannon Estuary.”

GMIT Medical Technologies Centre (GMedTech)

Dolphin research

The GMedTec team, L-R: Dr Carine Gachon, Dr Patrick Delassus (GroupLeader), Dr P.J. McAllen, Dr Magdalena Tyndyk,John Kelly (GMedTechCentre Director), Dr Liam Morris, Florentina Ene and Gerard O'Donnell.



feature


Clockwise: Cube light Box:Kate Dunne and

Ryan Connolly

Chair: Brian Cooney

Cutlery Canteens(before-after treatment):

Maurice Molloy,Sarah O'Sullivan,

Gillian Goodbody

Bathroom storage cabinet:Diarmuid Murphy

Yet, wood plays a most importantpart in the rehabilitation of anotherbuilding with an equallyunwholesome past. Letterfrackindustrial school, whose Victorianfacade set amid the isolation of aConnemara wilderness instilled aneven more virulent form of fear.Here, too, captivity was the norm,but of the foulest kind, involving asit did the incarceration of theyoung of mind.

Perhaps President MaryMcAleese on visiting Letterfrack inJune of this year best summed upthe building’s sad history:

“It stood for a kind of failure.Actually, it stood for a failure offamilies, it stood for a failure ofinstitutional imagination. It stoodalso in some ways for a failure ofhumanity itself, because so manyyoung men whose lives werealready blighted in many different

ways, found their way to this placeand found a place from which theycouldn’t escape….”.

Time marches on, of course,because when President McAleesespoke these words, she wasofficially opening the newFurniture Gallery in the Galway-Mayo Institute of TechnologyLetterfrack campus. Thetransformation was complete. Thehouse of detention had become acentre of industrial intuition andendeavour.

In fact, ever since the industrialschool ceased to be, andConnemara West, the localcommunity-owned ruraldevelopment company, purchasedthe building in the 1970s, afurniture design educational facilitywas established in the old building,where the sound of nail on wood,

From Letterfrack toFarmleigh by Peadar O’Dowd

Time marches on and in its march, progress inevitably is made. In thisregard, Galway was not behind the door when the hands of time slippedinto motion. Examples abound, not least that of Galway Cathedralwhose lofty dome elevates today with the sound of hymn and prayer.Not so long ago, this spatial site housed the county and city jails whosesingular embrace of stone and iron brought only despair, when evenwood was deemed a luxury in the prison cell.


feature

now denoted true learning notabject fear.

Not surprisingly, this useful toilwelcomed ambition and when theembryonic college came within theaegis of the Galway-Mayo Instituteof Technology in 1987, withinstitute lecturer Jim O’Connor adriving force behind the merger, itreceived accreditation to offerdiplomas and degrees in the worldof its choice.

Today, according to MichaelHannon, the Head of the Centre atLetterfrack, the aim of the facility is“to provide a dynamic educationalenvironment to support studentson a path of development towardscreativity and expertise in furnitureand wood-based technologies”.

As Michael also reminds us,“Letterfrack is synonymous in themind of the average Irish personwith being a centre of excellence infurniture design, making,restoration and production and inthis it is unique in Irish third leveleducation. Currently there are sixBachelor of Science degrees onoffer in Letterfrack”. Today, GMITLetterfrack is the only Irish instituteoffering a new woodwork teachingdegree – the Bachelor of Science(Honours) in Design andTechnology Education.

Since it opened in 1987, GMITLetterfrack has made an indeliblemark on Irish design and itsaccomplishments in various fieldshave created a special rapportbetween national and internationaldesign-related industries,producing a standard of work thatis unique. Our attention now turnsto the recently convertedFarmleigh House exhibition centrein the Phoenix Park, Dublin, whichhas initiated a programme todisplay the best in contemporaryIrish and international craft, design

Concept generation:Alan Treacy

and fine art. Not surprisingly, andin keeping with this approach,GMIT Letterfrack has beenhonoured to showcase its students’work in an exhibition entitled,‘Furnishing the Details’ which runsin the Farmleigh Gallery from 5thOctober to the 5th November, withentry free to the public.

Opened recently by an tUasalÉamon Ó Cuiv, Minister forCommunity Rural and GaeltachtAffairs, this exciting exhibitiondisplays furniture designed andmade by students and graduates ofLetterfrack. Here in Farmleigh onecan marvel at the innovation incontemporary furniture design andadmire the excellence in themaking, restoration, production,research and technological skills ofthe exhibitors at first hand.Exciting, and to put it mildly,

innovative exhibits include a stand-alone but very practical chair (withonly two legs!) by Alastair Creswell,while Brian Murray’s ‘Rock Drawers’are curved memory boxes intendedfor triplets to contain first locks ofhair and each toddler’s initial tooth.

Obviously, imagination andcreativity are very much at play andencouraged in what initially wasthought to be a rather isolatededucational facility in Letterfrackdeep in the heart of the West ofIreland. Certainly, this exhibitionwill inform east-coast dwellers thatthere is far more to Connemarathan its awesome scenery andever-changing weather patterns aseager students and dedicated stafffrom many corners of Europeconverge on a site, which nowoffers so much hope for the future.

© Galway Now



events


An international conference “Small-scaleForestry and Rural Development” tookplace in GMIT last year, attended by theMinister of State at the Department ofAgriculture and Food, Mary Wallace. Theevent was co-ordinated by GMIT Forestrylecturer Sara Wall.

Over 50 papers were delivered during thefive-day symposium by representativesfrom 23 countries including Europe, theUS, Scandinavia, Africa and Australia. TheGMIT-hosted conference was organised incollaboration with IUFRO and supportedby Coford, Coillte, Teagasc , and theWestern Forestry Co-op, Sligo.

Castlebar campus celebrated the work of its first batch ofstudents to complete the part-time BA in Art & Design. Thestudents’ work was unveiled at an exhibition in St Mary’sHall in June, attended by the artists, their families andfriends, invited guests of the college and Castlebar staff.The exhibition also ran at the Linenhall Arts Centre inCastlebar in July. The graduates attended lectures oneevening a week for six years.

L-R: Bernie Garvey-O’Mara, Crossmolina; Loretto Cooney,Abbeyshrule, Longford, Pauline Garavan, Castlebar; EileenMurtagh, Swinford; Mary Flynn, Westport; Benita Stoney,Newport; Susan Quinn, Westport; Mary Smyth, Ballyhaunis;David Slack, Ballina; William Burke, Ballina; MarlieseHertfelder, Ballyhaunis; and Rosemary Gallagher,Ballaghaderreen.

Castlebar’s first artists

International foresters meet in GMITGMIT forestry lecturer

and conference co-

ordinator Sara Wall

(centre left) with Junior

Agriculture Minister

Mary Wallace (centre

right) who addressed

the 2006 Forestry

Conference in GMIT


off the press


Galway Lawn Tennis Club - aHistoryAuthor: Peadar O'Dowd.

Published by Jaycee Printers, Galway.

A social history of the Galway Lawn TennisClub and Galway city during the last century,covering the club's foundation and history tothe present day through minutes andnewspaper clippings as well as personalmemoirs from some of the longer-servingmembers. Peadar O'Dowd, who retired fromGMIT this year, was a senior lecturer in GMITBusiness School and is the author of anumber of books on heritage including TheHistory of County Galway and Galway City inOld Photograph, both published by Gill &MacMillan.

Aisling LtdAuthor: Sean Harnett.

Published by Hag’s Head Press.

Aisling Ltd is Seán Harnett's darkly satirical debutnovel. By turns a biting exposé of the culture ofcorporate Ireland and a gripping psychologicalthriller, the book has been widely praised. Villagemagazine called it “entirely convincing andengaging: an exciting tale written with flair andtalent”, while The Irish Examiner hailed it as “thebook IT workers have been waiting for”. Seán Harnett is currently writing his secondnovel. He works in the GMIT Computer ServicesDepartment. More information at http://www.aislingltd.com

Davitt Author: Bernard O'Hara.

Published by Mayo County Council

A concise illustrated biography of one of the most loved and respected personalities inIrish history, written in the context of his time. Immortalised as ‘The Father of the LandLeague’, Michael Davitt (1846-1906) was also a respected international journalist, anauthor, a supporter of Home Rule, an MP, and a pioneer of the labour movement inBritain and Ireland.

GMIT Registrar Bernard O’Hara's other publications include: Killasser: A History (ed.),The Evolution of Irish Industrial Relations Law and Practice, Mayo: Aspects of its Heritage(ed.), Michael Davitt Remembered, Archeological Heritage of Killasser, County Mayo,Regional Technical College Galway: The First 21 Years, and A Guide to County Mayo.

An Island HeartAuthor: Brian O'Rourke.

Published by Wynkin de Worde.

A story about a troubled individual, aman devoid of empathy and incapableof true relationships, who eventuallycommits a terrible deed.

Brian O'Rourke is a lecturer in Irishliterature in GMIT.

His other publications include: TheConscience of the Race (1980),The Long Walk of a Queen (1985) andBlas Meala: A Sup from the Honey-Pot.

Recent publications by GMIT staff


Notes



We'd like to keep in touch with you in the futureso please send us your contact details.

Benefits of the GMIT Alumni Association include:

• Organisation of class reunions and professional networking events.

• Preferential membership rates for GMIT Library.

• Special rates for GMIT Gym .

• Health insurance - 10% discount with VHI and Quinn Healthcare.

• 10% discount at Blacoe Jewellers Galway and Claremorris.

• 10% discount on accommodation and leisure club membership at Ardilaun Hotel, Galway.

• Two-for-one admission at 67 OPW sites throughout the country.

Contact the GMIT Alumni Association [email protected], and complete the briefonline application form at www.gmit.ie/alumni/

GMIT Alumni AssociationInsert IiBC Advertfull page colourwas used in theGalway conferringsbooklet 06(inside front cover)

Innovation inBusiness Centre (IiBC)

The Innovation in Business Centres (IiBC) at GMITCastlebar and GMIT Galway are strategic resources

for new start-up companies.

The IiBC supports the development of new enterprises in the region byproviding incubation space and business development supports for thenurturing of new ideas and the commercialisation of applied research.

It is another step in GMIT’s innovative approach towards facilitatinglearning and economic development in the regions.

Supported by Enterprise Ireland, the Innovation in Business Centresalso provide a Concept Desk facility to support entrepreneurs whohave a good idea for a new business venture, which may in time

develop into a project for the incubation space.

Business development supports available to new start-up companiescover such areas as Marketing, Sales, Finance, Legal, Intellectual

Property, Export Development, Mentoring, Networking and access toResearch competencies at the Institute.

The IiBC enables companies to work in a secure, innovative,entrepreneurial environment as they progress through the various

stages of a new company start-up.

Maria Staunton

IiBC, Castlebar

094-9027492

[email protected]

George McCourt

IiBC, Galway

091-742822

[email protected]

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT),

Dublin Road,

Galway,

Rep of Ireland.

Tel +353 91 753161

Fax +353 91 751107

email: [email protected]

website: www.gmit.ie

www.gmit.ie

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