Repeat Examination Results 2009. Available on the web on Friday, September 11th, 2009 at 2:00pm.

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The Institute of Technology, Sligo Mechatronics team have received the first prize in their section at the National Skills Finals. Team members Robert Carroll and Thomas Burke are now hot favourites to be chosen to represent Ireland at this year’s World Skills Finals in Canada. The success of the team reflects the quality of Mechatronics training at IT Sligo, which is the fastest growing engineering discipline at the Institute.

L-R: Dr. John Hession , Institute of Technology, Sligo, team coach and subject expert, Thomas Burke, team member, Prof. Terri Scott, President , Institute of Technology, Sligo and Robert Carroll, team member, at the National Skills finals in Mechatronics held at Cork Institute of Technology where the Institute of Technology, Sligo was awarded first place in Mechatronics.

Both winning team members are currently undertaking research towards Masters degrees in Bioengineering, which they plan to complete in 2010. Thomas Burke, native of Claremorris and a past pupil of St. Colmans College, already holds a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from IT Sligo. Robert Carroll from Kilalla and a past pupil of St. Patrick’s, Lacken Cross, graduated from IT Sligo in 2008 with a BEng (Hons) in Mechatronics. Mechatronics at IT Sligo has gone through phenomenal growth in the past five years and, in addition to the full-time programme, is delivered by on-line distance learning to over one hundred and fifty people in the workforce in all parts of Ireland. These people are employed in industry right across Ireland, in sectors such as Medical Devices, Pharmaceutical, Electronics and Food Processing.

Head of Mechatronics at IT Sligo Frank Carter comments ‘As the basis for Industrial Automation, Mechatronics is one of the main drivers of competitiveness in manufacturing industry. It is vitally important to the whole manufacturing and processing sectors, including microelectronics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and food processing. Graduates of Mechatronics at IT Sligo are using their skills to contribute to the on-going process improvement efforts that keep these industries at the forefront of competitiveness and productivity in Ireland. IT Sligo is the leading third-level institution in the provision of qualifications by on-line distance learning, making a very significant contribution to the National Skills Strategy.

The team was coached at the competition by subject expert and lecturer, Dr. John Hession. Senior technician Ray Tobin and the Mechatronics staff provided invaluable support in the weeks leading up to the final.

For further information please contact
Mr. Frank Carter
Head of Department of Mechanical & Electronic Engineering
School of Engineering

Phone: 071 9155225
Email: carter.frank@itsligo.ie

The Institute of Technology, Sligo is at the cutting edge of the development and delivery of work-based learning programmes in Ireland. An excellent example is the 2 year Higher Certificate in Custodial Care that has been developed in conjunction with the Irish Prison Service [IPS] and which is completed by all new recruits to the prison service. IT Sligo teaching staff, and colleagues from the IPS Training and Development Unit, are currently conducting over 250 work place visits at prisons in Dublin. Each visit lasts approximately one hour, and provides the Recruit Prison Officer with an opportunity to describe their professional competence and personal development.

Mary Clarke, Lecturer, IT Sligo discusses the programme with staff from the Irish Prison Service Training & Development Unit during a recent work place visit

“As the HCCC is a work based learning programme, it is essential that students are visited in their workplace”, explained Fergus Timmons, Programme Manager. He continued, “The idea of the visits is to make obvious the links between what is learned in the classroom, and how this can be applied to the work of each prison officer. The visits allow us time to explore these areas in some detail.”

Programme lecturer Paula Kenny commented, “Recruit Prison Officers are really getting to grips with the modules, and are planning the course that they would like their career to take within the IPS. Others have demonstrated excellent critical analysis of their own professional and personal development, and the Irish Prison Service’s competency framework”. Paula has conducted over 40 visits in three prisons – Cloverhill, Mountjoy and Dóchas.

As Chief Officer Richie Roche of the Irish Prison Service pointed out, “The majority of RPOs I have spoken to formally and informally, have said that the Work Place Visits have had a lot of relevance to them, as they see them as placing a value on their job performance. They have also allowed staff from IT Sligo to visit a range of prisons, thereby providing an opportunity to improve on their existing considerable understanding of how prisons work.”

Members of the Irish Prison Service get to grips with course material as they study the Higher Certificate in Custodial Care

IT Sligo is continually breaking new ground with this programme. The organisation and completion of so many meetings within the prison environment has been a challenge – but one that has contributed greatly to the relevance, quality and uniqueness of this work-based learning experience.

For further information please contact
Fergus Timmons
Programme Manager
Higher Certificate in Custodial Care

Phone: 071 9155499
Email: timmons.fergus@itsligo.ie

IT Sligo recently put its online teaching infrastructure to good use in giving several presentations live to Zaragoza University in Spain. The live link up was set up with the technology used for delivery of on-line courses by IT Sligo. This event was organised by Grace Corcoran, Lecturer in Mathematics in the School of Engineering as part of an Erasmus Mobility initiative. The event was opened by Grace who was in the University of Zaragoza, Spain where she explained how IT Sligo was complying with the Bologna Accord. Several presentations were then made by IT Sligo staff from the Institute in Sligo.

Stephanie Donegan, Education and Quality Manager, presented on Quality Assurance at IT Sligo, Eileen Curley, International Officer, spoke about student mobility, Etain Kiely, Learning and Teaching Coordinator, presented on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), meeting learning outcomes and assessment criteria and how this translates into practice and, finally, Brian Mulligan, Open Learning Coordinator and Grace concluded the event with a presentation on the development of online distance learning in IT Sligo.

Members of the Educational Development Unit on webcam at IT Sligo taking a break from the live link up with the University of Zaragoza, Spain which was conducted recently

The presentation was very timely as the University of Zaragoza is now beginning to restructure their programmes to comply with the Bologna Accord. Grace was presented with a piece of pottery by Dr. Fernando Tricas the vice director of Quality at the Centro Politécnico Superior of the University of Zaragoza.

On her return from the University of Zaragoza, Grace Corcoran, Lecturer, School of Engineering presents the piece of pottery received from Fernando Tricas the Vice Director of Quality, University of Zaragoza to members of the Education Development Unit.

For further information on the Education Development Unit please contact:
Stephanie Donegan,
Education and Quality Manager,
IT Sligo,

Phone: 071 9155447
Email: donegan.stephanie@itsligo.ie

On Thursday 25th June 2009, Professor Philip Farrell of the University of Wisconsin will visit the Institute of Technology Sligo to present an evening lecture at 7.30pm in room A0004 on “Studying The Ancient Origin of Cystic Fibrosis”. He is currently working on a collaborative project in this area with Dr Jeremy Bird, School of Science, Institute of Technology Sligo and he will outline some of their recent results and their proposed future project.

Prof. Philip Farrell of the University of Wisconsin will give a guest lecture at IT Sligo On Thursday 25th June 2009

Philip Farrell is Professor of Paediatrics and Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and served as Dean of the University of Wisconsin Medical School from 1984 to 2006. As Professor of Paediatrics and Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Professor Farrell concentrates his efforts on cystic fibrosis newborn screening and population health promotion.

The high incidence of cystic fibrosis (CF) is mainly due to one mutation (F508), but the reasons for high levels of this mutation in the European and Euro-American populations has not been explained, although a selective advantage for the carriers has long been suspected. The Irish population has a particularly high incidence of the F508 mutation. Dr. Farrell and an interdisciplinary, international team are applying genetic archaeology to address various hypotheses directly regarding the genetic history and spread of this mutation in human populations.

Their pilot studies have utilized prehistoric skeletons from Austria (La Tene culture of the Celts) and several other European countries to analyze molar teeth for DNA markers and femur specimens for radiocarbon dating, paleo-diet reconstruction, and trace metal determinations. Results thus far reveal that F508del was present in the skeletons of 3 of 32 humans who lived during circa 500 to 100 BC near the Danube River and that many such inhabitants had high levels of arsenic and lead in their bones.

Pilot studies have utilized prehistoric skeletons to analyze molar teeth for DNA markers and femur specimens for radiocarbon dating, paleo-diet reconstruction, and trace metal determinations

Dr Farrell will outline possible extension of this study to an early Irish population and initial results on the recovery of DNA from human remains, and the reason behind why such a study may answer some important questions about the emergence of the cystic fibrosis mutation in the Irish population.

Professor Farrell’s lecture is at 7.30pm on Thursday 25th June in lecture theatre A0004 at Institute of Technology Sligo.

For further information please contact:
Jeremy Bird, PhD,
Department of Applied Science,
School of Science,
Institute of Technology Sligo

The recent Open and Distance Learning information evening held in IT Sligo was deemed a great success with attendances of in excess of 200 people.

Staff from each of the academic schools were present on the night to answer questions and queries regarding the many distance learning programmes on offer in IT Sligo.

Billy Fitzgerald, Department of Environmental Science, IT Sligo, answered queries at the ODL (Open and Distance Learning) Information Evening held recently

Jennifer Van Aswegen, Open Learning Facilitator, School of Business & Humanities, IT Sligo took time to answer queries on the night with many potential students of IT Sligo

One lucky attendee, Damien Kelly of, Ballina Co Mayo was the winner of the evening’s prize of an Apple ITouch.  Damien works for Hollister medical device company in Ballina and signed up for the Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics online programme at IT Sligo.

Lucky winner Damien Kelly tries out his prize with Niall McEvoy, Technology Transfer and Innovation Manager, IT Sligo.

Further information on Online and Distance Learning Programmes, along with a downloadable Prospectus for 2009-2010, is available here

If you would like a Prospectus or further information on any programme, you can telephone 071 9155222 or email odl@itsligo.ie. All applications for 2009/2010 programmes must be made online via www.itsligo.ie.

The closing date for programmes starting in September 2009 is 30 June 2009.

Examination Results June 2009. Available on the web on June 19th, 2009 at 11:00am.

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Students from Breifne College, Cootehill Road, Co. Cavan were the winners of the Best Overall Project Award at SciFest 2009 which took place in the Institute of Technology, Sligo on the 6th May.

Colm Smyth, Eimhin Smyth and Daniel Morgan from Breifne College, with Oonagh Meighan of Discover Science and Engineering programme who won the Best Overall Project Award sponsored by INTEL Ireland for their project ‘An electronic alternative to guitar tab’ at Sci Fest 09 in IT Sligo

SciFest is a one day festival of science, which includes a competition and exhibition of projects, a selection of science talks, science demonstrations in the college laboratories and a prize-giving ceremony. 200 students in total from Counties Sligo, Mayo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Donegal, Cavan and Galway took part in the event at IT Sligo.

Colm Smyth, Eimhin Smyth and Daniel Morgan won the Best Overall Project Award with their project ‘An electronic alternative to guitar tab’. Other prizes on the day included the Abbott Runner Up Best Project Award, won by Patrick Conwell, Adrian Holmes and Richard Bourke from St. Joseph’s Secondary School Foxford, Co. Mayo for their project ‘Auto CO ventilation systems’.

The BT Best Communicator Award, which was won by Peter Connelly and Glenn Patterson Sligo Grammar School and the Discover Sensors Award, went to students Eoin Dillon, Luke Govorov and Aoife McEniff from Magh Ene College, Church Road, Bundoran, Co.Donegal.

Sheila Porter, SciFest National Coordinator, congratulated the winning students on the day, “science and technology has been identified as being key to the country’s long term growth and to the development of Ireland’s smart economy. As such, it is incredibly exciting to see the massive scale and breadth of the entries into this year’s SciFest and with greater competition than any year previous, all congratulations are due to this year’s winners. Together, our young scientists point to a very bright future for Ireland’s science and technology sectors”.

Up to 2,000 students entered SciFest 2009 which took place in fourteen Institutes of Technology around the country – Athlone, Blanchardstown, Dublin, Dundalk, Carlow, Cork, Galway/Mayo, Letterkenny, Limerick, Sligo, Tallaght, Tipperary, Waterford, and Tralee. Nearly 900 projects were entered in total in 2009, compared to 680 projects in 2008.

Sheila Porter continued, “SciFest also creates an important link with Ireland’s Institutes of Technology and industry and provides young students with a valuable opportunity to experience the study of science, engineering and ICT first hand and, by participating in hands-on science activities and experiments, students can dispose of any veil of uncertainty that may surround the study of science beyond secondary school. I would like to congratulate and thank all those who took part in this year’s exhibitions, students, teachers, local coordinators, judges and sponsors alike, and I look forward with real anticipation to another year of science and another year of SciFest.”

Members of the IT Sligo School of Science staff who organized the successful SciFest event are pictured with Oonagh Meighan of the Discover Science and Engineering programme.

SciFest was originally created as a result of the enormous success of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, and was designed to cater for the excess demand. In addition, SciFest provides another platform for students who wish to exhibit their work and share their findings with other like-minded students in a creative and educational environment. SciFest has the additional advantage that it is locally based which makes it more accessible to students and allows them to view the facilities and courses available in their local Institute of Technology. Last year nine Institutes of Technology hosted SciFest; this year the remaining five Institutes also hosted SciFest in response to local demand.

Following a successful pilot in 2008, an online element was added to this year’s exhibition, with Project Blogger. This allowed students to create individual blogs to keep a record of their SciFest entries and share their experiments with participating students from around the country. Such blogs then formed part of students’ exhibitions at the SciFest events, tracking the project’s path from conception to completion by uploading images, ideas, graphs and video files to the web.

SciFest is jointly funded by Intel Ireland and Discover Science and Engineering. It is supported by a number of other partners and the Institutes of Technology. The project thus creates a valuable link between the second and third level education sectors and between education and industry.

For further information please visit:
www.scifest.ie

The first IT Sligo College Races which took place recently were organised by the Institute’s year one students from the Bachelor of Business Studies in Recreation and Leisure. Competing for the Martin Sheridan Perpetual Trophy – kindly sponsored by the Bank of Ireland, were seven local teams.

Each team which comprised of three men and three women participated in events ranging from sprints, middle distance and relay to field events, shot putt, long jump and Javelin.

Martin Sheridan who was originally from Bohola, Co. Mayo left his native county in 1888, aged sixteen, emigrated to America where he joined the New York Police Department. He signed up in the local athletics club and quickly became a fine athlete, winning many American gold medals in discus throwing and other events. In 1908 he took three Olympic medals at the games in London, setting an Olympic record of 40.89 meters (134.2 feet). In his career Martin won nine Olympic medals in total. In recognition of his outstanding achievements, an athletics trophy is now awarded in his honour.

Martin Sheridan who was originally from Bohola, Co. Mayo won nine Olympic medals throughout his athletic career. The Martin Sheridan Perpetual trophy was awarded to the Summerhill College/Ursuline College team at the first ever IT Sligo College Races held recently

The inspirational statue and historical stand in Bohola, just 40 miles from Sligo is part motivation for choosing Martin Sheridan as patron of the first College Races in IT Sligo. The teams who took part were:

• Summerhill College/Ursuline College
• Sligo Grammar School
• IT Sligo International Students
• IT Sligo Recreation and Leisure Team 1
• MercyCollege/Summerhill College

The team with the highest accumulated points on the day was the Summerhill College/Ursuline College team who were presented with the Martin Sheridan Perpetual Trophy. Medals were also awarded to the top five teams. All prizes were presented by the staff of IT Sligo.

Members of the Summerhill College/Ursuline College team who won the Martin Sheridan Perpetual trophy at the first ever IT Sligo College Races

Organised and run by the first year Recreation and Leisure students under the tutorship of their lecturer Kerry Larkin, the meeting was a huge success and is expected to be an annual event. Martin Sheridan’s spirit lives on!

For further information please contact:
Mr. Kerry Larkin
Lecturer

Phone: 071 9155244
Email: larkin.kerry@itsligo.ie

The first Conference on Learning and Teaching in Social Care which took place in Trinity College Dublin on Wednesday 13 May 2009 was a great success. It was attended by over 100 participants from across Ireland including many staff from IT Sligo. Heather James, NDLR Coordinator and Mark Taylor, lecturer from IT Sligo coordinated the conference with support from IASCE – Irish Association of Social Care Educators, and the NDLR- National Digital Learning Repository.

Participants at the recent National Teaching and learning conference in Applied Social Studies which was held in Trinity College Dublin

Trish Kane, Lecturer in Applied Social Studies, IT Sligo, gave a presentation on creating a reusable learning resource to explore models of youth work practice. Deirdre Scott, a fellow Lecturer in Applied Social Studies, IT Sligo, gave a presentation on developing the reflective social care practitioner.

There were 19 presentations and workshops during the conference which gave social care educators a chance to discuss their practice, as well as inspire and inform each other. Two new books, two websites and an academic journal were launched, demonstrating how this active and effective community is growing and developing. Such opportunities are important to help educators and trainers take a reflective step back to make conceptual links as well as professional connections.

Notably, a manual for practice placement was launched at the event. The placement manual was written by Majella Mulkeen and Dr Margaret Gilmore, lecturers in Applied Social Studies at IT Sligo, with the support of the placement sub-committee of IASCE. There were 8000 copies ordered by 12 institutions across Ireland, and this is the first publication of the newly formed publishing company: Big Fish, organised by Chris Sparks, lecturer at IT Sligo.

The Applied Social Studies Community of Practice website, developed and managed here at IT Sligo, holds related learning materials and information about the conference. http://ndlr.ie/socialstudies/

For further information contact :
Dr Perry Share
Head of Department of Humanities
Institute of Technology, Sligo

Phone: 071 9155340
Email: share.perry@itsligo.ie
Website: www.socialstudies.ie