INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, SLIGO TOURISM POSTGRADUATE WINS FÁILTE IRELAND SCHOLARSHIP.
Ms. Aíne Conaghan, a tourism post-graduate student at the Institute of Technology, Sligo has won a scholarship in the amount of €32,000 under the Fáilte Ireland Research Scholarship Scheme. Aíne is currently conducting research into Sustainable Tourism Certification under the guidance of her supervisor Dr. James Hanrahan. This research is enhanced by cooperation with Easy-eco in assessing the practicalities of applying certification and the implications for policy makers at both national and European level. A global perspective to this emerging trend is addressed by collaboration with Sustainable Travel International.
Earlier this year Aíne and a fellow IT Sligo post-graduate successfully completed the Easy-Eco E-Learning programme provided by the Research Institute for Managing Sustainability at Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration . Both candidates were the first Irish participants in the Easy-Eco on-site training provided by the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics at Lund University, Sweden. Aíne has also recently presented a paper at the Tourism and Hospitality Research in Ireland Conference at Dublin Institute of Technology.
Welcoming this award, Ms Ann Higgins, Head of Department of Marketing, Tourism and Leisure at Institute of Technology, Sligo said ‘We are extremely proud of Aíne’s success in winning the Fáilte Ireland Scholarship, which entailed a rigorous assessment process and the evaluation of her research proposal by an International Assessment Panel. This is an affirmation of the vibrant research culture within the Institute of Technology, Sligo and reflects our desire to contribute to knowledge creation in a meaningful way’.
The attached photo was taken at the recent launch of the Fáilte Ireland Tourism Research Scholarship Scheme in Dublin. Included, from left to right, is Gabriela Ailenei of Fáilte Ireland, Dr. James Hanrahan, Institute of Technology, Sligo, Aíne Conaghan Fáilte Ireland Scholar through the Institute of Technology Sligo, Aidan Pender Director of Industry and Policy Development, Fáilte Ireland.