15 – 19 January, 2013, Gleeson Theatre, DIT Kevin Street

Celebrating the centenary of the birth of the British composer, Benjamin Britten, DIT Conservatory of Music & Drama is delighted to present his opera The Turn of the Screw.  The Turn of the Screw is considered the finest of Britten’s operatic works, and one of the most dramatically appealing English operas ever to be written.  It has proven a welcome challenge for director Vivian Coates, conductor David Brophy and the Vocal Soloists and Symphony Orchestra of DIT, and their production promises an exciting, visceral piece of musical theatre.

This gripping story tells a gothic tale of good versus evil, natural versus the supernatural, possession, exorcism, suspense, and horror.  A young governess journeys to a lonely English manor house to care for two recently orphaned children, Miles and Flora. But she is not their first governess. Her predecessor, Miss Jessel, drowned herself when she became pregnant by the sadistic valet, Peter Quint, who was, himself, found dead soon after the mysterious circumstances.  Now, the new governess has begun to see the ghosts of Quint and Jessel haunting the children, and she must find a way to stop the fiends before it is too late. But are the spirits real, or are they the product of her fevered imagination? As the threat increases, the Governess will have to confront a brutal truth that will challenge not only her safety and sanity, but also the fate of the children under her charge.

The Conservatory of Music & Drama’s production of The Turn of the Screw runs Tuesday 15 January, Thursday 17^th and Saturday 19^th January at 19.30pm in Gleason Theatre, DIT Kevin Street. There is a cover showing on Wednesday 16 January at 6pm.  Tickets are available from the National Concert Hall Box Office by phone (01)4170000 and online www.nch.ie.  Priced €25 (€10 concession)

DIT partners with Industry group to offer fully-funded Masters programme with guaranteed job on satisfactory completion

12 December 2012: The M.Sc. Applied Software Technology was officially launched in IBEC on Thursday 29th November. The programme, run by DIT, is supported by ICT Ireland Skillnet and Ericsson. The fully funded programme offers graduates a full-time and permanent position with Ericsson upon satisfactory completion. This collaboration between academic and industry partners has proven to be a huge success in filling the skills gap that exists in the Irish IT market.

Paul O'Sullivan,  Director and Dean of the College of Business DIT, Danny McCoy, Director General at the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC)

Speaking at the launch of the programme Teresa Hurley, Head of School of Management in DIT described the programme as an “innovative and important initiative highlighting the benefits of academic and industry collaboration. The students gain cutting edge skills through the tailored programme content and we produce work-ready graduates”. Dr. Jenny Munnelly, Programme Manager, referred to the first 40 students that recently graduated in DIT: "They have successfully integrated into fulltime work in Ericsson's product development campus in Athlone. The programme provided excellent tuition in terms of technologies and processes, preparing graduates for their roles as software engineers". A new cohort of 50 students are currently undertaking the programme and all involved look forward to their immersion into industry next year.

For more information on the programme, click here.

Tony Devlin, Project & Business Manager at Ericsson, Paul O'Sullivan, Director and Dean of the College of Business DIT, Danny McCoy, Director General at IBEC, Dr. Jenny Munnelly, Programme Manager at DIT

10 December 2012: The deadline for the DIT Societies Giving Tree Appeal is this Friday 14th at 12 noon. Please leave any gifts UNWRAPPED to your local Societies Office or Students Union Office with tag attached.

10 December 2012: The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, TD, has announced grant awards of €32m for agri-food and forestry research in Ireland(*). The awards cover a broad range of research activities relating to sustainable food production and processing as well as forestry. Many of the projects funded are applied and pre-commercial in nature while there is also a heavy emphasis on research involving the modern biosciences.

DIT researchers to work on food research projects worth over €1.4m

DIT researchers in the School of Food Science & Environmental Health and the FOCAS Institute are working on three of the funded projects which aim to develop novel technologies to increase competitivity in the Irish food industry.

Dr Jesus Frias, Dr Sinead Ryan and Professor Hugh Byrne are participating in a project in collaboration with Professor David Brayden from UCD to investigate novel methods of delivery of nutraceutical ingredients. The project worth almost €478,000 (Translation of pharmaceutical drug delivery to nutraceutical delivery using in-vitro and in-vivo techniques) will focus on innovative methods of drug delivery to increase the effectiveness of peptides that are taken orally.  The team is currently recruiting two (one based in DIT and second one in UCD) postgraduate students to work on the project.  ‘Meat and milk derived peptides have recently been shown to exhibit antihypertensive effects leading to a growing commercial interest in their potential health benefits’ says Dr Frias. ‘However if you take these peptides orally then their bioavailability is limited. Our project will investigate ways to improve this oral bioavailability using drug delivery technology based in nanoparticles ’.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, TD, has announced grant awards of €32m for agri-food and forestry research in Ireland

Dr Nissreen Abu-Ghannam, is collaborating with Teagasc’s Ashtown Food Research centre and UCD to develop novel non-thermal and bio-processing technologies to maximize the extraction of high value ingredients from agri-industrial by-products for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. “Plant food processors generate a significant amount of waste that could be turned into a valuable resource if treated correctly, but to date industry-friendly, low energy sustainable techniques for recovery of these components are not available” says Dr Nissreen Abu Ghannam.   Her project will aim to develop efficient and low cost processing technologies to generate high yield bioactive ingredients that are approved by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) for their positive impact on health. Toxicity aspects of the co-extracted matrices will be evaluated in conjunction with DIT’s  FOCAS Institute. This collaborative project will receive €781,483 over a 4 year period and Nissreen will shortly be recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to join her research team.

Dr David O’Connor will also collaborate with Teagasc’s Ashtown Food Research centre on a project, valued at €162,500, designed to improve the quality of beef on sale in retail outlets (Novel pre-treatment regime to enhance the value and quality of vacuum packed retail cuts of beef).  A postgraduate student will be recruited to work on this project. ‘An advantage of current modified atmosphere packaging systems is the production of a healthy red beef colour. Unfortunately this is also accompanied by a loss of tenderness and taste and an increase in odours due to lipid oxidation’ says Dr O’Connor.’ Shelf-life is also reduced due to potential aerobic growth of spoilage microorganisms. This research project will aim to combine the advantages of vacuum packed products with the “healthy” red colour of oxygenated meat by utilising new technologies and processes’. 

At the launch the Minister reiterated his commitment to targeted research and innovation within the agri-food sector by stating "Publicly funded research will continue to play a key role in driving innovation within the bio-economy thus contributing to the growth targets outlined in the Food Harvest 2020 and ultimately making a positive contribution to the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs".

*All of these projects were awarded under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM). This has been in operation since 2000, and is the main programme for funding food research in research performing organisations in Ireland including Teagasc and the Higher Education Institutes (HEI) thereby contributing to building and maintaining a research capability that helps underpin a vibrant, competitive and innovative food manufacturing industry.

10 December 2012: The Focas Research Institute at DIT is a hive of research activity. Not only does it teach and develop the research skills of third level graduates, it also has a Grasshopper Programme which brings science and research to primary schools.

The Grasshopper Programme, developed by Dr Theresa Hedderman of the Focas Research Institute, is an interactive demonstration suitable for 5 -12 year olds. The Programme helps students at primary level to develop science and research skills by supporting problem/project based learning. By acting as a facilitator to guide and stimulate the thought process, primary level students can develop critical thinking, reasoning and research skills as well as professional development. As well as being fun, the programme aims to entice curiosity in younger children and give the older children an appreciation as to how science impacts on their world.

The success of the programme was recently demonstrated after DIT’s Focas Institute brought its Grasshopper Programme to Belmayne Educate Together.

Based on the success of the demonstration, the school have now set up an afterschool science club for the juniors with the science programme co-ordinated by Dr Theresa Hedderman.  In addition, the seniors entered a number of national science competitions with Dr Hedderman on hand for technical assistance. Of the three competitions entered, the seniors secured first place in two of them. The judges’ feedback was that they exhibited “exceptional conceptual understanding” and “something they were trying to teach first years at third level”.

RDS Science Competition Winners

Success for Belmayne ETNS at the Young Scientist Competition

10 December 2012: DIT’s Centre for Social and Education Research (CSER) recently launched a report on the Speech and Language Therapy Service of Tallaght West Childhood Development Initiative.  The report was officially launched by Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, commentator and RTE presenter in the Mansion House.

Mícheál Ó'Muircheartaigh, (RTE presenter and commentator) with children from Tallaght West at the launch of the CSER report on CDI's Speech and Language Therapy Service.

The report entitled, “Evaluation of the Speech and Language Therapy Service of Tallaght West Childhood Development Initiative” was written by Professor Nóirín Hayes, Siobhán Keegan and Eimear Goulding, all of the CSER, DIT. The research was funded by the Office of the Minster for Children and Youth Affairs and Atlantic Philanthropies. The CDI Speech and Language Therapy Service aimed to assess children in specialised early years and primary school programmes, and intervene with regard to their speech and language development, where required. It also aimed to support Early Years practitioners, teachers and parents in these programmes, and to promote awareness of speech and language, generally.

The results of this evaluation suggest that the service succeeded in receiving referrals, assessing and intervening with almost two hundred children in Tallaght West at an age when they were extremely unlikely to have been seen by any other local service and without waiting for a long period of time. As a result, at least 18 per cent of children who received therapy no longer required speech and language therapy after intervention, meaning that a smooth transition to school and positive longer life outcomes are likely (Conti-Ramsden et al, 2001; Clegg et al, 1999; Gallagher et al, 2000; Leitao and Fletcher, 2004; Knox, 2002; Snowling et al, 2001). Thirty per cent of children were still receiving therapy at the time of report writing; therefore, they too may transition to school without the need for further speech and language intervention. In addition, 25 per cent of children in therapy were referred to other allied health services for help with additional needs which supports the model of delivery with regard to promotion of access to health services. If it is considered that these children came to the attention of allied health services at an earlier than usual age, this means an increased likelihood that they will receive intervention before their needs have compounded into life-long problems.

To download a copy of the report, click here.

Mícheál Ó'Muircheartaigh, (RTE presenter and commentator) with children from Tallaght West at the launch of the CSER report on CDI's Speech and Language Therapy Service

Mícheál Ó'Muircheartaigh, (RTE presenter and commentator) with children from Tallaght West at the launch of the CSER report on CDI's Speech and Language Therapy Service

10 December 2012: Model castings for the DIT Fashion Show 2013 took place on Wednesday 28^th November 2012.  Castings were held from 5.30pm in Java city in DIT Aungier Street.  This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the show and the model castings were the kick-off event to what is sure to be a great show.

Ella Brazel and Leah Crawford

Models were chosen by our celebrity panel of judges.  The panel included Brendan Courtney, stylist and TV presenter; Anne Morgan, managing director of Distinct Model Management; stylist Maria Fusco and model Shireen McDonagh.  Principal sponsors of the show, Vodafone and Spin1038 were at the event and were joined by scouts from various modelling agencies.  The Spin 1038 Zoo Crew broadcasted live from the castings with ‘The Spinis’ also in attendance.  Students looking to be cast in the show were required to bring headshots with them and wear white t-shirts and jeans, with any female models also wearing heels.

The DIT Fashion Show provides the perfect opportunity for students to become involved in one of DIT’s highest profile events.  Food and drinks were served throughout castings followed by an after-party at Wilde making this an unforgettable night!

For more information, please contact:
Jessica Hargadon
PRO, DIT Fashion Society
Phone: +353 86 1220605
Email: jessica.hargadon@gmail.com

Judge Brendan Courtney

Judge Anne Morgan and Conor Clinch

Judge Maria Fusco

A selection of models from the DIT Fashion Show castings

Come see our nations best apprentices in action

10 December, 2012: The annual National Skills Competition, rebranded this year as the IrelandSkills National Competition, officially started today when the best apprentices in the nation converged on the Dublin Institute of Technology to compete in the intense three day event.  Over 40 apprentices from 17 counties across Ireland, including 2 UK guest competitors, have arrived in DIT to compete for the National title in their respective skill area. 

A major highlight in the Institute's calendar, this year DIT is proudly hosting the final stage tests in eight different skill areas.

1. Aircraft Maintenance
2. Brickwork
3. Cabinet Making
4. Cookery
5. Heavy Vehicle Mechanics
6. Plumbing
7. Polymechanics
8. Sheetmetal Work

Those who will be competing this week have already demonstrated their outstanding ability by coming through the preliminary stages of the competition, having won their local round of the IrelandSkills competition. 

Mr Martin Sneyd, Chair of DIT’s IrelandSkills National Competition Organising Committee said, “DIT is very proud to have these highly skilled young people here in DIT, competing to become the best in Ireland in their specific skill area and we wish them every success in this year’s Competition.“

The National Skills Competition now known as the IrelandSkills National Competition has been running since 1956 and aims to encourage excellence in industrial and service skills, to provide the opportunity for participants to display their competence in a competitive arena and to increase awareness of the calibre of apprentices in Ireland today. The winner of each Skill Competition will receive the prestigious Silver Medal.  Some national winners may also be selected to represent Ireland at the WorldSkills Competition to be held next year in Leipzig, Germany.

Hailed as the pinnacle of global skills, trades, and technology competition, The World Skills Competition promotes excellence and international competency throughout the craft areas. At the last World Skills Competition, held in London in 2011, the Irish team of highly skilled young people performed extremely well competing against teams from 38 other countries and winning three gold medals, and five Excellence Medallions!  .  Dublin Institute of Technology is particularly delighted that a number of medal winners trained in DIT.

Indeed, DIT has been synonymous with the education and training of Ireland's apprentices since its inception more than a century ago, and the Institute remains at the forefront of skills training today. According to Professor Brian Norton, President of DIT "Our extensive skills training is testimony to the importance DIT places on this essential area of education and the quality can be measured by the excellent showing of our apprentices at both national and international level. Our success is continuously benchmarked internationally by the WorldSkills competition where the skill and ability of our apprentices and students show once again that the education and training of our young skilled workers is world class”.

Members of the public are invited to come and see the best apprentices in the nation compete for the National title.  Competitions will be held throughout the three days (Tuesday 11t^h December – Thursday, 13^th December) at DIT campuses at Bolton Street, Linenhall, Beresford Street, Cathal Brugha Street and DIT Aviation Technology Centre, Dublin Airport  You can watch live demonstrations in various skill areas and learn what it takes to become an award winning competitor in the National Skills Competition 2013.

Admission free – all welcome

Click here to view the National Skills Competition Timetable

Dr Michael Seery of the School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences was awarded the 2012 Higher Education Teaching Award at the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) General Assembly Prizes ceremony in November. In presenting the award, the RSC Chief Executive Dr Robert Parker said that Michael was receiving the award in recognition of his work in the development of resources to assist the teaching and learning of physical chemistry and for the dissemination of his approaches to the development and evaluation of these resources. The award and medal was presented by the President of the RSC, Prof Lesley Yellowlees. More information on the award can be found at the RSC website.

Photo-caption: Dr Robert Parker, Chief Executive RSC, Dr Michael Seery, DIT, Prof Lesley Yellowlees, President, RSC.

6 December 2012: As the CAO deadline gets closer, DIT hosted its biggest-ever Open Day on its Aungier Street campus last weekend. Over 6000 visitors attended and the large crowds made for a great atmosphere throughout the two day event. In addition to second-level students planning on attending third level in 2013, Open Day attracted a considerable number of visitors who were interested in part-time, postgraduate and mature student options at DIT.

Held every year, DIT’s Open Day affords those interested in finding out more about DIT the opportunity to go and visit the college in person. The event is designed to make it as easy as possible for people to get all the information they need under one roof. Visitors were welcomed in the Atrium by the Admissions Office who co-ordinate the event, and by the range of student services including sports, careers, disability service, the international office and Lifelong Learning. Armed with prospectus, wallplanner and timetable for the day, visitors then made their way through the throng to find current students and staff who were available at each stand to explain what's involved in programmes in their area.

Having browsed the stands, the next step for many visitors was to take in one of the specific subject talks which were repeated at intervals of 90 minutes in lecture theatres around the building. While initial questions can be answered at the busy stands downstairs, the talks offer a quieter opportunity to talk about the subject area to those who are particularly interested but want to get an understanding of the options available within a particular programme as well as the potential career paths that may lead from it. In addition, there were special talks on preparing portfolios and auditions, and a ‘maths surgery’ and these proved exceptionally popular with visitors.

Students who attended the Open Day will have received a DIT wall planner, highlighting key dates between now and June. DIT Admissions Officer, Frank Costello said “The CAO deadline is 01 February 2013 and I would encourage students to contact DIT Admissions Office at any time to find out more about their options. Sometimes the Open Day is the first time a student may have considered their options seriously, so we are available by phone (01 402 3445) and email admissions@dit.ie to answer any of the follow-up queries they or their parents or guidance counsellors may have. We recognise the pressure they're under and are happy to relieve that in any way we can by help and advice,' he said.

Spin 103.8 interviews

• Student Interviews
• Interview with Frank Costello, Head of Admissions

Useful links

• DIT video - http://www.dit.ie/openday/
• Study at DIT – http://www.dit.ie/study/undergraduate/
• www.dit.ie/coursewise - detailed online programme catalogue
• Campus Life at DIT - http://www.dit.ie/campuslife/

6 December 2012: DIT FM is back ‘live’ on the air this week (Monday 10th – Friday 14th).  Broadcasting ‘live’ from the School of Media’s radio studios in Aungier Street on 107.8FM and online at dit.ie.  Brought to you by the 3rd year Film and Broadcasting and 3rd year Journalism students.  Music, news and entertainment to help brighten the festive spirit. Text 085 2703000.

Schedule

Download our schedule here

Listen Live

DIT awards 51 elite student-athletes

DIT celebrated its elite student athletes last night (29 November 2012) when 51 new student athletes were honoured and formally awarded a place on the Institute’s 2012-13 Athlete Support Programme. The students represent a wide range of sports - from gaelic games, rugby and soccer to rowing, sailing and wrestling – as well as a wide range of academic disciplines. The successful athletes include seven elite student-athletes who were each awarded a postgraduate fee waiver.

Presenting the awards, Director of Student Services, Dr. Noel O’Connor commended the incoming programme participants on their hard work, dedication and achievements to date, and congratulated them on being awarded a place on the prestigious DIT Athlete Support Programme.

Sinead McNulty, Head of Sport at DIT said the athlete support programme is evidence of DIT’s ongoing commitment to ‘A Better Student Experience’, and that the programme, combined with its complementary personal development opportunities for student athletes, is evidence of how DIT delivers this experience to students.

Among elite student athletes who were presented with their Awards were Rachel Williamson, sailing; Sabina Mason, taekwon-do and boxing; Joshua Caswell, karate; Soslan Tuaev, wrestling; and Gavin Connolly, rowing, all of whom are competing at the highest levels in their chosen sport.

For the full list of awardees, including their sport and their area of study, see below.

Photos

Dr. Noel O'Connor, Director of Student Services, and Sinéad McNulty, Head of Sport, with Joshua Caswell, karate

As above with Soslan Tuaev, wrestling

As above with Gavin Connolly, rowing

As above with Sabina Mason, Taekwon-do and boxing

As above with Rachel Williamson, sailing

New Sports Scholars 2012-2013 Academic Year

5 December 2012: Applications are invited for entry to the College of Engineering and Built Environment part time Level 8 DT775 CPD Diploma in Building Information Modelling (BIM) Technologies and the DT775A CPD Diploma in Collaborative Building Information Modelling (BIM) Technologies programmes.

The DT775 programme will start w/c 28 January 2013 and will run over Two 15 week academic semesters (30ECTS). The DT775A programme will start w/c 28 January 2013 and will run over Four 15 week academic semesters (60ECTS). Attendance is currently programmed for 6.00pm – 9.00pm on Friday evenings and from 10.00am – 1.00pm on Saturday mornings.

The programme fee will be €1200 per 15ECTS Credit Semester + registration.

Click here for further details and an application form

4 December 2012:  The Dublin School of Architecture, DIT, is offering a CPD Certificate programme in thermal bridge analysis, and applications are now open.  Aimed at graduates of architecture, architectural technology, engineering, and construction-related disciplines, the programme runs for 15 weeks from 28 January 2013.  It is open to both Springboard and general applicants.

The content of this innovative programme is focused on thermal bridge analysis which requires an understanding of various thermal performance predictive computer applications. Industry based building designs will be used as the basis for project work to give realistic context for collaborative and multi-disciplinary work.

Over one semester students will develop a focussed skill set in the use of thermal performance applications and the development of construction details which mitigate and control thermal performance.

The programme will start in the week commencing 28 January 2013 and will run over the 15-week academic semester. In the first six weeks you will be required to attend 2-hour sessions on Tuesday evenings and 4-hour sessions on Thursday afternoons.  From week 7 – 13, attendance will be 6 hours each Thursday.

For Springboard applicants, the closing date has been extended to 14 December 2012.  The closing date for general applicants is Friday, 18 January 2013.  Details on how to apply are available on the School of Architecture website at:

http://www.dit.ie/architecture/

Ryan Cup success for DIT Footballers

03 December, 2012: Congratulations to DIT Senior Footballers who claimed the Irish Daily Mail Division 1 League title last evening. DIT secured the title after defeating a gallant St. Mary's of Belfast in extra time in Mayobridge, Down (DIT 1-16 St. Marys 1-15).

Colin Walshe lifts the Ryan Cup

A goal from Supply Chain & Logistics student Darren Reilly forced extra time. DIT then prevailed to claim the coveted title with a point from Construction Economics student David Givney. This is DIT's second Division 1 League title ever at this level, their first coming only two years ago in 2010. En route to this year's final DIT defeated Maynooth, DCU, UCD, Athlone IT and Queens.

The winning DIT team

After this thrilling encounter with St. Marys the team are now preparing for the O'Byrne Cup and Sigerson cup competitions which commence in the New Year. In the O'Byrne Cup DIT have drawn Wexford on Sunday January 6th in Wexford; Kildare on Wednesday January 9th and then Carlow IT on Sunday January 13th. The draw for the Sigerson Cup, which begins in February, will take place in Croke Park on Wednesday December 12th. Other big games coming up for DIT include the opening round of the Purcell Cup which sees them play current champions DCU. While the Inter Camogie team are into the Division 3 league final v LIT and the Junior Footballers play in the Division 3 league semi-Final against South West Regional College from Newry.

Journal dedicated to applied research in the engineering/built environment sector in Ireland

4 December 2012: Further to the enormous success of the inaugural SDAR Journal first published last year, the 2012 edition has now been launched.   The SDAR* Journal is an exciting publication dedicated to sustainable design and applied research and is published by CIBSE Ireland and the School of Electrical Engineering Systems, DIT and supported by Electric Ireland.  

The SDAR Journal is the result of a continuing and productive collaboration between CIBSE Ireland and DIT, and it provides an important repository of documented evidence in engineering design and research. It is a useful source of information and discussion for researchers, designers and all involved in the built environment.  

The Journal is made up of a strong spine of industry-based research.  It comprises companies and individuals within companies, disseminating insightful findings based on evidence gathered from live projects that drive us towards a more sustainable world.  According to the Chairman of CIBSE, Derek Mowlds, CIBSE encourages an evidence-based approach to learning from the built environment, and the SDAR Journal provides this very platform, where people learn from project successes, challenges and shared experiences, supported by robust data and analysis.

The SDAR Journal for 2012 was launched by the President of DIT on Tuesday, 27 November in DIT Aungier Street.  In his remarks, Professor Norton said that there are three aspects to building services engineering – the design, the installation and also how the building performs.  Congratulating the editors and contributors he said “The quality of presentation in this Journal brings these three elements together, in an extremely accessible manner. Also, having an online version allows it to be more widely disseminated. “

In this issue papers range from one on The 2012 SLL Code for Lighting: the Impact on Design and Commissioning to another entitled Improving Automation Routines for Automatic Heating Load Detection in Buildings

To access the Journal online click here: http://arrow.dit.ie/sdar/

Photos of the event

Professor Brian Norton, President of DIT launches SDAR Journal 2012

Dr. Owen Lewis, SEAI and Professor Brian Norton, DIT, with colleagues at the launch of SDAR Journal 2012 

Dr. Kevin Kelly, Head, Electrical Services Engineering, at the launch of SDAR Journal 2012 in DIT Aungier Street

Alexander Inkovenko (Ukraine), Prof. Eugene Coyle (DIT), Dr. Sergei Bezobrazov (Belarus), Dr.Bazaz Babajanov (Uzbekistan)

Joan Kenny, Louise Kelly

Gerry Farrelly, Yvonne Desmond, Tommy Shannon

30 November 2012: DIT Chaplaincy Service—Building links between DIT and the local community— in collaboration with the DIT Conservatory of Music invites you to:

• Christmas Celebrations: A Christmas Concert With The DIT Choral Society and the Stanhope Street Girls Secondary School Choir at The Church of the Holy Family, Aughrim St, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7, Tuesday, 4th December 2012, 6pm – 8.15pm.
• A Christmas Carol Service with the DIT Choral Society at St Dympna’s Oratory, St Brendan’s Hospital Grounds, Grangegorman, Dublin 7,Wednesday December 5th 2012, 4pm – 5pm

All are welcome and admission to both events is free.

The Societies of DIT would like to invite all students and staff to "get involved" with the 2012 DIT Societies Christmas Appeal, which will be running from the 29th November to the 15th December. There are a number of ways to get involved and help throughout the campaign and raise money and awareness for the chosen charities; Wells for Zoe, the Capuchin Day Centre, Pieta House and World Aids Day the SVP Giving Tree Appeal.

There will be a time-table of events both on-site and off-site for both students and staff to get involved with, a selection of which includes;

• 29th Nov – Launch of the DIT Christmas Class Campaign
• 29th Nov – DITSU Ents Christmas Extrava-Geansai
• 3rd Dec – Sign Soc Coffee morning Mount Joy Square
• 3rd Dec – Nutrition Bake Sale Aungier Street
• 3rd Dec – Mini Christmas Market Aungier Street
• 4th Dec - Mini Christmas Market Aungier Street
• 4th Dec – Banter Soc World Aids Event, Aungier Street
• 5th Dec – NORTHSIDE V SOUTHSIDE Cyclethon with Nutrition Soc and Leisure Management Soc
• 5th Dec – ASA Sketchathon, Bolton Street
• 5th Dec – Baking Soc Christmas Bake Sale5th Dec -
• 5th Dec – Juggling Soc Christmas Caroling Aungier Street
• 5th Dec – Mini Christmas Market Bolton Street
• 6th Dec – Mini Christmas Market Mount Joy Square
• 6th Dec – Banter Soc World Aids Day Event, Bolton Street
• 6th Dec – Samba Soc Busk 7-9pm
• 6th Dec – Juggling Soc Christmas Caroling Kevin Street
• 6th Dec – La Gaeilge na Nollaig Aungier Street
• 6th Dec - Sign Soc Coffee morning Bolton Street
• 6th Dec – Drama Soc One Act Festival, Black Box Aungier Street
• 6th Dec – Fashion Soc & NetSoc Model Auction, The Village
• 7th Dec – Juggling Soc Christmas Caroling Bolton Street
• 8th Dec - Juggling Soc Christmas Caroling Cathal Brugha Street
• 10th Dec - Sign Soc Coffee morning Aungier Street
• 11th Dec – SciFi Soc The Nightmare Before Christmas
• 11th Dec – Movie Night, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar
• 11th Dec – Poker Soc Charity Tournament, Bodkins Bar
• 11th Dec – ESN & Global Brigades Christmas Dinner, Aungier Street 5-8pm Courtyard Restaurant
• 12th Dec – Guitar Soc Xmas Factor Bolton Street
• 13th Dec - Sign Soc Coffee morning Kevin Street
• 13th Dec – Music Ensemble Christmas Bake Sale Rathmines
• 14th Dec – Gig Soc Busk
• 14th Dec – ISOC Film Frenzy

Also this year there will be a Class Christmas Campaign; we're encouraging every class to take part in the Christmas appeal. The class that raises the most per student will win €500 to spend on whatever they want! Each class can raise money however they like, maybe everyone donates €2 or maybe one person does a sponsored silence for a day. Get together, think and log on to ditchristmasappeal.com to find out more.

The appeal comprises of :

• The Giving Tree (in conjunction with DIT Sports, DIT Chaplaincy Service and DITSU), where students and staff can pick up a "Giving Tree" bobble from on-site Christmas Trees or from your local Soc Office or SU Office, and simply buy a present for that age group/sex and drop it back to any Societies Office or SU Office before the 7th December UNWRAPPED.
• Numerous Bucket Collections and Fundraising Events during the Christmas Appeal week. Again this will be students collecting funds to donate to our chosen charities. We would welcome staff members to make collections within there offices or indeed get involved on campus collecting moneys.

Gifts for the Giving Tree will be collected on each campus on the 7th December and brought to SVP Head Office for distribution to families.

We would like as many students and staff of DIT to get involved and help as much as they can. For further information contact teri.oboyle@dit.ie or Volunteering Chairperson Cassie Delaney at volunteerchairperson@socs.dit.ie.

30 November 2012: DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama invites you to attend events in their packed schedule of concerts and productions taking place over the next two weeks.   More details can be found at http://www.dit.ie/conservatory/events/

DIT student Ciarán Elliott awarded prestigious culinary award

26 November, 2012: Ciarán Elliott was awarded the distinguished 2012 Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year title yesterday at an exclusive pop up event in Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin. Ciarán was one of five finalists who battled it out over the past three months to win this esteemed title. In the spring he will head off on an all-expenses paid stint at renowned three Michelin starred Spanish restaurant ARZAK in San Sebastian.*

Ciarán Elliott (24) is currently in the final year of a four-year B.A in Culinary Arts in DIT, while also working as a Chef de Partie in Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud in Dublin 2.

Speaking at the final Ciarán said, “The competition was one of the most fulfilling experiences and greatest challenges of my career so far. It was a great chance for me to showcase my talent as a chef. But it also presents fantastic opportunities for me to develop my skills further and use my passion to promote Irish cooking working with Failte Ireland and Euro-Toques.”

Commenting at the final, Gearoid Lynch, President of Euro-toques Ireland said, “This year’s Young Chef of the Year competition was truly one of the best years yet. All five finalists brought something different to the table but in the end Ciarán’s hard work and flair shone through and we were delighted to announce Ciarán as the overall winner of Young Chef of the Year 2012.”

Now in its 22^nd year, this year’s new look Young Chef competition, in association with Failte Ireland, set out to find Young Chef Heroes who can contribute to developing an identity for Irish cooking and promoting Ireland’s culinary reputation at home and abroad. Failte Ireland intend to work with all 5 finalists in the coming year on a variety of promotional activities.

Indeed, of the five finalists that made it through to the final stage of this year’s Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year competition, two of those selected are current DIT students.  In addition to Ciarán, Mark Moriarty, a third year student on DIT’s B.A. in Culinary Arts made it through to the final stage of Ireland’s most distinguished culinary competition.

Changes to the competition this year, saw candidates submitting entries via social media and finalists taking part in a media speed tasting & pop-up lunch event held in Cooks Academy in October where their signature dishes were sampled by the public. Sunday saw all five finalists demonstrating their culinary expertise at the final skills test held in Chapter One Restaurant, Dublin. Each finalist created an original dish in 60 minutes using Euro-Toques award-winning pasture-reared chicken from The Friendly Farmer in Galway. Dishes were then presented and explained to the five judges.

The judging panel included Trevor Moran, Sous Chef at Restaurant Noma, Copenhagen that holds two Michelin stars and was voted best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine for 3 years running (2010, 2011, 2012), Michelin-starred Ross Lewis of Chapter One, Euro-Toques President and former Euro-toques Young Chef winner Gearoid Lynch, Marc Amand, MD of La Rousse Foods, Lorcan Cribbin of Il Segreto and Stephen Gibson of Pichet. The panel was chaired by Neil McFadden.

A special event celebrating Irish cooking took place on Sunday evening at Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin to mark the 2012 Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year and announce the winner. Guests were treated to a 5-course meal prepared by the finalists and their restaurants based on the theme ‘Ireland’s Foodscape’.

You can download a copy of Ciarán’s winning recipe here .

The DIT Telescobe experiment was successfully launched on Friday 16th November from Esrange Space Centre in Northern Sweden, from where it traveled to an altitude of just over 80 km.  The DIT Space Research team reported that the Telescobe boom system was successfully deployed and data for assessing the performance of the boom during the flight has been retrieved from the experiment's computer system. According to Stephen Curran, Telescobe Team Leader, “Data analysis is ongoing, but initial results suggest that the boom system performed extremely well.” 

Picture of the deployed boom taken from the Telescobe module during the flight

Dr. Marek Rebow said he was delighted with the success of the experiment. “We are very proud of our postgraduate researchers who could  accomplish this space project and at the same time conduct their own research.  Our next even more ambitious goal will be to build and launch the first Irish micro-satellite as part of QB50 consortium led by Von Karman Institute, ESA and NASA.”

The fully assembled REXUS 11 payload

On behalf of the team Stephen thanked the many people who had assisted them in the endeavour.  He said “The realisation of this project would not have been possible without the support of a large number of people and organisations. Therefore I would like to thank all of the following in DIT -  Dr. Marek Rebow, Dr. Mike Murphy, Robert Simpson and the School of Mechanical and Transport Engineering, John Lawlor and the School of Manufacturing and Design Engineering and Eugene Coyle, Michael Conlon and the School of Electrical Engineering Systems for all of their encouragement and support.”

Stephen also thanked students Sean Ludlow, Keelan Keogh, Ronan Byrne, Karl Hand, Gavin Whelan and Richard McEvoy for the work they put into the Telescobe experiment as part of their final year projects; Dr. Mark Wylie, who was instrumental in getting the project off the ground and was the first Telescobe team leader; “and Dinesh Vather, Johnalan Keegan and Paul Duffy who all put in an enormous amount of work, sacrificed a huge amount and were instrumental to the success of the project.”

The Telescobe experiment module

The Telescobe team is also extremely grateful to the following organisations for their support:

• The European Space Agency (ESA), German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Swedish National Space Board (SNSB) and the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) for providing the opportunity to participate in the REXUS program.
• Enterprise Ireland, Acra Control and ESERO Ireland for their financial contribution to the Telescobe project.
• FDS Worldwide Express for their excellent shipping service, transporting the Telescobe experiment module to numerous test facilities around Europe, all free of charge.

November 2012: Colleagues in the College of Sciences and Health hosted hundreds of secondary and primary school students in Kevin Street for Science Week, organised by Dr. Siobhan Daly, School of Physics, and colleagues from all Schools. 

The packed programme of events included highly interactive talks such as “Inside a 3D Games Engine” with Dr. Bryan Duggan, School of Computing; “The Genetics Revolution” with Dr. Fergus Ryan, School of Biological Sciences; “Biology at the Movies: separating science fiction from science fact” with Dr. Gwilym Williams, School of Biological Sciences; and “How to save the planet in 45 minutes” with Dr. Ken Farquhar of the Inspirational Science Theatre.  In a talk by Dr. Rob Howard, School of Physics, “The Martial Arts of Physics” was brought to life by the appearance of Taekwondo Grandmaster Howard who demonstrated breaking tiles with his hands.

On Friday, a spaceman came calling – Astronaut Paolo Nespoli from the European Space Agency had his audience on the edge of their seats as he recounted tales of his experiences in space and the rigorous training astronauts undergo to prepare them for their other-world challenge.

State of Play is taking place in Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) at our Aungier Street campus on Friday 30^th November.  This event aims to gather together the major players on the Indie Games scene to showcase what they’ve been getting up to over the past year.  There will be over 30 independent Irish Game Developers present, demonstrating and speaking, including some DIT graduates of the MSc in Digital Games and BSc in Computer Science programmes.

The event is open to the public and further details can be found at www.stateofplay.ie.  A live video stream is also planned and can can be accessed from all desktop, mobile and smart devices from 18:00 on the night.

This event is organized by students and staff on the MSc in Creative Digital Media and the BSc in Computer Game Development, including Hugh McAtamney, Head of Digital Media in the DIT School of Media.  Explaining the background to State of Play, McAtamney says:

“The ‘indie games’ scene is comparable to the independent movie industry in that they are developed independent of mainstream financial backing or funding. Indie Game development normally involves small teams of designers, developers and creatives working on niche projects for a specific type of gamer.

Often, due to the lack of formal budgetary and time constraints the focus of indie gamers is on innovation and creativity leading to the production of expressive, artistic games that can quickly acquire cult status. Oftentimes studios will make use of crowd sourcing to fund their projects which adds a layer of connection between the developers ad their users not normally present in mainstream gaming.

Indie Games studios rely predominantly on digital distribution and promotion of their work through social media and forums. The community tends to be quite concentrated with a fairly loyal fan base, however with the recent explosion of mobile technology Indie Games appear to have found footing in the mainstream market of casual gamers.

Ireland has a stockpile of talented developers and designers eager to dive into the world of game design. It is hoped that Dublin will become a hotspot for Indie Game development in the same way as Seattle, Vancouver, France and Scotland have in previous years.”

State of Play takes place on Friday 30^th November, 6 – 9 pm, DIT Aungier Street campus.  The event is open to the public – for more details on the presenters, the topics and the times, see www.stateofplay.ie

in|discussion - public lecture series 2012

6pm Wednesday, 28^th November
Lecture Room G6, School of Art Design and Printing
Dublin Institute of Technology, 41 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1

The last two months saw the launch of Halo 4, Fifa 13, Just Dance 4 and Assassins Creed III. The names are important. They are sequels and a mix of original and licensed intellectual properties. Where are they made and who makes them? Can we understand games as cultural and social products as well as economic ones? Does politics have anything to do with it? This talk will explore some of the social and cultural aspects of games production as well as the political and economic factors shaping their development. It will also point to the role that companies located in Ireland play in the global production networks of the games industry.

Dr. Aphra Kerr is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the National University of Ireland Maynooth. Aphra received a PhD in Communication Studies from Dublin City University in 2000. Her current research focuses on the transnational production, consumption and regulation of digital games and she has worked on a number of European and nationally funded projects. She has also consulted for national and international policy bodies including the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, the OECD and the EC. She has published a single authored monograph The Business and Culture of Digital Games (Sage, 2006) and she is currently writing another provisionally called ‘Global Games: Production in the Digital Games Industry.’

For more information, see: http://sociology.nuim.ie/people/dr-aphra-kerr

All are welcome to this free event, but places are limited.

Please book by email: indiscussionadp@gmail.com

in|discussion

This public lecture series is a forum to discuss contemporary issues and current research in typography, art, design, material culture, critical theory, pedagogy, philosophy, society and technology. The series follows the launch of the BA in Visual and Critical Studies at the School of Art Design and Printing DIT: http://bavacs.blogspot.com/

Updates on the lecture series at: http://www.dit.ie/artdesignprinting/

We look forward to seeing you there.

Dr Tim Stott
Assistant Lecturer in Art History and Theory
Tel: 00 353 (0)1 402 4129

Brian Fay
Lecturer in Fine Art
Tel: 00 353 (0) 1 402 3559

Brenda Duggan
Lecturer in Visual Communication
Tel: 00 353 (0) 1 402 4237

School of Art, Design & Printing
Dublin Institute of Technology
41 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1

22 November, 2012: Last night DIT lecturer Tom Clonan launched his first book Blood, Sweat and Tears: An Irish Soldier's Story of Love and Loss. The book, which has already attracted positive acclaim from all corners of the world, is a refreshingly honest and open story of Tom Clonan's time spent in the Irish Army, in particular on a tour of duty to Lebanon in the 90s. Poet Theo Dorgan officially launched the book at a reception in the National Library of Ireland.

In Blood, Sweat and Tears Clonan describes the experience of Irish troops in Lebanon as never before. Through the eyes of a young officer on his first tour of duty overseas, the reader is brought to the Lebanon, to deal with a young man coming to terms with loss of innocence and loss of ideals in a time of war. His vivid account brings you from a rain-swept Dublin Airport on a dark October night to the massacre of 118 innocent men, women and children in the village of Qana, South Lebanon on 18th of April 1996. For the first time, the experiences of Irish troops are told in the vernacular of the Irish soldier, warts and all. The reader is taken on patrol with the Irish army and comes under fire with them; shares their fears, frustration and pain and shares in the bleak, black humour employed by Irish soldiers as a survival mechanism in combat conditions.

Irish troops have served 40,000 individual tours of duty over four decades in Lebanon. All over Ireland, in almost every family, there is a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter or cousin who has come under hostile fire in South Lebanon. Some Irish soldiers never came home. Forty seven Irish troops have died in Lebanon. Thousands more returned with physical and psychological injuries. Despite this intimate link with the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Lebanon and Israel, there is little public understanding of our military involvement in Lebanon. Blood, Sweat and Tears redresses that imbalance.

Blood, Sweat and Tears will make you laugh. It will make you cry. Above all, it is a story that deals with personal loss, loneliness and the psychological trauma of military service in a time of war.

A lecturer in DIT’s School of Media, Tom gives courses on the political economy of communication and forensic research methodologies on postgraduate programmes at DIT including the MA in Journalism, MA in International Journalism, MA in Public Affairs and Political Communication and the MA in Public Relations. Prior to his role in DIT, Tom served as an Irish Army Officer. He served in operational units at home in Ireland and on active overseas duty in Lebanon. He commanded troops in Lebanon during the controversial and violent Israeli 'Operation Grapes of Wrath' in April 1996 and worked as an OSCE Election Monitor in Bosnia during the implementation of the Dayton Accords in 1996. Today, in addition to his role in DIT, he is Security Analyst with the Irish Times, where he provides in-depth defense and military analysis of fast-moving international events. He also provides expert military and security analysis to RTÉ television and radio, and international broadcasters including the BBC and Sky News. Blood, Sweat and Tears is his first book.

'Tom Clonan brings to life the sights, sounds, smells and characters of southern Lebanon. His beautifully written book is in turns funny, gripping and heart-breaking.'

Lara Marlowe, Washington Correspondent for The Irish Times and former Bureau Chief for Time Magazine

Blood, Sweat and Tears is published by www.LibertiesPress.com (priced at €14.99). For more information see http://www.libertiespress.com/Blood,_Sweat_and_Tears/152/

DIT Graduate Kevin Donnelly named Marketer of the Year

Pictured: Marketer of the Year 2012 DIT Graduate Kevin Donnelly

19 November, 2012:    DIT Marketing Graduate Kevin Donnelly has just been named Marketer of the Year 2012 at a ceremony held in Dublin.   Kevin Donnelly is marketing director for Britvic Ireland.  He was awarded the title ‘Marketer of the Year 2012’ by fellow marketing professionals, for his work on brands such as Club Orange, for which he devised the successful 'Best Bits' campaign. He was presented with the award by Michael Cullen, editor, Marketing.ie, in association with sponsor Alternatives.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Michael Cullen of Marketing.ie said: "In its 20th anniversary year, Marketer of The Year(tm) recognises and honours standards of excellence in Irish marketing, and in particular for work done in the last two years. With so much internationalism where strategy is designed abroad and applied to a local market in a formulaic manner, it's good to see Irish marketers fighting for the recognition that locally devised strategy and implementation can really deliver brand success.  Kevin Donnelly fits that ideal perfectly for 2012."

Sandra Lawler, managing director of Alternatives added: "Kevin's practice of trying to make a real difference, understanding the value you bring, creating demand, having a strong voice and not being afraid of the path you choose is the type of philosophy that generates brand share and growth, leading to the sort of economic recovery we all hope for. He's a standout marketer and is fully deserving of the title."

DIT also would like to congratulate Kevin on his award.

21 November 2012: The winner of the DIT Fiosraigh Research Excellence Award 2012 is Dr. Yuliya Semenova of DIT’s Photonics Research Centre.  This is the most prestigious research award made by DIT and it recognises excellence in research by individual researchers.

The purpose of the award scheme is to recognise, encourage and reward DIT staff for their contribution to research.  The winner receives funding to support a full-time PhD student which includes a stipend of €16,000 and €2,000 for project costs for each of four years. The PhD student is known as a Dublin Institute of Technology Fiosraigh Scholar. 

Dr. Dr. Yuliya Semenova is a lecturer and senior researcher in the Photonics Research Centre in DIT.  Her research interests include liquid crystals, photonics and fiber optic sensing.  She was presented with her Fiosraigh Research Excellence Award at the 3^rd Annual Postgraduate Research Symposium which took place in DIT Aungier Street in November 2012. This annual event which aims to foster cross-fertilization of DIT research activities comprises a series of oral presentations and poster displays delivered by DIT postgraduate research students following a competitive selection process. On this occasion 12 students were selected to make presentations on topics as diverse as ‘The Influence of Stent Design and Local Haemodynamics on in-Stent Restenosis’,  ‘ Smart Structures with Embedded Fiber Optic Sensors’, Detecting Imperfection in Crowd’ and ‘Indian Cinema in Ireland: Film as a Site of Cultural Mediation’. Each high quality presentation was welcomed by the audience of DIT staff, supervisors and students and prompted lively discussions on the topics being researched.  In addition to the DIT Fiosraigh Research Excellence Award, two other awards were presented:

Best Oral Presentation

The winner of the Fiosraigh Head of Graduate Research School Best Speaker Award was Dervil Cody, a PhD student in the School of Physics. Dervil was presented with her award – a travel grant of €1,000 - by Professor Brian Norton, for the excellence of her presentation on the ‘Development of a Diacetone Acrylamide-based Holographic Photopolymer’.  Her supervisors are Dr Emilia Mihaylova (Principal Supervisor) and Dr Izabela Naydenova.

Best Poster

Professor Norton presented the Fiosraigh Head of Graduate Research School Award for Best Poster Presentation to Cormac Flood, an MPhil Student, in the School of Architecture, for his poster ‘An Adaptable Approach to Thermal Upgrade within Existing Residential Housing in Ireland’.  Cormac received a travel grant of €750. His supervisors are Dr Lloyd Scott and Mr David Palmer.

20 November 2012: Social science researchers from the Department of Social Sciences and the School of Hospitality Management and Tourism attended President Higgins' Being Young and Irish national seminar in Áras an Uachtaráin on Saturday 17th Novemner 2012.  The Seminar was the culmination of a six month long consultation with 17-26 year olds regarding their visions for a future Ireland; what needs to happen to achieve this vision; and what they and other young peope can do to achive this vision.

The research team with President and Mrs. Michael D. Higgins (from l to r): Dr. Bernadette Quinn, Dr. Matt Bowden, Dr. Rosaleen McElvaney, Mrs. Sabina Higgins, President Michael D. Higgins, Dr. Kevin Lalor, Dr. Kevin Griffin, Cathy Kelleher).

The DIT team of researchers, affiliated to the Centre for Social and Educational Research (CSER), analysed the hundreds of submissions received online in recent months and at four regional workshops held throughout September in Dublin, Cork, Monaghan and Galway, and presented the findings in a report launched on Saturday at Aras an Uachtarain.

The report can be found at: http://www.president.ie/

The DIT team were:

• Principal Investigator: Kevin Lalor, Head of School of Social Sciences and Law
• Researchers: Matt Bowden (Department of Social Sciences), Kevin Griffin, Bernadette Quinn (School of Hospitality Management and Tourism), Rosaleen McElvaney (DCU)
• Research administration: Cathy Kelleher, Centre for Social and Educational Research

Dr. Kevin Lalor

Dr. Bernadette Quinn and Dr. Kevin Lalor

20 November 2012: In the recent Irish Times series on how to make Dublin better, journalists Frank McDonald and Olivia Kelly came up with their Top 10 suggestions for “How to build a better Dublin”.  Number 4 in their top 10 is: “Promote a simple, sensible transport map”.  Thankfully, as they went on to explain, this has been done – by DIT graduate Colin Broderick!

Colin, who graduated with BSc in Spatial Planning and now works for Eirgrid, was frustrated by existing maps developed separately by transport providers in Dublin.  Explaining his vision, he said he wanted to provide a way to present public transport users with an integrated view of available transport in Dublin.  “I wanted to visualise transport in the city as a network where there is a possibility to interchange between services”.

Colin has achieved what he set out to do and his integrated transport map is now available to purchase from his website at €5.  As the Irish Times point out, the map includes services that operate on a minimum 15 minute frequency.  As he explains, this is to reassure passengers that it’s possible to turn up at a stop on the route without much need to consult the timetable.

To find out more or to purchase your own copy of “#4 of the Top 10 ways to make Dublin better”, click on Colin Broderick’s website at http://cbroderick.me/pages/dublin_transport_map

Dublin, 19 November 2012: First Ireland Insurance and Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) are excited to announce a new sponsorship deal for the College’s GAA club. Football Club Chairman and 2012 All Ireland Mayo Football Finalist, AidanO’Shea is thrilled with the deal. He remarked “This is great news for us that First Ireland has decided to come on board as our club sponsor. We realise that in the times in which we live, that sponsorship is hard to come by and therefore we are very appreciative of First Ireland’s agreement to come on board. I hope that it will be a beneficial partnership this year and in the years to come.”

Also present at the launch were Senior Inter county players Darran O’Sullivan of Kerry, and Dublin’s Liam Rushe.

First Ireland is one of the largest Irish owned Insurance Brokers in the country handling all your insurance needs from car & home through to sports clubs and large businesses, with 100 dedicated staff at their head office in Park Gate Street and branch office in Kildare. One of these is Dearbhla Brennan, a DIT graduate who is delighted to see a synergy between her new employers and her place of academia.

Sarah Sheridan, Director of Personal Insurances in First Ireland, commented "We are delighted to partner with DIT GAA and we believe it is a great opportunity to work together for the benefit of all DIT students. We understand that insurance premiums for young drivers, especially students, are very costly and can end up pricing young drivers out of the market. We are delighted to present our programme to DIT students which enables young & learner drivers to earn a one year introductory no claims bonus as well as getting further discounts up to 20% off standard policy rates.

First Ireland have also arranged a special deal on driving lessons for DIT Students through one of their large RSA ADI approved Driving Instructor clients, bringing down the overall cost of learner drivers getting on the road by saving on lessons as well as Insurance.

Like First Ireland, the GAA club has also seen tremendous recent growth. It has grown to become part of the biggest third level GAA club in the country. The club fields five Fresher teams across men’s football, ladies football, hurling and camogie. There are 12 teams that will compete in various competitions in this academic year. The GAA Club prides itself on catering for more than just elite players and is as much a social club as it is a club in pursuit of silverware. These 12 teams compete from Junior to senior level in the Third level College leagues and cup competitions.

DIT compete in the Inter County O’Byrne Cup and Walsh Cup competitions, where, this January, they could be drawn against any county in Leinster. Following this the College enter the main Third Level competitions; the Sigerson, Fitzgibbon, Lynch and Purcell Cups. The Club play all their home games in Grangegorman; the exciting future home of DIT. The GAA club is the first part of the DIT organisation to have a presence on this site

Former Guinness MD and Shelbourne FC star receives Honorary Doctorate

Dublin, 17 November 2012: Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) has conferred the award of Honorary Doctorate on Finbarr Flood, former MD of Guinness and Chair of the Labour Court. The Award was conferred in recognition of Flood’s outstanding contribution to the worlds of business, sport, public service and community engagement. Mr. Flood was conferred with the award on Saturday, 17^th November, 2012 in front of hundreds of students and their families at DIT’s Annual Graduation ceremony held in St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Finbarr Flood, former MD of Guinness and Chair of the Labour Court who received an honorary doctorate

A true blue Dublin man, Finbarr Flood was born in Dublin’s Oxmantown Road in 1938. From his roots in inner city Dublin through to his contacts with many of the principal players in Irish public life, Finbarr Flood has garnered and retained great respect in his many fields of activity, including in his long career in Guinness, his chairmanship of the Labour Court and his sporting success as a professional footballer.

Finbarr Flood joined Guinness as a messenger boy at the age of 14, while developing a parallel career as a talented footballer. His astute reading of the game of commerce and the changing technological environment saw him move up through the ranks in Guinness until in 1989 he was appointed Managing Director. . In 1994, after four decades in the company, Flood retired from Guinness but his career didn’t stop there. He was appointed Deputy and later Chairman of the Labour Court, where he was associated with the resolution of many high-profile disputes. On retirement from the Court, he went on to write his auto-biography “In Full Flood” which was published in 2006. His association with football continued throughout, and in 2007 he stepped in as Chairman of Shelbourne FC when the club was in difficulty. Passionate about his native city, he was also asked to chair the Regeneration Boards at Fatima Mansions and at St. Michael’s in Inchicore, and to become the first Chair of the Grangegorman ‘Labour and Learning Forum’ recently established in Dublin 7, close to his roots in Oxmantown Road.

In conferring the award on Finbarr Flood, the President of DIT, Professor Brian Norton said: “Finbarr is proud of his native city. He has seen great changes in society and in business, and he has been a change-maker. His multi-faceted career path has seen him travel from messenger to managing director, from negotiator to adjudicator, and from goalkeeper to club chairman. In the many roles he has played, he has made a difference.”

The award of Honorary Doctorate in DIT is conferred on a small number of individuals who have made an exceptional contribution in their field. The Award is conferred at the annual DIT graduation ceremony and recipients are introduced as standard bearers for DIT graduates starting out on their careers. Mr. Flood was conferred in the company of DIT graduates of Business, accompanied by their families.

Mary Kennedy and her daughter Eva Foster who graduated with a BA of Science in Business and Legal Studies

Finbarr Flood, former MD of Guinness and Chair of the Labour Court receiving an honorary doctorate from DIT President Professor Brian Norton

Ciara McCoy and Orla Magee who both graduated with a Higher Certificate in Retail Management and Marketing

Orla Magee who graduated with a Higher Certificate in Retail Management and Marketing

Finbarr Flood, former MD of Guinness and Chair of the Labour Court who received an honorary doctorate with his grandson Alex (9)

15 November 2012: Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald TD, was welcomed to DIT Mountjoy Square this evening by Professor Brian Norton, President of DIT and Dr. Kevin Lalor, Head, School of Social Sciences and Law. The Minister came to launch two ground-breaking books with a strong DIT flavour, and a direct connection to her portfolio as Minister. In her opening remarks, she complimented DIT on its long history in the area of early childhood education, and she welcomed the publications which she regarded as most timely.

Professor Brian Norton, Dr. Máire Mhic Mhathúna, and Minister Frances Fitzgerald launching “Early Childhood Education & Care”, co-edited by Dr. Mhic Mhathúna and Dr. Mark Taylor (IT Sligo)

Early Childhood Education & Care was co-edited by Máire Mhic Mhathúna (DIT) and Mark Taylor (IT Sligo) and includes chapters contributed by educators, practitioners and policy experts from across Ireland. An ideal text book for students of early childhood, it introduces readers to the theories from a number of social scientific disciplines, thus helping them to make sense of a child’s place in the world. It also examines different approaches to early childhood education and care, looking at a number of pre-school learning models. While exploring the topic of Pedagogy and Learning, it stresses the importance of engaging with parents and the community and probes the unique character of the ECEC sector in Ireland, looking in particular at the issues of ethics and diversity.

The idea for this book grew from discussions at the meetings of PLÉ, the organisation for lecturers teaching on early childhood education degree programmes. The acronym PLÉ stands for Pedagogy, Learning and Education and calls to mind both ‘Plé,’ the Irish word for discussion and ‘Play,’ one of children’s ways of exploring the world. All royalties received from the publication of this book will go to Plé, to support its work.

Minister Frances Fitzgerald, with l to r, Professor Brian Norton, Dr. Máire Mhic Mhathúna, Dr. Claire Hamilton and Dr. Kevin Lalor.

Thanking the Minister for launching the publication, Dr Mhic Mhathúna, Assistant Head of School, School of Social Sciences and Law, DIT pointed out that despite the economic downturn, the sector has recently witnessed a number of significant developments. She echoed the Minister’s comments on the huge take-up of free pre-school year for all children and welcomed the Minister’s suggestion that this should be extended to a further year. She also said she welcomed the launch of Aistear, the curriculum framework for younger children, and the imminent National Early Years Strategy, and further progress in the field.

Minister Fitzgerald also launched a second text book entitled Irish Social Work & Social Care Law, and complimented author Dr. Claire Hamilton on its clarity and significance. This is the first Irish publication introducing students to social care and social work law, concepts and structures in Ireland, and provides a clear and concise guide to both the legal framework and the substantive law relating to social care and social work law in Ireland. Dr. Hamilton, former DIT lecturer and now lecturing in Queens University Belfast, said she felt there was a real need for students of social care and practitioners to have a clear awareness of legal issues that impinge so immediately on their area of work. She emphasised the importance of practicing preventatively and of knowing when to seek legal advice. Dr. Hamilton also thanked Dr. Mairead Seymour, DIT, who contributed a chapter to the book.

Authors together:  Editor Máire Mhic Mhathúna and authors of chapters in Early Childhood Education & Care

Irish Social Work & Social Care Law focuses on the specialist functions performed by social care professionals such as child protection, adoption and fostering, disability and mental health and discusses both child law and the law relating to vulnerable adults in an Irish context and considers the broader issues that affect service users in a social care context such as domestic violence, youth justice and the asylum system.

Both books were published by Gill & MacMillan and are available in bookshops now:

• Early Childhood Education & Care (priced €34.99 )
• Irish Social Work & Social Care Law (priced €39.99 )

16 November 2012: The second edition of the SDAR* Journal — published by CIBSE Ireland and the School of Electrical Engineering Systems, DIT and supported by Electric Ireland — will be formally launched in DIT Aungier Street by the President of DIT, Professor Brian Norton on Tuesday, 27 November at 6.30pm.

The SDAR Journal is the result of a continuing and productive collaboration between CIBSE Ireland and DIT, and it continues to provide an important repository of documented evidence in engineering design and research. It is a useful source of information and discussion for researchers, designers and all involved in the built environment.

CIBSE also welcomes and encourages an evidence-based approach to learning from the built environment, and the SDAR Journal provides this very platform, where people learn from project successes, challenges and shared experiences, supported by robust data and analysis.

At the formal launch of the SDAR Journal 2012 edition in DIT Aungier St on Tuesday, 27 November next, Professor Brian Norton will also launch the online version of the journal for the first time: http://arrow.dit.ie/sdar/

Please extend this invitation to your colleagues and others who you think might be interested in attending, particularly those who may be considering developing a journal of this kind in another discipline.

Date:  Tuesday 27^th November

Time:  6.30 pm

Venue: Courtyard, DIT Aungier Street

Chatham Saxophone Quartet selected to participate in Music Network’s unique professional development award programme

16 November 2012: Music Network is delighted to announce the Chatham Saxophone Quartet as awardees of Young Musicwide 2012, a unique professional development programme designed to support musicians in the early stages of their performing career. Chatham Saxophone Quartet is an exciting new Irish ensemble whose expansive repertoire spans the centuries and shows the incredible versatility of the saxophone, with a particular focus on some of the most exhilarating music by contemporary composers including Philip Glass and Michael Nyman. As well as transcribing string quartet repertoire for saxophone, including Debussy’s String Quartet in G minor, Shostakovich’s String Quartet No.6 and Webern's Langsamer Satz, they are dedicated to expanding the repertoire through the commissioning of new works by Irish composers. A key aspect of the ensemble's performance is the use of multimedia, often combining projected visuals with music. They also take inspiration from more unusual sources, for example, their experimental arrangement of Radiohead's Paranoid Android, which uses a combination of muted sax and guitar pedal effects to create a unique soundscape.

Music Network CEO, Sharon Rollston explains, ‘Chatham Saxophone Quartet’s performance at the auditions made a very strong impression. Their virtuosity, coupled with their exciting multimedia performance style, will push the boundaries of the saxophone quartet as we know it, and we’re delighted to be working with them at this early stage in their career.’

Formed in 2008, the Chatham Saxophone Quartet was named after the street on which its members first met. Since their foundation in 2008 they have performed at the Boyle Arts Festival, International language Conference at Alliance Francaise for President Mc Aleese, INVITE: International Music Education Conference April 2010, the Unitarian church and, most recently, the National Concert Hall, Dublin. In 2011 the quartet became The Galway Music Residency's Apprentice Ensemble where they were mentored by ConTempo String Quartet and gave several outstanding performances.

Chatham Saxophone Quartet features Daniel Dunne (soprano saxophone), Darren Hatch (alto saxophone), Ciaran Sutton (tenor saxophone) and Ian Finlay (baritone saxophone), all former students at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.

Daniel Dunne (soprano saxophone) is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin with a Bachelor of Music Education degree and also holds a Masters in Performance from the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama. During his studies, he won concerto opportunities on two occasions, performing the Glazunov Saxophone Concerto in E-flat with orchestra and Claude Smith’s Fantasia with Wind Ensemble. Since completing his degree, Daniel has performed regularly with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra in addition to groups such as the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra. In 2010, he was awarded the Brennan Prize for ‘most promising musician’ at the inaugural Irish Freemasons Young Musician of the Future competition. Daniel currently holds teaching posts in Belvedere College Dublin and the Artane School of Music.

Darren Hatch (alto saxophone) studied the saxophone at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama and completed both the Bachelor of Music programme and the Performance Masters programme. He has been concerto soloist with the DIT Symphony Orchestra and the DIT Wind Ensemble.  Darren has had several competition successes at the ESB Feis Ceoil and has performed with the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble, Hibernian Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. Darren has a keen interest in education and holds teaching positions at Belvedere College Dublin and St. Columba’s College.

Ciaran Sutton (tenor saxophone) studied the clarinet at The Royal Irish Academy of Music under Paul Roe. After finishing in RIAM, he took up the saxophone and received lessons from Kevin Hanafin in DIT. It was in DIT that he became a member of the Chatham Saxophone Quartet. Ciaran has played with Dublin Youth Orchestra, Hibernian Orchestra and Royal Irish Academy of Music Jazz Ensemble. He was principal clarinetist with the Irish Youth Wind Ensemble and the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and has performed two concertos with Trinity Orchestra. Recently he has played clarinet, tenor saxophone and bass clarinet with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Other achievements include winning the senior clarinet ESB Feis Ceoil competition in 2008. He also teaches clarinet and saxophone at both Belvedere College and the Artane School of Music.

Ian Finlay (baritone saxophone) began his musical training in the Artane Boys Band at the age of eight. Initially training on the clarinet, he soon moved to the saxophone and at aged 16, after winning a scholarship to the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, began to study there part-time under Kevin Hanafin. During his school years, he was a member of The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and The Irish Youth Wind Ensemble, and was a multi prize winner at the Feis Ceoil. Ian holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics in Trinity College and a Masters in Music Performance from the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama. Ian has performed on RTÉ Television and Radio, and has made frequent appearances with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and RTÉ Big Band. His love for big band music has also led him to play with the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra, The Las Vegas Rat Pack and the Hot House Big Band to name a few, as well as being a former regular performer with Irish pop group The Republic of Loose. Since 2007, Ian has been a member of The Band of An Garda Siochana, and can regularly be heard playing with commercial pop and funk bands The Ratzingers, Soul Power and The Goods.

Developed in 2001 by Music Network, Young Musicwide provides an incentive for highly talented young Irish musicians to pursue a professional career and gives promoters nationwide access to the very best in young Irish talent.  Previous recipients of the award include the Callino Quartet (2001); voice and piano duo Ailish Tynan and Deborah Kelleher (2002); clarinetist Carol McGonnell (2003); Organics jazz trio (2004); traditional Irish group Slide (2005), piano, cello and violin trio The Syrius Trio (2006) and harp, flute and viola trio, Triocca (2006), jazz quartet Trihornophone (2007), traditional Irish fiddle trio Fidil (2008), piano quartet Cappa Ensemble (2009), jazz quintet Thought-Fox (2010), and traditional Irish/bluegrass trio We Banjo 3 (2011).

For further information/images, please contact: Louise Walsh, PR & Marketing Manager, Music Network:  (01) 671 9429 or pr@musicnetwork.ie

15 November, 2012: “Dead enough to bury” is the arresting title of a new production by final year students on the Bachelor of Arts in Drama (Performance) in DIT. Directed by DIT’s Peter McDermott, the show promises to take audience members on a whirlwind of emotions as a talented cast of 20 attempts to dissect the last great adventure known to man. The show aims to address the question “How does our perception of death stop us from seeing the truth about death?" The pieces are based on the acting works of Grotowski and are all devised by the students themselves. It promises to be an insightful and refreshing piece of theatre from Ireland's up and coming actors.

DIT’s Bachelor of Arts in Drama (Performance) is a three-year, full-time Degree programme focusing on the study of acting and drama in performance and facilitation contexts. Recent graduates of the programme have gone on to work for a variety of prestigious companies including: The Abbey Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company, London's West End, RTE and TEAM Theatre Company.

Venue: DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Rathmines Road, Dublin 6
Dates: 05 December 2012 - 07 December 2012, 19.00pm
08th December 2012 2.00pm (Matinee)

For further information

DIT, Rathmines Road, Dublin 6. Tel: +353 1 402 7815;
email: conservatory@dit.ie or visit www.dit.ie/conservatory.

14 November, 2012: ‘Ballymun Lullaby' the CD behind the documentary music film also called ‘Ballymun Lullaby’ featuring children from the DIT Ballymun Music Programme is now Number 1 in the iTunes Chart!  http://www.apple.com/euro/itunes/charts/top10childrensalbums.html just in time for the children taking to the stage in Cork City Hall this Saturday 17^th November.   

200 children from the DIT Ballymun Music Programme join forces and voices with Music Generation Cork City and RTÉ Cór na nÓg to perform Ballymun Lullaby in Cork City Hall on November 17th and in the National Concert Hall on 26th November with DIT Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Brophy (Principal Conductor, RTÉ Concert Orchestra) and MC: Evelyn Grant.

Together in a ground-breaking collaboration, they will perform the choral and orchestral music of Ballymun Lullaby, written by Daragh O’Toole (Composer and orchestral arranger, including U2’s 'The Sweetest Thing’) who has written a new movement for the ‘Lullaby’ which will be premiered at the Cork concert this weekend.  Another big highlight will be Ballymun singer Wayne Beatty’s  performance of the ‘Toys Waltz’, a single from the Ballymun Lullaby CD.

According to the organizers, this collaborative performance of Ballymun Lullaby will not only present a concert that is both accomplished and unique, but will also bring together young people from Cork and Dublin to celebrate a musical bond between the two cities and their budding music talent.

City Hall Cork on November 17^th  at 3.30pm: Tickets on sale from Pro Musica on Oliver Plunkett St, Cork. Admission: €10 one child and one adult (seated, aisle section)

National Concert Hall (NCH) Dublin on November 26^th at 8pm: Tickets on sale from the NCH box office and online from the NCH for €15 for adults and €10 for children.

Ray O Connor, President of Topcon Positioning Systems, conferred with Honorary Doctorate

Dublin, 10 November 2012: Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) has conferred the award of Honorary Doctorate on Irishman Ray O’Connor, President and CEO of Topcon Positioning Systems, a global leader in precision measurement instruments. The Award was conferred in recognition of O’Connor’s outstanding achievements in international business and innovation.

Originally from Naas, Co. Kildare and now based in California, Mr. O’Connor flew in for the ceremony, accompanied by his wife Nancy. He was also joined by several family members who are living in Ireland and in the UK.

In his speech to the Assembly, the President of DIT, Professor Norton welcomed Ray O’Connor back to DIT, where he had completed his studies in construction in the early 1980’s. He said “Your positive, forward-looking approach to developing new businesses, and your ability to work across geographical and cultural borders, provide a real example to us as educators and to our graduates as young professionals. It has been our pleasure to welcome you back to DIT!”

O’Connor travelled to the USA when he finished his studies. He worked for a number of different companies before joining a division of the Tokyo-based Topcon Corporation in 1993. Reading the citation, Dr. Mike Murphy, Dean of the DIT College of Engineering and Built Environment, said that amongst his other accolades, Mr. O’Connor was also the first person who was not Japanese or of Japanese descent to receive the prestigious Toshiba Business Performance Award, “for his superior leadership and performance.”

Outlining O'Connor's career path, Dr. Murphy told the audience that O’Connor had joined a team of just forty people, and now leads a company employing 800 staff worldwide. “There is no doubt that Ray O’Connor has enjoyed great success in his career, and we honour him for that. We also honour him for the attributes that have helped him to achieve that success – in particular, his outstanding leadership and team-building qualities and the unlimited vein of curiosity that drives him to continue to learn.”

In addition to his role as President and CEO of Topcon Positioning Systems, this year Ray O’Connor was appointed Senior Managing Executive Officer of the parent company, Topcon Corporation. He is also Director of the company’s growing European businesses.

The award of Honorary Doctorate in DIT is conferred on a small number of individuals who have made an exceptional contribution in their field. The Award is conferred at the annual DIT graduation ceremony and recipients are introduced as standard bearers for DIT graduates starting out on their careers.

Mr. O’Connor was conferred in the company of DIT graduates of Engineering and Built Environment, accompanied by their families. Several hundred graduates of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Building Services received their parchments from Professor Brian Norton, in the impressive surroundings of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. During the ceremony, two current students of music performance in the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama – vocalist Shauna Buckingham and harpist Fiona Gryson – performed Puccini’s O mio babbino caro to thunderous applause.

Shauna Buckingham, vocalist and Fiona Gryson, harpist- both BMus student in the Conservatory of Music and Drama – who have performed at some of the graduation ceremonies this year.

12 November 2012: Representatives from the College of Business recently conferred Sales qualifications on Oracle employees from across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

The CPD Certificate in Sales Practice (Oracle) and the CPD Diploma in Sales Practice (Oracle) are two customised programmes designed to meet the specific needs of OracleDirect’s sales team.

Oracle employees from offices in Dublin, Malaga, Paris, Prague, Russia and Dubai have now completed the two programmes and the College of Business is currently working with Oracle on designing further advanced sales qualifications.

Pictured at the graduation were: Paul O’Sullivan, Dean and Director of DIT, College of Business; Colin Hughes, Head of Department, College of Business; Alan Lawless, OD Director, OracleDirect EMEA; Adrienne Meade Brannigan, OD Programme Manager, OracleDirect EMEA Graduates of the CPD Certificate in Sales Practice (Oracle) and the CPD Diploma in Sales Practice (Oracle).

A tale of two cities as DIT’s Ballymun Music Programme and Music Generation Cork unite to perform ‘Ballymun Lullaby’

07 November, 2012: The children from DIT’s Ballymun Music Programme and Music Generation Cork City were in RTE today to rehearse with the RTÉ Cór na nÓg choir ahead of two special concerts at Cork City Hall on November 17th and the National Concert Hall on 26th November.

The Ballymun Lullaby will be performed by combined choir of RTÉ Cór na nÓg, DIT Ballymun Music Programme (6 schools across Ballymun), Presentation Secondary School Choir, Ballyphehane and Maria Assumpta National School Girls’ Choir with DIT Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Brophy (Principal Conductor, RTÉ Concert Orchestra). Evelyn Grant will be MC for the evening.

DIT Ballymun Music Programme and Music Generation Cork City are delighted to announce a special inter-city initiative featuring two performances of the acclaimed ‘Ballymun Lullaby’ at the National Concert Hall and Cork City Hall.

The concerts will feature the talents of over 200 children in a combined choir of RTÉ Cór na nÓg, DIT Ballymun Music Programme (involving 6 schools across Ballymun), Presentation Secondary School Choir (All-island winners 2010 and 2011), Ballyphehane and Maria Assumpta National School Girls’ Choir, Cork.

Together in a ground-breaking collaboration, they will perform the choral and orchestral music of Ballymun Lullaby, written by Daragh O’Toole (Composer and orchestral arranger, including U2’s 'The Sweetest Thing’).

To celebrate the event, Daragh O’Toole has written a new movement for the ‘Lullaby’ which will be premiered at the Cork concert and also performed in the NCH.  Another big highlight will be Ballymun singer Wayne Beatty’s  performance of the ‘Toys Waltz’, a single from the Ballymun Lullaby CD, being promoted this year for the Christmas market.

‘Ballymun Lullaby’ has also become a hit documentary film, winning the Directors Guild of America Directors Finders Series 2011 and received 4-star reviews from The Irish Times, Irish Independent and RTE TEN.

This collaborative performance of Ballymun Lullaby will not only present a concert that is both accomplished and unique, but will also bring together young people from Cork and Dublin to celebrate a musical bond between the two cities and their budding music talent.

“We hope this concert will show the true potential of the Music Generation programme for the children of Cork City,” said Margaret O’Sullivan, Music Generation Cork City coordinator, “both as a platform to showcase musical performance of a very high standard from young Irish pupils and also to share ideas and experiences with their peers around the country.”

Having worked fifteen years in Ballymun, an area of disadvantage and viewed by many in a negative light, music teacher, Ron Cooney, decided that attitudes had to change. Working with the young people of Ballymun and in collaboration with Daragh O’Toole, they produced a compilation of music, giving the young people of Ballymun a voice, which continues through their music, reshaping Ballymun’s identity as a place to be proud of.

According to DIT music teacher Ron Cooney, “It is as much the experiences and music behind Ballymun Lullaby as the production itself that captured the imagination of public.  Music knows no class or county boundaries and it’s a real pathway for children with talent who can mature into successful and happy musicians.  It’s a great choice for young children, potentially leading to a great life.”

Music Generation Cork City will also launch the first performance of Chorcaí faoi Shuan (Cork Lullaby), songs composed by Fiona Kelleher,with music arranged and composed by John O’Brien – the first performance will take place in City Hall with children from Gaelscoil Mhachan, members of the Cork Opera House Voice Effect choir, and a special part written for the audience to sing on the day!

Says Margaret O'Sullivan, “We’d also like to thank our partners in Music Generation Cork City, namely; City of Cork VEC, Cork City Council, Cork City Partnership, Cork Institute of Technology, University College Cork, HSE, Music Network and Music Generation including donors U2 and the Ireland Funds. It is thanks to their vision and generosity that we will be able to bring fantastic occasions such as this to the people of Cork city."

The ‘Ballymun Lullaby’ EP has been re-released and is available in most record shops nationwide.

City Hall Cork on November 17^th  at 3.30pm: Tickets on sale from Pro Musica on Oliver Plunkett St, Cork. Admission: €10 one child and one adult (seated, aisle section)

National Concert Hall (NCH) Dublin on November 26^th at 8pm: Tickets on sale from the NCH box office and online from the NCH for €15 for adults and €10 for children.

8th November 2012: People are always talking about the importance of looking after yourself physically and watching what you eat. Every day of the week, newspapers include sections on the latest diet and more than ever, herbal teas and organic foods are all over the supermarkets. Unfortunately, many do not have the same attitude when it comes to look after their minds. What is often forgotten about is that it's all connected. If you're not in the right frame of mind, you're less likely to eat right or stay physically active.

DIT Students' Union is proud to present 'Mind Yourself 2012' (#MY12). This is our welfare roadshow which will be geared towards increasing self-awareness of the mind and encouraging a more holistic approach to looking after yourself. #MY12 is about you looking after yourself in every which way you can and having a bit of fun in the process. Be sure to keep an eye out on our Facebook/Twitter pages as well as Ditsu.ie to see what's happening on your site for #MY12.  

#MY12 continues to run every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtime across the various sites up until the end of November.  If your service is interested in getting involved please contact Aimee at the SU.

Two highlights planned for the week include:

DETECT play

Together with the DIT Counselling service we are hosting DETECT on site who are going to perform ONE MAN MANY VOICES - An engaging one man show that gives a great portrayal of an individual suffering from psychosis. 

Monday November 12th 1-2pm in DIT Bolton street Room 259 (Free lunch provided for students)

See www.detect.ie for more details.

Please Talk Candle Lit event

The Second Annual Please Talk Candle Lit event at DIT is taking place in DIT Rathmines (The Conservatory building) at 6pm on Wednesday November 14th at 6pm. Music by the local DIT Music students.

Both staff and students are welcome.  Some light refreshments will be served afterwards.

For more information about Please Talk see: www.pleasetalk.org. 

If you would like to get involved in the Please Talk initiative at DIT, please contact Aimee O'Callaghan at the Students' Union.

01, November 2012: DIT Students’ Union (DITSU) were delighted to have their website (Ditsu.ie) chosen as a finalist for two categories at the recent Irish Web Awards ceremony at The Mansion House, Dublin.

The Realex Payments Irish Web Awards are held annually to recognise people who do great things on the web. The awards are judged transparently and are open to anyone in Ireland.

Ditsu.ie was a finalist in the ‘Best Discussion Forum’ and ‘Best Education and Third Level Website’ categories. Ditsu.ie was recently relaunched with new features such as a searchable Class REP database, accommodation listing and Q&A forums. These features were combined with a new approach to content provision aimed at providing DIT students with the relevant information they need during their student life.

DITSU President David Keogan was present at the Awards ceremony and had this to say:

"We are extremely privileged to be considered for such worthy awards which stand as a testament to the work completed by all involved in the development of our new website. It is always nice to have our work recognised by not only our regular visitors, but by a much wider audience who will hopefully now appreciate the level of service that websites such as Ditsu.ie can provide for their members."

DIT Students' Union (DITSU) is one of the largest Students' Unions in the country and is the representative body for all students of the Institute. All DIT students become members of the Students' Union upon registration.

DIT is set to be the stage for the Opera Theatre Company’s forthcoming production of Cosi Fan Tutte

07 November, 2012: Huge congratulations to 18-year-old DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama Continuing Education student Killian Farrell who has been appointed Young Associate Conductor with Opera Theatre Company (OTC). Killian is the first person ever to be appointed to this position.  Killian, who recently assisted on Wide Open Opera's production of Tristan und Isolde, joins two more DIT Conservatory graduates on OTC’s Young Associate Artists Programme: Jennifer Davis and Fearghal Curtis. Opera Theatre Company’s Young Associate programme was established to foster the career development of young Irish opera talent to the highest international standards.  Artists are selected on the basis of talent and immediate potential for further development.

Killian will be assisting on OTC’s upcoming production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte, the first night of which will be staged at the Gleeson Theatre, DIT Kevin Street, on Saturday 24 November, 7.30pm.  Così fan tutte is one of Mozart's most sublime scores, setting a comic libretto to both delight and provoke telling the story of two men and the faithfulness (or supposed faithfulness) of their fiancées. Killian will join a number of other current students and graduates of DIT Conservatory in the production, including graduate and current student David Scott (baritone), understudying the role of Guglielmo; MMus graduate Martha Bredin (mezzo soprano), starring in the role of Dorabella; and former student Colette Delahunt (soprano), taking the role of Despina.

According to Mairead Hurley Head of Vocal, Opera and Drama Studies, DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama,

“DIT is delighted that the Opera Theatre Company has chosen to open this production in our own Gleeson Theatre. DIT has a long standing relationship with OTC and we have had many students and graduates perform with them over the years. We look forward to working on many projects together in the future and hope to continue this collaboration well into the future”.

Tickets for Così fan tutte are available on the NCH website at this link.

07 November, 2012: National Science Week kicks off next week and to celebrate DIT has arranged a jam packed programme of fun events aimed at second level students. This year's programme includes talks and demonstrations with intriguing titles such as "The Physics of Martial Arts", "How to Save the Planet in 45 minutes’, and 'The Genetics Revolution'.  Other highlights include the ever-popular physics lectures, which include interactive demonstrations and applications of physics, from the every day to the spectacular. Additionally, we are extremely fortunate to have with us Paolo Nespoli, a European Space Agency astronaut who will tell of his adventures in space and the missions that he has undertaken. 

Events run all week and DIT has invited secondary school students from all over Dublin and further field to its Kevin Street Campus to participate in the many exciting and interactive events being held by DIT.

The aim of Science Week is to promote the relevance of science, engineering and technology in our everyday lives and to demonstrate the importance of these disciplines to the future development of Irish society and to the economy.  Science Week 2012 runs from 12 -18 November.

According to Siobhan Daly, DIT College of Science & Health “Since National Science Week was launched in the late 1990’s DIT has been to the forefront in offering science Week events to second level students and to the public.  This year the College of Sciences and Health will offer an extensive series of engaging and dynamic demonstration lectures.  Indeed, DIT’s Science Week programme this year has proved a big hit and we look forward to welcoming 2000+ second level students to DIT during Science Week 2012.   

Download DIT’s Science Week 2012 programme of events

• Michael Van Gessel, landscape architect, launches all-Ireland programme for Design Week 2012
• Week-long festival of design includes over 70 exhibitions, talks, walks and workshops

l to r, Michael Van Gessel, architect; Arthur Duff, designer; Barry Sheehan, Chair of Design Week 2012; Kieran Corcoran, Head, DIT School of Art Design and Printing; and Ali Grehan, Dublin City Architect

Dublin, 06 November 2012:  Design Week 2012 kicks off across the island of Ireland today, Tuesday 6^th November, with more than 70 exhibitions, lectures and events taking place throughout the week.  Launching the festival, Chairman of Design Week, Barry Sheehan said, “This week, wherever you are in Ireland, think design and the impact it has on all aspects of our lives.”

The organisers of Design Week aim to package and promote design events run by design organisations, collectives, colleges, companies and studios across the country.  The audience for these events is literally everyone - the designers who design things, the business community who purchase design services, and the public who are the end users of all our services.

Michael Van Gessel, renowned Dutch architect in landscape and urbanism, was keynote speaker at the Opening Night event in the Coach House at Dublin Castle.  Van Gessel divides his time between landscape projects and large-scale urban projects, such as the Belvédère in Maastricht; the development of the former harbour area in Amsterdam, IJ-oevers; the renovation of the famous Vondel Park in Amsterdam; and the renovation and expansion of Artis, the Amsterdam Zoo.  

l to r, Michael Van Gessel, architect; Barry Sheehan, Chair of Design Week 2012; and Ali Grehan, City Architect, Dublin City Council

Emphasising that this festival is an all-island event, Sheehan wants to encourage everyone to get involved and to visit their local exhibitions and events.  “Design is important to the economic social and cultural life of Ireland, so this week is for everyone.  Our new website, www.designweek.ie – designed by Unithink and funded by, and developed with, Pivot Dublin, gives the full programme of events and lots of other details,” he said.

There are over 70 events taking place including exhibitions, talks, workshops and city walks. Highlights include the IDI Graduate Design Awards in Cork, Dublintagged.com which was launched by the Lord Mayor of Dublin on Tuesday, Creative Spark in Louth, and the 20/20 Vision Pecha Kucha in the Hunt Museum Limerick.

Check www.designweek.ie for details.

l to r, Ali Grehan, City Architect, Dublin City Council; Michael Van Gessel, architect; and Barry Sheehan, Chair of Design Week 2012

2nd November 2012

From DIT to Élysée Palace: Ms Hélène Conway-Mouret, Minister Delegate for French Nationals Abroad and former Head of School of Languages in Dublin Institute of Technology, returned to DIT today (02 November, 2012) for a public talk on a topic close to her heart, Women in Politics.  In June 2012, the newly elected President of France, M. Francois Hollande, appointed Ms Hélène Conway-Mouret as Minister Delegate for French Nationals Abroad in his government. The appointment caped a remarkable year for Hélène who has worked in DIT for over 25 years.  Returning to DIT today as French Minister and Member of the Parliamentary Delegation for the Rights of Women and Equal Opportunities between Men and Women, Hélène told of her unusual route to French Government and spoke of the challenges facing women in politics.

DIT organises Digital Youth Symposium to address ways to create a safer and better internet experience for children

This Friday, November 2nd, international internet and educational experts will address an invited audience drawn from the industry, policy, education and youth sectors to debate how to create a better internet for kids. Ms Frances Fitzgerald T.D., the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, will open the symposium, which will examine how to promote digital opportunities for young people.

The Symposium, organised by the Dublin Institute of Technology, will hear how a new policy is needed in order to equip young people with the skills to protect themselves online and get the most out of the digital environment.

Speaking in advance of the Symposium, Sonia Livingstone, a Professor of Social Psychology at the London School of Economics and leader of the EU Kids Online project, said: 

“Our research shows that there’s a lot more work to be done if children and parents are to have access to user-friendly, responsive and effective safety tools on the internet that they deserve. At present, parental worries about online risks are high, preventing children from enjoying the full benefits of internet use.”

The European Commission has called for the stimulation of creative and educational content for young people and for the scaling up of awareness-raising and digital literacy initiatives to create a safer online environment.

According to EU Kids Online – research which surveyed 25,000 9-16 year olds across Europe - young people in Ireland are behind their European counterparts when it comes to participating in the most productive and creative activities online.

Encouraging More Online Activities and Better Skills Makes Children Safer

According to EU Kids Online, more than a third of parents (35%) worry their children will be bullied offline or online, might see inappropriate internet content or be contacted by strangers online. Yet parents in Ireland are among the most restrictive in Europe, with 95% setting rules about what their children can and cannot do online. This may lull parents into a false of security and limit children’s opportunities to acquire better online safety skills.

Dr. Brian O'Neill, a researcher at the Dublin Institute of Technology who is responsible for the EU Kids Online project in Ireland, explains: “Encouraging children to do more online will improve their overall digital literacy skills and their ability to stay safe online. EU Kids Online has found that teaching children to be safer online need not curtail their internet opportunities; in fact, the opposite is the case.”

Digital Learning is a Key Driver

The Symposium will hear from leading education experts in UNECSO and the OECD who will point to the crucial role that internet technologies now play in education. Emphasising digital learning opportunities in the curriculum can be a crucial driver in developing digital literacy skills, minimising digital divides, increasing safety and fostering better online participation.

Addressing the challenging map laid down for Irish education, Anne Looney, the CEO of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, will highlight the role that technology can play:

“A common theme across current educational developments in Ireland is the focus on the experiences of children and young people, and on supporting their active engagement and autonomy in the learning process. Their technologies, their networks, how they access information and how they create meaning require the attention of educators who may sometimes be more focused on giving (and controlling access to) our technologies and our meaning.”

Key findings from EU Kids Online in Ireland:

• 57% of young people don’t go beyond the second step of a 5 stage ladder of online activities. The most popular activities are ‘watching video clips’ and ‘playing internet games’ (76% each), followed by using the internet for schoolwork and using social networking (58% each).
• Use of the internet at home (IE 87% vs. EU 62%) and mobile internet access is high (IE 46% vs. EU 31%). So too is going online via gaming consoles (IE 44% vs. EU 26%).  
• One third of 9-16 year olds (34%) also say they know more about the internet than their parents: one third (31%) say it is ‘a bit true’ and one third (36%) say it is ‘not true’ of them.
• Over half of Irish parents also feel they should do more to support their children’s internet use (27% a lot more; 37% a bit more). Younger children would also like parents to take more interest (22% of 9-12 year old boys; 25% of 9-12 year old girls).

The Digital Youth Symposium takes place in the Science Gallery, Trinity College, Dublin on November 2^nd, 2012 at 9.30am.  It is organised by Dublin Institute of Technology in conjunction with EU Kids Online and webwise.ie

Information about the project:

• The EU Kids Online project aims to enhance knowledge of European children’s and parents’ experiences and practices regarding risky and safer use of the internet and new online technologies, and thereby to inform the promotion of a safer online environment for children. The project is funded by the EC Safer Internet Programme (SI-2010-TN-4201001).
• EU Kids Online conducted a face-to-face, in home survey of 25,000 9-16 year old internet users and their parents in 25 countries, using a stratified random sample and self-completion methods for sensitive questions.
• In Ireland, EU Kids Online is led by Brian O'Neill, Dublin Institute of Technology in association with PDST (Professional Development Services for Teachers) and www.webwise.ie.
• Webwise.ie is an internet safety initiative focused on raising awareness of online safety issues and good practice among students, their parents and teachers
• Webwise is the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre which is funded by the Department of Education and Skills and the EU Safer Internet Programme. Webwise is a member of the Insafe network.

For more information:

The latest EU Kids Online report, National Perspectives, is available for download here.

See www.digitalyouth.ie

30 October 2012: David Hyland, Geomatics student in DIT, has won the International Trimble Dimensions 2012 Student Paper Competition. This world-wide competition is open to all undergraduate and post graduate students at Masters level, studying Geomatics and related disciplines. David is the first Irish person to win the award. He will be flown to Las Vegas next week to present his work at the Trimble Dimensions 2012 Conference.

David Hyland (left) with his supervisor, Dr. Audrey Martin, and Mr.Sean Higgens of Korecgroup Ireland, suppliers of Trimble equipment and Services

The advanced positioning technology conference, organised by technology giant Trimble, attracts more than 3000 participants. The agenda includes presentations from professionals and academics on how new technology can transform architecture and design, construction and infrastructure, mapping and GIS, mining, positioning, surveying, utilities and energy.

David’s winning paper, entitled ‘An Assessment of Ocean Tide Loading on Network RTK and Mitigation Methods in Ireland‘, was based on his Final Year Dissertation and was supervised by Dr. Audrey Martin FSCSI FRICS in the Department of Spatial Information Sciences. According to Dr. Martin, “This is the first time a student from DIT has entered this competition. David is an undergraduate, but this competition was also open to postgraduate students, so this is a fantastic result. In addition to his trip to the Las Vegas conference, David’s prize also includes a donation of a full Trimble R10 GNSS Rover to Dublin Institute of Technology. This piece of equipment, costing approximately €25,000, will be of huge value to future students of Geomatics in the School of Spatial Planning at DIT.”

Dr. Martin and her colleague Dr. Eugene McGovern have also had a paper accepted for the conference and they have been invited to make a 60 minute presentation on their research at Trimble Dimensions 2012. Their research, which was sponsored by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI http://www.scsi.ie/) and is entitled ‘NRTK in Ireland 2011’, now forms a baseline for real-time satellite surveying in Ireland.

David, who hails from Cork, carried out his very detailed research into ocean tide loading at Castletownbere, West Cork. He will be conferred with a BSc in Geomatics from DIT at the Conferring Ceremony for the College of Engineering and Built Environment in St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Saturday 3^rd November.

Congratulating David, the Director and Dean of the College of Engineering and Built Environment, Dr. Mike Murphy also paid tribute to Dr. Martin and Dr. McGovern for their supervision and encouragement of David’s work. “Last month, Bernard Brennan, student of architecture, was presented with the 2012 International Student Design Competition at the UN in New York. Now David is travelling to a major conference in Las Vegas to present his work. We are delighted that our students are putting DIT firmly on the map!”

Further information

David studied Geomatics in DIT - for more information on the programme and the discipline, click here.

David Hyland with, left, Dr. Eugene McGovern, and right Dr. Audrey Martin and Dr. Kevin Mooney

David Hyland, presenting his award-winning work to an audience of students and academics in DIT Bolton Street

Dr. Kevin Mooney, Department of Spatial Information Sciences, asking a question at the presentation

Mr. Henk Van Der Kamp, Head of School of Spatial Planning, with David Hyland, and Dr. Mike Murphy, Director and Dean of the College of Engineering and Built Environment

President Higgins in DIT for Hamilton Lecture

17th October 2012: Congratulations to DIT student Andrew Doran-Sherlock who this year was awarded the prestigious Hamilton Award in Mathematics by the Royal Irish Academy (RIA).

The Hamilton Prize is awarded each year to the outstanding student in mathematics in each of nine Higher Education Institutions in Ireland.  The Mathematics Departments in each Institution were invited to submit their nominations and the nine winners were presented with a scroll and a cheque for €1,000 sponsored by Google at an event on the 26^th October, 2012.

This event formed part of the RIA’s Hamilton Day activities which celebrate Hamilton’s life and contribution to mathematics.  In addition to the Hamilton Mathematics Awards, the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins was in DIT for this year’s Hamilton Lecture which was delivered by Professor Yuri Manin, of the Max Planck Institute of Mathematics, Bonn.

Professor Luke Drury, President of the Royal Irish Academy, President Michael D Higgins, Professor Yuri Manin and Professor Brian Norton President of DIT at the RIA 2012 Hamilton lecture.

L-R Eoghan Nolan, Google; Yuri Manin, Max Planck Institute for Mathematics; Andrew Doran-Sherlock, DIT; Luke Drury, Royal Irish Academy

22nd October 2012: School of Retail and Services Management students with lecturer Damian O'Reilly participated in the Frontline programme presented by Pat Kenny on RTE One this week.

DIT's Damian O'Reilly speaking with presenter Pat Kenny on RTE's The Frontline

The programme focused on the Irish retail sector and O’Reilly said it was an excellent opportunity for the students to participate in the discussion and to hear retailers explain the difficulties the sector is experiencing  in the current environment.  Pointing out that upwards of 55,000 jobs have been lost since 2008, Damian O’Reilly said “Yet, the sector continues to employ 14% of the total workforce even with consumer confidence being near an all-time low.”  

During the programme retailers said upward only rent reviews should be abolished; more equitable rates system should be devised; and a better climate for liquidity within the SME sector needs to be fostered.  DIT students in the audience also contributed views as consumers.  Seamus Lowe (2nd year) explained the new trend to "Scan & Scram" - whereby customers go to stores, scan a QR code and in seconds an app on their smartphone informs them of other outlets (either online or offline) that sell the same product and provides price comparisons. If the product can be bought cheaper then the customer may "scram" and purchase the product elsewhere.  Online shopping and protecting Irish jobs by buying more Irish produced goods also featured in the debate.

Seamus Lowe speaking on RTE's The Frontline

Presenter Pat Kenny with DIT students and staff

• Home ownership levels drop below 70%
• 30% of Dublin residents now rent homes
• Untapped potential for long-term residential market

Dublin, 24th October 2012: The Irish property market has changed fundamentally in a short space of time and for many the gloss has gone off home ownership, according to Dr. Lorcan Sirr, lecturer in the School of Real Estate and Construction Economics at DIT.

Speaking today at the National Construction Conference in Dublin, Sirr said “There is finally recognition that renting is good for the economy, bringing with it economic mobility and little risk especially for personal savings. Government housing policy is changing to better balance the options of owning or renting.”

In his presentation to delegates at the Conference, Dr. Sirr highlighted some recent statistics in relation to residential renting. Home ownership levels are now down below 70% in Ireland and 18.5% are now renting – a figure similar to that in the late 1950s. In Dublin over 30% of residents now rent their accommodation.

“It’s not only those numbers that are surprising - it’s the rate of change: nationally, those renting are up nearly 50% in the last five years. The problem is, the property market is not ready for this change, leading to a shortage of decent accommodation, especially for families.”

Dr. Sirr described three significant elements that are influencing the rental market in Ireland:

1) The type of renter is changing: the new renters are almost the opposite of the stereotypical renter: they are choosy; traditionally ‘mortgageable’; previous owners with lump sums in the banks they’re not willing to risk on property ownership; over 65s; DOODs (don’t own or drive); and families;

2) What they want is different: no more damp basement flats. They want flexible single- and multi-storey units; shell only with layout options; 60m² – 150m²; separate storage for skis, roofbox etc. and laundry (ground floor, basement); multi-aspect; high-standard finishes; secure bicycle parking; and professional management preferably with live-in maintenance; transparent fees. And to be able to rent for the long-term with security of tenure. Essentially they want a home without the debt.

3) But where they want to live hasn’t changed – traditional, well-established suburban locations are still a main draw.

At this moment, according to Dr. Sirr “The demand is there, the need is there, but the accommodation is not! The market has a need for professional landlords who will apply the principles of commercial property investment to residential development: good accommodation means better tenants with more security of income.”

The conference takes place today at Croke Park.

23 October 2012: The School of Languages in Dublin Institute of Technology invites you to a public discussion on the topic of “Women in Politics”, presented by Hélène Conway-Mouret, Minister Delegate for French Nationals Abroad, attached to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In June 2012, the newly elected President of France, M. Francois Hollande, appointed Ms Hélène Conway-Mouret, former Head of School of Languages in Dublin Institute of Technology, as Minister Delegate for French Nationals Abroad in his government. Hélène, who had been elected as Senator for French nationals living abroad in 2011, was previously Councillor at the Assembly of French Citizens Abroad and a co-founder of the Party of European Socialists in Dublin. Now, as a Member of the Parliamentary Delegation for the Rights of Women and Equal Opportunities between Men and Women, she returns to DIT to address the audience on a topic close to her heart, Women in Politics.

Date & Time: Friday, 2nd November 2012, 12.30 – 2.00pm
Venue: Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1

All are welcome to this free event.

To secure your place, please book by email: languages@dit.ie

DIT Clubs and Societies are hosting an Outdoor movie - Hocus Pocus. All ticket costs will go to Wells 4 Zoe and the Re:Write Africa Project. Tickets will be available at the event.

Date: 24th October 2012
Venue: Meeting House Square
Time: 8pm - 10pm

There will be a silent disco after the movie, along with lots of free stuff! 

Before the movie, DIT Clubs and Societies are running a MAD Societies show case - Juggling soc, Dance Soc, Samba DJ Soc and so much more.

Venue: Meeting House Square
Time: 7pm - 8pm

For more information go to facebook/DITSocietiesoffice
Sponsored by Campus.ie

23 October 2012: The DIT Travel Scholarship in Renewable Energy provides an opportunity for a high-achieving DIT graduate with a Masters Degree* or PhD* from any discipline to pursue a practical work assignment in a developing country in the area of renewable energy. The recipient will work for a period of up to 3 months on a project managed by the international charity Renewable World. The graduate’s time will be divided between the Renewable World headquarters in the UK (2 weeks) and time in the field (2.5 months).

Closing date for applications is Friday 16th November.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to attend for interview on Thursday 13th December. The scholarship work placement will start in February 2013. For more details, and to download the application form log on to www.dit.ie/foundation.

*Graduation must be within the past 2 academic years.

22 October 2012: Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) is looking forward to welcoming students from Brazil as part of the Science without Borders (Ciência sem Fronteiras)programme. This exciting scholarship programme, funded by the Brazilian government, aims to place over 100,000 Brazilian students in overseas higher education institutions over the next four years. The main aim of the programme is to strengthen and expand science, technology, innovation and competitiveness in Brazil through the international mobility of their students and researchers. Up to 1,500 students are expected to study in Ireland, including 850 postgraduate research students who will undertake fully-funded PhD programmes.

DIT’s Head of the Graduate Research School, Professor Mary McNamara is a member of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Irish Education Co-operation with Brazil, and joined Irish delegations to São Paulo (in November 2011) and Brasília (in July 2012) to promote Dublin Institute of Technology as a leading destination for Brazilian students.  According to Professor McNamara:

“DIT is a multi campus institute located in the heart of Ireland’s capital city.  Combing the academic excellence of a traditional university with career-focused learning, our aim is to provide our students with an innovative, responsive and caring learning environment.  As a DIT graduate you will be among the thinkers, doers and leaders who can respond successfully to our globally interdependent and technologically-advanced society.”

Why Dublin Institute of Technology?

Dublin Institute of Technology is one of the largest and most innovative institutions in Ireland with over 10% of the higher education students and is ranked in the top 3% of world rankings (Times Higher Education and QS Rankings). It was voted Institute of the Year 2011 (the Sunday Times).  Indeed, DIT has consistently ranked the top institute of technology every year in the history of the Sunday Times league table.  It has won a plethora of other awards in the last 12 months which recognise its excellence internationally.

DIT is an autonomous institution with statutory awarding powers offering career focused and professional degrees from Bachelor to Doctorate Level. DIT is renowned for its strong student-staff interaction; excellent student support services and activities, innovative programmes, an outstanding record in entrepreneurship, and business incubation, and for its collaboration internationally and civic engagement at home.  We emphasize intellectually and strategically important research, which makes a distinctive, relevant and useful contribution to advance human knowledge and our structured PhD programmes deliver professional transferable skills as well as research training within a disciplinary framework.

As a graduate student you will have access to leading experts, state of the art equipment and facilities and will be encouraged to publish and present your research findings at international forums. You will be part of the postgraduate research community and a member of our Graduate Research School (GRS) where you will interact with other staff and students to make your time in DIT a truly memorable one.

What Research opportunities in DIT does the scheme cover?

To view our research opportunities please click on one of the following areas:

• Engineering and other technological areas
• Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)
• Health and Biomedical Sciences
• Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
• Oil, Gas and Coal
• Renewable Energy
• Nanotechnology and New Materials
• Technology of prevention and remediation of natural disasters
• Capacity Building for technological personnel

To Apply

Interested candidates are invited to complete an Expression of Interest Form  and indicate the title of the project they would like to pursue.

For further information please email Gerolmina Di Nardo at gerolmina.dinardo@dit.ie

Giuseppe A. Pariani, Frescobaldi Wines. Mary O’ Callaghan, President Irish Guild of Sommeliers, Díarmuid Cawley, Silver Medalist, Terence Kenny, World Export Manager. Champagne Pannier.

Diarmuid Cawley, a recent graduate of DIT’s Culinary Arts programme was awarded Silver Medal at Ireland’s Best Sommelier Competition. Diarmuid is employed as manager and wine consultant at the renowned Fallon & Byrne Restaurant, Food Hall and Wine Bar. He will shortly commence his Masters in Antropology at London City University.

Diarmuid competed against the crème de la crème of Ireland’s Sommeliers to claim the silver medal in the Best Sommelier in Ireland Competition held recently.  The candidates competed in the various tests designed to test their product knowledge and demonstrate their practical ability in a restaurant context/scenario. The jury panel consisted of journalists and gastronomic critics, the President of the Irish Guild of Sommeliers Mary O’ Callaghan, and the current holder of the World’s Best Sommelier and “Association de la Sommellerie International” judge Gérard Basset.

 Gérard Basset, Mary O'Callaghan and Tony Conlon

18 October 2012: Leaving a will is the best way to protect your loved ones first and foremost, but it is also an opportunity to leave a gift to your chosen charity or foundation. During Best Will in the World Week, from Monday 22nd - Friday 26th October, everyone is encouraged to give some thought to making or updating a will. To make that task easier, participating solicitors are offering a will consultation for just €50.

Best Will in the World Week is organised by MyLegacy, a coalition of over 70 Irish charities, including DIT Foundation, and more than 200 solicitors across the country.   The DIT Foundation is a registered charity (CHY 14226) which was established to support DIT in its mission as a comprehensive higher education institution, and to enhance the experience and opportunities for current and future students.    During ‘Best Will in the  World Week, the Foundation is inviting friends of DIT to consider including a legacy gift in their will to further the work of DIT and the Foundation.  Every gift, regardless of how large or small, can make a real and lasting difference, and will be your personal contribution to enhancing educational opportunities in Dublin City.

A legacy gift already making a difference at DIT

An example of a legacy gift that is already making a difference at DIT is The Michael O’Donnell Memorial Fund.   The Fund was established in 2007 as a result of a substantial legacy from the estate of the late Michael O’Donnell, former principal of Bolton Street College of Technology and the first acting President of DIT.  The stated purpose of the legacy was to support engineering teaching and research activities at DIT and the development of engineering facilities at the new DIT campus at Grangegorman, and a programme of work has been developed to fulfil that mission .  Since it was launched, a number of DIT graduates have made further donations to the Fund which is managed by DIT Foundation. To see the fund at work and the amazing opportunities it has created, click here.

For further information about how you can support the work of the DIT Foundation in your will, or at any time, please call Julie Stafford on 01-402 3398 or email Julie.stafford@dit.ie.

For more details on Best Will in the World Week and to find your local participating Solicitor see www.mylegacy.ie.

From theoretical challenges and practical problems towards a policy, public and university consensus

Venue:   DIT, Camden Row
Dates:    25 – 26 October 2012

On the 25^th & 26^th October, 2012 DIT will host an international conference entitled ‘Measuring the Public Value of Arts and Humanities Research.’  Building on the findings from a thirty-month European research project, the conference aims to provide an intellectual space to discuss the value of research in the arts and humanities.

The conference will showcase collaborative research between Dublin Institute of Technology's Higher Education Policy Research Unit, the University of Twente's Center for Higher Education Policy Studies, and the Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education.

Speakers include Dr. Dave O'Brien (City University London); Dr. Eucharia Meehan (Irish Research Council and Higher Education Authority); Laura Lugg (Arts and Humanities Research Council, UK); and Prof. Dominic Scott (University of Virginia and Cambridge). The keynote speaker will be Dr. Jordi Molas Gallert, Professor at the Spanish Council for Scientific Research.

This event will be of interest to policy-makers, researchers, university leaders and the users of humanities research.  The conference is free to attend and open to the public but registration with hera.value@dit.ie is required.

For more information:  https://sites.google.com/site/heravalueconf/

18 October 2012: With the theme of "Remembering", the Annual Mass of Remembrance for deceased students and staff of DIT will provide an opportunity for family members, relatives, colleagues and friends to come together in a spirit of solidarity to remember beloved students and staff who have departed this life.  There will be time after the mass for all who gather to share a cup of tea and some light refreshments and find support and strength in, and through, the presence of others.

Date: Sunday, November 11th, 2012

Time: 2.30pm- 4.00pm

Venue: Church of Mary Immaculate Rathmines Road, Dublin 6

Contact: Your local site chaplain chaplaincy.dit.ie

18 October 2012: DIT students of Visual Communications have their work on show in a city-wide billboard campaign around Dublin to publicise IMRAM – the Irish Language Literature Festival taking place this week.  The students’ work, which can be seen on sites across the city centre, is a series of interpretations of the work of poets Gabriel Rosenstock, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Dairena Ní Chinnéide and Gearóid Mac Lochlainn.    

In addition to the billboards, an exhibition of the students’ interpretation of the poets’ work was launched in the Aungier Street campus of DIT on Monday 15^th October and has been on public view all week.  At the launch, the four poets read from their own work and viewed examples of how the students had chosen to communicate it through their design and typography.

The exhibition concludes on Friday 19^th October but IMRAM and the billboard campaign continue into next week.

For more information see www.imram.ie

Ealaíontóirí cruthaitheacha ITBÁC ag poibliú IMRAM

Tá IMRAM – Féile Litríochta Gaeilge ar siúl an tseachtain seo, agus mar chuid den fheachtas poiblíochta taispeáintear saothair a chruthaigh mic léinn Cumarsáid Radharcaigh, ITBÁC ar chláir fógraí ag láthair éagsúla ar fud na cathrach. Is é an rud atá i gceist le saothair na mac léinn, ná sraith léirmhínithe a léiríonn an míniú a bhain na mic léinn féin as saothair na bhfilí Gabriel Rosenstock, Doireann Uí Ghríofa, Dairena Uí Chinnéide agus Gearóid Mhic Lochlainn.

Mar aon le feachtas na gclár fógraí, tá taispeantas de léirmhíniú na mac léinn ar shaothair na bhfilí le feiscint i gCampás Shráid Áinséir ITBÁC ó seoladh é ar an Luan 15 Deireadh Fómhair. Ag an seoladh, léigh an ceathrar filí óna saothair féin agus bhreathnaigh siad ar shamplaí a léirigh conas a bhain na mic léinn úsáid as a ndearadh agus gclóghrafaíocht féin chun a léirmhíniú ar na saothair a chur in iúl.

Tiocfaidh deireadh leis an taispeantas ar an Aoine beag seo an 19 Deireadh Fómhair ach leanfaidh leis an bhFéile IMRAM agus leis an bhfeachtas ar chláir fógraí go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn.

Tá tuilleadh eolais le fáil ag www.imram.ie

DIT Mascot Duck Norris helps DIT Optometry students fundraise

17 October 2012: DIT Optometry students and staff donned their white coats on 11 October, World Sight Day, and raised nearly €1000 in aid of Optometry Giving Sight (OGS).

The fundraising is part of the ongoing student engagement activities carried out through the Irish Aid/HEA, DIT funded Mozambique Eyecare Project Through the collaboration of several international partners the project aims to address the problem of avoidable blindness in Mozambique, Lusophone Africa and across developing nations. As a result of fund raising initiatives like that of the DIT Optometry Students, the Eyecare Project has established Mozambique’s first Optometry School in UniLúrio, Nampula, Mozambique. Currently, there are 75 optometry students enrolled in the programme, with the first graduates due in March 2013.

These graduates will be the first optometrists of their country and will deliver affordable eye care and refractive services to people who currently have no access to an eye exam and glasses. By 2015, more than 30 optometrists will have been trained to deliver primary eye care and refractive services to address the needs of the people in Lusophone Africa who currently have no access to eye care.

For more information see www.mozeyecare.org

Olivia Meade, Katie Morrissey, Pearse Fahy

Emma Hyland

Emma Hyland, Maire Ni Chuireain, Marita McCarthy, Ciara Ni Chlerigh

Emma Hyland

No one-size-fits-all solution to children's internet safety

This week, the European Commission will meet with stakeholders across Europe at the annual Safer Internet Forum to discuss how to create a better Internet for children. In a new report looking at national differences, the researchers in EU Kids Online have published specific recommendations for each country. For Ireland, the report recommends boosting digital literacy initiatives as well more awareness raising for parents about online safety.

Parental restrictions may create false sense of security 

The report reveals how parents in Ireland are the most restrictive in Europe in their supervision of children’s internet use. 95% of parents of internet-using children set rules about what their children can and cannot do online.  This may create a false of security with a consequent reduction in children’s online opportunities. This has direct implications for policy with children missing out on valuable opportunities and important skills online.

Brian O'Neill, Dublin Institute of Technology who is responsible for the survey in Ireland explains:

“Effective mediation is more than the setting of rules or very strict application of parental controls. It is about parents and adults having an active dialogue with children and being realistic about the real risks that are there but also learning to manage them.  That way children can adapt to the online world with greater confidence and skill”.

Ireland: Lower use/Some risk

Irish children’s online activities are fewer in number and at the lower end of a ‘ladder of opportunities’ compared to other countries in Europe.  57% of 9-16 year olds in Ireland don’t go beyond the most basic uses of the internet – such as information retrieval, watching videos and communicating with friends. This has implications for Ireland’s ambitions to be a digital world leader.

Commenting on the results Dr Leslie Haddon, Senior Researcher working on the EU Kids Online project at the LSE said:

“For the first time, we present findings for 33 European countries, allowing direct comparisons in the experiences of children as they go online in different countries. These national differences mean that there is no one-size-fits-all-solution for children's internet safety”

The report recommends that Ireland should focus on supporting digital literacy, targeting skills and encouraging a broadening of online activities. Given the importance of the IT sector to Ireland’s economy, it argues, there is an urgent need to support digital opportunities for all.

Old internet safety recommendations no longer relevant

As more Irish children go online using their mobile phone (46% in Ireland compared 31% European average), traditional advice such as “put the computer in the living room” is no longer as relevant.

Internet safety therefore has to address the full range of opportunities and risks on all connected devices. Here, the report argues that better coordination between the various public agencies and NGOs is needed to bridge the skills and knowledge gaps highlighted.

Other findings in the report:

• 57% of young people don’t go beyond the second step of a 5 stage ladder of online activities. The most popular activities are ‘watching video clips’ and ‘playing internet games’ (76% each), followed by using the internet for schoolwork and using social networking (58% each).
• Use of the internet at home (IE 87% vs. EU 62%) and mobile internet access is high (IE 46% vs. EU 31%). So too is going online via gaming consoles (IE 44% vs. EU 26%).  
• One third of 9-16 year olds (34%) also say they know more about the internet than their parents: one third (31%) say it is ‘a bit true’ and one third (36%) say it is ‘not true’ of them.
• Over half of Irish parents also feel they should do more to support their children’s internet use (27% a lot more; 37% a bit more). Younger children would also like parents to take more interest (22% of 9-12 year old boys; 25% of 9-12 year old girls).

For more information:

National Perspectives is a comparative report showing the relative experiences of children across a range of indicators in the countries participating in EU Kids Online.  Researchers, stakeholders and others can find a concise summary of children’s internet usage, risk and harm experiences and parental approaches to mediation. The report is based on interviews with 25,000 children and parents across 25 European countries.

The full report, National Perspectives, is available for download.

For more information please contact Brian O'Neill, brian.oneill@dit.ie  Tel: 086 8030050 or see www.eukidsonline.net

Information about the project and survey:

• The EU Kids Online project aims to enhance knowledge of European children’s and parents’ experiences and practices regarding risky and safer use of the internet and new online technologies, and thereby to inform the promotion of a safer online environment for children. The project is funded by the EC Safer Internet Programme (SI-2010-TN-4201001).
• EU Kids Online conducted a face-to-face, in home survey of 25,000 9-16 year old internet users and their parents in 25 countries, using a stratified random sample and self-completion methods for sensitive questions.
• Countries included in the survey are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the UK. In addition the project includes research teams from Croatia, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Russia, Slovakia and Switzerland.
• In Ireland, EU Kids Online is led by Brian O'Neill, Dublin Institute of Technology in association with PDST (Professional Development Services for Teachers) and www.webwise.ie
• For more findings, reports and technical survey details, see www.eukidsonline.net or visit us at Facebook
• EU Kids Online will represent these findings at The Safer Internet Forum. The forum has been organized by the Safer Internet Programme as an annual conference on safer internet issues since 2004. It brings together representatives of industry, law enforcement authorities, child welfare organizations and policy makers. The past editions of the Safer Internet Forum have welcomed guests not only from Europe, but also from countries such as Australia, Brazil or the Russian Federation
• A Digital Youth Symposium, in association with EU Kids Online, on developing digital opportunities for youth will be opened by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs at the Science Gallery, Dublin on November 2^nd . More information: www.digitalyouth.ie

Innovation in collaboration: DIT students learning with communities

15^th October, 2012: As part of Innovation Dublin 2012, DIT has launched an exhibition of projects by participants in its “Students Learning with Communities” programme.

The exhibition will showcase the collaborative projects between DIT students and community groups/ not-for-profit organizations. In 2011/12 over 1300 DIT students across disciplines and levels were involved in course-based collaborative projects and research with over 100 community partners, for mutual benefit. Projects included: Chemistry students working on test farms with Irish charity Wells for Zoe in Malawi; Interior Design students working with older people in Dublin City Council accommodation to develop ideas to maximize space and light in their apartments; Civil Engineering students redesigning a road junction in Grangegorman to maximize the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, with the Garda Road Safety Unit.

Dr. Catherine Bates, programme co-ordinator, said she was delighted to celebrate the success of the programme during Innovation Dublin and to showcase the collaborative nature of the work.  “Since its inception, the SLWC programme has been building on the strong links that DIT has developed over the years with local community partners.  The programme has given a greater depth to those links by enabling students and communities to work in partnership.  These opportunities enhance the skills of our students and communities can benefit from the knowledge and ideas the students can bring, so the experience is mutually beneficial.”

The Students Learning With Communities showcase runs from 15^th until 26^th October (9am to 5pm each day) (Mondays-Fridays only) and is on view in the Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.  All are welcome and admission is free.

For more information please see http://www.communitylinks.ie/community-learning-programme

15 October 2012: Congratulations to Julian Pusca (MMus, pan-flute) who was awarded First Prize in the prestigious Irish Freemasons’ Young Musician of the Year 2012 and “The Brennan Prize” as the most promising musician in the Competition at the Gala Final in the Freemasons’ Hall on Saturday 13 October 2012.  He was awarded the coveted title by an international jury:  Jane Carty (Ireland, Chairman of the Jury), Michel Camatte (France), Hilary Coates (England), Seamus Crimmins (Ireland), Dawn Reinhart (USA) and Alasdair Tait (Scotland).  Julian is a Master of Music student at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, where he studies with Ciaran O’Connell and Keith Pascoe.

DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, CIT Cork School of Music, Royal Irish Academy of Music and the Irish World Academy of Music at the University of Limerick enter their best performers in this annual competition.  Julian wowed the international jury with a stunning performance, taking first prize (€5000) and the Brennan prize for ‘the most promising musician’ (€1000).  Congratulations also to the Conservatory’s other competitors:  Valdis þorkelsdóttir (BMus, trumpet), Claire O’Donnell (BMus, harp) and Gavin Brennan (BMus, saxophone) who gave sterling performances in the semi-finals. Julian’s success comes after his brilliant performance last Monday at the RDS Concert Hall as part of its ‘Rising Stars’ recital series.  In addition to the two prizes, Julian’s first prize includes an engagement with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.  http://www.freemasonsmusic.ie/

RTÉ lyric fm Broadcast

Listen to Julian Pusca's winning performance from this year's Irish Freemasons' Young Musician of the Year on RTE Lyricfm’s “Lyric Concert with Eamonn Lawlor on Tuesday 16th October at 8pm. http://www.rte.ie/lyricfm/

Biography

Iulian began his musical education at Maria Biesu School of Arts in his home town in Moldova, Stefan- Voda, and studied with pan-flute professor, Ion Negura, at the Music Lyceum “Ciprian Porumbescu”. He pursued higher education at the Academy of Music, Theatre and Visual Arts (Kishinev, Moldova). Iulian is currently a Master of Music student at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, where he studies with Ciaran O’Connell and Keith Pascoe.

Iulian Pusca is an exceptionally talented young artist, well known for his astonishing pan-flute skills across a wide range of genres including classical, jazz and Moldovan folklore music. He has toured throughout Europe, playing with many well known musicians and performing as soloist with orchestras, including the Moldova National Philharmonic Symphonic Orchestra, the Kishinev Chamber Orchestra of Organ Hall, the Jalas–Jarven Symphony Orchestra Finland, Schwerin Symphonic Orchestra Germany and many other folk orchestras and renaissance ensembles. He has received international prizes in Moldova,Romania, Ukraine and Korea and in 2008 he became an Honored Artist of Moldova.

12th October 2012: Maths Week Ireland is an all-Ireland celebration of Maths and is a partnership of over 50 universities, institutes of technology, colleges, museums, libraries, visitors’ centres, and professional bodies - any group that values maths. The idea behind the week is to promote awareness, appreciation and understanding of maths through a huge variety of events and activities. This year Maths Week Ireland 2012 will take place from 13th October - 21 October and there will be events around the Island of Ireland. In celebration DIT’s School of Mathematical Sciences will host a number of events aimed at both primary and secondary school students.

Monday 15th October 2012

11.45am – 3.00 pm:

Number of stands with fun interactive demonstrations and competitions

1.00pm – 2.00pm:

Maths and Rhythm with Paco Gomez & Giovanna Farigu

Target audience:

Junior Certificate Cycle.

In the African and Cuban music traditions, the Bembe rhythm is very popular. It is played on bells and appears in many styles.

Finding the greatest common denominator (g.c.d.) of two numbers is easy. We learnt in primary school that it simply consists of listing the divisors of the two numbers and pick their greatest common divisor.

What do the Bembe rhythm and the g.c.d. of two numbers have in common? They are related by Euclid's algorithm, a very old and simple method to compute the g.c.d. In this presentation we will look at the connection between Bembe rhythm and Euclids algorithim in this interactive presentation. We will also explore other connections between Mathematics and Music.

Contact details: Claire/Martina t. 01-4024610 e. mathsecretary@dit.ie

Wednesday 17th October 2012

12.00 pm – 3.00 pm:

Number of stands with fun interactive demonstrations and competitions

1.00 pm – 2.00 pm:

Murderous Maths with Kjartan Poskitt

Target audience:

Senior Primary Cycle

Kjartan Poskitt is the author of Scholastic's "Murderous Maths" series which have sold over 1,500,000 copies world wide. His latest book "Everyday Maths For Grown Ups" is written to help adults who have never quite grasped how sums work!

Over the last 10 years he has entertained schools, teacher conferences and theatre audiences with items from his books including strange numbers, bizarre facts, tricks, predictions, flexagons and magic squares, and he has presented numerous science and maths programmes for BBC TV.

Contact details: Claire/Martina t. 01-4024610 e. mathsecretary@dit.ie

Pat Benson Lecture 2012 – “Broadening Horizons”
 
Mr. Thomas Watson (President of ASHRAE)

 
When :            Monday 15th October 2012 @ 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Where :           Room 281, DIT, Bolton St., Dublin 1.

The DIT Department of Building Services Engineering is delighted to welcome Thomas Watson, the President of ASHRAE, to DIT on Monday, 15th October when he will deliver the Pat Benson Memorial Lecture from 3.30pm – 5.30pm.
 
Thomas Watson is current President of ASHRAE the worldwide building technology society with the mission of advancing the arts and sciences of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigerating to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world.
 
Thomas has agreed to deliver this year’s Pat Benson Memorial Lecture in DIT.  His lecture, entitled ‘Broadening Horizons’ will examine ways that their professions can get more involved in their local communities to work together to improve the world around them.
 
All are welcome

Pictured at the UN, prizewinner Bernard Brennan (centre) with Vincent Herlihy, Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, New York; Competition Chair, Mr. Xiao Wunan, Executive Chairman, Aisa Pacific Exchange & Cooperation Foundation, Beijing; Dean Urs Peter Gauchat, New Jersey School of Architecture, New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA; and Prof. Dianne Davis of the International Council for Caring Communities.

10 October 2012:  Bernard Brennan, recent graduate of Architecture at DIT, was presented with First Prize in the 2012 International Student Design Competition at the United Nations in New York last week.  The competition was organised by the International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC), in conjunction with the UN programme for Human Settlements and the United Nations Programme on Ageing.  It was first established in 1994 as a bridge between practice and research, “endeavouring to prepare the next generation with the tools essential to enhance the quality of life for the fast growing ‘graying society’.”  Since then, over 7000 students from 50 countries have participated in the competition.
 
The first prize (Individual) of $10,000 was awarded to Bernard Brennan for his response to the brief, “Integrated Communities: A Society for All Ages”.   Describing his proposal for a multi-use community project for a medium-size Irish town evolving as a post-industrial community, Brennan said  “My proposal focused on improving public space and providing facilities currently missing in the area. The project contains a crèche, old people’s day centre, performance space, sport facilities, covered market area, ceremonial rooms and archive.”     Congratulating Bernard on achieving first place in the competition, the Founding President of ICCC, Professor Dianne Davis said the project was well presented and “indicated creative solutions to a most complex challenge.”
 
Second prize ($5000) was won by Sofija Kavcid, University of Hawaii, USA; and third prize ($2,500) went to John Killock, University of Westminster, UK.  Team prizes were won by submissions from South Korea, Guatemala, and China.
 
Speaking about the submissions received from students of architecture from many different countries, Professor Davis said “The student designs succeed on several levels: their thoughtful research and responsiveness to the needs of older persons; the balance of creativity and practicality; and ultimately, their youthful optimism which will benefit us all.  The fast approaching “Agequake” makes it vital that this phenomenon of aging be studied and approached by students in a pro-active manner.”
 
Bernard Brennan was invited to present his project  in person to the Competition organisers and adjudicators at the UN Headquarters in New York on  World Habitat Day, 01 October 2012, at the ‘’Úrban Futures: South meets North’ high level sessions.  The competition was chaired by Mr. Xiao Wunan, Executive Vice Chairman of the Asia Pacific Exchange & Cooperation Foundation, Beijing, China.  The other adjudicators included Dr. Linamara Rizzo Battistella, Minister of the State of Sao Paulo for Rights of Persons With Disability, Brazil;  Arq. Emiliano Ciarletti, Principal, Ascanio & Emiliano Ciarletti Architecture, Italy;  and Dean Urs Peter Gauchat, New Jersey School of Architecture, New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA.
 
Please click here to see Bernard Brennan’s winning submission:
 

Susan Joyce, Patricia Power Chartered Quantity Surveyor, Rowena Quinn Residential Agency Surveyor, Anna Fayne & Stephen Doyle of DIT launch the SCSI Graduate Employment Trends in Property and Construction Report

Click here to download the full report (pdf 1.4Mb).

9 October 2012:  A new employment survey published by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI)  has highlighted the shortage of suitably qualified property graduates to fill available roles in the property sector.  The survey also found that a shortage of graduates with surveying qualifications in construction will materialize by the middle of next year.

The SCSI said that while employment in the property and construction sectors fell by 56% between 2007 and 2011 - with the construction sector hit hardest - employment in both sectors is returning to growth and is likely to increase in the coming years.

The report on Graduate Employment also shows there has been a marked fall in applications for degree programmes in both Construction and Property Surveying since 2007.  This, combined with the recent pick-up in activity levels in both sectors, has resulted in a shortage of qualified personnel.

Tom Dunne, Head of the School of Real Estate and Construction Economics in DIT, said the report bears out the experience of DIT graduates seeking employment as well as feedback from industry.  “The recent  experience of our graduates reflects the  findings of this report. During the past year many surveying and property graduates found employment in their chosen industries even before they had left college.  In general they  have found it no more difficult to get employment in Ireland  than graduates of other disciplines.”

Commenting on the choices future students might make on their CAO application, he said: ”Graduates with a surveying qualification in fact have gained a terrific range of transferrable skills that make them desirable as employees in  many other fields.  It is also the case that if in the future they choose to go abroad to further their careers, surveyors  continue to find wonderful opportunities in the construction and property industries in other countries too.”

Launching the report, Roland O’Connell, President of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland said employment in the property and construction sectors has been severely impacted by the recession and as a result there was a sharp decline in CAO applications for property and construction degree courses in recent years.

“This has led to a situation whereby there is already a shortage of graduates coming into the property sector to meet demand by employers as the residential and commercial property markets stabilise and activity increases. While the findings are good news for students who are just starting property and construction courses, it is a real concern right now for employers who need to recruit graduates in the short term as industry activity increases in the coming years” he said.

A similar situation is likely to arise in the construction sector next year, and “While we do not expect, or wish for the property and construction sectors to return to 2007 levels, it is imperative that there are sufficient numbers of graduates coming into the industry to fill the available roles as the sectors return to ‘normal’ levels of activity for an economy of our size”, O’Connell concluded.

8th October 2012: Learn sign language at our complete beginners courses with DIT Sign Society starting in semester two in both DIT Aungier Street and DIT Mount Joy Square. Classes are open to staff and students, and are completely free, all you have to do is sign up to be a member of the DIT Sign Language Society.

Classes will take place in Aungier Street every Wednesday, at 6pm in room 4-086, starting from October 10th, and from Mount Joy Square every Monday, at 6pm in room 315 starting from February the 8th.

All new members very welcome.

For further info contact: sign@socs.dit.ie or check out

www.facebook.com/DITSignLanguageSociety

Dr. Brian Motherway, CEO of SEAI, and Professor Brian Norton confirm energy partnership

5^th October 2012:  Dr. Brian Motherway, CEO of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and Professor Brian Norton today signed a partnership agreement in which DIT affirms its commitment to energy efficiency, and formally becomes a member of the Public Sector Energy Partnership programme.

Explaining the concept behind the programme, Dr. Motherway said the SEAI aim is to embed the concept of structured energy management programmes in all public sector organisations, and to focus them on identifying and implementing long term strategic initiatives to achieve 33% energy efficiency improvement by 2020.  

Professor Norton welcomed the opportunity for DIT to make a formal commitment to energy efficiency and to work with SEAI.  Outlining some of the initiatives already underway in DIT, which have been led by Richard Smyth in the Buildings office, he said  “These actions have already borne fruit and we will continue to review our energy management programme.  It is also a very significant issue in the development of our new campus at Grangegorman, which is being developed on a sustainable basis from the outset, from its infrastructure to public transport links, and will be an exemplar project in relation to energy efficiency.  We are keen to be involved in this campaign at all levels because the rational use of energy is an important subject both of our undergraduate and masters level provision and as a key research activity in DIT.  We look forward to ongoing cooperation with SEAI.”

Richard Smith and Professor Brian Norton, DIT, with Dr. Brian Motherway and Alan Ryan of SEAI

5^th October 2012:  The DIT programme, MSc in Applied eLearning, has won a prestigious International E-Learning Award for Blended Learning.  The announcement was made at the Annual Interactive Collaborative Learning Conference which took place in Villach, Austria last week.

The International E-Learning Awards (IELA) are presented each year for the best work in e-learning, mobile learning, and blended learning, in two divisions: Academic and Business/Industry.  Submissions are evaluated by the IELA Awards Committee, and the Awards are made on the basis of criteria including educational soundness and effectiveness; usability; and overall significance.

The DIT MSc programme, which was developed by the Learning Teaching and Technology Centre, was outright winner in the Blended Learning category.  Delivered on a part-time basis over two years, the format combines face-to-face tutorials and workshops with a range of online activities in a fully supported, collaborative online learning environment.   The Programme is coordinated by Dr Roisin Donnelly.  Colleagues Dr Kevin O’Rourke and Muireann O’Keeffe who also teach on the programme collaborated with Roisin on the successful Award submission.

The International E-Learning Association (IELA) was founded in 2007 and is dedicated to advancing the knowledge and practice of e-learning in the classroom and the workplace. With members hailing from every continent —and from the realms of business, industry, government, and academia— the IELA is a vibrant and diverse community of e-learning professionals, researchers, and students. The aim of their International E-Learning Awards is to help set the standard for innovative, effective e-learning.

4th Oct 2012: The Sherkin Island community is preparing for an influx of visitors this coming weekend as the conferring of awards for the Dublin Institute of Technology’s (DIT) BA in Visual Art Graduation ceremony takes place on Saturday 6 October at 2.30pm.  Family and friends of the 18 graduating students will make their way to the island for this special occasion and to celebrate with the students and the island community at Sherkin Island Community Hall, which also serves as the students’ campus on the island.
 
Sherkin Island Development Society, the Dublin Institute of Technology and West Cork Arts Centre are pleased to announce that the final year students from the BA in Visual Art Programme will be conferred with their degrees by Dr. Michael Mulvey, Director of Academic Affairs and Registrar, DIT.  The event will also be attended by various local community and governmental representatives, including special guest Dinny McGinley TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for Gaeltacht Affairs (Department of Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht)
 
The funding support of Cork County Council and the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht is hugely significant for this third level arts education course and is instrumental in the programme being able to progress. It has enabled a further group of students to begin their 4 year degree on SherkinIsland in September this year. Mayor of County Cork, Cllr Barbara Murray said “the support of Cork County Council firmly consolidates the recognition of this programme’s significance for the West Cork region.”
 
This Programme is specifically tailored to allow access to third level education to geographically disadvantaged, mature students who would otherwise have to leave their local community. It brings social, economic and cultural benefits to Sherkin Island. It sustains and nurtures a rural community and paves the way for genuine access and participation to lifelong education. It contributes to sustaining livelihoods and to building living and vibrant communities in theimmediate locality and beyond. It is vital to the quality of life of the island residents and to the island economy during the traditionally quiet winter months.
 
BAVA Programme Chair, Bernadette Burns says: “this year’s cohort of graduates is unique. They were the first group of students to enrol directly onto the first year of BA Visual Art, shortly after it was validated as the first honours degree programme of its kind.”

“They were also the first group to initiate a graduation exhibition, Out There, that took place across the width and breadth of Sherkin Island, transforming the whole of the island into an art gallery over a weekend” she continued.  Over a thousand visitors from all over the West Cork region came to admire the artworks created by the students for their graduate exhibition in May this year.
 
The graduating students are: Michèle O’Connor Connolly, Jocelyn Florence, Maureen O’Sullivan, Ginny Pavry, Claire Lambert, Anna Kirsch, Diarmuid Breen, Paul Austin, Janet Murran,  Gana Roberts,  Anne Hartnett, Donagh Carey, Margrit O’Shea, Jane O’Farrell, Chris Gaughran,  Wendy Miles,  Luisa McCarthy and  Danny Stewart.                 
 
BA Visual Art is a community-based, four year, honours degree visual art Programme. It is fully accredited, managed and delivered by the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) in partnership with Sherkin Island Development Society (SIDS). West Cork Arts Centre (WCAC) are also key partners in the planning and implementation of the programme. It is supported by funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and from Cork County Council.

Leagan Gaeilge

• Launch of ‘ Arthur Ryan Retail Centre’ recognises contribution of Penneys/Primark founder to retail innovation on Friday 28th September
• €1.1 million to locate centre on DIT Grangegorman campus
• Arthur Ryan says retail sector needs knowledge base to compete

28 September 2012: A new centre for Retail Excellence is to be established in Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), with funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation. The Foundation has pledged €1.1 million towards the building of the centre on the new DIT campus at Grangegorman. The Centre will be named The Arthur Ryan Retail Centre, in recognition of the contribution of founder of Penneys/Primark, Arthur Ryan to retail innovation.

Mr. George Weston, Dr. Arthur Ryan and Professor Brian Norton
 at the launch of the Arthur Ryan Retail Centre at DIT

The Garfield Weston Foundation was established by the Weston family, whose business interests include a majority stake in Associated British Foods, which in turn is home to the international retailer Primark, trading as Penneys in Ireland. Penneys opened its first store in Ireland in 1969, and the business has gone on to develop 247 stores in eight countries, now employing in excess of 43,000 people.

Welcoming the launch of the centre in DIT today, Arthur Ryan indicated that while the retail sector acts as a barometer for how the economy is performing, for its future success the sector must understand and analyse developments in areas such as technology, procurement and sourcing, logistics, and marketing.

“The pace of change in the retail sector is enormous and business is increasingly international. To stay competitive, there is a constant need to innovate and to anticipate trends. The DIT College of Business has always provided excellent support and expertise to the retail sector in Ireland and I believe this new centre, based in the School of Retail and Services Management, will become a hub for educational opportunities, research, and industry outreach programmes.”

The President of DIT, Professor Brian Norton, thanked the Garfield Weston Foundation for its generosity in supporting the new Centre.

“This generous commitment by a leading international Irish-born retail organisation, represents a real contribution to Irish higher education and will assist DIT in delivering on its campus development. We have no doubt that the appropriately named Arthur Ryan Retail Centre will become a key international knowledge centre, establishing a strong focus on research, scholarship and innovation for the retail sector. ”

The development of the Grangegorman campus was identified as a ‘flagship project’ in July when the Government announced its economic stimulus plan. This announcement has triggered the start of significant work on site which will see over 1400 DIT students and staff moving to the new campus by September 2014, and a total of 10,000 students on campus by 2017.

Plans for the new campus at Grangegorman have attracted international recognition and a number of major awards. In May this year, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) conferred its prestigious Honour Award for Urban Planning and Design on architects Moore Ruble Yudell for the Grangegorman Masterplan. Presented at a ceremony in Washington, this Award is a unique achievement for an Irish development. In July, the project won a further award for Excellence in Planning, presented in Chicago by the Society for College and University Planning.

Information

• The Garfield Weston Foundation was established in 1958 by Willard Garfield Weston, the creator of Associated British Foods and the Foundation was endowed with the donation of family-owned company shares. The Foundation operates primarily in the United Kingdom and contributes to a wide range of charities, from small, local community-based organisations to those with a national reach. More information can be found via www.garfieldweston.org
• The Arthur Ryan Centre of Retail Excellence will be located in the School of Retail and Services Management, College of Business, Dublin Institute of Technology.
• The Centre will become an interface between academia and the retail sector and will contribute towards the development of sustainable retail policy, effective retail education and supportive retail services for the retail and services sector.
• The DIT School of Retail and Services Management currently has over 1000 fulltime and part-time students. It is a dedicated provider of retail education and training programmes from undergraduate to PhD, and delivers significant levels of Continuing Professional Development programmes to those employed in the sector.
• DIT is developing a new single campus at Grangegorman in Dublin 7 and will transfer all of its activities from 39 buildings in Dublin’s city centre to the new campus. Some of the funding for the project is being sought through philanthropy such as the donation from the Garfield Weston Foundation announced today.

26 September 2012: Glenn Fitzpatrick, Vice President, Education & Welfare in DIT Students’ Union (DITSU) reports that the recruitment drive to get Class Reps elected is well underway.

It's that time of year again - DIT Students’ Union is running its Class Rep Recruitment campaign to ensure that every class in DIT has a voice. With the landscape of Irish Higher Education constantly changing, the need for student input into quality assurance procedures has never been so vital. As the sole representative of the student voice within DIT, the Union depends on class reps to facilitate the crucial two-way informational flow, ensuring that every student is kept in the loop and that the SU team is able to catch issues before they fester.

Perhaps the most useful way that class reps contribute to quality assurance is by taking their place on their course's Programme Committee. This is a forum where the class rep sits at the same table as their lecturers and discusses the direction of the course, what's working and what needs to change.  What's more is that they sit at the table with the staff as equals. In light of the drive to ensure that every student in DIT has the best representation possible, Dr. Michael Mulvey, Director of Academic Affairs, encourages lecturing staff to facilitate the DITSU College Officers and Sabbaticals when they knock on their classroom door.

"In line with the Institute’s Handbook for Academic Quality Enhancement, Class Representatives need to be appointed for each year of each programme in Institute. The Students’ Union will be visiting classes over the next few weeks to facilitate the election of Class Representatives. If you could assist the students union to elect Class Representatives, it would be greatly appreciated as the participation of class representatives in programme committees is a vital component of the Institute’s quality enhancement culture."

In the coming days, posters will be visible throughout the Institute with two clear messages for all students. First and foremost, without a class rep, there is far less likely to be a solution to any issue that your class may encounter inside or outside the classroom during your time in DIT. In addition to this, DITSU stress that it doesn't matter what kind of a personality you have. Whether you are a party animal or a political animal, you can still be the leader of your pack. DITSU will also be taking all elected class reps away for a day of training in the Hilton Hotel on Friday 12th October, providing them with all of the necessary skills to be the most effective representative for their peers. DITSU President, David Keogan has issued a rallying call to students who wish to be a positive force for change in DIT.

"Class reps are the most important cog to generating a positive experience for the DIT student. They work with DIT on issues with their class, bring issues to our attention, lets the class know about discounts, events and campaigns or organise a social event for their class to have a good time. If you don't have a Class Rep, then DIT or we in DITSU  don't know what to change or how to help you. If you have a query and you don't know where to go, get your Class Rep onto it."

Alongside the duty of representing the views of the class, the class rep also reaps several benefits from the role. As the main point of contact for the class, it offers a fantastic opportunity to get to know everybody. The social aspect of the role is not to be underestimated. Through getting involved in the Union, class reps meet like-minded people and often make a whole new circle of friends. There's also the benefit of sorting the class out with good deals at social occasions, leading to things like VIP treatment.

The overarching moral of the story is that class reps are an integral part of college life. Every student needs one, DITSU needs them and DIT needs them even more. The leaflet being circulated by the Union makes it crystal clear that things won't always go according to plan during one's time in 3rd level education.

So the question begs, have you elected your class rep yet?

Check out www.ditsu.ie or your local Students’ Union Office for more details.

27 September 2012: The second edition of Engineering Project Appraisal by DIT authors Aidan Duffy and Martin Rogers has just been published in paperback by Wiley-Blackwell.  Aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students in civil engineering, planning and construction management courses, it describes the analytical tools needed to carry out effective appraisals of alternative development schemes using both economic and non-economic criteria. The building blocks of economic appraisal are covered early, leading to techniques such as net present worth, internal rate of return and annual worth. Cost Benefit Analysis is dealt with in detail, together with related methods such as Cost Effectiveness and the Goal Achievement Matrix. The text also details multi-criteria models which have proved useful in the evaluation of proposals in the transportation, solid waste, energy and water resources fields.

For further details click here

Authors Aidan Duffy and Martin Rogers, lecturers in the College of Engineering and Built Environment, DIT

• Round table with panel of international experts to address the most pressing needs of the Irish retail sector.
• Launch in DIT of the ‘Arthur Ryan Retail Centre’ Ireland’s first specialist centre of retail research that will provide pragmatic information, education and services to enhance the retail sector.

Date: Friday, 28^th September, 2012
Time: From 12 noon (Please see detailed schedule below)
Venue: DIT Aungier Street, Dublin 2

On Friday, 28^th September, 2012 a new centre for Retail Excellence is to be established in Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), with funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation.  The Foundation has pledged €1.1 million towards the building of the centre on the new DIT campus at Grangegorman.  The Centre will be named The Arthur Ryan Retail Centre, in recognition of the contribution of founder of Penneys/Primark, Arthur Ryan to retail innovation.

The Garfield Weston Foundation was established by the Weston family, whose business interests include a majority stake in Associated British Foods, which in turn is home to  the international retailer Primark, trading as Penneys in Ireland.  Penneys opened its first store in Ireland in 1969, and the business has gone on to develop 247 stores in eight countries, now employing in excess of 43,000 people.

The ‘Arthur Ryan Retail Centre’ will be the first centre of its kind in Ireland.  The centre will be an interface between academia and the retail sector and will contribute towards the development of sustainable retail policy, effective retail education and supportive retail services for the retail and services community.

Following the official launch of the Centre, from 12 noon to 1pm DIT will host a Round Table Discussion headed up by a number of key practitioners and academics in the area of 'Retailing in a Changing Environment'.

Guest Speakers include:

• Dr. Kyle Murray, Marketing Professor University of Alberta, Canada and Author of ‘The Retail Value Proposition’
• Bobby Kerr, Irish Entrepreneur and businessman
• Dr. Tony Hernandez, Director & Eaton Chair in Retailing Centre for the Study of Commercial Activity, Ryerson University
• David Shaw, European School of Economics, London, UK, Fashion Retailing & Marketing Consultant, Educator, and Author

In the afternoon, from 2.00pm – 5.00pm, there will be a Retail Symposium where invited academics will present their research on retailing for the future.

SCHEDULE:

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Ms Dee Duffy

Arthur Ryan Retail Centre | Centre Manager

Programme Director | Fashion Buying & Management

Dublin Institute of Technology

Aungier Street

PH: +353-(0)1-402-3214

E: dee.duffy@dit.ie

25 September 2012: Among the thousands of talented students starting in DIT this academic year are two graduates of the Ballymun Music Programme who starred in the critically acclaimed film Ballymun Lullaby. The film - http://www.ballymunlullabythefilm.com/ - has been shown in cinemas in Ireland, at international film festivals, and recently aired on RTE television.

Darren Scully and Tara O'Brien

The two students are Darren Scully, now a 2^nd year student on the DIT BA programme in Leisure Management, and Tara O’Brien who is in the first year of her BA in Music Performance at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.

Darren and Tara were both participants in the Ballymun Music Programme while attending school. This innovative programme was established more than fifteen years ago and offers the opportunity for participation in the arts for children in all schools in Ballymun and a pathway for progression to further studies. Managed by Ron Cooney in the DIT Access and Civic Engagement Office, the programme provides music tuition in its purpose-built, state-of-the-art Ballymun Music Room as well as in the local schools. Participants have performed in the National Concert Hall, with the RTE Symphony Orchestra; on the stage in the Helix; in the Axis Theatre; and in the O2, as well as participating in the filming of Ballymun Lullaby, which told the story of the programme and what it has achieved in the community.

Now, in addition to their starring roles on film and their new lives as college students, Tara and Darren are preparing to make presentations at two prestigious conferences taking place shortly. Tara will be a panellist at the Music Education Conference, “Voicing 2012: Quality, Inclusion and Participation in Music Education” which takes place in Trinity College Dublin on Wednesday 26^th September. Darren has been invited to represent Ireland at the "Young Leader Summit and Conference" taking place from 18^th-22^nd October in Pittsburgh in the USA.

DIT colleagues in the DIT Access and Civic Engagement office are delighted to welcome Darren and Tara to DIT, having worked with them on their journey to higher education. Julie Bernard, Head of Access and Civic Engagement, said “We had the opportunity to get to know Tara and Darren through their participation in the Ballymun Music Programme and now we are delighted that they are with us again as students with the Access Service. We are very proud of them and look forward to working with them throughout their studies at DIT!”

Electric Vehicles Event Sept 26th - IET Ireland Network Events Programme

21 September 2012: The next IET Ireland event takes place on Wednesday September 26th in KEG007 Lecture Hall, Kevin Street DIT, Dublin 2. The event is free and open to the public.

Dermot McArdle and James Gallagher of ESB eCar and Dr Colin Herron MD Zero Carbon Futures will reflect on the impact of EV trials and the renewable energy efforts underpinning the take up of low carbon vehicles in Ireland.

When: Sept 26th 17:30

Where: KEG007, DIT Kevin Street, Dublin 8

This event is free and open to members and non-members alike

20 September 2012: DIT Graduate Ian Burnell has made it through to the global semi-finals of the James Dyson Awards seeing of competition from 500 entries.  Ian has received the support of Dublin Fire Brigade for his invention – the enhanced emergency lighting barrier – for use by the emergency services to warn oncoming traffic.  His invention will now go before an international judging panel consisting of esteemed designers and academics from various countries.  The winner will receive €10,000.

On Friday 14 September, we welcomed Mr Chang Yeob Kim, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, on a visit to DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.  Mr Kim toured the Rathmines building and heard a performance by BMus 3 student Shauna Buckingham, accompanied by Mairead Hurley, Head of Voice, Opera and Drama.  Next year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Ireland and we look forward to the possibility of cultural exchanges in the future. 

 Mr Chang Yeob Kim, Ambassador of Korea (centre) with Prof. Bing Wu (left, Head of Asian Partnerships) and Dr Gordon Munro (Head of Conservatory) in the Organ Room at Rathmines

  Mr John O'Connor, Dean of the College of Arts and Tourism welcomes Mr Chang Yeob Kim, Ambassador of Korea to the Conservatory of Music and Drama. 

Dr. Colin Caprani honoured for research in civil and structural engineering

18 September 2012: Dr Colin Caprani, Department of Civil and Structural Engineering in DIT, has won the 2012 Young Researcher Award at an all-Ireland conference of researchers in civil engineering.  The Award was presented jointly to Dr. Caprani and to Dr. Jamie Goggins of NUI Galway at the Bridge and Concrete Research in Ireland (BCRI) Conference which took place in Dublin on 6/7 September.

Dr. Colin Caprani and Dr. Jamie Goggins, joint winners of ‘BCRI Young Researcher Award 2012’, presented by (centre) Dr David Hughes of Queen’s University Belfast

The Judging Panel for the award was chaired by Professor Eugene O’Brien (UCD), with Professor Padraic O’Donoghue (NUIG) and Dr. David Hughes, QUB.  Announcing the winners, the panel said they “could not separate the careers of Dr. Caprani and Dr. Goggins, and so decided to make a joint award in fair recognition of both individuals’ careers to date.”  The ‘Young Researcher Award’ was established by the BCRI conference to recognise the work of researchers who are aged less than 35 years  and who have made substantial contribution to knowledge in the field; have achieved international esteem; and have developed an independent research career.  It is the only award of its kind on the island of Ireland and this year was presented for the first time.

Congratulating Dr. Caprani, the President of DIT, Professor Brian Norton said, “Colin has made important contributions to our understanding of traffic loading on bridges that already have had significant influence on developments in the field internationally.  More broadly his work is an excellent example of how practically-oriented research informs teaching; a hallmark of DIT.”

The Bridge and Concrete Research in Ireland Conference took place in Dublin on 6/7 September, jointly hosted by Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and supported by SFI.  Attendance included academics, postgraduate students, and practitioners, reflecting the dual goals of the conference series: the promotion of links between industry and academia, and the nurturing of young researchers, the future leaders in industry and academia. Some 160 delegates participated, representing 41 organisations from Ireland, UK, Denmark and Australia.  

First held in 2006, the 2012 conference was the fourth in the series and this year was chaired by Dr Colin Caprani (DIT) and Dr Alan O’Connor (TCD).  According to Dr. Caprani, “Since the first conference, the topics covered by BCRI have expanded to include the titular bridges and concrete, of course, but also geotechnics, materials, and structures research.  Consequently it is the main showcase for research and practice across all of structural engineering.”   

In addition to keynote addresses delivered by Professor Adrian Long, Queen's University Belfast; Professor Richard Jardine, Imperial College London; and Professor Aleksandar Pavic, University of Sheffield, a total of 85 technical papers were presented on topics that included bridges, geotechnics, concrete, structures, and materials.   Twenty-two papers were presented by DIT delegates.  The conference was given Engineers Ireland CPD approval.

The conference formally established the Civil Engineering Research Association of Ireland (CERAI) which will run the conference series in future.   Reflecting the growing range of topics the next conference, to be held in Queen’s University Belfast on 4-5 September 2014, will be renamed Civil Engineering Infrastructure Research Conference (Bridges, Concrete, Geotechnics, Materials, and Structures).

The papers presented at the BCRI 2012 Conference will soon be available for viewing on the conference website at www.bcri.ie.  

18 September 2012: Congratulations to DIT graduate Deirdre Codd, (Forensic & Environmental Analysis), who won her third All-Ireland Camogie medal when Wexford beat Cork on Sunday. Deirdre was one of the Sunday Game’s nominees for player of the match as wing back for Wexford. Deirdre is currently employed in Servier, Arklow.

Deirdre Codd, (Biomedical Sciences), who won her third All-Ireland Camogie medal when Wexford beat Cork on Sunday

Also on Sunday, Meath defeated Down in the Junior All-Ireland camogie final. The Meath team was captained by DIT graduate of Property Economics, Jane Dolan. Jane is the current DIT Camogie selector and is looking forward to building a strong DIT team this year. If you would be interested in playing Camogie in DIT please contact Stephen on 085-7350777

Jane Dolan, Meath team captain

Finally, DIT would like to wish the best of luck to all the DIT students and graduates who will be involved in the All-Ireland Football final at Croke Park next Sunday – they are Barry Moran, Aidan O Shea, Alan Freeman, Kevin Mc Loughlin and Jason Doherty.

17 September 2012: DIT once again hosted the National Skills Competition 2012, with some fifty apprentices and students from around Ireland competing over three days in their respective skills areas.  According to Martin Sneyd, Chair of the DIT Organising Committee, “DIT is very proud to facilitate the competition for these highly skilled young people, who represent the best in Irish industry.  All are competing to be deemed ‘the best in Ireland’ in their specific skill, and for the much coveted Winner’s Trophy.  In the current economic climate it most important to promote, encourage and acknowledge excellence among our skilled young people and national competitions are an ideal vehicle for achieving that.”

Top left: Mr. Martin Sneyd makes a special presentation to John Smartt, also an active member of the National Skills Committee, who retired this year from DIT and as Team Ireland’s Expert at Worldskills

Bottom left: National Skills Trophies

Right: Winners of National Skills Competitions

At the opening ceremony, which took place in the Gresham Hotel on Monday 10^th September, the President of DIT, Professor Brian Norton told the competitors that technological excellence is vital to Ireland’s economic success, and the National and Worldskills Competitions provide a showcase for Ireland’s worldclass standards in so many skill areas.  “At the last WorldSkills Competition in London 2011, Team Ireland brought home no less than three Gold Medals and five medallions of Excellence.  I am sure that the team chosen to compete in Leipzig next year will include some of competitors here this week, and I also sure that they will be excellent ambassadors for Ireland.

Paul O’Sullivan, DIT Director and Dean of the College of Business, presenting the Winner’s Trophy for Sheetmetal Work to Michéal Ward, Shercock PO Co. Monaghan

At the closing ceremony and presentation of Awards on Friday 14^th, also in the Gresham Hotel, the following were the Award Winners:

Aircraft Maintenance:
Joe Kelly, Co. Clare, working with Transaero Engineering Ireland – trained in DIT

Autobody Repair:
Donal McDermott, Co. Roscommon, working with Gerry Gill, Co. Roscommon – trained at DIT

Bricklaying:
Brian Conville, Dublin, working with Michael Conville, Raheny, Dublin 5 – trained at DIT

Cabinet Making:
Anthony O’Neill, Co. Carlow – student at GMIT

Car Painting
Vincent Harney, Co. Wicklow, self- employed – trained at DIT

Heavy Vehicle Mechanics
Sean Martin, Dublin, working with ESB, Tallaght – trained at DIT

Painting & Decorating
Martin Mulligan, Co. Meath, working with Thomas Mulligan, Enfield, Co. Meath – trained at DIT

Plumbing
Ciaran Coady, Co. Wexford, working with Barrossa Plumbing and Heating, New Ross – trained at WIT

Polymechanic Automation
Ronan Guerin, Swords, Co. Dublin, working with Dublin Airport Authority – trained at DIT

Sheetmetal Work
Michael Ward, Co. Monaghan, working with MJW Engineering, Co. Monaghan – trained at DIT

Mr. Paul O’Sullivan, Director and Dean of the College of Business, DIT, congratulated the winners and all of the competitors on behalf of DIT.  Commenting that they may have been surprised to find the Dean of Business addressing them, he said “Successful countries have always had strong skills training models – just look at Germany, for example.”  Acknowledging that the building industry had been too large at its height, he said the level of building right now in Ireland is too low and needs to double within the next few years.  “The recent Government stimulus package will create a demand for your skills, and that demand will rise quickly so it is important that we maintain and build those skills so that you can contribute to rebuilding the economy – as craftsmen and women, as entrepreneurs and as employers.”

Mr. Don O’Sullivan, Construction Industry Federation, echoed those remarks and said the need to maintain our skills base must not be ignored.  “We have seen a decline from €37 billion in 2007, to just €8 billion this year in construction, and from 400,000 employed to 100,000.  The norm should be for construction to account for 10% of the economy, and at the moment it is just 6% so we need to recover that ground.  In this situation our skills base can become dissipated, but the National Skills Competition shows that we can rebuild.”

Enda Fagan, former colleague, who acted as official photographer at the competiton

Martin Sneyd, School of Construction and Chair of the DIT National Skills Organising Committee

Mr. Tom Corrigan, Dean of Craft Education and Training, DIT, with Mr. Don O’Sullivan, Construction Industry Federation

Mr. Martin Sneyd makes a special presentation to Tommy Tutty, recently retired, who was a highly successful mentor for many years in Joinery

13 Mean Fomhair 2012: Bíonn ranganna Gaeilge á soláthar ag Oifig na Gaeilge, i dteannta le hAonad Oiliúna agus Forbartha Foirne na hInstitiúide, Scoil na dTeangacha agus Gaelchultúr Teo. d'fhoireann agus do mhic léinn Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Bhaile Átha Cliath.

Bíonn na ranganna Gaeilge dírithe ar leibhéil éagsúla a oireann do na rannpháirtithe, bíonn siad saor in aisce agus ar siúl i gcampais éagsúla ag am lóin agus thar aon rud eile, bíonn siad taitneamhach!

Tá gach eolas faoi na ranganna le fáil ó shuíomh Oigig na Gaeilge http://www.dit.ie/oifignagaeilge/ranganna

Irish Classes 2012/13

Oifig na Gaeilge, in conjunction with DIT Staff Training and Development Unit, the School of Languages & Gaelchultúr Teo. provide Irish language classes for the staff and students of DIT.

The classes are aimed at various levels to suit the participants, are based in many of DIT's campuses, are free of charge and above all else, are enjoyable

For more information please go to http://www.dit.ie/oifignagaeilge/ranganna

A new course of Allegro for Adults will commence on Tuesday 16th October 2012 and there are a few places still available for late applications.

Your questions answered

• Who can apply?
  Anybody over 18 years of age
• Do I need a musical background?
  Allegro 1 is suited to beginners or those with some musical knowledge
• How long is the course?
  Each course is one year (two semesters)
• What is the time commitment?
  One lecture per week : 1hour 30minutes duration.

Date and Venue

Venue: DIT Conservatory of Music & Drama, Chatham Row, Dublin 2. 

Day: Tuesdays

Time: 12.30-2PM (CLASS 1hour 30mins per week)

Semesters:  First semester – October – end of January 2013. Second semester – February – June 2013

Cost

€650 (Can be paid in two installments at start of each semester)

Subjects

Allegro 1 requires no previous musical experience.  It covers beginner/ foundation - intermediate level musicianship. The course has three components:

1) aural training – learning about rhythm and melody through singing and percussion instruments.

 2) written skills – learning about keys, scales, intervals and chords and how to use them in a musical context.. Also some of the basics of composition will be covered including creating rhythmic patterns, writing a melody, adding chords to melody and  composing a melody to chords.

3) listening – What are we listening for when we hear music: How do we listen? The course offers guidelines on learning how to listen to music and develop an understanding of musical styles. Some of the great composers and their works will be discussed.

Further information

For further details, contact Marian McRory -

marian.mcrory@dit.ie
0876815626

Application form

Click here to download application form (PDF)

08 September 2012:  President Michael D. Higgins paid a return visit to DIT Bolton Street this weekend to formally launch his “Being Young and Irish” initiative – a consultation with young people across the country to explore their vision for Ireland and what they can do to contribute to ‘taking charge of change’.  The event, which was the first of four regional consultations, was attended by one hundred 17 – 25 year olds.  Over the next three weekends consultations will take place in Monaghan, Cork and Galway.  

President Higgins at the launch of "Being Young and Irish"

In his opening address, President Higgins told the participants “You have the opportunity today to articulate that kind of society you seek to live in with others, grow older in, and in the future hand on to other generations... You also have the opportunity to share and reflect on, to suggest and decide the kind of arrangements, choices, and compromises you seek, that you are willing to live with, and make to achieve that vision.”

President Michael D. Higgins with, left, Professor Brian Norton,DIT,  and right, Olivia McEvoy, Project Manager of ‘Being Young and Irish’, and Dr. Mike Murphy, DIT.

In addition to those participating in person in the regional consultations, the President has extended an open invitation to all young people across Ireland to make their own submissions to “Being Young and Irish”.  You can share your views in text, video and/or audio format – see http://www.president.ie/youngandirish/ for how to make your voice heard.  The deadline for submissions is the end of September.

At the end of the consultation process, a team of researchers from Dublin Institute of Technology led by Drs. Kevin Griffin and Matt Bowden will capture the ‘spirit, the heart and soul of the process’ in a final report to be presented to President Higgins and to be discussed at a seminar in Áras and Úachtaráin later this year.

As President Higgins departed, Professor Brian Norton presented him with a memento of his visit - a framed print, depicting the Irish International Exhibition of 1865’, held at Earlsfort Terrace.  President Higgins had been particularly taken by the image on his visit to the campus earlier this year to mark the centenary of Bolton Street. 

Professor Brian Norton presents print of Irish International Exhibition of 1865 to Úachtarán Michael D. Higgins

The ‘Being Young and Irish’ event was organized by the Project Manager, Olivia McEvoy, and a team of young volunteers.  McEvoy paid tribute to DIT colleagues in the Buildings Office and Information Services for all their support in facilitating the event and to Aramark who provided the catering.

View video from the event

Photos

Team DIT at the launch of "Being Young and Irish"

President Higgins  with facilitators and volunteers, and researchers Drs Kevin Griffin and Matt Bowden, DIT

President Higgins briefing participants and volunteers

President Higgins with Professor Brian Norton, President of DIT, and Dr. Mike Murphy, Director and Dean of the College of Engineering and Built Environment

10th September 2012: Congratulations to Noel Eccles, Percussion Lecturer at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, who masterminded the concert for "The Gathering: Notre Dame - A Welcome Home", which took place on Friday 31st August at the O2 Arena Dublin.  The event featured Noel Eccles, as well as DIT postgraduate student and world champion bodhrán player, Aimee Farrell Courtney.  The Finale saw the DIT Irish Traditional Music Ensemble, performing with leading Irish traditional musicians and the Notre Dame Marching Band.  

Aimee Farrell Courtney with Liam O'Flynn

“Notre Dame: A Welcome Home”  mixed in elements of a typical Notre Dame pep rally with popular Irish performances and singers to create an amazing collaboration. This show was broadcast live on national television in Ireland and worldwide via YouTube.  

View the Show on YouTube here

Congratulations to the Notre Dame football team who won their game against Navy in the Aviva Stadium Dublin the next day.

Notre Dame Pep Rally

5th September 2012: Calling all Freshers - students can make a difference and get involved in your first week of term. On Friday the 14th of September 1-3 pm we will run our second annual volunteering project for induction week. It is a river clean up (riverside clean up, no-one will be entering the river). A bus will be collecting you and dropping you off at DIT Bolton Street.

Anyone interested contact teri.oboyle@dit.ie or register at socs.dit.ie/induction-2012, or sign up at registrations next week! Free food in Solas afterwards and a t-shirt & certificate for all who volunteer. Its a great way to meet new people!

A Summer School in Italy, Supino, Lazio, August 20-26th 2012

5th September 2012:

Jim Roche from the Dublin School of Architecture taught on the Supino International Summer School in Italy from 20-26 August.

Luisa Morgantini with some of the students

Hosted by Luisa Morgantini, ex MEP and former Vice President of the European Parliament in collaboration with Supino Municipality, and led by Yara Sharif from Palestine and Nasser Golzari from Iran, the School attracted teachers and students from Palestine, Iran, Turkey, Italy, Sudan, Ireland and Oman.

The aim of the summer school was to explore the architectural and urban potential of small towns such as Supino (population 5000) that exist on the periphery of a major European historical city, in its case Rome, within the context of the current capitalist crisis.

Students and teachers addressed the following themes under the title of ‘contested space’ exploring, through social mapping, how architectural and urban forms and spaces might respond:

• A  -  Traces and Signatures (addressing personal memory, social invisibility, etc.).
• B  -  Wrapping and Breathing (addressing everyday life, climate and environment).
• D - Economic and social stitching (addressing issues of local “tourism” and social sustainability, local migration and local empowerment.

The aim was to offer responsive design proposals that addressed the above themes and that would contribute towards stitching the town together socially, economically and spatially.

After meetings with the mayor, elected local representatives and municipality officials and having explored the town and interviewed locals, the students and teachers worked on their analysis and ideas for several days in the primary school with input from the host and municipality representatives. A public exhibition of the students’ endeavors, hung in traditional south Italian style, entitled ‘Reimagining Supino’ and an open discussion with locals occurred in the town square - Piazza Umberto - on the final day.

The exploratory School was intended as a first phase in what could become an ongoing exploration of international collaboration in exploring architectural solutions to the problems of Supino and similar towns. Hopefully some DIT students will attend next year.

>> View the school poster (PDF)

Jim Roche, second from left, with Luisa Morgantini introducing the students

Students present initial ideas

Locals observe students' work in Piazza Umberto

One of the student's posters in Piazza Umberto

Students' posters on display in Piazza Umberto

Meeting the Mayor and other officials at Municipality

Students present final ideas to locals in Piazza Umberto

Another of the student's posters

One of the student's posters

Luisa Morgantini explains the process to the regional TV station

Luisa Morgantini with Nasser Golzari discussing one student's poster

One of the Italian student's poster

Meeting the mayor, Jim Roche second from left

4th September 2012: The following programmes are currently being advertised on the CAO’s list of available/vacant places.

Level 8

• DT023 Manufacturing and Design Engineering
• DT220 Industrial Mathematics
• DT558 International Business and Languages - (English)
• DT596 Print & Digital Media Technology Management
• DT529 Drama (Performance)

Level 6/7

• DT104 Auctioneering Valuation and Estate Agency
• DT170 Buildings Management (Maintenance and Conservation)

30th August 2012: Moira Sweeney, a PhD researcher in the DIT School of Media, was invited to mount a multi-media exhibition during the Tall Ships festival in Dublin Port.  The exhibition is part of Moira’s doctoral research project, ‘Stevedoring Stories’, and her beautiful ‘Lightscape’ video evokes the activity of the Port and the movement of ships traffic along the river. 

View the exhibition on Youtube here.

27th August 2012: The Department of Metal Fabrication in the School of Manufacturing and Design Engineering is currently enrolling for its evening programmes in Coded Welding. These programmes run annually and are normally in very high demand.  At the end of each course participants will complete the examinations for coded welding standards ASME IX and EN 287. Achievement of the coded standard enables a welder to work onsite unsupervised and this substantially increases ones employability and enhances the capability of the company with which they may be employed. This year the courses will run for ten weeks, two nights each week and are scheduled to start on September 26^th. Applicants are advised to complete application forms and submit fee payments as early possible as places are limited to 16 participants on each course. Full details are available on our website at the following link:

http://dit.ie/manufacturinganddesignengineering/metal-fabrication-welding/cpdparttimecourses/

23rd August 2012: Claire McDonnell, Declan Hovenden and John McGann, Optometry DIT, travelled to UniLurio, Nampula, Mozambique to deliver workshops on modern topics in optometry to the UniLurio Optometry Faculty from 11^th-18^th July 2012, as part of the Mozambique Eyecare Project*.

John McGann performs Biomicroscopy on a patient, observed by Carlos Sanchez-Seco, Manuel Neto and Maria Joao Lourenco.

The first optometrists will graduate from UniLurio in December 2012. They have just entered their final semester (July – November), which focuses on clinical skills and research. Following discussions between UniLurio, International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE) and DIT, earlier in the year, it was agreed that workshops in more advanced clinical skills would be offered to the faculty in July 2012, just prior to the commencement of this semester. This was the first workshop series carried out during the Mozambique Eyecare Project. Declan Hovenden observed that “The DIT group were warmly welcomed and were shown great hospitality by Vivien and the optometry faculty and the workshops were conducted in an atmosphere of collegiality.”

Workshops were delivered on a broad range of topics: Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscopy; Advanced Slit Lamp Techniques; Goldmann Applanation Tonometry; Gonioscopy; Corneal Topography Interpretation; Insertion of Punctal/Intra-canalicular Plugs and Lacrimal Syringing; Ocular Foreign Body Removal

Claire McDonnell was very enthusiastic about the success of the trip “We three lecturers were very impressed with the UniLurio staff. Aside from their optometry skills we were also blown away by how kind and welcoming they were to us.” For more information and photos on this recent trip please visit Claire’s blog here.

670 million people are blind or vision impaired simply because they cannot get the glasses they need. The Mozambique Eyecare Project partners aim to provide a sustainable solution to the problem of avoidable blindness through optometric education. Fortunately there are a growing number of optometry schools in developing countries, the quality of optometric education is a key to the success of these schools. “This model of clinical workshop delivery generally worked very well and could potentially be used for similar missions to other developing optometry programmes in the future”. John McGann

*The Mozambique Eyecare Project is a cross institutional collaboration, funded by Irish Aid, DIT and ICEE, which has established Mozambique’s first optometry school in UniLurio, Nampula, Mozambique. There are currently 71 students enrolled in the UniLurio four year Optometry Degree programme. For more information and to view a short documentary about the project click here

Claire McDonnell performs lacrimal syringing on Silvia Escobar, observed by Maria Joao Lourenco

DIT and UniLurio Optometry Faculty at the Optometry Clinic, UniLurio, Nampula, Mozambique
Back From Left :Silvia Escobar, Carlos Sanchez-Seco, John McGann
Front from Left: Manuel Neto, Maria Joao Lourenco, Vivien Ocampo, Claire McDonnell, Declan Hovenden

16th August 2012: DIT News Society has found the new Editor for college newspaper, The Edition. Completing his dissertation from the MA in Journalism offered in DIT, Jarlath Moloney is tasked with redesigning the newspaper and giving it a strong online presence.

Members of News Soc with Carl O’Brien, chief reporter
with the Irish Times pictured at a News Soc talk last year.
Pictured (Left-Right): Siobhán McGuire, Andrew Donovan, Louisa McGrath, Carl O’Brien,
Barry Lennon, Stephanie Fennell, Jarlath Moloney, John Kelly and Conor Doyle.

“As president of News Soc I am delighted that Jarlath has been appointed Editor and look forward to working with him,” said Aislinn McCooey, News Soc President. “I think he will be a great asset to The Edition staff. I look forward to the year and hope we can continue to improve the standard of the paper.”

Interviews for the position were held recently and since being appointed the MA student has been working alongside Societies Officers, Anita Conway and Teri O’Boyle to overhaul the paper’s policies and strategic plan. The societies’ officers have been involved with the paper since its inception as DIT News five years ago.

“I’m really looking forward to the year ahead,” Moloney said on being appointed to The Edition. “We’re really targeting Socs week and making the website a priority this year. We have our first social planned for Socs week and want to get the whole study body involved.”

In a bid to offer the students more than just the chance of working on the paper, Moloney is laying out the plans for tutorials and guest speakers alongside Anita and Teri. It is hoped these changes will give the News Soc back the society side of its name. “Making the paper a fun working environment is one of our main priorities this year.  If we can do that, we can hopefully establish the paper as a legacy for the students.”

Look out for the first of this year’s, The Edition which will be out for Socs week on the 24^th of September.

15^th August, 2012: The results of the 2012 Leaving Cert were released today, and DIT is reminding all students that it is offering a Special Maths Competency Test which gives students a second chance to pursue a course of study in engineering at DIT.

As one of the largest providers of engineering education in the country, DIT offers undergraduate programmes at honours degree, ordinary degree and higher certificate level across a wide range of engineering disciplines including Building Services, Civil, Communications, Computer, Control, Design, Electrical, Electronics, Environmental, Manufacturing, Mechanical and Transport.

DIT is holding the Special Maths Competency Test for students who achieve sufficient CAO entry points and satisfy all other entrance requirements for Level 8 honours degree programmes in Engineering at DIT, but who do not achieve the minimum grade of HC3 in Leaving Certificate Mathematics.  The purpose of the Special Mathematics Competency Test is to offer candidates an alternative route to achieve this minimum entry requirement.   It will take place Wednesday, 22 August from 9.30am – 12.30pm, DIT Kevin Street, Dublin 8.

In advance of this exam DIT will hold an intensive preparatory workshop for applicants intending to sit the exam. This free two day workshop takes place Monday, 20^th August and Tuesday, 21 August from 9.30 – 5.00pm each day.

Mark Russell, Student Retention Officer, DIT, says: “Each year a number of students gain entry to our Engineering programmes based on their results in our Special Maths Exam. These students are often high-achievers and as a result, have gone on to graduate successfully from engineering at DIT.”

The Special Maths Competency Test is set at a similar standard as the Leaving Certificate Honours Mathematics examination. Students that have studied the Leaving Certificate Mathematics curriculum at Honours Level but did not sit the Honours paper are also invited to sit the exam.

For further information and to apply for the Special Maths Exam and the preparatory workshop contact Mark Russell , Student Retention Officer, DIT at mark.russell@dit.ie  . Applications for the Exam will be accepted by DIT up to 5pm on Monday, 20 August.

SPECIAL MATHS COMPETENCY TEST DETAILS

• Exam Date:  Wednesday 22 August
• Exam Time:   9:30am  to 12.30pm (3 hours duration)
• Exam Venue:   Examination space in Basement, DIT KEVIN STREET

There will be a workshop prior to the exam for two days on Monday, 20^th  and Tuesday 21^st August (9.30am – 5.00pm) DIT Kevin Street

Useful links

• 2008 Entrance Exam Paper in Mathematics (Engineering) (Word doc) 
• 2009 Entrance Exam Paper in Mathematics (Engineering) & Sample Answers (Word doc)
• 2010 Entrance Exam Paper in Mathematics (Engineering) & Sample Answers (Word doc)
• 2011 Special Mathematics Exam Syllabus for Engineering (Word doc) 
• 2011 Entrance Exam Paper in Mathematics (Engineering) (Word doc)
• 2012 (Easter) Entrance Exam Paper in Mathematics (Engineering) (Word doc)

FAQs 

What is the Special Mathematics Examination?

It is a mathematics exam organised, conducted and examined by DIT.  It is an opportunity for applicants to DIT Level 8 Engineering programmes to meet the minimum entry requirement in Leaving Certificate Mathematics, if they have not already done so.

Why is there a Maths Competency Test?

Most Level 8 (Honours) Engineering programmes in DIT have a minimum requirement of an Honours C3 or higher in Leaving Certificate Mathematics. This is an option available to you to meet this requirement, either in April before the Leaving Certificate exam or after the Leaving Certificate results are issued in August.

Who should take this exam?

If you have applied through the CAO for entry to Level 8 Engineering programmes in DIT and are ineligible for consideration due the minimum entry requirement in Mathematics, then you should take this special exam. If you missed the minimum entry requirement by either scoring lower than HC3 or you changed to the Ordinary Level Mathematics paper just prior to sitting the Leaving Certificate Examinations, then you should take this exam.

Am I eligible for my Engineering programme choice?

Please check the minimum requirements for your chosen programme. For the following DIT Level 8 Engineering programmes, the minimum requirement for Leaving Certificate Mathematics is HC3:

• DT021 Electrical / Electronic Engineering
• DT023 Manufacturing and Design Engineering
• DT025 Engineering (Common First Year)
• DT081 Computer and Communications Engineering

How do I apply?

Please contact the Admissions Office, DIT to apply for this exam. You can apply directly by emailing your details to Mark Russell at mark.russell@dit.ie  . Details to include are:-

• Your name
• Your address
• Your CAO number
• Telephone contact number

What do I need to bring on the day of the exam?

• A recognised form of photo I.D.
• Pen / biro
• Calculator 

Maths Tables will be supplied in the exam hall.

When do I hear of my results?

We will endeavour to furnish you with a result (pass / fail) of the exam within one week of the exam sitting.

What happens next?

If you have been successful in the Special Maths Competency Test, you will become eligible for consideration on the specified Level 8 Engineering programme(s) in respect of the minimum entry requirement in maths.  DIT will inform the CAO directly of your eligibility.

The CAO will now include your application in further rounds when offering places on these programmes. The CAO will allocate places on the programmes according to the points system.

Please note that success in the Special Maths Competency Test does not automatically guarantee a place on a DIT Level 8 Engineering programme.

If you have not been successful in the Special Maths Test, you will not be eligible for consideration on the specified Level 8 Engineering programmes in DIT.

Can I use the result for entry onto other programmes with similar entry requirements?

No. The exam relates ONLY to DIT Level 8 Engineering programmes. It does not apply to other DIT programmes or to any programme outside of DIT.

Disclaimer

20th August 2012: With the publication of today’s initial round of CAO offers, DIT is offering students an added opportunity. In addition to the programmes you have already selected through the CAO, DIT is offering students the opportunity to apply directly to two new undergraduate programmes starting in September 2012.

Applications

For details on the programme and the opportunities it may lead to contact our admissions team, on (01) 402 3445 or email admissions@dit.ie.

PLEASE NOTE:  This is a direct entry programme to DIT Admissions Office and not through the CAO.

Online applications only (hardcopy applications will not be accepted).

Closing date is Friday 31^st August 2012.

DIT responds to the social & economic needs of the economy with a suite of new programmes

15th August 2012: DIT is continually developing and enhancing its course offering to respond to both the needs of its students and the demands of the employment market and as such DIT welcomes the 2012-2013 academic year with a suite of new programmes on offer.

For 2012/13 DIT is introducing 15 new undergraduate programmes:

According to Frank Costello, Head of Admissions, DIT

“DIT continues to adapt and expand its provision to reflect a changing society and the wider economic environment and takes very seriously its responsibilities in terms of preparing graduates for productive leadership roles.  In the current economic environment, it is critical that higher education institutions respond pro-actively and the curriculum of every undergraduate programme in DIT is under continual review to ensure it meets the requirements graduates will face in their careers”. 

In addition, DIT develops new programmes to address particular areas of economic development and skills gaps.  For example, this year DIT has introduced a number of new programmes relating to sustainability in energy management, design and construction technology.  Competence in languages continues to be identified as a skills gap and DIT has added an honours degree programme in international tourism and languages, offering three European language options. 

In addition to the 15 new programmes at undergraduate level, DIT has also introduced a new suite of postgraduate options and a number of highly innovative programmes designed in collaboration with industry, local and international partners, and with professional bodies.  For example:

• DIT, in partnership with ISA Software Skillnet and in response to the direct needs of the Irish software and technology sectors, has introduced a Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Science Degree in Product Management (DT624/Part time).
• DIT has introduced an MSc Innovation & Technology Management (DT384) - an advanced management programme that has been developed specifically to address the needs and interests of individuals with technology, engineering or science backgrounds who wish to pursue management and commercial options in their career paths.
• DIT, in partnership with Bord Bia and IBEC, has developed a new Food Marketing Graduate Programme to develop marketing capability in the food industry, leading to the enhancement of our exports and our economy.
• DIT already offers over 30 programmes that are unique in Ireland.  Adding to its suite of unique programmes this year is the Masters in Manufacturing Management & Innovation DT035M.  This is a unique programme which combines learning in design, innovation, management and lean operations to equip graduates with the skills to meet the modern demands of manufacturing environments.
• In June 2012 DIT, in collaboration with Dublin City Council and Design TwentyFirst Century, launched the MA in Design Practice-The Dublin Project.  The programme is designed to challenge participants to collaborate on a group project, using live data from Dublin City Council, with the aim of making a positive difference to Dublin City, its citizens and its visitors.  The programme is an internationally unique approach by a city and higher education to learning and innovation in the 21^st century.
• In collaboration with the Marketing Institute of Ireland, DIT has designed a postgraduate diploma in Management and Marketing for non-business graduates.  The one-year part-time programme is aimed at graduates of engineering, technology, humanities, etc. whose career opportunities would be enhanced by adding a business perspective to their existing qualifications. 

DIT Scientists investigate urban climate in Dublin

9th August 2012: A research team in the School of Electrical Engineering Systems in DIT has established a rooftop meteorological observation site in the heart of Dublin city to facilitate research into urban climatology and to connect with an international network of urban monitoring sites. The observation site was unveiled to colleagues and visiting researchers this afternoon.

The roof-top lab, which offers huge scope for the greater scientific community, is the result of an exciting collaboration between DIT researcher Keith Sunderland, his PhD supervisors Dr. Gerard Mills and Dr. Michael Conlon of DIT. A suite of instruments, installed on a 10m tower on the roof of the DIT building on Kevin Street, will measure net radiation (solar and terrestrial); wind velocity in three dimensions (u, v and w); air temperature; humidity; the turbulent fluxes of sensible heat (H) and latent (LE); and atmosphere concentrations of CO2 and H2O. This installation is part of a larger urban climate research initiative developed in collaboration with Dr. Rowan Fealy, NUIM, and funded by the HEA.

According to Sunderland, the initiative also provides an internationally unique context for diverse research interests. “Right now we are working with a group of scientists from NUI Maynooth and University College Dublin on a project that brings together research into both urban climatology and electrical engineering. However this initiative provides opportunities for research interests in the broader Built Environment and Science communities at DIT and beyond, with potential at both post graduate and undergraduate levels. The data collected may be used to explore other specific and general urban issues, such as wind pressures on buildings, urban planning and urban carbon foot prints. In fact, this data set also presents opportunities for linkages with urban planning bodies such as Dublin City Council.”

The launch of the Observation Site coincides with the International Conference on Urban Climate( ICUC 8) and the 10th Symposium on the Urban Environment (www.icuc8.org), which is being held this week at UCD. Delegates at the international conference will be afforded access to the roof-top Observation Site in Kevin Street and researchers will be on hand to outline the diversity of the research. Representatives of Li-COR BioSciences, the international designer and manufacturer of scientific instruments, will be present to talk about their interest in the project and how they intend to use the observation site as an international benchmark for urban micro climatology and environmental observations. Li-COR has supported the establishment of the site, providing equipment and maintenance agreement at reduced cost.

Guests at the launch included academics and researchers from universities in Ireland and internationally, as well as colleagues from Met Éireann and Dublin City Council.

To see the roof-top lab in real time, click here for our camera view:  http://147.252.226.200/cgi-bin/guestimage.html

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Dublin, 03 August 2012: Today’s announcement from An Bord Pleanála, granting a Railway Order for a new Luas line running from St. Stephen’s Green to Broombridge, will ensure an additional and vital transport link to the new unified DIT campus at Grangegorman and a direct one-stop link to the DIT sports facilities at Broombridge, according to the President of DIT.

Welcoming the announcement, Professor Brian Norton said “This is a really important piece of city infrastructure and will underpin the development of the new DIT city-centre campus that will be only two Luas stops from O’Connell Street. Our students and staff currently are significant users of public transport, based as we are in the heart of the city. The whole campus is being developed on principles of sustainability and transport links are key. The new Luas line will provide a link from the existing Green Line in the south and the Red Line in the west of the city, directly to DIT at Broadstone, as well as linking to mainline rail on the Maynooth line. Integrating transport links in this way makes good sense, offers people options, encourages greater use of public transport and will be a major addition to Dublin city.”

Last month the Government announced that the development of the DIT campus at Grangegorman is to be accelerated, with the first 1000 students commencing their studies there in September 2014, and ultimately accommodating over 20,000 students and staff. Work begins next month on the redesign and restoration of a number of historic buildings on the site which will be brought back into use and given a new lease of life.

O'Connell St

BROADSTONE – PROPOSAL
PROPOSED LINK TO DIT GRANGEGORMAN

Luas Works
Stop with link to DIT campus – maintains Dublin Bus link

 GGDA Works
Open connection to St. Brendan’s Way

1st August 2012: Second year students of architecture in DIT spent the year focusing on the town of Monasterevin in Co. Kildare, and students Claudia Murray and Ryan Hughes presented the year’s work ougheH to Kildare County Council – councillors and staff – and the work then went on public display in the Council offices.

The year began with a study of the town: the uses of the buildings, the morphology of the town, the transport links, the history of how the town developed, the distance people travel to shops, schools. This study then culminated in a strategy for the town. It was concluded from the research that the old centre of the town was not being supported and that much of the new development focussed on out of town locations

The students proposed reinforcing the old town through the densification of the existing town block and the reinforcing of two old node points. This was achieved through a proposed spine which could contain diverse uses such as residential, offices, retail and the nodes were proposed to be reinforced with new civic buildings. Students then developed their own designs to support the overall proposal.

Following the public display in the County Council offices, the students’ work moved to Monasterevin itself last month, where it was again on public display, attracting over one hundred visitors to the exhibition on the first day alone. The model (seen here) has been given to the schools of Monasterevin.

The staff and students of second year would like to acknowledge the support the year got from Students Learning with Communities in DIT who assisted us in this Community Based Learning project and our community partners Kildare Co Council, MAIN and the community of Monasterevin.

25th July 2012: Please Talk - www.pleasetalk.org - has organised a Forum on The Challenges Of Student Finance, to be held on Thursday 2nd of August at DIT, Aungier St, Dublin 2. The forum will run from 10am to 4pm and lunch will be provided. 

President of DIT Students’ Union, David Keogan, says “ This promises to be an invaluable session for any interested staff who have an interest in Student Finance - for more information and to book your place please email info@pleasetalk.ie.'

January 2012

Conservatory presents new production of Orpheus in the Underworld