Community Engagement
Aim
Community Engagement at the University of Galway (Including the former Community Knowledge Initiative) is focused on building strong, meaningful connections between the university and the wider community. Our aim is to promote greater civic engagement in the university’s core academic activities of teaching, research and service at the levels of students, staff, courses, programmes and the institution as a whole. We achieve this by partnering internally with students and staff across the university and externally with organisations locally, nationally and internationally. Key Elements of Community Engagement at the University of Galway include:
- Community-Based Learning (Service Learning)
- Research for Social Impact
- Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility
- Partnerships with Local Organisations
- Volunteerism
- Public Lectures, Events, and Activities
- Educational Outreach Programs
The Community Engagement area at the University of Galway supports its role as a civic institution dedicated to both academic excellence and positive societal impact, Respecting the depth of knowledge and experience in our communities and across the university, we work towards partnering for impact for the public good.
How we fit with ILAS?
Community Engagement is central to much of the research carried out at ILAS. The Institute seeks to be inclusive of people’s voices so linkages to community groups and community-engaged research that enables the voices of these groups is very important. The National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 places engagement with the wider society as one of the core roles of higher education in Ireland. These activities are viewed as integral to the University's strategic mission involving a fundamental examination of the role of the University in the social fabric' and are subsequently reflected as a core priority by the University of Galway's Academic and Strategic Plans. Therefore, our main contribution to ILAS strategic themes occurs in the areas of Agency, Voice & Human Development and Place and Community. Respecting the depth of knowledge and experience in our communities and across the university; we will work towards partnering for impact for the public good. In this way we play our part in the Learn Live Lead model to educate students for their role as active citizens and to ensure that graduates have knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to understand and address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) for positive societal change
Director
Marc Mellott | Community Engagement
Prof. Kieran Walsh | Irish Centre for Social Gerontology Marc Mellotte is Director of the Community Engagement. With a background in the commercial technology sector, Marcs interests have long been in the area of the innovative application of science amp; technology to solve problems or address opportunities in industry. Within the University of Galway, this has mainly been achieved through applied research projects in collaboration with industry partners. Over his 9 years as a researcher, he has managed 30+ such collaborations involving over 5 million in total funding. Marc has experience in developing successful proposals, raising research funding, and delivering impact on the projects he has managed. He has also been very active in exploring and developing collaborations with colleagues across the College of Engineering & Informatics as well as many other areas within the university.
