In the News..

Palestinian scholar, writer and entrepeneur to share her family's story through exhibition and keynote address University of Galway will host a four-day exhibition exploring daily life in Gaza through personal testimony, photography, video, letters and children's artwork. The exhibition centres on the experiences of Palestinian entrepreneur, writer and public speaker Shirene Yaseen, whose family remains in Gaza. The Lived Experience of Gaza runs from Wednesday July 1st to Saturday July 4th from 9am to 6pm in An Dánlann, the University of Galway Art Gallery in the Quadrangle. Shirene Yaseen will travel from her base in Doha, Qatar, to open the exhibition and deliver a special address in the Michael D Higgins Auditorium in the Quadrangle of the University on Friday July 3rd at 10am, sharing her family's experience of survival and displacement. The event will be followed by a peace panel exploring what institutional protection means for human dignity and what its absence costs. Through personal accounts and visual materials, the exhibition documents the realities of displacement, disrupted education, limited access to healthcare and the challenges facing families living amid the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis. It asks whether the silence since the ceasefire reflects the actual situation in Palestine, or whether the world has simply stopped paying attention. This event is part of the Thinking Beyond thought leadership series hosted by the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at University of Galway.  Admission is free and registration is available at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/sAU8mA6fsZ. Funding for the project was secured through the University of Galway Sustainability Engagement Fund. Shirene was five years old in 2000 when she first witnessed someone being killed. She has lived through more than seven wars since. Her story is not one that began in October 2023, it is the story of a lifetime. Since the most recent conflict began, Shirene’s family have been displaced nearly 20 times. They continue to live without functioning healthcare, schools, safety, and certainty of where they will sleep. Shirene left Gaza and cannot go back, and her family cannot leave. Shirene Yaseen said: "Gaza has become unliveable, but the world has moved on. I carry a deep helplessness because I left and they cannot. I want people to understand that this is not over. My family is fighting to survive every day, and they deserve to be seen." Sophie Sweeney, Lecturer at the University of Galway and organiser of the exhibition, said: “There is a world of difference between following a conflict in the news and hearing directly from someone living it. When I met Shirene, I knew this story had to come to Ireland. We have a long tradition of standing with displaced communities, and this felt like something our university and city should be part of.” Among the stories featured in the exhibition is that of Shirene's sister, who gave birth on a staircase in the dark without medical assistance. The destruction of schools has left Shirene's nieces and nephews without access to education, and her family no longer have a home to return to and have been forced to move repeatedly, carrying only what they can. Since the ceasefire, Gaza has largely fallen out of the headlines. Yet many of the institutions that people depend on for healthcare, education, safety and justice remain severely damaged or non-functioning.   Organisations, businesses, community groups and individuals interested in supporting the exhibition through sponsorship, promotion, volunteering or related activities are invited to contact Sophie Sweeney at sophie.sweeney@universityofgalway.ie For further information visit Thinking Beyond - Lived Experience of Gaza Ends

University of Galway has celebrated the achievements of 239 primary school pupils from six schools at its annual Uni4U end-of-year celebration. The Uni4U programme is outreach initiative led by the University's Access Centre that gives primary school pupils an introduction to university life and the opportunities that higher education can offer. Pupils from six schools in Galway city took part - Radharc na Mara, Scoil Bhríde, Scoil Chroí Íosa, Merlin Woods, Mercy Primary School and Scoil San Phroinsias. Over a six-week period, they visited the University campus one day each week to participate in workshops delivered by University staff and external partners. Activities included economics, engineering, chemistry, philosophy, law, zoology, palaeontology, computer coding, broadcasting with Flirt FM, art, careers and sport. The students also took part in campus tours and visits to the Computer Museum and the Mincéirs Archive in the University Library. This year marked the first participation in Uni4U by pupils from Scoil San Phroinsias in Tirellan Heights. Louise Duane, teacher at Scoil San Phroinsias, said: “The Uni4U programme has been extremely beneficial for our pupils. The engaging, hands-on activities provided valuable insights into a range of disciplines and gave the children a broader perspective on college life and future career opportunities." Speaking at the event, Professor Becky Whay, Interim Deputy President and Registrar, University of Galway, said: "Creating pathways to higher education begins long before a student submits a university application. Through Uni4U, University of Galway is helping young people to engage with higher education from an early age, building aspirations, confidence and a sense of belonging. “As a university with a strong civic mission, we work in partnership with schools and communities to broaden access to educational opportunity. Uni4U is a powerful example of that commitment in action." Throughout the programme, the pupils worked closely with Uni4U mentors, who are current University of Galway students involved with the Access Centre through disability support services, Access Programmes and the University's care-experienced support service. The celebration brought together pupils, parents, teachers, mentors and University staff. During the celebration, sixth-class pupils shared reflections on their experiences and what they learned during their time on campus. Each sixth-class pupil received a Uni4U certificate and hoodie in recognition of their achievements and participation. Dr Mary Surlis, Senior Academic Manager, for University of Galway’s Access Centre, said: "Over the past six weeks, pupils have embraced every opportunity to learn, explore and try something new. Their enthusiasm, curiosity and confidence have made the programme a pleasure to deliver. Uni4U is about helping young people feel that they belong in a university environment, and we hope the experience has inspired them to think positively about their future." For more than 25 years, Uni4U has formed part of University of Galway's commitment to widening participation in higher education. Through hands-on learning experiences and regular engagement with staff and students, the programme encourages young people to explore future education pathways and experience university life in a welcoming and supportive environment. Ends

The Irish Universities Association (IUA), representing Ireland’s seven research intensive and enterprise engaged universities, has called on Government to deliver for the sector and for the future of Ireland’s society and economy in Budget 2027. Government agreed in 2022 that the sector was underfunded by over €300m annually. Four years on, despite massive increases in spending elsewhere, the gap is still substantial - €133.5m of the original annual deficit remains compounded by emerging pressures on student numbers and pay awards. This is a time for sustained investment in education, at a time when geopolitical turmoil and technological change mean Ireland’s knowledge economy is more important than ever. In its pre-budget submission, presented to Minister Lawless on 15 June and sent to the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and Ministers Chambers and Burke, the IUA is therefore calling for: €190m annual increase in Core Grant funding to tackle under-investment and meet unavoidable cost increases in 2027; €250m over 5 years in capital spending to upgrade universities’ digital Infrastructure, to provide teaching and research at the cutting edge of AI; €475m over 4 years in capital spending to Decarbonisation our university estate and create fully sustainable campuses; The unlocking of the National Training Fund (now almost €2bn) to allow universities to provide the lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling Ireland needs. Paul Johnston, Director General of the IUA said: “These are big numbers, but there are huge opportunities here, which we risk missing. Ireland is rightly proud to have one of the highest percentages of third level educated citizens in the world. This is a necessity, not a luxury. Ireland’s only natural resource is its people. And highly educated and skilled workers and citizens are at the core of Ireland’s future. Budget 2027 is thus the time for Government to invest in our leading universities, to allow them to meet their full potential in both teaching and research, to ensure that our graduates continue to meet the demands of a rapidly changing society. “Government has acknowledged a €307m annual underfund in higher education, and Budget 2027 is the time to show decisive progress in their commitment to address it. There is a clear choice on Budget day: act decisively to close the funding gap, supporting students of all ages, or risk eroding the capacity, quality and competitiveness of our third-level sector. “An increase in the Core Funding grant of €190m will be an important step, addressing legacy funding deficits across the sector and will support the sector in continuing to cater for increased enrolments arising from demographic growth. This will support an additional 550 academic posts, having an immediate impact on not only the quality of teaching, learning and research, but also on student experience. “Investment in digital infrastructure and decarbonisation will allow universities to provide students the rapidly evolving skills they need to thrive, but also to keep pace with our obligations under the Climate Action Plan. “Technology is changing what education looks like in real time. We need to accelerate the shift towards lifelong learning, up-skilling and re-skilling. Unlocking the National Training Fund (NTF) is absolutely crucial to allow universities to respond proactively to the rapidly changing needs of employers, businesses and students. IBEC and ISME are making similar demands of government. “Ireland’s universities are known worldwide for the quality of teaching, research, and that of our graduates. We cannot take this for granted, and we cannot maintain these standards without proper investment and support. Last year’s budget saw welcome capital investment in new infrastructure for research. But infrastructure (human as well as physical) is needed to keep our universities at the cutting edge of teaching and research, to the benefit of Irish society and the economy. The higher education sector has been waiting too long for this investment, and Budget 2027 is the right time to do so.” Ends