Inside NCI May 09

Inside NCIThe magazine for friends of National College of Irelandwww.ncirl.ie

May 09Issue 2

News Features Interviews

Newstalk StudentEnterprise Competition

Norma Smurfit Interview

Change your Life Education Fund

Legends in Your Lunchtime

Progressions Launch

Clubs and Societies Awards 2009

Welcome to the second edition of Inside NCI, themagazine for friends of National College of Ireland. Wewill be circulating this about three times a year, to helpkeep you up to date with some of the key initiativeshappening at the College. The next edition is due out inSeptember.

Things have certainly changed since our inaugural issuein January. With the global economy in severe recession,to say we are living in challenging times is anunderstatement. However, the old adage of creativitythriving in times of economic gloom seems to be holdingtrue, and there are some worthwhile and inspiringinitiatives happening within NCI and across the countryright now.

A good example is the Ideas Campaign, initiated by theformer journalist Aileen O’Toole to source positive waysto re-jig the Celtic economy. As an advisory boardmember for the campaign, I’ve had the opportunity toreview the suggestions and there are some real gems.An action plan for Government, community groups andindividuals is currently being produced.

Within these pages you will also find details of a numberof exciting projects that NCI has recently been directlyinvolved in. One such project is Progressions, aprogramme that will create meaningful job opportunitiesin the financial services sector for 300 people over thenext 3 years. Working in partnership with industry,including our principal sponsor State Street International(Ireland), this initiative will help to fill the skills gapsidentified to help safeguard the future success of thiskey industry.

As I write this, we have just finished the exams – alwaysan anxious time for our students, and a busy time forour staff. I know that the hard work of both will berewarded (and the library has never been so full!).

Enjoy the magazine. I look forward to welcoming youback to the College soon.

Best wishes

Dr. Paul MooneyPresident

We operate in a sector that requires a complex range of individual talents. Through harnessing our collectivehorsepower we continually push forward towards our mission - universal access to education which changespeople’s lives. At the heart of this effort lies a central core belief. Access to education should not be based onability to pay or a particular postal address. Great teaching and a supportive environment is a recipe for success.Our job is to support NCI students – everyone who walks through our doors – on their educationaljourney. I want to thank everyone who has helped us in this endeavour to date: our Governing Body, staff andstudents, local community, alumni and friends of NCI work together to make our aspiration a reality.

President’s WWeellccoommee

2 2

EDITOR’S LETTER

Welcome to the secondedition of Inside NCI. Wehope you enjoy thisround-up of news, views andevents from across NationalCollege of Ireland.

We were delighted to receiveyour feedback on ourinaugural edition and hopeyou like the improvementswe’ve made. To help us makethe next edition even better,drop us a line with yourfeedback to [email protected] to:

Emma KytziaNational College of IrelandMayor Square, IFSCDublin 1

We’d love to hear your views.If there’s anything you’d likeus to include, just let usknow.

For more regular updates onwhat’s happening at NCI,please check out the News &Events section of ourhomepage at www.ncirl.ie.

Special thanks go to allthe contributors to thispublication:

Editor:Emma Kytzia

Editorial:Sinéad BheilbighMary BuckleyBeatrice CantalejoEmma KytziaNeal NewmanMichéle Ryan

Design:Gráinne McElroy

Photography:Bonnie CullenEmma FryGrainne McElroy

NCI: 01 4498500www.ncirl.ie

In this issue

3

4

1015

2345689101213141516

2009 so far in pictures

And the winner is...

Progressions

Mental Health Campaign

Feature Interview: Norma Smurfit

Clubs and Societies AwardsChange Your Life Education Fund

Legends in Your LunchtimeFoundation NewsIn Profile: Maurice Healy

Why Irish Eyes should be smilingAt Your Service

Then and Now: Norma Smurfit Library

2

8

2

The role of workplace and lifelong learning was the subjectof a major seminar in February, organised jointlyby NCI and NCPP. L-R: Keynote speaker Knud Illeris, NCI’s

The w inn ingteam at the Staffand Students’Sports D a y ,which tookp l a c e o nFebruary 18th.

The Parents TogetherCommunity Coursewas launched inFebruary by NCI andthe Parents PlusC h a r i t y , M a t e rHospital. L-R: Dr.John Sharry, MaterHosp i t a l , pa r e n tDeirdre Melinn andCatriona Flood ofN C I ’ s E a r l yLearning Initiative.

Staff bakers laid on quite a spread forNCI’s annual Coffee Morning in aid ofthe Irish Cancer Society, raising agrand total of €1,140.01 in earlyMarch.

Ruth Craig, Barretstown Community Fundraising Manager, (far left)accepts a cheque for €3,500 from the NCI Fashion Society in March.Barretstown, a specially designed camp offering ‘serious fun’ forchildren with serious illnesses, was the chosen charity for thestudent fashion show in November 08.

NCI’s School Liaison Officer Deryck Tormey tied the knot to the

lovely Lorna McGee on March 19th. This was a real NCI love

story as the pair met when they were both students of the

College’s School of Computing.

20 month old AoifeReid from the EastWall Toddler Groupenjoying the MessyPlay session in NCI’sArt Garden o nA p r i l 3 r d .

Organised by theE a r l y L e a r n i n gI n i t i a t i v e , t h esession includedwater, sand, paint,play dough andgloop!

2009in picturesso far

Leo Casey, seminar chair Edna Jordan(NCPP) and Prof. Birgitte Simonsen, ofthe Danish Centre for Youth Research.

The Newstalk 106 - 108fm Student EnterpriseCompetition aims to foster aspirit of enterprise instudents throughout Ireland.

Mr Den i s O ’B r i en , whochaired the competition said:"I congratulate the team fromN C I o n t h e i r f a n t a s t i cachievement. Their hardwork demonstrates what thecompetition is all about -

fostering a spirit of enterprise amongstudents by encouraging teamwork andsolution-driven approaches to businesschallenges. The competition aims to bridge thegap between theory and practice and complementwhat the students are learning in the classroom.”

As winners, NCI will host the national launch andfinal of the 2009/2010 competition. For moredetails see the competition website:

www.newstalkenterprisecomp.ie

3

It was a proud day whenthe team from NationalCollege of Ireland wereannounced the winnersof the Newstalk106-108 fm StudentEnterprise Competition,b e a t i n g o f f s t i f fcompetition from threeother finalist teams:Institute of TechnologyC a r l o w , D u n d a l kInstitute of Technologyand Cork Institute ofTechnology. A record1,300 students from 330 teams entered thisyear from across the country. There werehuge celebrations as faculty, staff andstudents congratulated Emmet Duffy,Kil l ian Doherty, Indre Navickaite and OisinKelly on their massive achievement.

For their prize, the NCI team and theirmentor, lecturer Rosalind Beere, will travelto the Caribbean where they will shadow'real time' decision makers in the DigicelGroup. Digicel is the fastest-growingtelecommunications operator in theCaribbean and new entrant to the CentralAmerican market. “We are absolutelydelighted to have won the competition,” saidKillian Doherty, team captain. "The wholeexperience has given us the opportunity toput everything we’ve learned about businessstrategy and management into practice.We’re really looking forward to travelling tothe Caribbean to observe first-hand howDigicel operates in the area.”

And the winner is…

Newstalk Student Enterprise Competition

The whole experience hasgiven us the opportunity to pu teve r y t h i ng we ’ve learnedabout business strategy andmanagement into practice

1300 students.330 teams.1 winner…

National College of Ireland

Above: NCI students Emmet Duffy, Killian Doherty, Indre Navickaite and Oisin Kelly

“This initiative is both practical andinnovative. Hundreds of people, from our localDocklands areas and across the country, will be giventhe chance to avail of job opportunities in thefinancial services industry,” said NCI President Dr.Paul Mooney. “NCI has an established track recordfor giving people from all walks of life access to a

higher education. Progressions helps usto reinforce those efforts by providingyet another opportunity for individualsto realise their potential.”

“Despite the economic downturn, thefinancial services sector mustdemonstrate a commitment to jobcreation and to the communities inwhich we do business,” said WillieSlattery, head of State StreetInternational(Ireland). “Progressions provides thatopportunity, and we look forward towatching the students’ progress in theyears ahead.”

Speaking at the launch of theprogramme, Newstalk’s Claire Byrne

said: “This programme is outstanding for a number ofreasons. It’s a practical response to both theeconomic reality of today and the skillrequirements of tomorrow. NCI will work with youngpeople, aged between 17 and 23; with older low-wageworkers; with the unemployed and with variousminority groups, and will train these individuals to fillthe gaps that have been identified in the financialservices sector. The entire programme can also beadapted for other industries in the future.”

4

Claire Byrne, co-anchor of The BreakfastShow on Newstalk 106-108 fm, officially launchedP r o g r e s s i o n s a t N C I o n Tuesday 10thMarch , to an aud ience o f ove r 100 .Progressions is a workforce developmentinitiative that seeks to place300 people from communitiesacross Ireland into sustainablejobs in financial services andrelated sectors over the nextthree years.

NCI’s new programme willc r e a t e m e a n i n g f u l j o bopportunities that will, in turn,help to fill critical roles in thefinancial services industry andspur economic development.

Principal sponsor State StreetFoundation helped to launchthe initiative, with support from a wide rangeof industry leaders from international anddomestic banks, funds, insurance, and CPL -all on the advisory Board

“This initiative is bothpractical and innovative.Hundreds of people,from our local Docklandsareas and across thecountry, will be giventhe chance to availthemselves of jobopportunities in the

financial servicesindustry,”

Progressions

Main:Betty Ashe, Manager, St. Andrew’s Resource Centre, with Newstalk’s ClaireByrne at the launch

Above Right:Pictured left to right: NCI President Paul Mooney; Director of the Inner CityRenewal Group, Seanie Lambe; Newstalk 106-108 fm presenter Claire Byrne;Manager of St. Andrew's Resource Centre, Betty Ashe, and State Street CEOWillie Slattery

5

National College of Ireland and MentalHealth Ireland recently launched aMental Health Awareness Campaign. Thisinvolved in-depth research with theCollege's student body on their attitudesto the following topics:

• Understanding the meaning of mentalhealth

• The importance of mental health• The connectivity of physical and

mental health• The emotions involved in the topic• Stigma and mental health• Treatments used in treating mental

illness• The role of the media in the area of

mental health• Do we know enough about mental

health?

Ted Tierney, Deputy, CEO of MentalHealth Ireland, said: “The findings show ahigh level of awareness of mental healthissues among NCI’s student body.However, stigma around the area ofmental health is still an issue. It isimportant for young people to developan awareness of stressors in their livesand the importance of positive copingstrategies.”

Mental HealthStephen Kennedy, NCI’s StudentSupport Officer said: “We weredelighted to work with MentalHealth Ireland to raise awareness ofmental health issues. At NCI wework hard to promote positivemental health amongst ourstudents, and it was great to seesuch a high level of awarenessreflected in the survey results. Toa l l e v i a t e s t r e s s w e w o u l dencourage our students to strike agood balance between the sociala n d t h e a c a d e m i c , t oincorporate exercise into their dailyroutines and to try to get a goodnight’s sleep.

Most importantly, we would advisestudents that if they are feelingparticularly stressed or worried,then the first step is to talk tosomebody: this could be a fellowstudent, a member of the students u p p o r t t e a m o r t h e N C Icounsellor.”

Alumni

Congratulations to Francis Boylein Sligo who is the lucky winnerof the 2008 NCI AlumniAssociation draw. Francisgraduated with a Diploma inFirst Line Management throughthe NCI National CampusNetwork. He will enjoy a luxuryweekend urban retreat courtesyof our sponsor the Clarion Hotel.Francis currently works forAbbott Ireland PharmaceuticalOperations as a QA DepartmentTeam Leader .

HANDS ON!The Careers and Alumni Officeheld the "Share yourExperience HR Evening" onTuesday 24th March. Oursincere gratitude to all the NCIAlumni who volunteered toprovide their professionalexpertise and advice to NCIstudents.

ON THE MOVEBest wishes to Gary Seerywho has recently beenpromoted to IT Director ofSmart Safe IntelligentSecurity Services. Gary is amember of the NCI AlumniLeadership Council chairedby Nora Owen.

Keep in Touchhttp://alumni.ncirl.ie

Campaign

News...

Date for your Diary:30th of June, 2009.NCI Alumni Online Directorygoes live!

For more information or to view the survey results, please visithttp://mentalhealthireland.ie/

L – R Ted Tierney, Deputy CEO, Mental Health Irelandwith NCI students Aideen Blake, Stacey O'Reilly,Javin Li and Kieran Dooner.

Tell me a little about yourself.

I grew up in London. I was born within the sound ofbow-bells, which makes me a real cockney. I went to anordinary comprehensive school, left it at fifteen andwent into hairdressing where I earned 22 and sixpence a week. When the sixties hit London it was reallyexciting because there were loads of jazz clubs and weall got into the mini-mini-mini-skirts and the dufflecoats. I had a very nice Italian girlfriend, so we used togo to Italy, which was unheard of in those days. Weused to go on the ferry and on the train down to justsouth of Porta Fino, which wasn’t very smart in thosedays at all. And I think we were the first English girls toever be seen in bikini’s there! I met Michael when I wastwenty-one, and then we got married when Iwas twenty-two.

How did you get involved in charity work? Were youinvolved in any charities before you moved toIreland?

My whole family are very socialist and were involvedwith Trade Unions. We were always very sociallyconscious. We always lived in council flats, I think itwas that kind of background, knowing that it’s soimportant to have a home and preferably a job as wellthat started us off. I didn’t start to do much charity

work until the Smurfit Company wives got together and formed the Helpers. Weused to raise money for mini-buses for St Michael’s House, which were about£900 in those days. Homelessness was very prevalent in Ireland those days so westarted the Irish Youth Foundation and tried to raise money all over the countryfor disadvantaged young people in Ireland. That was over 20 years ago and it’sstill going strong. The Irish Youth Foundation in London was also founded,because at that stage, around 80% of homeless people in London were,unfortunately, young Irish people. The Youth Foundation over there had verystrong committees, and still does.

What other charities have you founded since then?

It’s always been about young people mostly; I think you need to give them everyencouragement you can. By giving young people a chance to go to a youth clubor perhaps canoe or work with computers or whatever, you’re trying to get themto stay off the streets. We started First Step, which is a job creation scheme, in thelate ‘70’s, ‘80’s when there was so much unemployment and we kept going andnow we’re back to square one. People are now coming to us who have had goodjobs for years and suddenly they’re out of work and feel they can start their ownsmall businesses. We’re there to facilitate them. We have some funding fromGovernment, from banks, individuals and from the EU. It’s nice that people havea chance to start their own small business and we have had over 1,500 businessesstart up and our base cost is very low. Countries like Italy or India are run onsmall businesses. There is no reason why it couldn’t be a huge idea over here.People have ideas, they have the knowledge and experience and the skills. Theydon’t need to employ more than themselves or one or two other people and sothat’s been very rewarding I must say.

6

Maeve takes time to “Talk to Joe”

Feature Interview:Norma Smurfit talks to Sinéad Bheilbigh

Norma Smurfit isChairperson of FirstStep which she setup in 1991, andis recognised asone of the topbus inesswomenin Ireland. She is amember of the NCIFoundation Board.

7

Favourite past-time...Baking with my grandchildren

Something that made yousmile recently...Friend and sculptor Orla de Brípresented me with a lovely newpainting of hers for my birthday.

Favourite Movie...Cinema Paradiso/Singing in theRain, Cartoons

Favourite Food...Fish and Chips

Favourite Song...Anything by Neil Diamond

Favourite Place...Tuscany

What do you like most aboutyourself?I am always busy and active.

What is your favourite drink?A nice Italian or Spanish red.

Favourite Writer...Anita Shreve

Three people you would loveto have at a dinner party...David AttenboroughGene KellyPicasso

Person you most admire...Charles Darwin

What is your biggest challenge as a philanthropist in Ireland,especially today, given our current difficulties?

Today’s difficult, we’re all cutting back. A few years ago you couldcharge €1,000 a ticket, now you’re way down again and the bigproblem is sponsorship. They’re all cutting back now, but there ismore need than ever and outlets are being chopped off, but peopleare very generous. You have to adapt to the times and you have tokeep people aware of what is going on and the need out there.

What one change would you make to improve our situation?

We have had 10 wonderful years and there are still so many problemsout there that could have been solved in those 10 years. You know,we are only 3 million people, we’re not like the UK or Germany with60-odd-million and I think there was so much wasted. Things couldhave been better. Why weren’t Fatama Mansions and these placesregenerated then. Why do so many Irish schools still have pre-fabs,I mean they should have been built years ago when the money wasthere and the same with hospitals…I don’t know, I don’t think thereis a quick–fix at all, but I think there should be more women inpolitics, there should be more women in business as well andon boards.

And what do you think would encourage women to become moreinvolved?

It’s very difficult, women, as you know are expected to do everything.Raise their family, keep the home, keep the husband, keep lookingnice and to go into another full time job…I’m sure politics is verydifficult and you have to be very dedicated. Hopefully the younggeneration will. We are trying to encourage new people, we’re alwayssaying on the board here in the College, let’s get some young peopleon the board, because it’s their future, it’s their Ireland.

What motivated you to get involved with NCI?

National College of Ireland helps so many people from all walks oflife who never dreamt of coming to college. NCI helps these peopleto grow their self confidence, their self-esteem, so they feel they cando things they never thought they could. Not everyone can bebillionaires or millionaires the brightest or the sparkiest, butI think if you are happy and you have a nice home and a good joband try and keep your kids off drugs and drink, that’s all people canhope for I think, and do something for others if they can.

A few of myfavourite things

8

Over 200 students and staff members attended the National College ofIreland Clubs and Societies Awards and Formal Ball, which took place onThursday 12th March in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry. The annual awardsofficially recognise the achievements of the various clubs and societies at NCI,and acknowledge the talent, commitment and determination of individualstudents and teams. The awards are one of the most prestigious and eagerlyanticipated events in the student calendar and are immediately followed by ablack tie formal ball. Special guest Ken Doherty presented the award for the'Club Event of the Year'. The former world champion is renowned as a clevertactician, and is the only player to have been both world amateur (1989) andworld professional champion (1997).

And the winners are…

•Peer Mentor of the Year -Aideen Blake - 2nd YearHigher Cert in Computing

•Fresher of the Year -Zara McIntyre - 1st Year HigherCert in Business

•Sports Day - Whispering Eye

•Gaelic Football Player of the Year- Sean Curran

•Best Athlete - Shane Doyle

•Best New or Improved Society -Wargames

•Best New or Improved Club -Ultimate Frisbee

•Society Individual of the Year -Aoife O'Grady - Fashion Society

•Club Person of the Year -Karen Hudson - Ladies GAA Club

•Society Event of the Year -'Fashion Show'

•Club Event of the Year -'Men's Golf Intervarsities'

•Society of the Year - Reachout

•Club of the Year -Men's and Ladies Golf

•President’s Award -Killian Doherty- 2nd Year BA Honours in HRM

Above:Karen Hudson, Presidentof Ladies GAA Club (left),with Kate Clarkin,President of the Sex andthe City Society.

Snooker legend Ken Doherty was this year’sspecial guest, and the latest addition to NCI’sFoundation Board.

Clubs and Societies Awards

NCI lecturers Brian Hayden andDesmond Gibney.

& Formal Ball

Students’ Union President KellyScales with Killian Doherty,recipient of the President’s Award.

NCI students enjoying the night.

With the economy in crisis and so much uncertainty overjobs and careers, now just might be the time for a change.National College of Ireland have teamed up with Metro tooffer one lucky individual a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity tochange their lives, upgrade their skills and acquire thequalifications and confidence to succeed.

The winner will earn an amazing prize package including aneducational fund worth €20,000 and €15,000 in other sup-ports, like personal mentoring, computer equipment andeven a style package worth €1,000. Contestants just needto answer one simple question: Why do you want tochange your life, and how could education help?

NCI President Paul Mooney said: “National College of Ireland is all about working with people to helpthem achieve their potential. We know that education changes people’s lives and we will provide thewinner of this contest with every support possible to help them to change theirs.” Metro Editor ChrisCowley said: "In an increasingly competitive job market, this prize will help one lucky person to standout from the crowd. As well as the generous education fund, the winner will receive all the tools andsupport they need to update their professional image and present themselves in the best possiblelight.”

9

Prizes:NCI and Metro have come up with a trulylife-changing prize package for one lucky reader,which includes:

How to enter:Simply visit the competition page on the NCI website, www.ncirl.ie, to download an application form andthe contest terms and conditions. If you can’t access the website you can contact Emma Kytzia on01 4498652 or [email protected] to receive a copy by email or post. All applications must be in English orIrish, and have to be submitted no later than 5.00pm on Tuesday 28th July.

... An education fund worth €20,000

... Training needs analysis & skills sessions, worth €5,000

... Mentoring throughout the programme , worth €5,000

... Two sessions with a top executive coach, worth €2,000

... Laptop and software, worth €1,000

... €500 Book Allowance

... Personal fitness assessment & gym membership,worth €500

... Style package worth €1,000

Denis Cahill (National Certificate in Business Studies, NCI), pictured above with his daughter Eilish Rose:“Studying at NCI has really changed my life. Returning to the classroom was intimidating at first butthe tutors, staff and fellow students have all been so encouraging and inspiring. I have been amazedby what I can achieve. The changes extend far beyond the classroom: I have more confidence, mycommunication skills have improved and I find it easier to interact with my children. This is my secondcourse at NCI and when I finish, I want to go on and study something new.”

Case Study:

Dermot also has a verystrong link with the missionhere at NCI, which isprincipally concerned withdismantling barriers toeducation, opening doorsthat have always beenclosed and giving peoplea second chance at a

better life.”Stephen Kennedy,NCI Student Support Officer

The series continues on May 27th, whenGeorge Hook, presenter of Newstalk’sdrivetime show, The Right Hook, will talk toRev. Ian Paisley about his experiencesthroughout a career spanning more than fivedecades. In addition to co-founding andleading the Ulster Democratic Unionist Party- from 1971 to 2008 - Paisley is a foundingmember and immediate past Moderator ofthe Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.

Further speakers in this popular seriesinclude: Leslie Buckley, business consultantand founding director of Digicel, onWednesday 30th September; MaeveDonovan, Managing Director, The IrishTimes, on Wednesday 7th October; FergusFinlay, Chief Executive of Barnardos, onWednesday 28th October, and EamonnFallon, Chief Executive of Daft Media on11th November.

These events will build on the popularity ofthe last series, which included GiovanniTrapattoni, BA’s Willie Walsh, Bill Cullen andO2, Ireland chief, Danuta Gray. Over 2,000people attended the events: additionally,there were 10,000 downloads of thepodcasts from the Newstalk 106-108 fmwebsite, making the Legends talks thecurrent no. 1 download from that site.

All events take place from 1 to 2pm atNational College of Ireland in Dublin’s IFSC,are free of charge and open to thepublic - but attendees must register atwww.ncirl.ie.

11

…their hard work earned the Fashion Society acoveted award at the ’08 Clubs and Socs Ball.

Financier Dermot Desmond kicked off thesecond series of Legends In Your Lunchtime, thefree lunchtime leadership events run by NCI inpartnership with Newstalk 106-108 fm and Metro.These events aim to uncover the personal andprofessional experiences of a wide range of greatmodern leaders.

Mr. Desmond, who is chairman of InternationalInvestment & Underwriting, chatted to Newstalk'sClaire Byrne on April 27th. Famous for conceivingthe establishment of Ireland’s Financial ServicesCentre in 1987, Mr. Desmond has also beeninvolved in numerous high profile investmentsincluding: London City Airport, BaltimoreTechnologies plc, Esat Digifone, PembrokeCapital, Greencore plc & Vivas Healthcare – toname but a few! He was also part of thesuccessful consortium that bid for Ireland’s firstindependent commercial National Radio Licence.

Stephen Kennedy, NCI’s Student Support Officer,introduced Mr. Desmond as the “founding fatherof the IFSC, an eclectic investor with the Midastouch”. He said: “Dermot is a major player on theworld stage with an impressive portfolio of invest-ments spanning football clubs, softwarecompanies, luxury hotels and banks. He hasamassed an incredible fortune but he does nothorde it, he shares it. He has earned a reputationfor putting corporate social responsibility at thevery top of his agenda. He is Chairman ofRespect, a charity set-up by the Daughters ofCharity to raise funds for people with intellectualdisabilities. Dermot also has a very strong linkwith the mission here at NCI, which is principallyconcerned with dismantling barriers to education,opening doors that have always been closed andgiving people a second chance at a better life.”

Mr. Desmond told the packed audience of over200 people that he predicts an end to therecession in 2012, and called for theestablishment of a national think-tank – which hewould be happy to participate in. “We have theintellectual capital. Intellectual capital is far morescarce than financial capital”, he said.

LLeeggeennddss iinnYYoouurr LLuunncchhttiimmee

NCI EventsLegends in Your Lunchtimewith Rev. Ian Paisley27th May1 -2pm

Project ShowcaseSchool of Computing28th May11am - 2pm

Part-time Courses Information Evening17th June5-6.30pm

Insight Series: ManageMore with Less?with NCI President PaulMooney 18th June11am – 4pm

Part-time CoursesInformation Evening9th July5-6.30pm

Part-time Courses Information Evening28th July5-6.30pm

Part-time Courses Information Evening19th August5-6.30pm

Part-time CoursesInformation Evening3rd September5-6.30pm

Part-time Courses Open Day5th September11am – 2pm

Part-time Courses Information Evening15th September5-6.30pm

Legends in Your Lunchtimewith business consultantLeslie Buckley30th September1-2pm

Legends in Your Lunchtimewith Irish Times MD,Maeve Donovan7th October1-2pm

Leaving Cert Revision Sessions 27th October9am-5pm

Legends in Your Lunchtimewith Barnardos CEO, Fergus Finlay 28th October1-2pm

Legends in Your Lunchtimewith Daft Media CEO, Eamonn Fallon7th November1-2pm

Undergraduate Open Day18th November10am-4pm

NCI Graduation19th & 20th NovRDS

Undergraduate Open Day15th & 16th January10am-4pm

Left: Newstalk 106-108 presenters George Hook and ClaireByrne helped launch the series.Right: NCI students Aideen Blake and Kieran Dooner with Dermot Desmond

Access | Success | Citizenship is a college-wide campaign that will raise €25 million over the

next ten years for scholarships, increased student services and supports and initiatives in

corporate responsibility and service learning.

“There is no better way to celebrate NCI’s upcoming 60th anniversary in 2011, than by embracing our ‘changing the future’ theme, with a new and ambitious programme of development for the College,” says Tom Barry, chairman of the NCI Foundation.

“NCI is off to a great start. NCI Foundation Board member Maurice Healy and his wife Adelaidehave provided a multi-year pledge of €100,000 to the Foundation alongside State Street Foundation. The depth of support from among our Board members, friends and partners of the College is truly awe inspiring,” says Neal Newman, director of the NCI Foundation. This campaign contains eight carefully prioritised initiatives that will make the College stronger, more accessible and help transform higher education in Ireland.

AccessInitiative 1: Remove Financial BarriersAbility, not ability to pay, should determine access to higher education in Ireland. NCI Foundation will raise €7,000,000 over the next ten years for scholarships and awards for students.

Initiative 2: ProgressionsA new industry-driven workforce development programme has begun in 2009 with a three-year grant from State Street Foundation and support from industry stakeholders, localemployment services and the Institute of Bankers, Irish Funds Industry Association and theIrish Banking Federation.

SuccessInitiative 3: Strengthen Student SupportNCI Foundation will raise an additional €7,000,000 over the next ten years to increase studentsupports and services, enhance the College’s IT infrastructure and upgrade the Norma SmurfitLibrary.

Initiative 4: Build NCI Annual FundWe aim to develop a number of critical improvements for our students and faculty by raisingsmall gifts from our alumni, students and their families and local businesses to expand studentclubs and societies, support joint faculty and student research projects and develop new out-reach programmes in the Docklands.

CitizenshipInitiative 5: Shape Regeneration AgendaWith an additional €1,500,000 over the next five years, NCI will expand our existing partnerships with regeneration groups in Limerick, Dublin and elsewhere.

Initiative 6: Invest in LeadershipNCI’s new School of Community Studies continues to lead the way in community-based highereducation and leadership development. An additional €1,000,000 over the next seven yearswill be secured to strengthen a number of exciting courses and outreach programmes.

Initiative 7: Amplify Community and Societal ImpactsNCI will establish two new entities over the next five years to strengthen the community andvoluntary sector, and to support the private sector in its activities in corporate social responsibility.

Initiative 8: Embed Service LearningThe Centre for Service Learning will develop programmes that help students, our corporatepartners and local organisations engage together in meaningful projects that improve society.Endowed with a €2,500,000 fund over the next five years, the Centre will consolidate servicelearning programmes in one new international centre of excellence.

To receive a new information pack about Access | Success | Citizenship, contact Sinéad Bheilbigh in the Foundation, 449 8697 or [email protected].

12

Eimear Mulhern hasbeen Chairman ofRJ Goff & Co plcsince 2008.

Brian Patterson,former CEO of theWedgewood Groupand former Chair ofThe Irish Times, is aDirector of PraestaIreland.

FoundationNational College of Ireland

Gary Joyce, NCIAlumna, is Co-founder and Managing Director ofGenesis.

Cecilia Ronan isHR Director of CitiIreland, with over2,200 employeesacross 5 locations.

New Faces on theFoundation Board

As a member of the NCI Foundation Board,what attracted you to National College of Ireland?

National College of Ireland supports their students, giving them a real chance to make adifference to themselves and their families, butalso to their communities.

If you could make one change to Irish soci-ety, what would it be?

I would like to make health services equallyavailable to all citizens of the State. This wouldrequire the fees from VHI and others to bepooled. Where the individual cannot afford private health insurance, the State pays. Equalcover and equal access for all.

What one change would you make to easeour current economic problems?

I would have a guarantee scheme, which wouldallow householders who default through nofault of theirs, protection against repossessionof their home.

What is the worst decision you ever made?

Invested in Irish banks.

What is the best decision you ever made?

Getting Adelaide to marry me and having fourgreat children.

13

Deryck Tormey hasbeen appointed School

Maurice Healy is CEO of The Healy Groupand immediate past president of IBEC. A member of the NCI Foundation Board, Maurice is a strong supporter of social entrepreneurship and the involvement of Irishbusiness in social deprivation issues, especially those geared at education deficits.

You have been a great supporter of social entrepreneurship over the years. What motivates you?

I was privileged to meet a group of social entrepreneurs some 7 years ago and discovered the work they were doing and thejourney they were on was very rewarding.Since then, I have met even more and theyc o n t i n u e t o a m a z e m e w i t htheir commitment.

Do you feel that the business communityhas an obligation to lead in this area?

Yes and over the last four years I have tried to position the business community’s thinkingin relation to social entrepreneurship. Business/enterprise must engage in order tosupport the endeavour through effort, office,people or mentoring, and the rewards are inboth directions.

What role, if any, has business in education?

Business/enterprise is an essential player in education at all levels from preschool to 3rdand 4th levels. The demands of the business community must be understood, and planning for the future of our country needsa vision 20/30 ahead. If business is not engaged, both our levels of employment andthe attractiveness for inward investment willbe lost. Education must also be at the centreof government policy at all times with attention given to the Arts/Humanities.

National College of Ireland supports their students, giving them areal chance to make a

difference to themselves and their families

In profile: Maurice Healy

Maurice and Adelaide Healy

The relocation of National College of Irelandfrom Ranelagh to its new home in the IFSCunder my predecessor Professor Joyce O'Connor is a great example of what can beachieved when people work together towardsa common goal. This is a remarkable location,an area that is both steeped in history andbrimming with promise for the future. Theseare difficult times, but consider what hasbeen achieved since we first built the IFSC inthe 1980s. Recalling that era of 20% unemployment, when a fifth of our labourforce was forced to emigrate and the rest endured double-digit interest rates, remindsus that we still have much to be grateful for.Recessions are a moment in time. Right nowis the waiting period before the next boom!

Education played a central role in allowing usto harvest our collective brainpower and moveIreland forward. And I truly believe that thesame commitment to education, to community and to knowledge will allow us tonavigate our way through the current whitewater. In the 1920s, WB Yeats urged the senate to have 'national faith': "as muchwealth can come from the intellect of Irelandas will come from the soil and that the onewill repay cultivation as much as the other". By continuing to cultivate our national intellect, we safeguard our future.

In the short term we are faced with two keychallenges: to concentrate on our own personal development, on learning and acquiring new skills and knowledge, and alsoon using our existing skills to make a contribution to a wider society. We can. Nexttime you check the calendar, the recessionwill nearly be over. Think of today as the'pre-boom' period, time that you are using toget ready for the next phase. Use this timewisely and enjoy the learning journey.

Source: The Sunday Tribune, March 15, 2009

14

NCI President Paul Mooney contributed tothe Positive Thinking Issue of the SundayTribune on March 15th 09:

Ireland has long been referred to as the Islandof Saints and Scholars, harking back to thetime of St Patrick, when monasteries andschools of the new faith were foundedthroughout the country. Latterly, critics haveargued that we have come a long way fromthis 'Golden Age': these days, saints andscholars seem to be in pretty short supply. Orare they?

I took over as President of the National College of Ireland in February 2007. In myshort time at the helm of this remarkable institution, I've seen enough to refute this. Iam inspired on a daily basis by individuals Icome into contact with, some of whom mightbaulk at the term but who could be classifiedas the modern-day equivalent of the saintsand scholars of yore. The spirit of selflessness, the concept of 'giving back' andthe love of knowledge are all very much aliveand well in the Ireland of today. There is avery fitting expression in Irish about the importance of community support: is ar scátha chéile a mhaireann na daoine – we exist ineach other's shelter. Throughout our history,we have had a tradition of community activism and civic participation, and of working together to effect social change.There is a lot of talk about the black economy; this is the white economy. It ismost often unpaid, sometimes unsung, but always potent.

by NCI President Dr. Paul Mooney

Why Irish Eyes

Should Be Smiling‘Education played a centralrole in allowing us to harvestour collective brainpower andmove Ireland forward’.

Service learning improves academic achievement:students are practising their skills in a real environment, with the knowledge that their work ismaking a difference. It creates a connection between them and the wider community, fosteringa sense of civic responsibility that cannot beachieved in the classroom alone.

For faculty, service learning can revitalise teachingefforts and add to their research agenda. Long termrelationships will be developed and strengthenedwith community leaders, and there will also be anincreased community awareness of College

programmes and activities.

The community will reap the benefit from the enthusiasm, business acumen and skills thatour students will bring to the table. However, the impacts of embedding a service learning programme at NCI reach far beyondthis, to the creation of an active community of alumni and businesspartners who are engaged in their local

communities and committed to the ideals of community service and active citizenship.

Service learning represents a significant breakthrough for NCI. In addition to the academic and technical skills that are offeredin the classroom, NCI is thoroughly committedto preparing students for lives of ethical leadership and civic responsibility. Embeddingservice learning across every academic discipline and programme so that our studentsobtain a ‘real world’ appreciation of respect,social justice and service to society as core values,will do just that.

15

Service learning is an experiential teaching andlearning strategy, long established in American institutes of higher education, and has beenwidely adopted in countries including Canada,Hong Kong, Japan, France and the UK, amongothers. Service learning combines meaningfulcommunity service with classroom instructionand structured reflection.

Service learning will provide NCI students witha unique opportunity to get involved with theircommunities in a real and valuable way. Thegoal is to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthencommunities.

This exciting initiative will underpin and fulfil the missionof the College, which is: towiden participation in highereducation and unlock each student's potential. We offerstudents the opportunity to acquire the skills and self-confidence tochange their lives, contribute to a knowledgebased economy and become responsible, active citizens.

Service learning is a powerful educational experience where interests mesh with information, values and beliefs are formed, andaction results. It offers a wide variety of benefits to students, faculty and the community. Put simply: it's a win-win situation.

NCI students will have the opportunity to applywhat they have learned in the classroom whilemaking a genuine contribution to the community.

Dr. Eugene O’Loughlin is a lecturerwith NCI’s School of Computing. Heteaches mainly in the area of learningtechnologies at postgraduate level; healso teaches project management,programming and business systemsanalysis at undergraduate level.

3.I`m not-so-good at...keeping mymouth shut when I should know better.

4.The ideal night out is...dinner in aseafood restaurant on a sunshine holiday with my wife Roma, anddaughters Claire, Kate, and Vicki.

1. A common misperception of meis...that I'm a tough guy 'cos I dress inleather and ride a Harley-Davidson.

2. I`m good at...blogging, ridingmotorcycles, barbecue cooking, and fixing things.

5.The last book I read was..."Battles for the Three Kingdoms: The Campaigns forEngland, Scotland and Ireland - 1689-92", by JohnBarratt. I read mostly historybooks and biographies

6.The last CD I listened towas… Help! by The Beatles.The one before that was alsoby The Beatles, and the onebefore that..!

7.My favourite part of my job is…seeing students I havetaught graduate with pride intheir studies.

8.It frustrates me when…students don't turn up for class.

9.A phrase I use far toooften... I love my iPhone.

10.In a nutshell, myphilosophy is...be nice :-)

2 Minute Interview

National College of Ireland is preparing fora major initiative: the development of a newCentre for Service Learning.

‘NCI is thoroughly committed to preparing students for lives of

ethical leadership and civic responsibility’

At YourService

Eugene’s blog can be found at http://eoloughlin.blogspot.com

In 1998 Emma Fry and Mary Buckley developed the first Library webpages, offeringlibrary information an online catalogue and e-info to all students both on and off campus.

Norma Smurfit LibraryIn 2000, the College outgrew the premises in Ranelagh. While various options (including redeveloping the originalsite) were considered,eventually the College decided to move to a custom built campus inDubl in ’s In ternat ional Financial Services Centre.

The new campus includeda state-of-the-art librarywith excellent IT facilities. Italso included seminarrooms, a public access information area for students and a room wherelocal community and localbusiness could meet.

The huge task of moving alibrary with a bookstock of 50,000 commenced. Everything was labeled andpacked, shelves dismantledand offices relocated.

16

The library of the National College of Ireland(then known as the National College of Industrial Relations) was established in theRanelagh campus in 1982. Before that there hadbeen an ad hoc arrangement. Room 5/ 6 (previously a classroom) housed the book stockand a ‘help yourself’ systemwas in place! We have comea long way since then.

Mr. Jim Foran, librarian atthe ESB Library FitzwilliamSquare acted as a consultantto the establishment of asmall academic library and arranged for the a p p o i n t m e n t o f a professionally qualifiedlibrarian and a full time library assistant. A data administrator was hired andthe library holdings weretransferred to an online catalogue. In April 1987Mary Buckley (our currentlibrarian) was appointed as library assistant.

In 1996 the College embarkedon an off campus (Outreach) programme in approximately20 sites throughout Ireland.This led to the establishmentof mini-libraries with core textbooks, based in each ofthe centers, supplied by themain library in Sandford Road.This period of self service at adistance proved to be generally unsatisfactory forboth students and the library. In a little over 2years almost 100% of the stock was liberated! Addressing justifiable concerns from off-Campusstudents the Library changed to a full service tostudents from the main library. Currently the library offers a postal service to off campus userswhich includes supplying books and informationsearches for course and project use. This hasproved to be very successful. The number of offcampus centres currently stands in the region of 40+.

Norma Smurfit Information ServiceLibrary

The new library starts to take shape

Librarian Mary Buckley packs up for the campus move in 2002

&&Then and Now:

Some of the currentstaff of the NormaSmurfit Library L-R Tim Lawless,Joe Dooley, MaryBuckley and SineadCorcoran

We finally moved on the 2nd September 2002, with 780crates to be unpacked and set up for the start of term onSeptember 10th! The mammoth task was completed by thecore team of Mary Buckley, Alison Nolan, Jordi Gil Sala andTim Lawless (a lot of hours were put in that weekend!)

As term began on Wednesday 10th September, this meantthat the library staff had barely a week to establish afunctioning academic library offering a full range ofinformation services to its users.

The library was dedicated to Norma Smurfit by Dr. MichaelSmurfit, and the official dedication ceremony took place onthe 8th April 2003. The event was preceded by a lecturegiven by Dr. Smurfit. Mary Buckley, librarian, and AlisonNolan, assistant librarian presented Norma and Michael withlifelong access to the library.

The Norma Smurfit Library has 240+ reading spaces, studyrooms, 30+ computer terminals for student use,photocopying and printing facilities, access to a myriad ofonline resources and 6 day week opening hours ( increasingto 7 day service on the 4 weeks running up to both semesterexamination periods).

When Alison Nolan left the library in 2006 after 10 yearsservice, Tim Lawless took on the role of assistant librarian.Gerard Farrell and Joe Dooley have since joined the team.The library has holdings of over 100,000 books and reportsorganised by the Dewey Decimal Classification System, andsubscribes to over 250+ paper periodical titles and over30,000 online journal titles. A fully integrated librarymanagement system (Horizon) is also in operation.

The current opening hours are 8.30am-9pm Monday toThursday, 8.30am-5.00pm on a Friday and 9.00am-5pm on aSaturday. We are also open on the last 5 Sundays10am-5pm on the run up to the exams in both semesters. Inthe last year we loaned in the region of 90,000 items, a hugechange since those early beginnings in 1982!

When I am asked what qualities make the Norma SmurfitLibrary unique, I believe it is that we offer the same levelof service to all our students, full-t ime, part-t ime,on-campus and off-campus. Hopefully we do so in a friendlymanner! That is one thing that hasn’t changed since 1982.

Mary Buckley, Librarian

In September, NCI will introduce anew Institute of CommercialManagement (ICM) Diploma inMarketing Advertising, PR andSales Management.

The course will run for twoevenings a week over a 26 weekperiod. A more intensive 13 weekprogramme will also commence inJanuary 2010.

This programme is ideal foranyone who is interested in theexciting and dynamic area ofmarketing and communications.Students will gain valuableinsights and knowledge of keymarketing skills and will learnhow to create their ownadvertising and PR materials.

The course uses an interestingmix of contemporary case studiesand projects and is uniquelydesigned to suit an Irish context.

Michael Bane,P r o g r a m m eDirector, said:“The new MAPRDiploma is idealfor anyone witha keen interestin marketing orcontemplatingworking within a marketing orsales related role – you’ll learnpractical and transferable skillssuch as developing your ownmarketing campaigns, how toapproach market research, as wellas advertising and PR initiatives.”

To apply onl ine or forf u r t h e r information, visitwww.ncirl.ie or come along toone of our open evenings (allevents are listed on page 11).

Diploma in Marketing,Advertising, PR and SalesManagement (ICM)

New!

Pictured at the launch of the new library are (l-r) Celia Larkin, Norma Smurfit and Jackie Lavin.