Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin 16 March 2010,
9.30am – 3.30pm
“reading may be the least of their troubles”
The conference will examine current challenges in higher education from a range of perspectives: national policy, the latest research into Dyslexia, teaching and learning best practice and the student experience.
The inclusion of students who learn differently is no longer new in higher education. The challenge remains for institutions to respond to the learning needs of students with dyslexia while also assuring the academic rigour of courses. In order to change practices it is important to understand how the condition affects the student in an educational setting.
This conference is an opportunity to collectively explore how the varied perspectives interact and to understand their capacity to shape the learning environments of the future.
Students may attend for free, though they are still asked to book. If you would like to book, please fill out the attached booking form and return to ahead@ahead.ie or post to AHEAD, East Hall, UCD, Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
The Fulbright International Science & Technology Award provides students in science and technology with the US government’s most prestigious and valuable scholarship. This award offers a fully-funded PhD programme in the United States to approximately 45 candidates worldwide who demonstrate unique aptitude and innovation in a number of scientific fields.
The Award recipients receive assistance in gaining admission to prestigious U.S. institutions and three years of fiscal support which includes: academic tuition and fee coverage, a monthly living stipend, book and supplies allowance, conference and research allowances, health and accident coverage, round trip airfare from home country to the United States, and specially tailored enrichment activities. Hosting U.S. institution are expected to provide support for the remaining expenses toward the completion of the Ph.D. J-1 visa sponsorship is granted for up to five years.
For more information and for full application details please see http://www.fulbright.ie/irishcitizensawards/fulbrightinternationalsciencetechnologyaward
& http://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/scienceandtech.html
.
The closing date for receipt of complete applications is strictly 12 noon on 30 April 2010. Extensions to this deadline are not available under any circumstances.
Please address any questions about this award to Sonya
McGuinness
Free copies available: call to the Careers Service, E0019, to pick up your copy.
The 2010 Special Olympics Ireland Games will take place in Limerick form the 9th – 13th June
In what will be one of the largest and most prestigious sporting events to take place in Ireland this year, 1,900 Special Olympics athletes from throughout the island of Ireland will spend 4 days in Limerick, participating in competition in 13 sports. As well as being the main residential centre, the University of Limerick will host the athletics, aquatics, basketball, football, bocce, gymnastics and kayaking competitions, so this is an exciting opportunity for the students of UL to play a part!
Special Olympics Ireland needs to recruit 3,500 volunteers to help run these Games. Volunteering at the Games promises to very rewarding and lots of fun! Volunteers will be involved in running every aspect of the Games and will play an important role in welcoming and assisting the 1,900 athletes, their 650 coaches and official delegates as well as over 4,000 family members and friends to Limerick.
To hear how you can get involved in this exciting event, please come along to our forthcoming volunteer information sessions which will take place on the following dates:
All are more than welcome to attend! Further details are also available on www.specialolympics.ie
IBEC Gradlink Scheme
Work experience for new graduates
The IBEC graduate scheme is to assist recent graduates improve their skills during the current downturn and prepare them for the economic recovery. For business, graduate internships are a good way to attract talent for a specific time period or project. For graduates, this scheme could provide an important opportunity to kick-start your career by giving you real life work experience and improve your employment potential while trying to build your CV.
The scheme is accompanied by an optional postgraduate "Future Leaders" Certificate in Leadership, based on a 16 day-release programme. However, the internship itself is structured around the individual needs of graduates and business. This web site provides a facility for companies to post details of available placements and offers advice on designing an internship that will provide a positive experience for both parties. It enables graduates to register their interest, keep up-to-date on new internships on offer and ensure that they will get the maximum benefit from the internship.
More details at: http://www.ibec.ie/gradlink
Revised FÁS Work Placement Programme
This programme is designed to offer unemployed people, including unemployed graduates, the opportunity to obtain up to 9 months experience in a work situation. There will be provision for 1,000 placements for graduates. These placements are unpaid but participants will continue to receive their existing social welfare entitlements or job seeker’s allowance and benefits during their work placement. When first introduced, jobseekers had to be unemployed for at least 6 months but this restriction has now been relaxed. From December 2009, unemployed graduates and 2009 can also apply. The revised scheme will be open to all sectors including the community and voluntary sectors.
To register your interest in the Work Placement Programme, contact any FAS Employment Services Office. Details and application forms available on the FAS website at:
http://www.fas.ie/en/Job+Seeker/WPP/default.htm
Irish Fulbright Awards 2010 – 2011 www.fulbright.ie
The Fulbright Commission awards scholarships for Irish citizens to lecture, research or study in the USA and for US citizens to lecture, research or study in Ireland. The scholarships for study in the USA are open to all Irish citizens resident on the island of Ireland and all EU citizens who are ordinarily resident in Ireland. The Fulbright Programme in Ireland is currently accepting applications from Irish students, academics and professionals in any academic discipline including the visual and performing arts for its 2010 –
2011 awards programme.
The Fulbright Student Awards (maximum €20,000) are for applicants who intend to enrol on a US Masters or PhD degree program or conduct independent research as part of an Irish or European PhD program. The awards are only available for one year but students may remain in the US for the full duration of their academic program if it is in greater than one year.
The Fulbright Scholar Awards (maximum €10,000) enable Irish academics, post-doctoral scholars, or professionals with more than 5-7 years experience in any discipline including the visual and performing arts to spend 3-12 months researching or lecturing in the US.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 12.00 noon, 4 December 2009.
There are also discipline specific awards for both students and scholars, including:
Award
Deadline
Fulbright Irish Studies Scholar
4 December 2009
Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistantships 30 October 2009
Fulbright Irish Language Scholar
30 October 2009
Fulbright – Schuman
1 March 2010
Most of the Irish students and scholars obtain very attractive financial packages from US colleges. Being a recipient of a prestigious Fulbright award is usually an important factor in leveraging such funding.
For further information and application details, check website or contact:
Fulbright Commission, T: + 353 1 660 76 70; E: info@fulbright.ie
W: www.fulbright.ie
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Careers by Degrees gives details of graduate opportunities with employers who plan to recruit UL graduates in 2010. Now available at the Careers Service, E0019.
The Conlisk Scholarship provides full funding for a selected Irish graduate to complete an MBA programme or Master of Science in Finance in Fairfield University in the USA. This scholarship is supported by a group of Irish Americans living in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It was established in the memory of Fr John M Conlisk, an Irish born priest who lived in the area. The Conlisk scholarship has been awarded to more than 10 UL graduates in previous years, mainly BBS, but also Law & Accounting and Financial Mathematics. This scholarship will be available again in 2010. It is worth approximately $50,000.
Fairfield University is:
Details of the two postgrad programs can be found on the university website at:
http://www.fairfield.edu/mba
The scholarship provides:
Selection Criteria:
Applications will be assessed on the basis of academic results to date, as reflected in the current QCA, also on the GMAT score (see below). Attention will also be paid to prior work experience and reasons for applying for the MBA or MS. Competition for this scholarship is intense and a 2.1 honours standard (QCA of 3.00) is a prerequisite.
How to apply:
The applicant needs to complete:
(Information pack will be available from Mary Sweeney, (DM036)
The additional information can be emailed to Dr Dana Wilkie at: dwilkie@mail.fairfield.edu.
The closing date for applications is early February 2010 and the decision will be made by the end of February. The GMAT results will be required before the final selection is made. That means there is time to prepare for the GMAT and apply to take the test early in February. As there is only one scholarship, early applicants will have a distinct advantage. Copies of GMAT practice tests are available for reference in the Careers Resource area at E0019.
GMAT
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a four-hour standardised test used by 1,700 graduate management programs around the world as part of the selection procedure. It is a computer-adaptive test that measures basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills. The Irish test centre is located in the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown, Co Dublin where the test is administered on Wednesdays. It costs $250 to register for the test. For more details on this procedure, and for sample questions, check the test website at: www.mba.com. The GMAT results are very important so preparation for this test is essential.
*Check Fulbright website for advice on writing a Statement of Purpose: www.fulbright.co.uk/eas.
Labour Market News: At a time when employment opportunities are scarce, it’s important to keep up to date with developments in the marketplace as part of your job search. In addition to your own screening of websites, radio, TV, newspapers and other media resources, you can access the latest information on current labour market developments on the Careersportal website. The Labour Market section provides links to many sources of information which reflect the state of the labour market, highlights the skills currently in demand and job vacancies in relevant sectors.
The government recently announced two new initiative designed to retrain or upskill graduates who have been made redundant due to the economic downturn, or graduates who have been unemployed for 6 months.
1,000 postgraduate third-level places will be available in a wide range of part-time courses in universities and institutes of technology. UL is offering 100 places on postgraduate courses in Business and Engineering & Science. Only nominal fees (up to €500) will be charged depending on the programme. Students will be entitled to retain their social welfare payments while on those courses. Applications under this scheme should be made directly to the institutions involved. See HEA website for a full list of courses at: http://www.hea.ie/
This is designed to offer unemployed people, including unemployed graduates, the opportunity to obtain 6 months experience in a work situation. There will be provision for 1,000 placements for graduates. These placements are unpaid but participants will continue to receive their existing social welfare entitlements from the Department of Social and Family Affairs during their 6 month work placement. To register your interest in the Work Placement Programme, contact any FAS Employment Services Office. Details and application forms available on the FAS website at: http://www.fas.ie/en/Job+Seeker/WPP/default.htm
Both programmes are available to graduates who have been unemployed for 6 months and are also currently in receipt of Job Seeker's Allowance. For further details of each of these progammes, please check the websites provided.
The call for proposals for the 2nd intake of the EU-Science and Technology Fellowship Programme China will be launched over the next weeks. This 2-year programme's objective is to increase mobility for young EU researchers. It will allow 30 researchers to spend 2 years in China of which 6 months will be devoted in an intensive Chinese language and culture programme, followed by 18 months of practical research in one of China's research institutions with the forthcoming intake commencing at the beginning of April 2010.
Citizens from EU-member states with at least a Masters degree and two years of practical research experience are eligible to apply for this programme. The 30 members of the first intake come from 12 EU member states and they represent a wide field of disciplines. A number of them are in the process of finishing their PhD, or they are already doing post-doc research. The potential participants will need to have the support of their sending institution as well as having already secured a place at a hosting institution in China.
For further information please check our website at www.euchinastf.eu For those interested in being notified once the call has been issued, please send a mail to info@euchinastf.eu
‘Focus for success in challenging times’ is a new booklet produced by Graduate Careers Ireland as a resource to help Irish graduates deal with a difficult job market.
The booklet draws on the knowledge base and expertise of a team of careers advisors, industry consultants and counselling professional who provide different perspectives on the challenges facing graduates. It provides a toolkit of realistic, personal, career and life-coping skills and strategies to help students and graduates devise an action plan to achieve success in a time of diminishing employment prospects. People are still being hired and graduates are finding jobs but it requires more research, initiative and determination than in previous years. The first step is to download this booklet and follow the practical advice to get on the track for success.
Since 1995, Idealist.org has become the most comprehensive online resource for the non profit sector, with more than 70,000 non profit organizations from 190 countries posting job openings, volunteer and internship opportunities, events, resources, and programs on the site. Idealist attracts over 50,000 unique visitors each day, and over 500,000 people subscribe to email alerts that match people around the world with the opportunities they seek. Beyond Idealist’s demonstrated ability to connect individuals with organizations (in English, French and Spanish), and convene real time events internationally (including professional trainings and non profit career and graduate degree fairs) we also host hundreds of Idealist Groups where individuals can develop new networks to connect around shared ideas and community action Finally, Idealist provides resources for job seekers, volunteers, young people, college students, webmasters, and nonprofit human resources and volunteer management professionals, including the Volunteer Management Resource Centre (VMRC), an extensive online source for new tools and existing resources to support volunteer management professionals in non profit, for-profit, and government organizations worldwide.
Greenjobs.ie is Ireland’s first job-board website dedicated to jobs in the Green, Environmental, sustainability and renewable energy industry. You will gain access to an extensive range of job vacancies through our employer database.
During the current times it is important to think about your future. You may find it quite difficult to secure a job after your study. This is the perfect time to enter the green industry. The industry itself is continuing to grow, it is the future. We offer a platform to assist you find a career in a flourishing industry; to be part of a greener, brighter future.
For more information log onto: www.greenjobs.ie
We now have a supply of recently published Gradireland careers booklets and employer directories written specially for Irish students and graduates. These cover a wide range of careers in the following disciplines/sectors:
In addition to these, we have a large supply of the two current Gradireland directories:
If you are interested in working overseas, we also have a wide range of employer directories and booklets covering the UK and USA, as well as reference copies of directories for other international locations.
Call to the Careers Service at E0019 any day to collect your personal copies of these resources. Opening hours from 10.00 to 4.30.
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Professional Ireland is a weekly newsletter with up to date news items on developments in the Irish economy. It is published by Irish Emigrant Publications, Ireland's longest-established Internet publishing company, and was originally set up as a newsletter for Irish emigrants. It has developed into a very useful information resource for anyone interested in keeping up to date on what’s happening in key sectors in the Irish economy, including Business & Finance, ICT, Life Sciences, Academic, Media, and Jobs. Keep yourself informed on current opportunities by reading the latest issue of Professional Ireland.
The Alliance Abroad Group is pleased to introduce its new program: Work & Travel in Australia. This program provides students and other young people with the opportunity to work and earn money while getting to know this amazing country. The participant can choose to have the security of a paid placement before departure, or he can opt to find a job on his own after arriving in Australia (with resources provided). We offer a variety of "unskilled" positions available, such as clerical work, waiting tables, or seasonal work. Both options provide support in-country before and during the program.
Participating in the Work and Travel Australia program allows the participant to become a member of the Australian Work & Travel Club for the duration of his visa. Club membership benefits include access to a bar and lounge, gym, shower, computer, internet and telephone. Club memberships also provide the student with resources to help with their job search, resume, housing search, and all access to notice boards.
Requirements:
Length of Program:
Program Dates:
Location:
Accommodation/ Board:
Salary and Expenses:
How to Apply
Applicants can download an application, and find full program details, from the Alliance Abroad Group website at: www.allianceabroad.com
Once the application is fill out completely, it can be sent to:
Alliance Abroad Group
Travel Connect Division
1221 S. Mopac Exwy, Ste. 250
Austin, TX 78746
Applying for postgraduate study in the UK has never been simpler. Prospects.ac.uk provides a free online application facility for UK and international students to apply directly to the University of their choice. It gives the opportunity to apply online for postgraduate courses and research opportunities at an ever expanding range of institutions. The latest additions to the online applications system are the University of Birmingham, De Montfort University and Cardiff University. For a full list of institutions click on the following link. www.prospects.ac.uk/applyonline
http://europa.eu.int/ploteus is the European Commission's new internet portal which is specifically designed to connect people to detailed information on education and training in thirty European countries. Information is provided under the following headings:
The most important feature of PLOTEUS is the Learning Opportunities section - a collection of almost 4,000 links to national or regional databases and to education and training institutions' websites in 30 European countries. It offers the option to select information by location, learning language, subject or education level.
This website complements the EURES, www.europa.eu.int/eures website which provides employment-related informtion on EU countries.
The Prospects website is of the most comprehensive sources of information for students interested in working or studying abroad. This section of the website contains detailed country profiles on 49 different countries under the following headings:
General Information
This database can be accessed on: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/worldmain/indexflag.htm
Copies of the major US directories of graduate employers are now available in the Careers Office, E0 019. There are three titles in the series:
If you are interested in exploring employment opportunities in the USA, these are essential reading. Also consult the Jobweb website at: http://www.jobweb.com
Prospects now offer a digital magazine with information on jobs, courses, advice and information for graduates. It is available at: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/graduate
Links to Employer Websites We have added a new section to the website which will allow you to link directly to websites of many Irish and international employers. You will find it in the Jobs section under Links to Graduate Employers. This section will be updated on a regular basis so you should check it from time to time.
The website of the Irish Immigration Centre in Boston is a valuable source of information on all sorts of topics relating to working and living in the USA. It provides up to date information on the various categories of visa as well as details on employment opportunities. Of particular interest is the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section. The website address is: http://www.iicenter.org/
The Jobweb website is an excellent starting point for accessing useful information and contacts in the USA. This website has a stream dedicated to students and provides advice and information on all aspects of the job search, including a list of useful Job Search sites. It can be accessed at: http://www.jobweb.com
Another useful website with information on how to find an internship in the USA is the CIEE website. http://www.councilexchanges.org/jobsusa/. CIEE is the Council on International Educational Exchange - the organisation which sponsors the J1 visa programmes which enable many thousands of Irish students to travel to the USA each summer. This organisation also sponsors the J Internship visa for students undertaking a Cooperative Education placement in the USA. This visa can also be used by graduates in the first year after completing full-time education, providing they have an offer of an internship from a US employer and they can provide some evidence of their intention to return to Ireland when the visa expires. CIEE work in partnership with USIT NOW in promoting international work programmes.
The USIT website is another very useful source of information on all their services to students. Visit their website at: http://www.usitnow.ie and select 'USA Work and Travel' for details of the US programmes.
US GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT DIRECTORIES
Copies of the major US directories of graduate employers are now available in the CoOp & Careers Office, E0 005. There are three titles in the series:
If you are interested in exploring employment opportunities in the USA, these are essential reading. Also consult the Jobweb website at: http://www.jobweb.com/home.cfm