DkITimes. Where are you headed? Free transport information to your mobile phone. Well done son!

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1 DkITimes DkIT Volume 2, Issue 9 November 19th 2007 Where are you headed? Free transport information to your mobile phone. DkIT is providing a transport information system for all on the Campus which can be downloaded to most mobile phones. It will provide timetable information on all bus and train services to Dundalk, local bus services to / from the town centre and the DkIT car park minibus. The service is free to use on your mobile phone and no text or internet charges will be incurred regardless of how often you may access the information. Occasional updates of the information will be provided to cater for any future changes in the timetables of transport operators. The application can be downloaded to a memory stick or laptop and transferred to your phone by the appropriate phone cable or via bluetooth to enabled phones. An easier method of receiving the application is Pictured here right are the designers of the system, Seamus Crosson, Kevin Costello and Wojciech Kulesza of GoEuropa who are based in Incubation space at DkIT s Regional Development Centre. Well done son! Father and son, Peter and Gerard Gosling pictured at DkIT annual Conferring ceremonies on November 10th last. Peter, himself a past student of DkIT (RTC) is a member of the lecturing staff in the Department of Computing and Maths and Gerard has just graduated with a Bachelor s degree (Honours) in Building Surveying. You take care now! Pictured right are the well known faces of P.J McEneaney and Sean Rooney on duty at our annual conferring ceremonies on November 10th 2007.

2 Page 2 Meet Dr. Edel Healy- Newly appointed Head of Nursing, Midwifery, Health Studies and Applied Science. On October 4th last, Dr Edel Healy joined the staff of DkIT as the new Head of the School of Nursing, Midwifery, Health Studies and Applied Science. Dr Healy most recently worked for the Health and Safety Authority where she headed up the Hazardous Substances Assessment Unit, a department which had responsibility for carrying out audits of the pharma- chemical industry, drafting legislation on chemical usage and safety and the promotion of chemical safety. Originally from Raheny in Dublin Edel studied Pharmacology in UCD at undergraduate level, followed by a PhD in Toxicology and a Diploma in Health and Safety at Work. On completion of her PhD Edel was offered a position in UCD as the Irish Kidney Association s Newman Scholar in Nephrology where she worked as the principal investigator in a multi-disciplinary team collaborating with St. Vincents Hospital Education & Research Centre and the Mater Hospital. She also lectured in Pharmacology and Toxicology to Science, Nursing and Medical students, supervised PhD and MSc students and published in peer reviewed journals and presented research findings at number of international conferences. In 1999 Edel joined the Health and Safety Authority as a Toxicologist and subsequently was appointed Head of the Hazardous Substances Assessment Unit managing a team of chemists, environmental scientists and toxicologists. Dr. Healy is a Committee member of Irish Society of Toxicology and a member of the Food Safety Authority Ireland (FSAI) Chemicals and Contaminants subcommittee. Edel is particularly interested in developing the links between teaching and research at DkIT, believing that an organisation grows its own researchers from undergraduate onwards. She feels that her own experience of lecturing, alongside her active research as a principal investigator in Kidney Research, was both a rewarding and invaluable experience and she hopes to strengthen the links between active researchers in DKIT and the undergraduate and postgraduate populations. Edel lives in Termonfeckin with husband Kimmitt and sons, Joe aged five and Eoghan aged three. In her spare time, Edel enjoys cooking, travelling, reading and hill-walking. Edel says she is very much looking forward to managing a dynamic school, and contributing to the development of the Institute We extend to Edel a warm welcome and wish her very success in her role as Head of School.

3 Page 3 The Micheál O Dúbhchair Retirement Function. By Seamus Bellew. The retirement function for Micheál O Dubhchair took place on Friday night, 16 th November at the Crowne Plaza. Many colleagues, friends and family attended. Micheál was accompanied at the event by his wife Kate and sons Benny and Jonathan along with other family members. There were many guests present amongst whom were John & Pat Hume and Séamus & Mary Kirk. The celebration was started by piper and colleague of Michéal s, Noel Harford. After grace, led by Fr Paul, the DKIT string quartet played beautiful music during the meal, followed by a performance by the Connolly School of Irish Dancing and finishing with the Rose McGeeney group from Knockbridge, John Hume gave a rendition of Danny Boy. Pictured here is Micheál being presented with a piece of Tipperary crystal by colleague Noel Stapelton. What his colleagues said... Then some tributes were given to Michéal. John Doherty said that Michéal was a great colleague. He sat to Michéal s right hand side in the office who acted as a sort of guardian angel. Michéal was into politics and acknowledged his great grace. He moved to Co Louth from native Mayo to improve the Intelligence in both counties and he expected great things to happen in Derry! Pat Feenan assured the gathering that Michéal had indeed retired! The cheque has gone out and he mentioned that Michéal and himself were best of friends and anything he would say would treated with suspicion! He concluded by wishing Michéal all the best. Eugene Roe pointed out the development of the National Cert in Furniture that was significant, in that it was the first technology course validated by the then NCEA. Michéal continued to be an external examiner in GMIT. On a personal level he found Michéal to be a great sounding board, a source of encouragement and great support and hoped that Michéal would not be a stranger in DKIT and wished him all the best. Micheál the advisor.. Denis Cummins also paid tribute to Michéal, he offered advice and continues to do that. He served on the first unofficial academic council and subsequently on the statutory body where he attended over a hundred meetings. He passed on good wishes from Tom Collins, Michael Byrne (FAS) and Dermot Ahern. Typical of Michéal, he stayed onto teach after retirement until a new lecturer is found. Denis also paid tribute to Kate who taught him as a student and he later reported to her on his first day, when she was Head of Department of Mathematics and Computing. Denis also welcomed and paid a generous tribute to John Hume and concluded by wishing Michéal and Kate all the best. After Michéal s thoughts, Michéal was presented with Tipperary crystal by Tipperary man, Noel Stapleton. Kate was presented with flowers by one of her past students, Brigid Conlon. Pictured here is Kate being presented with flowers by Brigid.

4 Page 4 Michéal started his thoughts by saying that he was humbled by the large number of friends and colleagues and that all were welcome especially his wife Kate and sons Benny and Jonathon. He also mentioned the many who could not make the gathering for various reasons. He mentioned his interest in politics and was delighted that John & Pat Hume and Séamus & Mary Kirk were here. It was a measure of the Hume s friendship when Kate was ill, they would drop in to say hello and ask how are things. He also had a right friend in Séamus Kirk going back before 1982 when he was elected T.D. He referred to two attempts to remove Apprentice work out of the college, Séamus and Dermot on different occasions facilitated meetings in the Department and with Ministers. Seamus s work in the background 15/18 years ago was unheralded. He mentioned the profession of politics that is often sneered at but there were two honourable politicians present on this occasion. Micheál also welcomed his brothers and sister, P.J., Kevin & Sheila and their spouses. He looked around the room and saw many of his retired colleagues, the longest retired colleague present was Pat Herr. Tony Rice, Frank Carney, John Connolly, Eamon Kinch, Michael Mullin and last by no means least,tom Sharkey former Head of Section, Tom had escaped at the end of August and he looked forward to comparing notes! Pictured here are Rosemary McArdle, John Hume and Kate O Dubhchair at Micheál s retirement function last Friday night. Starting in 1982, the changes on campus were remarkable, the MPC, the Faulkner and Nursing buildings as well as the wind turbine. All these have contributed to changing this end of the town that has almost become unrecognisable over the period. There has been a huge increase in numbers. Since 1993 we have the capability of developing new courses, there have been new management structures, we have been on a roller coaster. Denis s turn has now come. The organisation is now mature enough to appoint one of its own, where Denis was a student, he is now Director. He wished Denis every luck as he carries the broader aspirations and ambitions of staff. Also Eugene Roe, new HOS and Noel McKenna, new HOD who was away in central Europe selling courses, an indication of the huge burdens now undertaken by staff. He served on the Governing Body from 1993 to 2005 again with Tony Rice and Mary Kennedy. His own area of Apprenticeship has grown to close on 900 annually. On the industrial relations front he went onto point out that each new national agreement brought a new set of boxes to be ticked. This interference by government has an adverse effect on the college where academic thought is squeezed. He looked forward to retirement having worked with a great bunch of people, all of great integrity. He looked around and saw people from every corner of the college reflecting a community spirit and he hoped that Denis would be able to facilitate keeping it in place. Micheál shared an office with Tom, John and Noel and soon everyone knew where the nerve endings were, when a wind-up would be happening! In the canteen there was the wind-up table, a ball would be hopped and people would wait to see who would grasp it. He mentioned that an esteemed friend mentioned that he must have been a pain to management at times! and they pondered that the only place he had not penetrated was the Christmas crib but Michéal informed the gathering that he helped paint the crib designed by John Doherty, finally he thanked John, Noel & Seamus for organising the event. John also thanked Dr Eibhlis Farrell and DKIT Music Department for the string quartet. John Doherty concluded by thanking those who contributed to the evening and finished by thanking Amanda Finlay, Sinead Derham and Tim Oberdieck and the staff of the Crowne Plaza.

5 Page 5 Micheál on the board and the wind-up table? Michéal in his speech mentioned those who served with distinction in the role of Director during his time at Dundalk, Sean McDonagh, Denis Murphy, Gerry Carroll, Tom Collins and Denis Cummins. In 1983/4 Michéal was elected to BOM where he said his colleagues trusted him to represent them, he served along with Tony Rice. He served on the Governing Body from 1993 to 2005 again with Tony Rice and Mary Kennedy. His own area of Apprenticeship has grown to close on 900 annually. On the industrial relations front he went onto point out that each new national agreement brought a new set of boxes to be ticked. This interference by government has an adverse effect on the college where academic thought is squeezed. He looked forward to retirement having worked with a great bunch of people, all of great integrity. He looked around and saw people from every corner of the college reflecting a community spirit and he hoped that Denis would be able to facilitate keeping it in place. Micheal shared an office with Tom, John and Noel and soon everyone knew where the nerve endings were, when a wind-up would be happening! In the canteen there was the wind-up table, a ball would be hopped and people would wait to see who would grasp it. He mentioned that an esteemed friend mentioned that he must have been a pain to management at times! and they pondered that the only place he had not penetrated was the Christmas crib but Michéal informed the gathering that he helped paint the crib designed by John Doherty, finally he thanked John, Noel & Seamus for organising the event. John also thanked Dr Eibhlis Farrell and DKIT Music Department for the string quartet. John Doherty concluded by thanking those who contributed to the evening and finished by thanking Amanda Finlay, Sinead Derham and Tim Oberdieck and the staff of the Crowne Plaza. Some members of the Connolly School of Irish Dance who performed at the function last Friday night.

6 Page 6 Continuous Improvement in your library what you told us and what we have one. From Sean McGreal. Introduction A big thank you to all those who completed and returned the Library Survey before the Summer this year! We have listened carefully to your comments and are trying to make changes in order to develop services that meet your needs. Your concerns Heat levels in the Library, Noise, Printing issues and Availability of new library books Our response To help alleviate heat levels we have installed two fans in the Quiet Study Area. Our library attendant will continue to monitor Floor 2 in an attempt to maintain appropriate noise levels. With regards to printing issues, in order to make support more accessible and visible, the Ergo technician is now located at a dedicated Helpdesk on Floor 1, beside the printers, to deal with your queries. While the Library does its best to have the books you need available, unfortunately we have to work within budget constraints which are beyond the control of the Library. On the positive side, 93% of you were satisfied with the level of service. 89% used the Library Website and that 93% believed you should reference everything you find on the Internet when preparing assignments. The future An online help service is now available which expands the reach of our Information Desk. See our web enquiry form at: In the New Year we hope to bring an Information Road Show out to all the Schools in the Institute to update you on what services the Library provides.

7 Page 7 DkIT representation on project working groups. Ann Cleary represents DkIT on Project 2 The Institutes of technology Learning Innovation Network. This group has used SIF funding and matching contributions from the Institutes involved on a variety of Teaching and a learning initiatives among which are, a survey of Teaching and learning activities throughout the IOT s, investigation of a model for professional teaching awards for staff, and the delivery of a blended academic development programme for staff which has begun in both Carlow and Athlone. Angela Short represents DkiT on project 3 Empowering Staff through the Strategic planning process. To date the group has looked at the strategic planning process in all the Institutes and examined best practice nationally and internationally with a view to producing a handbook and training that will link the personal development plan and team development plan into the strategic planning process thereby delivering a more inclusive process.

8 Page 8 STORC AIMS TO DELIVER SPREADSHEET ENGINEERING OFFSPRING The Software Technology Research Centre (SToRC) at Dundalk Institute of Technology was recently featured in IT's Monday, Ireland's weekly 'e-zine' on the IT industry. The following is the content of the article written by Paul Golden in the IT s Monday. The Software Technology Research Centre (SToRC) at Dundalk Institute of Technology hopes to capitalise on the intellectual property generated by its spreadsheet engineering group by developing a spin-off company. The Software Technology Research Centre was established in At that time a number of individual academic staff members were engaged in applied research with regional firms and the centre was a way of formalising that activity and leveraging the benefits of it, explained Gerry Coleman of the Department of Computing and Mathematics. Over the last six years the work of the centre - which has received funding in excess of EUR 1 million - has been split between basic and applied research. 'This ratio changes depending on the funding we receive but we are currently engaged in exciting applied research work with both multinationals and Irish SMEs,' said Coleman. Among its current projects, the recently established spreadsheet engineering group (one of only a handful in the world) appears to have the greatest potential. The centre is currently applying its knowledge of software process to the use of spreadsheets in industry with the primary aim of developing and trialling new methods and tools to improve their quality. 'We recently received funding under Enterprise Ireland's Proof of Concept scheme to investigate the commercial application of these technologies,' Coleman explained. 'We expect this potentially very significant project, which will involve leading financial institutions in Ireland, to commence this quarter. We also hope to spin-off a company to exploit the IP generated from this work.' Applied research projects include work with a multinational retail bank to speed up its software development process whilst maintaining rigorous quality standards. A recently completed project for ABB involved applying artificial intelligence techniques that can negotiate safe amounts of information gathering. The project was funded by Enterprise Ireland and has been trialled successfully. 'We are also involved in cross-border research under Intertrade Ireland's Fusion programme and are currently working with a Belfast-based company in tailoring agile development methods to maximise its development returns,' added Coleman, who said the centre's work has moved towards working with small companies. SToRC collaborates with a number of other research centres, including DCU, the Adaptive Information Cluster at UCD, the Centre for Software Process Technologies at the University of Ulster, Queens University, Waterford IT and IADT Dun Laoghaire. It has a number of international partners in France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Spain and Australia and is particularly close to University of Limerick through its involvement in Lero, one of whose senior research fellows is based in Dundalk. Key industry partners range from multinationals such as ABB, Fujitsu, Motorola and HBOS to smaller local companies such as Armac Systems, Stiona Software and Foyle Technologies. The centre employs seven Dundalk IT academic staff members and a further 12 staff comprised of full time research staff and post graduates. 'We plan to expand based on our core expertise and hope through future funding envelopes to attract additional high quality staff,' Coleman concluded. 'We also expect to continue the successful combination of basic and applied research activity.'

9 Page 9 Letters to the Editor. Praise indeed! The following letter was sent to Dr. David Getty, Head of Department of Humanities who sent it on to the DkITimes. I am delighted to include letters such as these that recognise the excellent work that DkIT staff and students do. The Editor. Dear Sir, My son (Barry Hamilton Jnr.) attended the college and is now working in South Korea. He needed some exam. results going back over a four year period and asked me to organise this with the college. My first thought was that this was going to be a bit of a nightmare. It is my experience that in this country, when someone tells you they will get back to you on that you never hear from them again. I contacted the college and spoke to a lady by the name of Angela Foley. I can not praise this lady highly enough. She was extremely helpful, courteous and efficient and had the required information in the post within a matter of days. Please relay my thanks to Ms. Foley. Yours Gratefully, Barry Hamilton Snr. Have your say! Did you know? Staff and students are reminded that the minutes of Governing body, Academic Council, Executive Board are available online on the intranet. Log on to the website, choose the About DkiT and click on governance. Please note: This is an internal service so you are required to log on using your DkIT username and password. The DkITimes welcomes articles and letters from staff, students, alumni, and friends on any topic that might be of interest to readers. ; newsletter@dkit.ie

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11 Page 11 Caption competition. Captions to Inside Story Headline Your photo for the caption competition here next week? Remember to seek the permission of those featured unless the photo is already in the public domain. photos to