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Academic Unit: Funded PhD Scholarship Project Title: Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutes Supervisor:  Dr. Nata Duvvury, Global Women’s Studies, NUI Galway  Duration: Funded for 4 years (Structured PhD), full-time. Project description: The Centre for Global for Women’s Studies in collaboration with the Office of the Vice-President for Equality and Diversity is pleased to announce a  4 year Doctoral Fellowship for 2017-18. The focus of the fellowship is gender equality in higher educational institutions. The centrality of gender equality for the growth and sustainability of higher education institution is well recognised by policy makers in the European Commission, national governments and in the education sector. In this policy context, the Doctoral Fellowship is focused on critical analysis to understand the nature of gender equality in educational institutions, identify the challenges and obstacles to advance gender equality and assess the effectiveness of strategies and action plans to realise gender quality. The doctoral fellowship is particularly focused on advancing a monitoring and evaluation system to establish the effectiveness and sustainability of concrete actions currently being implemented by the University structures. The PhD will be a four year structured doctoral programme. Interested candidates should submit a brief proposal outlining the rational, research questions, and research design and methodology, as well as CV and a sample of written work by September 22nd, 2017.  Interested candidates are also recommended to upload application for the PhD in Global Women’s Studies via the PAC system.  Selected candidate will be notified by September 29th and it is expected that the student will register Oct 1st. Stipend:   €14500 (including €500 for travel) plus annual fees. Entry Requirements: The PhD fellowship will be awarded on a competitive basis and applicants will be expected to demonstrate both a strong academic background and aptitude for research. In particular candidates with the following qualificantions and skills would Qualifications: Minimum of 2.1 grade (or equivalent) in MA in Sociology, Psychology, Education, Women’s Studies or related discipline  Required Skills and experience: Knowledge and experience undertaking Gender Analysis, Quantitative and Qualitative Research, Evaluation Research Methods      Desirable skills and experience: Evidence of capacity of undertaking independent research, Demonstrated capacity to work as part of a team,  and Strong Communication Skills  Expected start date:  October 1st, 2017   How to apply: Please send a current CV, indicating your research experience and including the names of two referees, a letter of intent, and a sample of your writing (essay, chapter from dissertation, article, etc.) to Dr. Nata Duvvury via email to nata.duvvury@nuigalway.ie. The letter of intent should be limited to two pages and it should outline:  Reasons for application  Previous training and research experience  Interest in area of research   Closing date for applications:  September 22, 2017  

On March 23rd, final year PhD candidate in the School of Political Science and Sociology , NUIG - Giada Lagana wan the PhD contest “My Thesis in 3 minutes … in French!”, an event organized by the Embassy of France in Ireland at the Trinity College  Dublin. The contest was inspired by the “Three-minute thesis (3MTMC)” organised for the first time in Australia in 2008, with the aim of promoting French language and shared values. The competition was open to all nationalities and all disciplines and finally twenty-five PhD candidates took part at the event, among whom a number of French native speakers. Lagana’s presentation has been judged the most outreaching and the best structured and, in addition, the jury acknowledged the excellence of her speech, her passion and the fluidity in which she expressed herself in French.

Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar in his recent Biennial Distinguished Lecture at the Institute for Lifecourse and Society in NUI Galway, mentioned one parent families in particular and his aim to reduce child poverty in the country. Dr Michelle Millar pictured during her address.  More coverage here.

MA IN SOCIAL WORK (MSW) – 2 Year Full time Qualifying Programme for Professional Social Work (CORU Registered). Applications are now invited for the MA in Social Work (MSW), a two-year, full-time professional training programme in social work accredited by CORU. Twenty places are available for an intake of students commencing beginning of  September 2017.  Entry Requirements are as follows: A Level 8 primary undergraduate degree (minimum of Second Class Honours, Grade 2) in one of the following: Bachelor Degree with a major in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology Social Policy, Social Science, Social Studies, Social Care, Public and Social Policy, Youth and Family Studies, Childhood Education, Childhood Studies, Health and Social Care, Community Development, or B.Soc.Sc or other relevant qualifications deemed equivalent by the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies. Prior work experience in a related setting is compulsory and applicants must have obtained six months (approx 960 hours) experience of working in a related setting in order to be eligible to apply. Relevant supervised placement learning will normally count for up to a maximum of 240 hours (6 weeks). Applicants must also complete a 300 word statement of interest in social work and provide two letters of reference, one academic and one work-related are also required. Applications are made online through the Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC) at http://www.pac.ie/nuigalway.  (Code GYA40).  For further information on the programme including contact details for staff at the School,  please see: http://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/social-work.html#course_overview   The closing date for receipt of applications is 10 February 2017.  Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interviews which are likely to take place on Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd March 2017.        

Lunchtime Seminar The EU and the Northern Ireland peace process: an historical perspectiveGiada Laganà, NUI Galway Venue: The Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublinat Belfast, 9 Lennoxvale, Malone Rd, Belfast Date: Monday 30th January 2017Time: 13.00 – 14:00 ISE cordially invites you to a lunchtime seminar by Giada Laganà, final year PhD candidate in the School of Political Science and Sociology, National University of Ireland, Galway. Giada is recipient of the Galway Doctoral Research Scholarship and her thesis explores the European Union’s impact on Northern Ireland between 1981 and 2013. After completing her undergraduate studies in modern and contemporary history at the University of Pavia (Italy), Giada obtained an MA in International Relations and History at the University of La Rochelle (France). https://www.tcd.ie/ise/postgraduate/conflict-resolution.php@tcdatbelfast  

The Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Supervision, Management and Practice programme has been shortlisted for the GradIreland Higher Education Awards in two categories - Arts and Humanities and Health Sciences categories.The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 24th November 2016 in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown.  To see a full list of shortlisted courses and for detailed symposium information visit www.highereductionawards.ie Further details of the programme are available at http://www.nuigalway.ie/colleges-and-schools/arts-social-sciences-and-celtic-studies/political-science-and-sociology/postgraduate-programmes/pgdip-social-work/

Dr Michelle Millar (Political Science and Sociology) and Dr Rosemary Crosse (UNESCO Child & Family Research Centre) were witnesses to the recent Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection in relation to Issues of Concern to Lone Parents, where they presented evidence from their report ‘Lone Parents and Activation, what works and why’. The proceedings are available from Oireachtas.ie

Violence Against Women: Dr Nata Duvvury (School of Political Science and Sociology) recently addressed the UN about the global epidemic of violence against women. Read an edited version of Dr Duvvury’s address on The Guardian

School of Political Science and Sociology PhD Student Giada Laganà convened a very successful Section at the ECPR graduate student conference in Tartu (Estonia) in July 2016, entitled “European policy practices in times of crisis and transition”. With 7 panels and a total of 38 papers it was the largest section in the conference. Themes varied from the unintended consequences of European Integration and EU policy practices to EU regional policy. Working with PhD colleagues from a range of European Universities (including Cambridge, the Université libre de Bruxelles and the University of Florence) Laganà played a key role in building a European graduate student network in her field of study, an achievement acknowledged by the ECPR organising committee. In addition, the panel she organised on “European Integration: Intended and Unintended Consequences” was judged to have the best turnout of the conference, based on the results of a survey of students and organizers. 

‌‌‌‌  Pictured at Áras an Uachtaráin, June 3rd 2016, for the launch of Philosophy and Political Engagement (edited by Allyn Fives and Keith Breen, Palgrave) are (from left to right): Joseph Mahon, Dr Allyn Fives, President Michael D. Higgins, Prof. James E. Mahon, Prof. Felix O’ Murchadha, and Annie McKeown O’Donovan  

A recent article by Paul Michael Garrett is the subject of a feature on the London School of Economics ‘British Policy & Politics’ blog.

A Chinese translation of Paul Michael Garrett’s book, Social Work and Social Theory is to be published on Global Social Work Day on 15 March 2016

Dr Niall Ó Dochartaigh published an edited book in September 2015 on ‘Political Violence in Context’ with co-editors Lorenzo Bosi and Daniela Pisoiu. The book was launched by prof John Coakley of UCD and QUB at the PSAI annual conference in Cork in October. The book is published by ECPR Press, the publishing house of the main European Political Science Association, the ECPR, and includes authors from across Europe and the Americas. Available from the publisher online at: http://press.ecpr.eu/book_details.asp?bookTitleID=393