MRU lands D'Arcy McGee Beacon Fellowship
Father of Canadian Confederation Thomas D’Arcy McGee. Photo courtesy Library and Archives Canada.
The D’Arcy McGee Beacon Fellowship connects leading Canadian and Irish academics in an effort to “provide light, guidance and hope in challenging times,” says the website. Beginning May 28, the Bissett School of Business and Mount Royal University will host a series of webinars with Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, PhD, president of the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, as part of the D’Arcy McGee Beacon Lecture Series.
In 1963, while touring Ireland, then-president of the United States John F. Kennedy commented, "if your eyesight is good enough, and the weather is clear enough, you can see Boston."
Not true, “In fact, geographically it is Newfoundland. So the connections between Ireland and Canada have always been strong,” says Ó hÓgartaigh, who will be hosting three fellowship webinars in conjunction with MRU, NUI Galway and the Ireland Canada University Foundation.
The first webinar will take place May 28 (10 a.m MDT / 5 p.m. local Ireland time) with Irish fellow Ó hÓgartaigh discussing the influence post-secondary institutions have in diversifying local economies.
Two additional webinars have been scheduled. On June 1 the focus will be on the role of the Irish (Gaelic) language in Ireland’s modern society. June 18 will discuss how to create global citizens through international experiences for students and attracting international students to smaller universities. Both will also take place at 10 a.m. MDT and 5 p.m. local Ireland time.
Ó hÓgartaigh will demonstrate how NUI Galway is a prime example of how post-secondary education directly impacts the regional economy.
“We are on the edge of things, but also in the centre. So, on the edge of the Atlantic and of the European continent, but in the centre between Europe and North America,” Ó hÓgartaigh says. “There was a very strong hinterland here of, first of all, industry, and particularly medical technologies, North American and foreign direct investment, which not only has created a very strong manufacturing culture, but a very strong enterprise culture. Because there's not only foreign direct investment from North America, but also Indigenous industries.”
Galway and the west of Ireland, like Calgary and Alberta, is familiar with rotating industry demand. As Western Canada translates into a more diversified economy, Ó hÓgartaigh will be sharing his own experiences. The Galway region has successfully adapted to industry needs, with the support of post-secondary education playing a major role.
“To me, one of the things universities do is, if you link with your hinterland, that's a reason for students to come. And when students come to your university and stay, then they create a broader talent pool, which makes the hinterland stronger, which makes a reason to come to the university, which then makes the university stronger, the hinterland stronger, and so on.
“So it's a virtuous circle that universities create, which is a different type of diversity, so it's a different, more diverse, talent pool.”
Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, PhD, president of the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, will be hosting three fellowship webinars in conjunction with MRU, NUI Galway and the Ireland Canada University Foundation.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Galway was home to roughly 20,000 or 30,000 residents. Today it’s now above 80,000.
“Where did that other 30,000 to 40,000 come from? Mainly from outside Galway, and we're one of the more diverse cities, certainly in Ireland. So any diversification with universities brings in a broader or more diverse talent pool.”
The D’Arcy McGee Beacon Fellowship has been designed to link Irish and Canadian academics, researchers and thought leaders. The inaugural Beacon Lectures by Dr. Mary McAleese (president of Ireland, 1997-2011) and the Honourable Jean Charest (Premier of Quebec, 2003-2012), took place in 2020.
Being awarded this fellowship is an incredible accomplishment for the Bissett School of Business and Mount Royal University.
“(Ó hÓgartaigh) has an international reputation as a leader in Irish universities and Gaelic language,” says Brian Taynor, acting dean of Mount Royal’s Faculty of Business and Communication Studies.
“When we discussed the possibility of applying for the D’Arcy McGee Beacon Fellowship, we found there are strong parallels between the National University of Ireland ― Galway and Mount Royal University, We are confident that strong relationships can be built between NUI Galway and MRU. Future possibilities could include: student study abroad opportunities, faculty exchanges, and shared learnings around community engagement.”
The second and third webinars, related to the role of the Irish (Gaelic) language and educating global citizens, will be focal points of discussion. Traynor says that was one of the underlying reasons for developing relationships with Galway.
“Students returning from study abroad programs talk about the transformative experiences they had. Not only do they make connections, but they are immersed in a different learning environment and see how diverse viewpoints encourage a more open mind. These students then influence our own MRU community as they share their experiences,” contributing to Mount Royal’s own “virtuous circle.” MRU’s International Education office provides essential support for this to be able to happen.
Ó hÓgartaigh has worked in Boston as a Fullbright Scholar as well as in Wellington, New Zealand, as a faculty member, and also previously worked in France. “I think more and more now we see the importance of citizenship and the role of the university in society, so not just the economy. In Europe we have the Erasmus program, in which our students travel from our university into other countries for a semester, at least, sometimes a year. And there is a view that that program has really created a very strong European citizenship, and then a very strong sense of understanding between students, and, ultimately graduates.”
NUI Galway has a long history of leading social change and serving the population of Western Ireland to help transform the economy while keeping a strong emphasis on its cultural heritage. Past graduates include Ireland’s current president, Michael D. Higgins. NUI Galway has a world university ranking in the top one per cent and plays a particular role serving the social, economic and cultural needs of its region as a university with an international reputation and reach.
May 13, 2021 — Jonathan Anderson
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