Due to unprecedented demand for its Summer Schools, NUI Galway in Ireland has added an extra date to its programme of events across the disciplines of computing, engineering and science.

Aimed at students in transition, the summer schools are specially designed to give prospective students a real taste of university life through a wide range of hands-on practical activities.

An Engineering Summer School will take place on Friday, 24 June, offering a taste of experiences as wide-ranging as remotely controlling a wastewater treatment plant, building an eco-house and designing a go-kart.

Participants in the Engineering Summer School will be the first students ever to use the University’s new engineering building. The state-of-the-art facility opens to all students in September.

Limited places are still available for the Computing Summer Camp, which runs from Monday 13 to Friday 17 June, and will introduce computing in a novel, fun and interactive way. Participants will have the opportunity to use leading-edge technologies, from constructing and controlling robots that can interact with their environment, to directing a virtual ‘mini-movie’ that can be uploaded to a website and shared with friends.

From Monday 27 to Tuesday 28 June, the Science Experience Summer Event will offer students two whole days to delve into a wide range of scientific disciplines. The workshop will feature all disciplines of the College of Science including biology, chemistry, maths and physics.

Caroline Loughnane, Director for Marketing and Communications at NUI Galway, said:

“We are delighted with the demand for our Summer Schools, as we feel they are a great opportunity for younger students to see what subjects and courses they will be best suited to in college. It is encouraging to see such high levels of interest in computing, engineering and science – all of which are flagged as key areas of growth for our smart economy.”

Spaces for all Summer Schools are limited so early booking is advised. The last date for receipt of applications is Tuesday, 31 May. To find out more about the Summer Schools or for applications visit: www.nuigalway.ie/international-summer-school/

To learn more about living and learning in Ireland, why not read the i-studentadvisor Ireland magazine.

The Russell Group, which represents 20 of the UK’s top universities including Oxford and Cambridge, recently sparked controversy with it’s new guide, Informed Choices, to help students choose A levels in preparation for university. Some, including the British Journal of Photography (BJP), felt that the guide has attacked so-called ‘soft subjects’ and accused the Russell Group of short-sightedness.

The guide warns students considering taking more than one ‘soft’ subject – usually courses that are vocational or practical based such as art, music or business studies- that “some caution may be needed” and encourages students to take two or more A level qualifications in ‘hard’ or ‘facilitating’ subjects such as English, maths and the sciences in order to have “a much wider range of options open to you at university”. They also state that general or critical studies should only be taken as an additional subject and not be one that students rely on for entry requirements.

But in an article the BJP editors, and the photography lecturers they spoke to, argued that it was absurd to consider some subjects as ‘soft’ and that these subjects could teach students independent thinking and creativity. However, although it may be aggravating to those involved in the ‘soft’ subjects it should be considered that this is not a new categorisation created by the Russell Group; the grouping of subjects as ‘soft’ and ‘hard’, whether correct or not, has been a persistent problem.

The BJP also pointed out the need for encouraging students to take up arts and humanities subjects, especially after government cuts meant a withdrawal of funding for these courses in the university sector. At a time when unemployment is high and university fees are set to increase, there are already fears that students will not take creative/humanities subjects, instead opting for subjects they think can lead to a specific job. There may be a worry that the Russell Group’s guide may discourage students further from taking a broad range of subjects, instead promoting the traditional ‘hard’ ones.

The guide could be of great use to students considering their post-16 study choices, though some of it’s recommendations may not sit comfortably with some. For example, the guide states: “By choosing facilitating subjects at advanced level, you will have a much wider range of options open to you at university. An advanced level qualification in any facilitating subject will keep open to you a number of degree courses” and also states that choosing non-facilitating subjects doesn’t increase your options at university.

Whilst this may be true in some circumstance, evidence shows that a majority of courses do not require specific subjects and will consider most subjects, whether ’soft’ or ‘hard’. Recent research titled ‘A level subjects: What universities want’ by The Guardian showed that many universities do not require or discount specific subjects, with the exception of general studies which some of the universities involved said could not be part of the entry requirements. Most outlined that for some courses specific A levels may be needed but this is not ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ based; i.e. whilst engineering may require a ‘hard’ subject such as maths, other subjects such as art will require a ‘soft’ qualification such as A level art.

For example, in the research Canterbury Christ Church University said: “We do not differentiate between A-level subjects and accept general studies. However, for some programmes a specific A-level or equivalent is required, eg a music A-level for the music degree, art for our fine art degree programme and most of our science programmes require at least one science A-level.”

City University London also said: “General studies is the only A-level generally excluded. Having it would not damage their chances of winning a place, as long as there was sufficient preparation elsewhere on the form.”

In any case, students should make sure they are aware of the requirements for the courses and universities they are interested in. If you are unsure of what you would like to study at university, you should try to keep your options as wide as possible and study subjects that may be required for subjects you think you might want to study.

To see the Russell Group Informed Choices guide, click here. To see the The Guardian’s ‘A levels: What universities want’ click here.

What do you think about the categorising of subjects as ‘soft’ and ‘hard’? Have you taken an A level subject that you don’t enjoy in order to have better qualifications? Let us know your thoughts.

The programme, UTeach, originated in 1997 at the University of Texas at Austin as a system to allow students studying maths and science to pursue a teaching certificate at the same time.

Over the last 13 years the programme has spread across the United States and is now active in 14 schools, with the Dallas-based National Math and Science Initiative supporting the expansion further.

“Our future depends on reaffirming America’s role as the world’s engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation,” Obama said at a White House ceremony Wednesday. “And that leadership tomorrow depends on how we educate our students today, especially in math, science, technology and engineering.”

Obama was joined at the ceremony by representatives from Dell Computers and Texas Instruments, amongst others, where the latters chief executive Rich Templeton praised the initiative:

“This is about putting great teachers in front of our kids,” Templeton said. “The president is very focused on that passion personally, and also, he understands the economics and the implications for us to compete globally.”

“It is not a debate of should it be done or can it be done,” Templeton added. “It is a matter how soon can we get this done.”

i-SECT, i-studentadvisor’s science, engineering, computing and technology magazine is now online and ava

This edition of i-SECT is bursting with editorial from academics and leading professionals in the SECT disciplines as well as featuring a range of university and college profiles. So, whether students want to study chemistry in the UK, maths in Australia or geology in the USA, this edition has something for every SECT minded student.

Following the release of i-MAD earlier in the month, i-SECT is the second of our subject specific issues to be launched this year and soon to be followed by i-LASH (liberal arts, social sciences and humanities), i-HT (hospitality and tourism) and i-BEL (business, economics and law).

We hope you enjoy reading this issue of i-SECT and would love to hear any comments or feedback you have.

The long awaited decision, reported by the New York Times, sees an abandonment of the English policy implemented in 2003 by former Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad. The intended outcome of the policy was to improve the employability and language skills of Malay graduates. The Malaysian Government state that the policy has failed to improve English in the vast majority of students and that grades have fallen since the policy was introduced.

Some critics have argued that the decision by the Government is mainly political. Professor James Chin, Head of the School of Arts and Social Sciences at Monash University in Malaysia, said of the Government “they decided to buckle under the pressure from the Malay nationalists who argue that by teaching students in English you are neglecting the position of the national language.”

Other critics are concerned at how the decline in English tuition may affect students after graduation. Shamsuddin Bardan, Executive Director of the Malaysian Employers Federation said, “this is a setback for the efforts to enhance the command of English for the students.”

Malaysian former student Gabrielle also commented “I am against the decision. For the country to move forward more students should be taught in English. It is essential for them to get ahead in the job market, particularly in today’s climate.”

What do you think? i-studentadvisor would love to hear your comments on this issue.

On Tuesday June 23rd HP Ireland announced the 2009 Ireland winners of the Innovation in Education Grant Initiative, which rewards universities and secondary schools across EMEA for their innovative teaching and learning projects. This year’s Ireland winners were NUI Galway and Coláiste Iognáid, Galway.

Each institution will receive a mobile technology solution, such as tablet PCs, laptops, printers, access points, and a cash donation. They will also be invited to join a network of educators around the world who are working to design the future of high-tech education.

“Innovation in education is vital to developing the next generation of high-tech innovators and is central to the success of the smart economy in Ireland. I’d like to congratulate both NUI Galway and Coláiste Iognáid on being selected for their enlightening approaches to innovative teaching and learning,” said Martin Murphy, Managing Director, HP Ireland.

Commenting, Dr James J. Browne, President of NUI Galway, said: “Here at NUI Galway, we are committed to the highest quality teaching and learning experience for our students and have strongly integrated this priority into the institutional agenda.”

NUI Galway was selected for its project that plans to implement a SecondLife Maths Support space to deliver one of its courses in its Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Education degree programme.