Tell us why you chose to study at NUI Galway? 

Studying at NUI Galway was an obvious choice; the university is situated in my hometown of Galway. Its’ history is intertwined with the local community, and as school kids, we grew up passing the beautiful university grounds. Many of our teachers were NUIG graduates; they often spoke about the university and imparted a sense that continuing education was local, accessible and a natural progression.

Describe your connection to NUI Galway and Galway

I feel a special connection to NUI Galway, it’s my ‘alma mater’ where I was first introduced to different ideas and the value of learning. Galway is such a vibrant city and the university forms  an integral part of that connection. When I was a student, Galway was just emerging as a  cultural hub. The incredible mix of visual artists, actors, poets, musicians and writers in the town  complimented the intellectual life and atmosphere in the college.

What was your experience of NUI Galway as a student?

Student life was never boring; the college had a real buzz – a mix of interesting/wild students, a  cosy college bar in the quad where everyone met and an amazing live music scene. In those  days, the college had a small student body with communication between professors, lecturers, students and college societies open and engaging. All involved were inspirational leaders in their respective fields and encouraged dialogue and often fierce debate. Most importantly, I made lifelong friends who I steadfastly stay in contact with and are just a zoom call away. 

What impact did this experience have on your life?

The experience impacted me very positively. In addition to research and academic skills, I developed the ability to collaborate, communicate and identify creative solutions when faced with difficult challenges. It opened possibilities and gave me the self-confidence to pursue opportunities. Since originally graduating, I have revisited the college to further up-skill as needed. The college offers pioneering programmes in technology, innovation and languages… and so the journey continues.

In your opinion, what makes NUI Galway distinctive?

So many factors give the university its distinctive edge; its excellent academic reputation, its  leading research institutes in MedTech, data science, culture and creativity, climate and oceans, public policy, and innovation, but above all, its beautiful location on the west coast of Ireland. 

How would you describe internationalisation in terms of the student and alumni experience?

Many of my graduating class had to emigrate – either by choice or necessity –  on completion of our studies. We became stronger and more resilient as we scattered around the world. I’ve bumped into NUI Galway alumni in unexpected places –  from New York streets to remote African villages. 

Times have changed and NUI Galway is preparing future students to look outward through its globalisation projects such as ‘Global Galway’. Facilitating knowledge exchange and  international partnerships will be invaluable to the current crop of graduates. These new initiatives will be of immense benefit as the university augments its position as a leader in  higher education in Europe and internationally.

What advice would you offer to students and alumni of NUI Galway?

NUI Galway students and alumni don’t need my advice! We’re all very privileged to be  products of such a great educational and life-enhancing experience. We should ensure that we  pass on our shared experience and values to create a world in which all can access education  and knowledge. 

Tell us about your personal and educational journey.

My journey could be summed up in the quote ‘Little by little, one travels far’. My personal and educational life have often run in parallel. Since graduation from NUI Galway, I completed a doctorate in public health and gained postgraduate qualifications in computer science, innovation and risk communications. I‘ve been very fortunate in my personal life and have served with great teams and global partners across the United Nations (UN) system, World Health Organsation (WHO) and scientific research environments. I never had a ‘grand plan’ but have had an exciting and varied journey so far.

What does your job entail?

I currently coordinate digital health activities at the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office covering Bangladesh, Bhutan, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, and Thailand. These countries account for over 25 per cent of the world’s  population with a disproportionate global burden of disease. Our digital innovation hub is the main source to scale innovation in health and provide information on digital health, data and  analysis to improve quality of care and health outcomes in the region.

What advice would you offer to NUI Galway in terms of its strategy for internationalisation?

Aligned with the NUIG Strategy 2020-2025 and Meitheal model, coordination of national and international funding agency collaboration to grow and strengthen Research & Development is key to future- proofing the university. As the delivery of education has shifted remotely, the development of internationalised curricula could identify new networks and strengthen NUI Galway’s external engagement. Ultimately, an agile internationalisation strategy will enable students to be strong national and international role models and positively contribute to our shared global society.