National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway is to receive computer hardware worth US$100k in recognition of the innovation potential of a technology project being run there.
The university was one of only seven European universities to be funded by the Hewlett-Packard (HP) sponsored Mobile Technology for Teaching Grants Scheme.
The award consists of 40 wireless-enabled laptops, tablet PC devices and mobile computing network infrastructure. All second year BSc IT students will have use of a laptop and will have full access – using the on-campus mobile network – to internet-based software, virtual classrooms and collaborative working environments.
This technology award will facilitate an enhancement of the project-based learning approach, widely used in the BSc IT, by enabling the class to work together as a team to design and build an industry-standard internet auction site. The project will also make use of the skills learned by students on both the business and language streams and will be translated into European languages.
Dr Jim Duggan, project leader and lecturer at the IT department, commented: “The great benefit of this project is that BSc IT students will gain a unique insight into the real world complexities of internet software development. They will appreciate the scale of these projects, get a chance to apply their technical, business and language skills, and experience the challenges and excitement of working as part of a large team.”
The project will run for the full academic year and the laptops will be made available to future second-year classes of the BSc IT.
By Brian Skelly
Pictured at the presentation of the HP Mobile Technology award are, from left, Rory O’Connor, managing director of HP Galway, with NUI Galway BSc IT students Sandra Fox, Alan McCann and Paul Murray.
