The Irish Universities Association (IUA) has partnered once again with RTÉ and New Decade to create a second series of My Uni Life. Filmed over the course of academic year 2022/23, this nine-part series, provides a unique and authentic insight into campus life and the experiences of students and staff across the country, as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of a typical university year.
When university gates closed because of the nationwide lockdown in March 2020, Ireland’s thriving student scene was placed firmly on hold. Thankfully, our campuses are teeming with life once more, and the people who live and work there have never been more energised to enjoy and embrace everything that the university experience has to offer – from the sports and societies to the colourful events and the truly transformative interactions!
In this series, we spend a year in the life of Irish universities. We meet the students embarking on the first and final days of their university adventure; witness the fledgling friendships and activities set in motion during Freshers week; and we’ll be there to capture the culmination of life-changing and life-affirming journeys on joyful graduation days.
We’ll meet the mentors and academic advisors who guide the students along their journey, and reveal the essential roles fulfilled by a passionate legion of non-academic staff across the campuses from security guards and catering staff to gardening teams.
From Freshers Week to Graduation, this fly on the wall series at eight Irish universities, will provide unique insight into the excitement, fun-filled and fulfilling rollercoaster of university life!
Speaking about the series, Jim Miley, Director General of IUA said, “It’s great to be back on campus for the second series of My Uni Life to show first-hand how our universities are providing exciting opportunities and a life-shaping experience for Students. We also get a ‘birds eye’ view of the working day of some of the 20,000 staff in our universities and the impact of our colleges on their local communities and regions.”
Featured staff and students include:
For Dublin City University
- Fiona Earley, Autism Friendly University Coordinator and Early Childhood Education student Matthew and his friend Chloe
- Dr Elizabeth Matthews and the Irish Sign Language (ISL) Glossary Development Team
- The Gnomes, Martin, Shane, Raymond and Jason, graduates who took over a neglected garden on campus and turned it into a thriving sustainable food business.
For Maynooth University
- Mary-Kate Lynch, All-Ireland Winning footballer with the Meath Ladies Football team and stalwart of her university Gaelic football team.
- Fourth year law student Katelynn Doran, who is the first recipient of a Women’s Rugby scholarship.
- Conor Murphy and researchers from the Icarus Centre who are in Wexford investigating the effects of climate change.
For Trinity College Dublin
- Students in the Afro Caribbean and Historical Societies.
- Security staff, Niall Hanrahan and Paul O’Connell, ensuring campus is a safe and welcoming place.
- Conferring Team, Lorraine Norton and Registrar Prof Neville Cox preparing for a busy graduation season.
For TU Dublin
- First-year design students working with the Robert Emmet Community Development Project, South Inner City Dublin Community Development Association, and Dublin City Council.
- Students from the TU Dublin Dance Society.
- Final year Fine Art students Oisín Tozer and Shannon McGovern as they prepare for their end of year exhibition.
For University College Cork
- Dave, first year experience coordinator, ensuring new students get off to the best start.
- Thérèse Keniry, final year student and member of the UCC Choral Society rehearsing for their Christmas Concert.
- Head gardener Jack Murphy and Irene Ní Shúilleabháin, UCC’s Greenshoots Green Campus Coordinator, show what it takes to be awarded 6th globally in the most environmentally friendly universities.
For University College Dublin
- Sports Scholar and elite runner Darragh McElhinney as he prepares for the Olympics.
- Dr Aviva Cohen, founder of the SeamlessCARE app, helping carers and parents communicate more easily with loved ones in their care.
- Students and staff at Lyons Farm, Irelands’ only dedicated teaching and research farm.
For University of Galway
- Medical students and staff using cutting edge simulation to mimic the real-life challenges of frontline healthcare.
- Niamh Ní Charra, an archivist who is processing and cataloguing the unique contents of former President Mary Robinson’s archive, nearly 750 boxes spanning six decades!
- Lecturers and Masters students, festival ambassadors at the Galway International Arts Festival.
For University of Limerick
- The Pink Ladies catering team whose food and kind words have become a staple of campus life.
- Lecturer JJ Collins and first year student Rosie from the new Immersive Software Engineering Course backed by the Collison Brothers and other leading tech companies.
- Sports scholar and jockey Mark McDonagh who’s in this final year of accountancy and finance.
Ends
For media requests and more information contact:
Lia O’Sullivan, Head of Communications IUA 085 7141414 lia.osullivan@iua.ie
Erin Fox, Drury 087 122 5485 erin.fox@drury.ie
Additional Info:
More information on the series can be found on www.iua.ie/myunilife2
The series is produced by New Decade – http://www.newdecade.ie/