Societies are ALIVE

Societies are ALIVE in NUI Galway.

This year (2013) there are 117 societies, 19 new societies were established this year. Our membership stands at 48,743 a 25% increase on last year’s figures. That represents 9858 unique memberships which is an increase of 15%.

NUI Galway Societies have won more BICS National Societies Awards than any other college in Ireland and won 4 of the possible 9 in 2012. This year the winners at our awards will be representing the University at the national Awards in Athlone on April 11th. They organise almost 8000 events each year (including guest speakers, classes, debates, film screenings, fundraisers, trips, parties, committee meetings and rehearsals) with which they enrich the social, community and cultural life of the campus with their presence. They bring colour and excitement to the University which enriches all of our lives. By organising events of educational, cultural, social and humanitarian value they broaden our perspectives and enhance the university experience for their fellow students while contributing to both the local community and the wider world.

673 (490 last year) society members participated in ALIVE this year. 92 Societies took part. The society ALIVE participants volunteered a staggering 99,673 hours (87,262 hours last year), which is 148 hours per person. The number of ALIVE participants on committees was 425 and they volunteered 79,034 hours which is an average of 186 hours per person. These represent 43% of the total 988 students (863 last year) on committees. If we conservatively estimate that the remaining 479 committee members volunteered 100 hours each this would bring the total hours which committees volunteered to 126,934 hours. Add the 20,639 hours volunteered by the 248 society members not on committees the grand total is 145,578 hours volunteered. This is the equivalent of 132 full time workers on a 40 hour week from September to March providing a valuable service to University community, which in monetary value at minimum wage would cost €1,402,000. The Societies income last year was €873,976 last year, €609,698 of that was raised by the societies themselves and €150,983 was given to charity. To fully appreciate Societies contribution to the University and to put this in context, societies provide the equivalent of 132 full time workers during term-time providing social, cultural and educational support to the university community with a budget of €609,698 which they have raise themselves, equalling a total monetary value of almost 2 million euro.

In the last nine years the societies have given €1,636,494 to local, national and international charities and also set up new charity societies and have taken on projects on an international scale that have made a difference. They have won the best Civic Contribution twice at the national BICS awards since its inception four years ago and our students have gained national and international recognition for their commitment to citizenship and global issues. We can be justifiably proud of their achievements, NUI Galway is creating leaders of the future, our students through their involvement in societies are learning real tangible transferrable skills which not only make them very sought after by employers but also fit to take their place on a world stage as engaged active educated citizens with the knowledge and ability to bring about achange. In the last year they have been honoured with numerous awards and volunteered with communities throughout the world. The Societies are truly Alive and they bring the campus to life with their presence. Thanks as always to Lorraine and Geraldine who keep us all ALIVE.Download the Societies Alive booklets

This Year 2013 here

2012 here

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