MEP Walsh welcomes Mayo students to Strasbourg as European Year of Skills begins
Mayo was well represented in European Parliament headquarters recently as five students from across the county travelled to Strasbourg as guests of MEP Maria Walsh.
The business students from Atlantic Technological University (ATU), formerly GMIT, were part of a 42-strong contingent from the university.
The group also included four lecturers – Deirdre McHugh, Lorna Moynihan, Cian Marnell and Myles McHugh.
Pre-Covid, MEP Walsh had hosted business scholars from GMIT in parliament on a number of occasions. It was especially fitting, however, that this group was one of the first welcomed by her in 2023 – the European Year of Skills.
The Midlands-North-West MEP is the only Irish member on the Culture and Education Committee (CULT) and on the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL). The designation of 2023 as European Year of Skills is therefore very applicable to her work and priorities in both committees, as well as within the constituency.
MEP Walsh said: “It was an absolute pleasure to welcome the ATU contingent and to speak with the students and give them an introduction and a better understanding of the workings of the European Parliament. It was also a great opportunity to connect them with Europe and build up the European identity, while also showing them that there are so many opportunities within the Parliament for graduates.”
The Mayo students who travelled to Strasbourg were: Ian Clarke (Ballina), Ciara Forkan (Kiltimagh), Saoirse Garvey (Ballinrobe), Conor McEveney (Snugboro) and Huzaifa Rashid (Ballinrobe).
Prior to visiting the European Parliament, the ATU students had completed a course module in European Studies, and so it was particularly interesting for them to experience life in Strasbourg first hand.
“I believe it opened eyes to the potential opportunities that the EU institutions have for graduates. We discussed roles in media, translations, with political groups as well as the institutions themselves, for example, to help them learn a little about the availability of jobs.
“They also met some of the other MEPs to get a background on different files. It was great for them to hear from the trade committee, for example, outlining they would require people with a business or economic background. It’s not just about politics; the European Parliament offers so much more,” explained MEP Walsh.
She added: “Welcoming such a large group from ATU was fantastic and great credit goes to their lecturers for seeing the importance of the EU and enabling each student to come and see the European Parliament at work.
“It was heartening to see the interest and enthusiasm among the students and to play a part in improving the connection the students have with European identity. You never know – we may see some of these students back in parliament sooner than we think.”