Established last year, the Youth Academy aims to inspire entry to university by introducing children and their families to university life. Since its foundation, over 200 children from Galway city and county have graduated from a range of Saturday morning courses that the Youth Academy established. These courses have ranged from Engineering and Science Exploration to Philosophical Discovery and Information Technology. The Youth Academy runs for a six-week period and works with high ability fourth- and fifth-class primary students to support their learning and academic development, in partnership with their primary schools. Speaking at the event, President of NUI Galway, Dr Jim Browne, paid tribute to the commitment and support of the parents gathered. “They’re encouraging a culture of learning and knowledge among some of the youngest members of the community, who’ll go onto to fuel the knowledge economy,” he commented. The Youth Academy was founded by three NUI Galway colleagues, Mary Dempsey, College of Engineering and Informatics, Dr Caroline Heary, School of Psychology, and Lorraine Mc Ilrath, Community Knowledge Initiative. The Irish Centre for Talented Youth, based at Dublin City University, has supported and guided the activity. For information on the next Youth Academy courses, contact Geraldine Marley at youthacademy@nuigalway.ie.