Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience awarded Prestigious Disciplinary Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Assessment DELTA Award

2 Apr 2026

University College Cork is celebrating the success of the Anatomy and Neuroscience teaching team. Led by Dr Mutahira Lone, the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience have been awarded the Higher Education Authority's prestigious Disciplinary Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Assessment DELTA Award.

This national award recognises outstanding commitment to transforming teaching and learning within a discipline, with a particular focus on sustainable, evidence-based innovation and meaningful student partnership.

The DELTA review panel commended the team for their strong application and stated: " The panel was impressed by the strong teaching and learning culture you have cultivated. Your commitment to pedagogy, including the principles of Teaching for Understanding and Universal Design for Learning, is clearly evident. The inclusive and collaborative ethos across students, lecturers, and professors is impressive. Your achievements reflect the strength of your department."

Dr Mutahira Lone, DELTA Application team leader commented 'this award reflects the collaborative ethos we have worked hard to build. Our students are not just learners in the classroom- they are partners, co-researchers, co-designers and valued contributors to the future of anatomy education at UCC'.

Over the past few years, the Anatomy and Neuroscience team has transformed learning experiences through innovative pedagogies, including 3D-printed models, interactive digital resources, flexible assessments, and research-based teaching practices. Student partners have played a central role in shaping these developments, co-writing learning materials, conducting scholarship projects, and evaluating new teaching approaches.

Professor Ger O'Keeffe, Head of the School of Medicine, congratulated the team, noting 'The DELTA Award affirms UCC’s leadership in pedagogical innovation and recognises the exemplary work happening in Anatomy and Neuroscience. This team sets a benchmark for what student partnership and research-enhanced teaching can achieve'.

The DELTA Award will support the team in implementing their updated Action Plan, which includes further embedding partnership principles, expanding staff capacity-building initiatives, and developing new cross-disciplinary collaborations to enhance learning across the health professions.

This achievement reinforces UCC’s commitment to excellence in teaching and learning and showcases the transformative impact of partnership-driven innovation on the student experience.

Representatives of the Delta Team staff and students attended the awards ceremony held in Dublin on March 10th 2026.  Accompanying team lead Dr Mutahira Lone were Professor Gerard O'Keeffe Head of Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Dr Andre Toulouse, Senior Lecturer,  Dr Mairaj Fatima, Senior Medical Demonstrator, Ms Bereniece Riedewald, Senior Technical Officer, and Ms Asma Zulfiqar final year dental student. See photo gallery

LINKS:

• HEA National Forum Teaching and Learning:  DELTA Award Team Spotlight: Anatomy and Neuroscience at University College Cork
• UCC Workvivo  Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience wins Prestigious DELTA Award
• LinkedIn Dr Mutahira Lone 

About DELTA Award and HEA National Forum T&L

• HEA National Forum: Teaching and Learning Delta Award
• HEA National Forum: Teaching and Learning