2009 Press Releases
Integrating research into education is essential for economic recovery
13.11.2009
The heads of national research funding organisations highlighted the necessity of integrating research into 3rd and 4th level education during a panel discussion at the National Academy’s Annual Conference in Trinity College Dublin on November 11th and 12th.
13.11.2009
The heads of national research funding organisations highlighted the necessity of integrating research into 3rd and 4th level education during a panel discussion at the National Academy’s Annual Conference in Trinity College Dublin on November 11th and 12th.
Chaired by John Bowman, the discussion focussed on the role of research funding organisations in shaping teaching and learning, and prompted lively debate between the conference audience and panel members.
Dr Eucharia Meehan, Head of Research Programmes at the Higher Education Authority (HEA), addressed the role of the HEA in shaping teaching and learning saying “since the mid to late 90’s, the HEA has endorsed the notion that research and teaching are intrinsically linked and are part of the education continuum”. She praised the efforts of NAIRTL as an example of the HEA’s commitment in this regard.
Professor Frank Gannon, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), spoke about SFI’s role in funding competitive research and linking excellence in research to the economy. He also said that: “the need to have an educational system working optimally so that it can link into SFI is self-evident”. The UREKA programme which saw undergraduate students undertaking research projects during the summer months was held up as an example of good practice in integrating research into teaching at an early stage.
The panel discussion follows a recent communiqué by the Conference of European Ministers responsible for Higher Education in the 46 countries of the Bologna Process which states that “the integration between education and research at all levels as being required to “bring about sustainable economic recovery and development”.
The National Academy for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (NAIRTL) is a collaborative initiative between University College Cork (lead partner), Cork Institute of Technology, National University of Ireland Galway, Trinity College Dublin and Waterford Institute of Technology. NAIRTL is supported by the Higher Education Authority through the Strategic Innovation Fund.
Picture: John Bowman chair of the NAIRTL Annual Conference panel discussion on “the role of research organisations in shaping teaching and learning”
Dr Eucharia Meehan, Head of Research Programmes at the Higher Education Authority (HEA), addressed the role of the HEA in shaping teaching and learning saying “since the mid to late 90’s, the HEA has endorsed the notion that research and teaching are intrinsically linked and are part of the education continuum”. She praised the efforts of NAIRTL as an example of the HEA’s commitment in this regard.
Professor Frank Gannon, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), spoke about SFI’s role in funding competitive research and linking excellence in research to the economy. He also said that: “the need to have an educational system working optimally so that it can link into SFI is self-evident”. The UREKA programme which saw undergraduate students undertaking research projects during the summer months was held up as an example of good practice in integrating research into teaching at an early stage.
The panel discussion follows a recent communiqué by the Conference of European Ministers responsible for Higher Education in the 46 countries of the Bologna Process which states that “the integration between education and research at all levels as being required to “bring about sustainable economic recovery and development”.
The National Academy for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (NAIRTL) is a collaborative initiative between University College Cork (lead partner), Cork Institute of Technology, National University of Ireland Galway, Trinity College Dublin and Waterford Institute of Technology. NAIRTL is supported by the Higher Education Authority through the Strategic Innovation Fund.
Picture: John Bowman chair of the NAIRTL Annual Conference panel discussion on “the role of research organisations in shaping teaching and learning”