2009 Press Releases
UCC Teaching Staff honoured by President McAleese
19.11.2009
UCC Teaching Staff, Dr Bettie Higgs and Marian McCarthy were honoured by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese when they received a Special Commendation at the National Excellence in Teaching Awards at Dublin Castle earlier this week.
19.11.2009
UCC Teaching Staff, Dr Bettie Higgs and Marian McCarthy were honoured by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese when they received a Special Commendation at the National Excellence in Teaching Awards at Dublin Castle earlier this week.
The awards were presented on behalf of the National Academy for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (NAIRTL).
More than 100 guests attended the ceremony including Higher Education Authority representatives, senior management of many higher education institutes as well as family and friends of the award winners. Jennifer Murphy, Manager of the National Academy, welcomed the guests and highlighted the significance of the awards programme in recognising and rewarding teaching in Higher Education.
Winners of the five Awards were nominated by senior managers within their institutions and selected by a committee which included international representatives as well as representatives of the Irish University Association, the Institutes of Technology Ireland and the Union of Students in Ireland. The committee was chaired by Professor Áine Hyland, Chair of the Academy’s international advisory board.
Along with Dr Bettie Higgs and Marian McCarthy, awards were also presented to Helena Lenihan, University of Limerick (UL); Aisling McCluskey, NUI Galway; Amanda Gibney, University College Dublin; Susan Bergin NUI, Maynooth; and a team from the Dublin Institute of Technology - Michael Seery, Claire McDonnell, Christine O’Connor and Sarah Rawe.
The Award comprised a crystal vase, a certificate and €5,000, which can be used for further professional development and enhancement of teaching. President McAleese presented the awards highlighting the significant role of integrating research, teaching and learning in the recovery of a sustainable economy. She encouraged teachers to lead by example and to provide innovative and creative teaching and learning opportunities in our higher education institutions. She added that the National Awards were a significant and welcome development in Irish Higher Education.
Michael Kelly, Chairman of the HEA closed the ceremony saying “this morning I was inspired and inspiration runs throughout the approaches adopted by the award winners which make for attention grabbing teaching.”
Picture: Dr Bettie Higgs (left) and Marian McCarthy (right) recipients of a Special Commendation award with their nominator Professor Grace Neville at the National Excellence in Teaching Awards.
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More than 100 guests attended the ceremony including Higher Education Authority representatives, senior management of many higher education institutes as well as family and friends of the award winners. Jennifer Murphy, Manager of the National Academy, welcomed the guests and highlighted the significance of the awards programme in recognising and rewarding teaching in Higher Education.
Winners of the five Awards were nominated by senior managers within their institutions and selected by a committee which included international representatives as well as representatives of the Irish University Association, the Institutes of Technology Ireland and the Union of Students in Ireland. The committee was chaired by Professor Áine Hyland, Chair of the Academy’s international advisory board.
Along with Dr Bettie Higgs and Marian McCarthy, awards were also presented to Helena Lenihan, University of Limerick (UL); Aisling McCluskey, NUI Galway; Amanda Gibney, University College Dublin; Susan Bergin NUI, Maynooth; and a team from the Dublin Institute of Technology - Michael Seery, Claire McDonnell, Christine O’Connor and Sarah Rawe.
The Award comprised a crystal vase, a certificate and €5,000, which can be used for further professional development and enhancement of teaching. President McAleese presented the awards highlighting the significant role of integrating research, teaching and learning in the recovery of a sustainable economy. She encouraged teachers to lead by example and to provide innovative and creative teaching and learning opportunities in our higher education institutions. She added that the National Awards were a significant and welcome development in Irish Higher Education.
Michael Kelly, Chairman of the HEA closed the ceremony saying “this morning I was inspired and inspiration runs throughout the approaches adopted by the award winners which make for attention grabbing teaching.”
Picture: Dr Bettie Higgs (left) and Marian McCarthy (right) recipients of a Special Commendation award with their nominator Professor Grace Neville at the National Excellence in Teaching Awards.
1233MMcS