Ms Elizabeth Greene - Clinical Skills Manager, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems

The panel was impressed by the key leadership role that Ms Greene has taken in developing innovative teaching and learning practices in the clinical skills area; in particular her almost single-handed production of a suite of high-quality DVDs to enhance the teaching and learning of clinical skills across all programmes within the School. The head of school noted that her contribution has been critical to the school’s ability to increase student capacity and introduce new clinically-focused programmes at graduate level. She is also involved in researching practice innovations. The panel found evidence of the considerable respect shown by academic colleagues towards Ms Greene and the significant contribution that she has made to student learning in the school. 

Ms Aishling Kennedy - Facilities Manager, UCD Buildings and Services

Ms Kennedy is the facilities manager for the Newman Building, which houses the largest of UCD’s academic programmes (BA and BSocSc) with over 8,500 students. Her application showed evidence of how her interest in student learning has led her to drive new initiatives such as the standard teaching station, now found in several buildings across the campus. The panel was particularly impressed by Ms Kennedy’s growing interest and expertise in learning spaces, arising from her involvement with the U21 Learning Environments Design Forum. In 2010 she coordinated this high-profile event and brought it to UCD where the event looked at the Library / Newman area. The panel noted the results of innovative work in the Newman Building such as the development of the Problem Based Learning rooms in Newman, and the Cuas.  She is also frequently consulted by academic colleagues when seeking to regenerate space, develop ideas and avail of new thinking or technology such as the redevelopment of the Teanglann.

Ms Jennifer Murphy - Student Adviser, UCD Access Centre

Ms Murphy’s work is focused on supporting largely non-traditional students "transition into higher education" for the benefit of both the student and the university. Providing a personalised learning experience is a key factor in her approach to retention, student motivation, and achievement. The panel was impressed by Ms Murphy’s use of a Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) Programme which offers student-led study and revision sessions and in the manner by which Ms Murphy’s work has been informed by international research into peer-assisted learning. Feedback from students on this project shows that they report benefits from their involvement. They have enjoyed acting as role models and feel proud to be able to support new students integrate into UCD. It has given them important facilitation and group-work experience, as well as helping them with their own academic work, by revising the basics during the sessions.

Mr Lee O'Farrell - Specialist Officer, Administrative Services - Registry

 Mr O’Farrell has been centrally involved with the development of Academic Analytics, which has been designed within UCD to identify at-risk students based on an analysis of accurate on-line information combined into a single tool that can be interrogated in a variety of ways. This unique facility allows programmes to assess their students’ levels of engagement with their programme at both an early stage and on an ongoing basis, empowering them to monitor students’ progress and intervene to offer extra support to such students if necessary. In particular, Academic Analytics has been found to have considerable potential in large programmes, where students run the risk of early disengagement and non-completion. The panel was impressed at the high-quality design and usability that Mr O’Farrell built into the project, its long-term sustainability and his enthusiasm, initiative, and drive to ensure what has begun well can lead to great developments in this area.

Ms Ros McFeely, Ms Aoife Fitzgerald, Ms Jenny Murphy, Mr Kieran Moloney, Ms Nadia Clarkin, Ms Jacqueline Levine, Ms Anna Farrell, Ms Carl Lusby, Ms Niamh O’Regan, Ms Colleen Doyle – Student Advisers

This group award has been given to UCD student advisers for their development of a Peer Mentoring Programme. The main aim of the programme is to assist first year undergraduate students in their transition to third level education through the provision of student to student support. An additional key aim is to foster a sense of identity and connection between students and their classmates, programme and the university. Initially piloted by three student advisers in 2006/7 the Peer Mentoring Programme has now been rolled out to almost all undergraduate courses. Student advisers together with programme and academic staff organize recruitment and selection of peer mentors. The panel noted the praise from academic staff on the value of the Peer Mentoring Programme and its significant contribution to improving student engagement in the first year and lowering drop-out rates.  One dean described the peer mentors as being like “a little yellow army, they are visible everywhere and are a great support to staff;  [the Student Advisors’] work with peer mentoring has strongly supported student learning and has been very important in helping to create an effective and positive learning environment in UCD”.

Special Joint Award to Library Services:

Ms Julia Barrett, Ms Jane Nolan, Ms Maeve Tannam, Ms Lorna Dodd, Ms Evelyn Flanagan, Mr Mark Tynan, Ms Ursula Byrne

The panel decided that, as well as the other awards, they would also like to give a special award in overall recognition of the involvement by the Library in three separate projects.  Mss Barrett, Nolan and Tannam have provided the users of the Richview Library with a suite of innovative on-line resources that have proved invaluable to the project work of Architecture students. Mss Dodd and Flanagan have gone beyond the traditional support role taken by library staff and have been involved in the strategic planning of a large EPBL module in English resulting in gains both in the amount and quality of the students’ use of library facilities. Mr Tynan and Ms Byrne have developed and refined a successful on-line quiz that is designed to help students avoid plagiarism, a significantly serious issue, particularly for students at the beginning of their studies. The quiz is now being widely used, has been translated into Irish and is currently being translated into Chinese.  The panel considered that all three projects demonstrated the commitment, skill, and enthusiasm that Library staff bring to the support of student learning in UCD. (Also in the photograph Ms Geraldine O'Donnell who worked with the winning team from Richview Library)

Recognition of Special Achievement:

Ms Nuala Curley - Manager, Mathematics Support Centre

At adjudication the panel noted that, due to a technicality, Ms Curley did not fall into an eligible category for these awards.  However, the panel considered that Ms Curley’s work in the Mathematics Support Centre demonstrated such an outstanding contribution to supporting student learning and the provision of an effective and positive learning environment in UCD, that it deserved recognition. During Ms Curley’s time as Manager of the Mathematics Support Centre she has built up a strong team of skilled tutors who now offer support to students from over 70% of all UCD programmes, from first year to doctoral level. Ms Curley has also initiated the keeping of detailed records of student visits to assist the Centre in future planning and gives up-to-the-minute feedback to lecturers. The panel considered that Ms Curley’s work has been central to development of the Centre into a vibrant and efficient part of UCD's learning support for students.