Last updated 12th March 2024
Lee O'Farrell - Senior Project Manager, UCD POST
Tell me about yourself.
Hi, my name is Lee O’Farrell. I’ve worked in UCD since 2001 and have recently moved to the UCD POST Programme Management Office. Over the past 20 years, I’ve been mostly based in Registry, starting in Assessment and then moving to Student Registration, Fees and Data Operations. I also spent nearly three years on secondment to the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, where I managed national projects relating to student success and to the use of data and analytics as tools for supporting students. Both topics are very close to my heart!
What projects are you working on?
I’m on secondment for two years as a project manager so I’ll be working across a range of projects but the two I’m focused on at the moment are Supporting the Changing Needs of Students and the Clinical Placements Strategy Project.
Sounds really interesting, tell me more.
The Supporting the Changing Needs of Students project has a focus on equity of access for learners on flexible, offsite and not-for-award modes of study to a seamless student experience. Given the diversity of this learner group, I find the equity aspect of the project extremely appealing and am driven to play my part in ensuring a positive experience for these UCD students and for the staff who support them.
The Clinical Placements Strategy Project is also about a positive and well structured and supported experience for staff and students but, in this case, it relates to learners preparing for, taking part in and returning from, their clinical placement. Clinical placements are such a key educational and developmental experience for so many of our students, and I’m really excited to play a role in ensuring that it is as enriching as possible.
Tell me about your role on these projects?
As project manager, my role is to work with stakeholders from across the UCD community to ensure that projects run to plan, meet their milestones and achieve their aims and deliverables. Over my time in UCD, I’ve worked closely with staff across the campus (and beyond) and am really excited to collaborate with them in a whole new context.
What drew you to this role?
There’s so much that UCD does incredibly well but I think there are always ways that we can improve the experience of our colleagues and learners. I feel very privileged to have this opportunity to play a role in that transformation.
What are you enjoying so far?
I’ve only recently joined the Programme Management Office and I’m really enjoying getting out and meeting my colleagues and coming to better understand their experiences and needs. Even after two decades here, I still have a lot to learn!
If you have any questions on the above content please do not hesitate to contact the POST programme team by emailing (opens in a new window)ucdpostpmo@ucd.ie