President's Award for Excellence in Teaching in Learning
26 May 2003

The President's Award for Excellence in Teaching in Learning, which took place on Wednesday 7 May, were awarded to the European Language portfolio (ELP) team, Dr Jenny Bruen, Veronica Crosbie and Juliette Péchenart, from the School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies and to Brian Corcoran from the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.

Jenny, Veronica and Juliette have devoted a great deal of time, effort, and enthusiasm into the development of their innovative portfolio, which students use to record their experience and ability in languages and intercultural contexts.

Brian Corcoran from the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering has played a key role in developing industrially relevant, innovative, modules for students on DCU's three mechanical and manufacturing based engineering degree programmes. The Module, Pneumatics and Hydraulics Systems, is one example of the innovation Brian has brought to teaching and learning at DCU. Pneumatics and Hydraulics is a key mechanical engineering topic which is widely used in industrial automation and robotic applications.

The President's awards may be made to a single member of staff, or to a group of staff who have been deemed to have made an outstanding contribution to DCU teaching and learning activities.

Members of staff, current students and DCU alumni were encouraged to submit nominations for the award, and a high volume of nominations from the student body were received.

The quality of this year's nominations was excellent, making the decision-making process for the evaluation panel very difficult. To highlight the standard of the nominations received, each of the candidates will receive a parchment stating that they were nominated for the award.