2023 Winners
At a ceremony on May 17th 2023, staff gathered to recognise and celebrate the outstanding
contributions to DCU's teaching and learning environment of all those who were nominated
for the 2023 awards. The citations on the day reflected innovation, enthusiasm, inclusivity
and care as hallmarks of DCU teaching and learning. We congratulate the recipients of
the awards in the various categories.
Teaching Support
The Teaching Support award, which recognises those who make an outstanding contribution to the support of teaching without being ‘frontline’ teaching staff, was awarded to Michele Somers, IoE School of STEM Education Innovation; Global Studies.
"Michele is a partner in collaboration around designing and developing practical
work on our campus. This is such a highly valued quality because it means that
practical work becomes a team effort, providing a mixture of content and
pedagogical knowledge that is essential to teach any practical work and is a great example to the future teachers who take our laboratory module."
New Lecturer
The New Lecturer Category recognises relatively new lecturers and tutors for achieving excellence in teaching. This award was presented to Martin Venker, School of Mathematics.
"He goes above and beyond in his teaching and lectures and really cares about us and our issues outside of the module. A polite man, with a brilliant genius in his teaching methods, his people skills are top class."
Team Teaching
In the Team Category, which provides an opportunity to recognise core staff teams that provide an exceptional, innovative, or transformational contribution to the student experience, the award went to the Law & Government Lecturing Team, School of Law & Government.
"The law lecturers recognised that many of their students had never prepared for or sat an in-person State or university exam due to COVID. The lecturers adopted a collective approach to reduce student anxiety. In response to the student needs the lecturers held a Zoom meeting in early November to discuss revision, answering problem-based questions, and writing essays. 300 students jumped onto the Zoom meeting. It proves that the lecturers share a common approach to problem-based questions and essay writing."
Distinctive Approaches to Teaching
James Lovatt, School of STEM Education received the ‘Distinctive Approaches to Innovation in Teaching’ award.
"James is a wonderful teacher and a great colleague. He has left a lasting impression on hundreds of science teachers who are out in the secondary school system, who recall his innovative approach to science teaching as inspirational."
Distinctive Approaches to Assessment & Feedback
Siobhán Russell, School of Nursing, Psychotherapy & Community Health was awarded in the Distinctive Approaches to Assessment and Feedback category.
"Siobhán is an excellent lecturer and very supportive for all the students in the class. Her passion for mental health nursing is demonstrated through how she teaches students in her class, she makes the topics very enjoyable and interesting."
Distinctive Approaches to Innovation in Teaching
Marta Rocchi DCU Business School was the recipient of the Distinctive Approaches to Teaching Award.
"She loves what she teaches. She’s a very kind person and made it clear that she cares about her students. Marta is interactive and engaging with the class. I feel that she has gone above and beyond to engage and allow her students to develop and grow not only individual but also in our development of ethics."
Overall Academic Award
This category recognises all the nominees who have excelled in their teaching and practice at DCU and was presented to Dónal Mulligan, School of Communications.
"Overall, Dónal's innovative approach to organising and communicating lecture material to this diverse class and his outstanding willingness to provide support and accommodation greatly influenced my and my class's learning and success during the module. Dónal, as a lecturer, was highly effective in facilitating my learning, providing continuous support throughout the module."
Award Nominees
We also congratulate all those who were shortlisted and nominated.
Teaching Support Category Nominees
Emma Mitchell Enterprise and Innovation Group, DCUBS
Lisa Dunne Disability and learning support services
Lucy Deacon School of Mathematical Sciences, FSH
Michele Somers School of STEM Education, Innovation and Global Studies, IoE
Rob Lowney Teaching Enhancement Unit, OVPAA
New Lecturer Category Nominees
Aideen O'Dochartaigh Financial and Operational Performance Group, DCUBS
Áine Travers School of Psychology, FSH
Alice O'Sullivan School of Communications, FHSS
Amanda Drury School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, FSH
Baidyanath Biswas Enterprise and Innovation Group, DCUBS
Darren Clarke School of History and Geography, FHSS
David O'Connor School of Chemical Sciences, FSH
Edoardo Celeste School of Law and Government, FHSS
Elena López Cuenca School of Applied Language & Intercultural Studies, FHSS
J. Clark Powers School of Communications, FHSS
Janine Silga School of Law and Government, FHSS
Jimmy O'Keeffe School of History and Geography, FHSS
John Cusack Enterprise and Innovation Group, DCUBS
Leanne Connolly School of Inclusive and Special Education, IoE
Martin Venker School of Mathematical Sciences, FSH
Moign Khawaja School of Law and Government, FHSS
Natalie O'Neill School of Policy and Practice, IoE
Niamh Cullen School of History and Geography, FHSS
Nigel Mulligan School of Psychology, FSH
Patrick Burke School of Language, Literacy and Early Childhood Education, IoE
Paul Razafimandimby School of Mathematical Sciences, FSH
Paula Lehane School of Inclusive and Special Education, IoE
Overall Academic Category Nominees
Angela Leahy School of Languages and Intercultural Studies, FHSS
Anne Kirwan School of Nursing, Psychotherapy & Community Health, FSH
Aoife Brennan School of Inclusive and Special Education, IoE
Claire Gubbins Work, Psychology and Strategy Group, DCUBS
Colleen O'Neill School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, FSH
Darragh McCashin School of Psychology, FSH
David McGovern School of Psychology, FSH
Deirdre Nic Mhathúna Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge, FHSS
Dónal Mulligan School of Communications, FHSS
Donnacha Ó Beacháin School of Law and Government, FHSS
Éadaoin Ní Mhuircheartaigh School of Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge, FHSS
Elaine Mullins School of Human Development, IoE
Elizabeth Mathews School of Inclusive and Special Education, IoE
Ellen Reynor School of Inclusive and Special Education, IoE
Eugene Hickland Work, Psychology and Strategy Group, DCUBS
Evan Kirwan School of Human Development, IoE
Francesca Lorenzi School of Policy and Practice, IoE
Gearóid Ó Cleircín School of Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge, FHSS
Gerry Conyngham Enterprise and Innovation Group, DCUBS
Grainne McKenna School of Language, Literacy and Early Childhood Education, IoE
Irene White School of Human Development, IoE
James Lovatt School of STEM Education, Innovation and Global Studies, IoE
Janine Bosak Work, Psychology and Strategy Group, DCUBS
Jivanta Schottli School of Law and Government, FHSS
John Appleby School of Mathematical Sciences, FSH
John Moran School of Communications, FHSS
Jonathan Arlow School of Law and Government, FHSS
Karen Devine School of Law and Government, FHSS
Kathryn O Mahony School of Inclusive and Special Education, IoE
Ken McDonagh School of Law and Government, FHSS
Khaled Benyounis School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, FEC
Kwok Chuen Wong School of Mathematical Sciences, FSH
Madeline Boughton School of Communications, FHSS
Marie Flynn School of Human Development, IoE
Marta Rocchi Financial and Operational Performance Group, DCUBS
Martin Molony School of Communications, FHSS
Maura McAdam Enterprise and Innovation Group, DCUBS
Neil Kenny School of Inclusive and Special Education, IoE
Neil O'Boyle School of Communications, FHSS
Orna Farrell School of Policy and Practice, IoE
Paola Rivetti School of Law and Government, FHS
Patrick Cadwell School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies, FHSS
Prince Anandarajah School of Electronic Engineering, FEC
Sean Duffy School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, FSH
Shivaun O'Brien School of Policy and Practice, IoE
Síle Denvir School of Fiontar & Scoil na Gaeilge, FHSS
Simon Dunne School of Psychology, FHS
Siobhan Russell School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, FSH
Therese McPhillips School of Special and Inclusive Education, IoE
Walt Kilroy School of Law and Government, FHSS
Yseult Freeney Work, Psychology and Strategy Group, DCUBS
Zita Lysaght School of Policy and Practice, IoE