Teaching & Learning Excellence
Excellence in teaching and learning remained at the heart of our mission. Through the work of the Learning Enhancement and Academic Development Centre (LEAD), MIC continued to strengthen academic practice, foster innovation in teaching, and enhance the student learning experience across all disciplines. LEAD provides leadership in academic development and supports staff and students through professional development, curriculum enhancement, digital learning initiatives, academic integrity guidance, and the responsible integration of emerging technologies, ensuring the highest quality of learning.
The year commenced strongly with the awarding of twenty-four UDL/UD Badges to College staff, bringing the total to 130+ staff who have successfully attained the UDL/UD badge. 107 staff took part in the UD MIC staff training, which is available on Moodle on a self-access basis.
Two MIC academics made it through shortlisting to the final round of adjudication for the Regional Teaching Excellence Awards, Dr Cian O’Brien and An Dr Síle Ní Choincheannain.
Established in 2024, the Irish Centre for AI Research in Education (ICAIRE) and LEAD ran a series of talks on Generative AI in Education. In total, the series hosted six different sessions with topics exploring the ethics of AI in higher education, the practical use of AI in higher education, academic integrity and Generative AI, and the use of Generative AI in research.
Work began and was completed on the infrastructural development of the GATE Centre, an exciting new teaching, learning and digital resource development space for postgraduate students and MIC staff. The GATE Centre is a partnership between LEAD and the Research and Graduate School and is supported by the National Forum. The GATE Centre will provide a training space for hyflex teaching, a recording space for the creation of digital activities, artefacts and resources, and a site for postgraduate students to develop transversal skills.
LEAD hosted the National Forum Associates Meeting where the then Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O'Donovan TD, announced a €5m funding allocation as part of the Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement (SATLE) initiative. In addition to this launch, LEAD showcased their various SATLE projects.
