Minister for Higher Education Announces Shortlist for Inaugural DELTA Awards 2018

PRESS RELEASE

Minister for Higher Education Announces Shortlist for Inaugural DELTA Awards 2018.

Disciplinary Excellence in Learning Teaching and Assessment Awards 2018

The Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, T.D., today (Thursday 8 March 2018) announced the shortlist for the inaugural DELTA Awards 2018.  The DELTA awards (Disciplinary Excellence in Learning Teaching and Assessment) are a key part of the National Learning Impact awards system led by the National Forum for Enhancement of Teaching and Learning.  They aim to identify, learn from and celebrate discipline groups within higher education institutions who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to enriching teaching and learning in their areas.

Announcing the 18 shortlisted projects for the 2018 Awards, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, T.D., Minister for Higher Education said, “I am delighted to congratulate the shortlisted applicants for the DELTA Awards – an initiative that highlights the range of innovative practice that is improving teaching and learning in all our higher education institutions. This practice strongly aligns with the principles and ambitions of the Action Plan for Education 2018.  I was particularly struck by the strong focus on industry, professional practice and community liaisons within the projects, helping to develop the future employability of our students.”

Speaking at the announcement of the shortlist, Prof Sarah Moore, Chair of the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning said, “We are immensely proud of the calibre and standard showcased by all of the shortlisted projects in the 2018 DELTA Awards.  The commitment to ongoing improvement in teaching and learning within higher education institutions is reflected in the broad range of discipline areas and institutions from which we received applications.  The 18 shortlisted projects and their institutions have already established themselves as excelling in teaching and learning innovation and progress and we wish them the very best with their successful projects.”

Author and broadcaster, Colm O’Regan will MC the Awards ceremony which will take place on 21 March 2018 in the Round Room at the Mansion House.

The inaugural DELTA Awards form an integral part of the overall teaching enhancement approach of the National Forum by recognising the value of teaching at a national level.  The learning impact awards system highlights the quality of higher education in Ireland and will recognise and publicise this good work to a wider audience, increasing innovation, enhancement and collegiality within higher education communities.

Shortlisted Projects – DELTA Awards 2018

Discipline	Institution	Project Name
Arts/ Law	University of Limerick, School of Law	Clinical Legal Education through Experiential Learning
	IADT, Faculty of Film, Art, and Creative Technologies	Critical Thinking and Creative Practice
Health	University of Limerick, The Graduate Entry Medical School	Integrated Medical Education – Learning for Life
	UCD, Radiography and Diagnostic Imaging –	Incorporating educational and healthcare technologies to enhance Radiography and Diagnostic Imaging education and training
	Dublin Institute of Technology, Higher Cert. in Pharmacy Technician Studies	Innovations in Pharmacy Technician Studies
	University of Limerick, Department of Clinical Therapies	Interprofessional Education at the University of Limerick: Training allied healthcare students for best practice
Sciences	NUIG, Pharmacology	Enhancing the PhD Student Experience
	Cork Institute of Technology, Department of Mathematics	Maths Centre Stage @ CIT
	Dundalk Institute of Technology, Health and Science	Embedding a culture of learning and teaching scholarship within the School of Health and Science, Dundalk Institute of Technology.
	Dublin Institute of Technology, Chemical Education Research Team	Supporting, Engaging and Challenging DIT Chemistry Undergraduates by Emphasising Real World Applications and Applying Technology Effectively
	Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, International Medical Commencement Program	International Medical Commencement Programme (IMCP)
Engineering/ Construction	Cork Institute of Technology Electronic Engineering Department	Supporting Understanding through Cooperation and Constructivism in Elec. Eng. Dept. (SUCCEED)
	Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Department	Retention programme for first year Mechanical Engineering students
	Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Building Information Modelling Implementation Group GMIT (BIGG)	Using a collaborative academic-industry reciprocal learning framework to establish GMIT as an international leader in Building Information Modelling (BIM) education and campus management
Business	Dundalk Institute of Technology, Department of Hospitality	Embedding Graduate Attributes into all Programmes
	Cork Institute of Technology ACE (Accelerating Campus Entrepreneurship)	Entrepreneurship Education at Cork Institute of Technology
Social Sciences	Limerick Institute of Technology, Applied Social Sciences	An Innovative Human Capacity Building Curriculum for Social Science Graduates
	Dublin Institute of Technology, School of Hospitality Management and Tourism	Students in Action Initiative

 

ENDS

For further press information: Mairead Mallon, Communications, National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning

Tel: 086 1438 694

Editors Notes:

The National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education was initiated in 2012 by the Minister for Education and Skills to enhance teaching and learning in higher education. The Forum engages collaboratively with students, teachers, managers and leaders, to devise and drive enhancements to teaching and learning.  The Forum mobilises expertise and inputs from across the sector in Ireland and globally to extend and shape best practice in all institutions of higher education in Ireland.