The Shannon Consortium Regional Teaching Excellence Award

The Shannon Consortium is a collaborative alliance between UL, MIC and LIT which aims to establish the Shannon region as a zone of excellence in teaching, learning and learner support.  The regional teaching award is a vital dimension of that goal. Through the award process, the Consortium institutions have collaborated to create new networks of teachers in higher education working together to reflect on their practice, gather meaningful evidence about the quality and nature of their teaching activities, and apply the principles of best practice to their work as teachers in higher education.

Dr Miriam Hamilton, lecturer in Science Education at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) was selected as the overall winner of the Regional Teaching Excellence Awards held in the University of Limerick on Wednesday 26th April, 2017.  There was more good news for MIC as Dr Siobhan Howard, lecturer in psychology at the College, was amongst a select group of five shortlisted for the prestigious award.

Accepting the award Dr Hamilton, who has taught science for many years at post-primary level prior to taking up a lecturer position in MIC in 2015 said “I am delighted to accept this award. This opportunity has enabled me to reflect on my teaching philosophy in a scholarly way and will undoubtedly enhance my practice with the students I teach”.

2017 Award Ceremony (UL)

  • Dr Miriam Hamilton, MIC, overall winner with Professor Don Barry, President, University of Limerick.
  • Regional Teaching Excellence Award shortlisted prize winner Dr Siobhán Howard, Department of Psychology, MIC with Prof. Don Barry, President, UL.
  • Prof. Don Barry & Prof. Sarah Moore with the shortlisted candidates Patrick Rowsome (Design & Manufacturing Technology, Faculty of Science & Engineering), Dr. Miriam Hamilton, Learning, Overall Winner, Learning, Society and Religious Education, MIC, Dr. Siobhán Howard, Department of Psychology, MIC & Dr. Patrick Buckley (Department of Management & Marketing, KBS)
  • Dr. Miriam Hamilton with Prof. Teresa O’Doherty, Prof. Eugene Wall, Acting President MIC, Dr. Gwen Moore, Dr. Carol O’Sullivan.
  • Dr Miriam Hamilton with Dr Carol O’Sullivan, Head of the Department of Learning, Society and Religious Education, MIC.
  • Members of the Shannon Consortium Teaching and Learning Strategic Group with Prof. Don Barry, Prof. Eugene Wall & Prof. Sarah Moore.
  • Dr Miriam Hamilton, and Dr. Siobhan Howard with Dr. Deirdre Ryan, Prof. Eugene Wall & Dr. Gwen Moore
  • Dr Miriam Hamilton, MIC, Overall Winner with Prof. Don Barry, President, UL and Prof. Sarah Moore, UL.
  • Prof. Don Barry and Prof. Sarah Moore with Dr. Siobhán Howard, MIC.
  • Dr Siobhán Howard, Department of Psychology, MIC with Dr Kerry Greer, Head of the Department of Psychology, MIC.

Call for Nominations – 2018 Award

If you are a committed teacher, and if you consider your teaching approach to be particularly innovative or effective, we invite you to submit a nomination for consideration for the award.  Alternatively, you may wish to nominate a colleague within your institution who you feel would merit recognition through the award process. 

The nomination submission process is now open.  The deadline for submissions is Friday 20th October, 2017

Please complete the nomination form and email to gwen.moore@mic.ul.ie

Nomination Form 2018

Dámhachtainí Teagaisc 2018

FAQs – Regional Teaching Excellence Award 2018

On acceptance of a nomination, candidates will be invited to submit a detailed teaching portfolio that will be used as the basis of the ultimate award decision.  All candidates should be in a position to signal a capacity to provide strong evidence of the impact that his/her teaching has had within his/her teaching context. Training and support will be available in all institutions to assist those who wish to participate, and your local Teaching and Learning Advocate will be available to help you to get your portfolio started and provide support throughout the process.

The timeline for the award process:

20th October 2017 Deadline for nomination
On Going
  • One-to-one support provided by teaching and learning personnel in own institution
  • Shannon Consortium workshop on portfolio development and reflective practice (date tbc)
13th February 2018 All nominees submit their initial teaching portfolio for review and shortlisting stage
6th March 2018 Announcement of results of shortlisting (a maximum of three per institution can go forward)
27th March 2018 Deadline for submission of final portfolio, including a 50 minute recording of your teaching
23rd April 2018 Announcement of results
2nd May 2018 Award Ceremony

2016 Award Ceremony (MIC)

  • Dr Dorothy Morrissey, Department of Arts Education and Physical Education, with Prof. Michael A Hayes, President of MIC.
  • Dr Ailbhe Kenny, Department of Arts Education and Physical Education, with Prof. Michael A Hayes, President of MIC.
  • Prof. Michael A Hayes presenting Regional Teaching Excellence Award winner Jason Power, Department of Design and Manufacturing Technology, UL, with his award.
  • Dr Ann-Marie Creaven, Department of Psychology, UL with Prof. Michael A Hayes, President of MIC.
  • Dr John McCarthy, Management and Marketing, UL with Prof. Michael A Hayes, President of MIC.
  • Pamela O’Brien, Department of Information Technology, LIT with Prof. Michael A Hayes, President of MIC.
  • Dr Dorothy Morrissey & Dr Ailbhe Kenny with Prof. Eugene Wall, Prof. Michael A Hayes, President of MIC; Prof. Teresa O’Doherty.
  • Shortlistee prize winner, Pamela O’Brien, Department of Information Technology, LIT, with Mr Terry Twomey, Acting President LIT; Dr Martin Fitzgerald, Teaching and Learning Advocate, LIT; Dr Michael F. Ryan, Teaching and Learning Advocate, LIT.
  • Shannon Consortium Teaching and Learning Group:Dr Fiona Farr, UL; Dr Deirdre Ryan, MIC; Dr Sarah Moore, UL; Dr Martin Fitzgerald, LIT; Dr Anne O’Keeffe, MIC; Dr Michael F. Ryan, LIT Dr Mary Fitzpatrick, UL.
  • Prof. Don Barry, UL; Mr Terry Twomey, LIT; Prof. Sarah Moore, Chair of National Forum / Associate Vice President UL, Prof. Michael A Hayes, MIC;
  • Prof. Sarah Moore, Associate VP UL/Chair of the National Forum.
  • Prof. Michael A Hayes. President of MIC.
  • Dr. Deirdre Ryan, MIC, Dr. Anne O'Keeffe, Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning, MIC and Trish Kennedy, MIC.