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The Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh TD, and Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD, today announced that 22 projects across 23 educational institutions have been awarded a total of €23 million under the new Innovation and Transformation Fund.
The fund was launched in 2018 as part of the modernisation and reform of the funding model for higher education.
It is also part of the €250 million additional investment by the government in higher education since 2016, bringing total funding to more than €1.7 billion.
The 22 successful projects embody collaboration and innovation across the higher education sector and focus on transformation.
Minister McHugh said:
“This €23 million fund is being used to reward and support higher education institutions that are coming up with innovative ideas to attract people to third level and those that are doing more to create flexible options for learning."
“The government has recognised we need to do more to open up third level education and now we are backing that cause by providing millions in funding for the right initiatives.”
The 22 funded proposals include partnerships amongst the eight universities, ten institutes of technology, two specialist colleges, one Further Education College and five other state and non-state bodies.
Some of the projects will see third level institutions partnering with organisations such as An Cosán, Family Carers Ireland and the Disability Federation of Ireland to learn and adopt better ways of ensuring education is open to as many people as possible.
Some projects will focus on developing digital systems to enable more flexible learning, including through online options and simulation training.
Other projects are focusing on student mental health, supporting entrepreneurs and start-ups, student retention, leadership and preparing students for the working world.
Mr McHugh added:
“These Government-supported initiatives will create new opportunities and help to position Ireland’s education system as a leader in inclusiveness, diversity and flexible models of education and lifelong learning.”
The Innovation and Transformation Fund opened with a call for proposals by the Higher Education Authority in 2018. Applications were assessed by an independent panel.
Minister Mitchell O’Connor said:
“Innovation and discovery is what our higher education institutions do best – and this fund will enable them to invest in new ideas to improve students’ experiences, enhance student learning and harness technology and new thinking for the benefit of our current and future students."
“The fund will support a range of projects focused on developing new pathways and methods of teaching to support the participation of students from a diverse range of backgrounds. They will help students to develop individually, address student retention and support enhanced progression of students across higher education institutions. It is a real investment in our education system and in our students."
“I welcome the collaborative approach taken by institutions. The funding being announced today is part of an overall package of measures taken in recent budgets which means that investment in higher education has increased since 2016 by more than €250 million or 17% to more than €1.7 billion.”
ENDS
Notes to the Editor:
Funding
The funding commitment for the 22 proposals is €23.3m which will be allocated on a multi annual basis up to 2021.
Project Details
Details of the 22 successful projects are set out below:
Innovation and Transformation Call Funded Proposals 2018
HEI Lead
Collaborative Partners
Proposal Title
Category
Area
Indicative Award Value
Cork Institute of Technology
Institute of Technology Tralee
Creating Entrepreneurial Students & Graduates
Teaching and student learning outcomes
Entrepreneurial skills in graduates
€987,805
Dublin City University
DCU Global Online Learning Accelerator
Flexible, distance and e-learning
Develop and implement a learning design architecture for accredited awards based on staking micro-creditals
€1,359,084
Dublin City University
Leadership & Life Skills Centre
Teaching and student learning outcomes
Create a model of student engagement and development for each individual student
€705,000
Dublin Institute of Technology
Institute of Technology Blanchardstown, Institute of Technology Tallaght
Enhancing Student Retention across TU Dublin
Retention and progression
Real-time data analytics to improve retention
€498,088
Dundalk Institute of Technology
The gateway to success: A virtual hub to support all learners
Flexible, distance and e-learning
Develop and implement a strategy and framework for providing virtual student support
€321,014
Institute of Technology Blanchardstown
Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Tallaght
Transformative Student-Centred Learning Record (Acronym: Transform-EDU)
Teaching and student learning outcomes
Establishing linkages between teaching and learning, engagement, resources and infrastructure
€1,389,961
Institute of Technology Carlow
An Cosan Virtual Community College
Higher Education Pathway for Non-Traditional Learners. Flexible, Blended Learning, Competence and Community Education Based
Flexible, distance and e-learning
Develop pathway for mature students from socio-economic disadvantage
€355,269
Institute of Technology Sligo
Mayo Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board, Disability Federation of Ireland, Family Carers Ireland
Full-time degree programmes accessible via online/blended learning
Flexible, distance and e-learning
Provide online/blended degree programmes for students who are unable to be on-campus due to location, disability, etc
€543,060
Irish Universities Association
Dublin City University, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland Galway, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Limerick
Enabling Change: Enhancing Digital Capacity in Teaching and Learning in Irish Universities
Teaching and student learning outcomes
Staff development programme to enhance the digital confidence, skills and competencies of University lecturers
€2,964,381
Letterkenny Institute of Technology
Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Sligo Institute of Technology, Letterkenny Institute of Technology
Innovative Opportunities Transforming Education (iNOTE) Project - Building digital capability for flexible learning delivery in the West/North West Region
Flexible, distance and e-learning
Building digital capability for flexible learning delivery in the West/North West Region
€2,844,000
Maynooth University
Maynooth University ICT and STEM enhancement
Teaching and student learning outcomes
Additional supports for activities in ICT and Maths
€563,610
Maynooth University
Future Ready: Increasing Employability and Accessibility Through Curriculum Innovation
Teaching and student learning outcomes
Enhance employability of graduates
€1,445,440
Maynooth University
Mi-Lab - The Maynooth University Innovation Lab
Teaching and student learning outcomes
Innovation worship to tackle challenges faced by HE
€810,950
Royal College of Surgeons Ireland
Establishing a 'Centre for Simulation Education and Research' in Ireland
Flexible, distance and e-learning
Simulation based learning
€1,228,113
Trinity College Dublin
University College Dublin, Athlone Institute of Technology
Student Support Services’ Retention and Engagement Strategy: Consolidation of Best Practice, Centralisation of Data and Innovation in Student Experience
Retention and progression
Student support services to address mental health issues
€1,574,655
University College Cork
Supporting Student Transitions to develop distinctive graduate attributes
Retention and progression
Deliver a suite of transition modules
€936,974
University College Dublin
UCD LEAP (Live Engagement & Attendance Project)
Retention and progression
Use of data analytics to assist universities to understand factors contributing to retention and progression
€295,000
University of Limerick
Limerick City and County Council
HEI MEITHEAL UL
Teaching and student learning outcomes
New framework for civic engagement
€1,426,008
University of Limerick
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Limerick Institute of Technology
REAP – Regional Enterprise-Academic Partnership, Building capacity by engaging practitioners in designing and delivering online and blended learning
Flexible, distance and e-learning
Building capacity by engaging practitioners in designing and delivering online and blended learning
€1,412,970
University College Cork
Trinity College Dublin
Collaboratively developing, implementing and mainstreaming a quality-assured, blended learning environment for the new integrated MPharm (COMBINE)
Teaching and student learning outcomes
Developing new integrated MPharm course
€758,901
Waterford Institute of Technology
Engaging with RPL for Lifelong Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning
Create online RPL portal that will target and facilitate adult learners
€470,198
Waterford Institute of Technology
Student Transition - Promoting Opportunities for Student Success
Retention and progression
Expand existing initiatives supporting transition and progression