Education Commons^™

Investigating The Views Of Students To On-Campus Catering In A Third Level Educational Institution, Gereva Hackett, Detta Melia

Conference papers

The overall aim of this study was to investigate the views of students to on-campus catering, student preferences with food and to gather information and opinions on the current catering provision in a large third level educational institution. The survey sought to acertain factors influencing the type of food eaten by students, the type of establishments frequented for food, spend trends, how far students would walk to purchase food, the meal most frequently purchased during the college day, and factors important to students when eating out while at college. A questionnaire was administered to all students.

A comprehensive investigation of …

Surveying Labour Market Trends: A Demand And Supply Analysis Of The Quantity Surveying Profession In Ireland, Roisin Murphy

Conference papers

The construction and property sectors in Ireland have undergone significant change over the past decade. From a period of sustained growth in output and employment to a recession returning to the current period of expansion. While the cyclical nature of the sector and consequential impact on the labour market is widely recognized, the impact on the quantity surveying profession specifically is comparatively less well evidenced. A widespread survey of employers was undertaken to ascertain recent employment trends and likely future demand for quantity surveyors. At the same time an analysis of current enrolments on surveying programmes across the country provided …

Rethinking Apprenticeship Training For The Construction Industry In Ireland, Eoghan Ó Murchadha, Roisin Murphy

Conference papers

The construction industry is of strategic importance to any economy, as it delivers the building and infrastructural needs of society; it is also a major provider of employment. The over-reliance on construction was a contributing factor to the collapse of the Irish economy and employment in construction fell to under 50% of its 2007 peak as a consequence. The decline devastated apprentice training with a reduction in excess of 90% of new registrations of construction apprentices at the lowest point. The implication of this to the industry is disquieting, given the crucial role apprenticeships play in the sector. The Irish …

Careers In Culinary Arts, James Peter Murphy

Conference papers

The purpose of this presentation was to give individuals interested in pursuing a career in culinary arts the advice and access to education surrounding this field. Culinary arts covers the multidisciplinary field and areas of practice and study which includes culinary performing arts (cooking), gastronomy (food studies), bakery and pastry arts, food and beverage studies (bar, restaurant, barista), wine studies , food product development and health, hygiene and nutrition. So many individuals have come into this industry and gained local, national and international success.

Developing Mobile Apps For Improving The Orientation Experience Of First-Year "Third Level" Students, Nevan Bermingham, Mark Prendergast, Trevor Boland, Mary O'Rawe, Barry Ryan

Conference papers

Smartphone usage by students has increased rapidly over the last number of years, and research points to an expectation for increased utilisation of mobile applications in college educational environments. First year students have particular needs when they transition to higher education (or 'third level'), as they can experience a number of personal, social and cultural difficulties. Orientation is a critical stage for these students and the earlier students have access to important orientation information, the less stressful the initial stages of college are. At Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), the authors designed a bespoke mobile application tailored to the particular …

Poitín – A Spirit Of Rebellion And Inspiration, James Peter Murphy

Conference papers

Abstract: Poitín is Ireland’s most ancient spirit distilled in rural locations for many centuries, its dark and chequered history continues to intrigue tourists and people alike, often referred to as Ireland’s Mescal, Cachaca or Grappa. This drink which preserved many rural communities and saved them from falling into poverty, driven underground for over 300 years it is making a significant comeback. This paper will explore the evolution of this ancient Irish spirit from its earliest mentions to its modern day popularity in the world of distilled spirits. Poitín is history in a bottle it is inextricably woven into the fabric …

Engaging The Gen. Y Student: Curriculum, Innovation And Challenges, Mary O'Rawe

Conference papers

Curriculum and pedagogy have been central to many contemporary debates on fostering student success. These themes are evident in discussions from policy level to the staffroom in many countries, and are particularly relevant in the mass higher education sector in the Republic of Ireland. However, a narrow treatment of the term curriculum can prevent the development of new understandings and effective learning. Central principles have emerged in debates around curriculum and innovation, with ‘student engagement’ evolving as a focal point in the search for a solution to tackle what are perceived to be problems of student disengagement particularly associated with …

Switchonstem.Ie Resources To Support Higher Education Engagement Activities, Julie Dunne, Ciaran O'Leary, Cathy Mcfadden

Conference papers

This paper outlines the roll-out of a project called SwitchOnSTEM.ie that aims to enhance Irish Higher Education (HE) STEM engagement with second level pupils. Through providing freely available all-in-one resources for hands-on activities that can be used by HE staff and students at STEM events, it aims to remove barriers to participation in STEM engagement. The project was funded by Science Foundation Ireland’s SFI-Discover programme in 2015.

An interdisciplinary STEM team from five Higher Education Institutions in Ireland was formed and initially collaborated with a more experienced UK based HEA National STEM Project funded researcher. Together the team designed high …

Service, Sale And Marketing Of Alcohol For The Tourism, Hospitality And Retail Industries, James Peter Murphy

Conference papers

The responsible service, sale and marketing of alcohol for the tourism, hospitality and retail industries is crucial those working in the tourism, hospitality, culinary arts and retail industries including those in supervisory and management positions. This presentation explored a wide range of topics associated with sale and service of alcohol in these inter-related industries. Its aim was to provide attendees with a greater awareness of the effects of alcohol, and of their moral and legal obligations to act responsibly when supplying alcohol beverages or when dealing with alcohol misuse in their respective workplace. This presentation was also created to coincide …

Overcoming Fraud & Dishonesty In The Hospitality Industry, James Peter Murphy

Conference papers

The licensed industry is an increasingly competitive market place, many bars have responded by empowering staff and undertaking structural and management reforms in recent years. Undoubtedly, these changes have significantly raised the levels of customer service and enhanced customer satisfaction. Paradoxically these changes, combined with the responsibilities allocated to bar staff and management to supervise and manage bars with autonomous control have created more fertile conditions, scope and opportunity for dishonest actions by staff members.

The way licensed premises approach the issue of staff fraud is changing in response to the increased risk. Many bars have historically been anxious to …

Towards Reusable Personas For Everyday Design, Ciaran O'Leary, Fredrick Mtenzi, Claire Mcavinia

Conference papers

Personas are artificial character based representations of user goals, attitudes, motivations and abilities which enable designers to focus their design efforts on key, targeted users. The success of personas in design is due to their capacity to enable designers to empathize with users and understand user goals. Persona development is rooted in the rigorous collection and analysis of data specifically related to the design project being undertaken. New design projects thus require the development of new personas. Since redevelopment is not always achievable attention has turned towards reuse of personas and the underlying data. This paper reports on ongoing research …

A Phenomenological Study Of Irish And Portuguese Women’S Experiences Of Receiving Family Support When Studying Stem Subjects At Technical Institutes, Shannon Chance, B. Williams

Conference papers

This paper reports a research study of women’s experiences of receiving family support when studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects at technical institutes in Ireland and Portugal. Specifically, it reports phenomenological analysis of 19 interviews conducted during the 2014-­2015 academic years with female students studying engineering subjects at technical institutes in Ireland and Portugal. It identifies forms of positive support received from family as well as problematic family dynamics and concerns. Parents, uncles, and aunts provide many positive forces, as do surrogates (i.e., adopted family and close mentors). Cousins and brothers also provide role models and information. For …

Conceptualising Curriculum Change: Structuring The Final Year Learning Experience On A Professionally-Orientated Degree Programme In Education Studies., Roisin Donnelly, Julie Uí Choistealbha, Marian Fitzmaurice

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

Spatial Skills In Education: A National Study, Brian Bowe

Conference papers

It is widely accepted that spatial skills play an inherent role in educational success, especially in STEM disciples such as Engineering, Mathematics and Graphics. This paper presents an initial investigation into spatial skills in post-primary education where the aim is to generate a national spatial profile to assist in developing meaningful educational interventions. Psychometric tests of spatial ability were administered to a cohort of 1st year pupils (n = 451) in a variety of educational contexts. Findings suggest that this early stage in post-primary education may be an auspicious time to integrate spatial skill development into formal education and that …

A Cpd Programme For Out-Of-Field Mathematics Teachers: Programme Outline And Preliminary Evaluations By Participants, Fiona Faulkner

Conference papers

This paper outlines an innovative Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme established in the Republic of Ireland for out-of-field mathematics teachers in second-level education. Research on out-of-field mathematics teachers in Ireland conducted in 2009 (Ní Ríordáin & Hannigan) motivated the development of a unique two year, part time Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching (PDMT). The PDMT was first offered in 2012 jointly by the University of Limerick (UL) and the National University of Ireland, Galway and currently has 550 graduates. The main research question that this project aimed to address was: Are teachers enrolled in the PDMT satisfied with the …

Arts-Based Education Research:A Critical Reflection From Two Irish Academics., Eric Bates, Karol Sadleir

Conference papers

This paper details the experience of two Irish academics as they engaged in Arts-Based Education Research (ABER). Between them both they have explored the following areas; an autoethnographic exploration of how experience of assessment throughout educational life can shape professional life and identity; an autoethnographic exploration of the notion of inclusion; an autoethnographic exploration of the transition into leadership; an autoethnographic exploration of being an academic in the Irish education system. While ABER is an unorthodox approach to research which they both found challenging, they nevertheless conclude that it has potential to reveal insights into professional practice that conventional research …

Developing Graduate Attributes To Meet The Grand Challenges: What Pedagogical Factors Influence The Development Of Graduate Attributes And Does Engineering Education Ensure Graduates Can Address The Global Grand Challenges?, Una Beagon, Brian Bowe

Conference papers

My interest in preparing graduates for a successful career in industry stems from personal experience of employing graduates as civil and structural engineers in an engineering consultancy role. The range of skills, abilities and values of each graduate was varied, and it became apparent that academic achievement, whilst important was not the defining skill for achieving early responsibility or promotion within the company. More often, the graduate who was able to communicate well and self-direct his/her work was given more responsibility and opportunity. Many graduates would define early promotion, advanced responsibility and the associated increase in salary as the beginnings …

Augmented Reality And The Events Curriculum: The Students' Perspective, Mary O'Rawe, Alex Gibson

Conference papers

The emergence of Augmented Reality (AR) as a ground-breaking technology has transcended both business and academic sectors. Despite its rapid rise commercially, evidence of the benefits of AR in the classroom at higher education is slower to emerge, with only a limited focus to date on its specific relationship with curriculum development and learning outcomes. To respond to the changing characteristics of the higher education learning environment, and the shift towards mobile learning (M Learning) and ubiquitous learning (U Learning), it is clear that educators should reflect these trends in curriculum design and didactic methods. This paper presents the findings …

The Concept Of 'Knowledge Creating': Re-Conceptualising The Problems Of Knowledge Transfer And Creation Processually, Conor Horan

Conference papers

How knowledge is created remains the subject of much debate (Kuhn, 1962). In fields of management, organisation studies and knowledge management, the hegemonic approach to studying the role of knowledge in management, and how it comes into being has predominantly been influenced by a knowledge transfer agenda. Recent attempts to explore a specific theory of knowledge creation (Nonaka, 1994) per se, have continued to rely on assumptions inherited from this knowledge transfer agenda. Here ‘events of transfer’ have been replaced with an emphasis on ‘events of creation’ suggesting that events of organisational knowledge creation require similar solutions to those addressing …