Education Commons^™

Exploring The Impact Of Design Professionals On The Energy Retrofit Of Dwellings In Ireland: A Qualitative Methodology, Olivia Golden

Conference papers

A qualitative approach was taken to investigate the role of design professionals in the energy retrofit of external wall insulation to dwellings in Ireland. The research method combines document analysis with semi structured interviews. Document analysis is used to both inform the questions for the interviews and for validation. The SEAI One Stop Shop grant scheme and PAS 2035 framework were selected for detailed document analysis to gain an understanding of the context in which design professionals are working in Ireland and compare it to the energy retrofit framework in the United Kingdom. This was investigated by mapping the data …

Generations Growing Together: Intergenerational Learning As A Pedagogical Strategy In Early Childhood Education And Care Services. A Handbook For Practitioners And Trainers, Anne Fitzpatrick

Books/Book chapters

Despite being the oldest form of learning, IGL has declined steadily over time due to wide-ranging social, cultural, economic and demographic changes. Children in the Western world are growing up in smaller, geographically dispersed family circles and, consequently, have fewer opportunities to interact with different age groups and to see themselves as part of a multigenerational society. Older people are living longer, yet are frequently separated from their families by distance, migration and family breakdown and, more recently, by COVID-19. Additionally, with the increasing attendance at age-segregated services, including preschools and care homes, traditional places and opportunities for age groups …

Piloting Of Specific Common Tools In Support Of Digital And Online Learning, Orlin Marinov, Karlis Valtins, Janina Fengel, K.C. O'Rourke, Lubomir Dimitrov, Rossen Radonov

Conference Proceedings

This publication is an insightful exploration into the evolving landscape of digital and online learning, with a specific focus on the pilot testing and implementation of innovative educational tools. It aims to critically assess the effectiveness of these tools in enhancing the educational experience and the overall learning outcomes in digital environments.

This manuscript is particularly relevant for educators, education technologists, policymakers, and scholars interested in the advancement of digital education. It serves as a pivotal resource, providing valuable insights into the utilization and effectiveness of digital tools in education. The publication's contribution to academic scholarship is significant, offering a …

Avatar - Identity With Intent, John O'Connor, James Neville

Conference Papers

We don’t often think of identity as a choice, but rather something we are born into by circumstance of birth and inheritance. This paper addresses identity by assertion. Virtual worlds afford the opportunity for a more fluid concept of self: identity with intent. Understanding this approach can empower our actions and results in the virtual and natural worlds. The authors draw on fifteen years teaching this topic in the virtual world of Second Life as part of a class on collaborative online engagement. The term avatar, representing the concrete embodiment of something abstract, originated in Hinduism in the 6th century …

The University Education Model Collection 2024: “A University Way Of Being”, Fionnuala Darby, Shaun Ferns, Barry J. Ryan

Group Reports

The University Education Model (UEM) revolutionises our approach to education; this approach is grounded in transformative learning opportunities and experiences for all. The UEM is central to the TU Dublin Strategic Intent, which itself is informed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in the case of the UEM, SDG 4 Quality Education. Embedding the UEM into our practice, processes and culture will empower TU Dublin to cater for the largest number of diverse learners, producing the most sought after, digitally literate, graduates.

The central focus of UEM are our learners, grounded in the three components that comprise the …

Meeting The Sustainability Challenges: An Assessment Of Entrepreneurial Education, Anna Zherdeva, Intesar Madi, Abrar Alzankawi, Lucia Morales Dr, L. Pop, A. Soler-Dominguez, J.C. Saez

Conference papers

The importance of sustainability and entrepreneurship education is highlighted in this study. The world economies are facing significant challenges as they try to enable the transition towards more sustainable economic and business models. Therefore, at the centre of the transition process, it is critical to consider the role that business education can play and, more specifically, the role of business schools in integrating and supporting the development of skills and competencies that align with our contemporary society's needs. In this paper, we initially assess the need to connect entrepreneurial and sustainability education by exploring the educational offerings at Technological University …

Tu-Net: A Strategic Alliance For Open Research: Libraries And Research-Associated Offices Collaborating To Support Open Research, Frances Madden, Lindsay Dowling, Seán Lacey, Johanna Archbold

Other

This year's theme is ‘Where is RMA Going? The Future of RMA in a Rapidly Changing World'. Read more about the EARMA Conference topics.

New challenges for RMAs are appearing every day across the research ecosystem and RMAs are expected to adapt and absorb. Artificial intelligence, academic freedom and integrity, Open Research, education and innovation, professionalisation and broadening of the profession, EDI, these and many others are transforming the ‘traditional’ role of the RMA.

Mldg - Machine Learning Dataset Generator (Pilot Findings): For Final Year Open-Book Machine Learning Summative Assessment, Keith Quille, Keith Nolan, Lidia Vidal-Meliá, Brett A. Becker

Conference papers

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions are considering the continuation of open-book assessments. Students cite many reasons for preferences for open-book assessments, both held in proctored environments and assessments that can be held remotely. Despite the numerous benefits, open-book assessments impose a number of challenges for educators, which is compounded if the assessment has the option to be taken in class (proctored) and remotely simultaneously. The challenges not only exist around academic integrity but also exist from a student-centred viewpoint of fairness and the equality of the assessment.

This paper first presents the development of a tool for generating student-centred …

Are We Day-Dreaming Our Way To The Future?, John O'Connor

Presentations

This paper explores the transformative impact of technology on society, drawing on Marshall McLuhan’s insights. It scrutinizes the consequences of profit-driven technological progress, particularly in VR, brain-computer interfaces, and AI hallucinations. Critiquing the dominance of industry leaders in AI safety discussions, the paper advocates a balanced, inclusive approach.

Philosophical perspectives on AI and VR prompt questions about their impact on human experience. The paper proposes an educational shift to cultivate human attributes alongside technological skills. Examining AI hallucinations and gaming glitches, it raises concerns about the potential blurring of reality and virtuality.

Connecting technological advancements with environmental challenges, the paper …

Presentation - Scaft School Awards Ceremony 2023, James Murphy

Other resources

This presentation captured the School of Culinary Arts & Food Technology, TU Dublin Awards Ceremony 2023 held in the Central Quad building on it's Grangegorman Campus, Dublin 7. The awards ceremony celebrate the magnificent achievements of the students and staff across their professional practice, new publications, research, National and International competitions, seminars, conferences and community engagement. These achievements would not be possible without the active and ongoing support of the school's sponsors (who are highlighted in this presentation). The school also remembers colleagues, students and industry figures who sadly passed away in the last year. If you interested in supporting …

Sigite'23 Poster And Extended Abstract: The Proof Of Gold Is Fire: Measuring Stress To Show Impact Of Gender Based Initiatives In Computing Education, Alina Berry, Sarah Jane Delany

Other resources

Many initiatives across the world try to address the issue of gender imbalance in computing education. Evaluation of the impact of these initiatives is not always straightforward. Some interventions are able to demonstrate impact based on recruitment and retention numbers of underrepresented gender groups, in particular, women, often requiring a longer-term study to see impact. Others, especially shorter term interventions and those taking place during the teaching and learning process, frequently use feedback and other instruments as a measure of impact. This work reviews existing evaluation methods from the literature, categorises them as using statistical data, feedback or instruments, grouping …

An Investigation Into Ireland’S Bim Skills Gap, Guadalupe Centanni, Barry Mcauley

Conference Papers

The adoption of digital skills within the Irish AEC Sector has the potential to enhance efficiency and competitiveness among its stakeholders. Despite this opportunity, there is still a high demand for skilled BIM professionals, which cannot be currently met. To meet this skills demand and directly target future skills gaps within Ireland, several challenges must be addressed to facilitate broader BIM adoption. This paper focuses on addressing this gap by identifying steps to be followed to develop skilled professionals within BIM. This has been achieved by investigating the extent to which construction stakeholders in Ireland comprehend BIM and, examiningthe training …

Sustainable Product Design Education Through An Appreciation Of The Low-Tech, Ceri Almrott

Conference papers

The paper presents a case study on the implementation of Low-Tech development model to teach sustainability in design-led programmes. The author argues that sustainability education should include not only the technical aspects of sustainability theory but also the underlying social aspects. The low-tech approach fits well in design-led modules since it encourages students to consider appropriate technological solutions for design projects while focusing on user behaviour to develop articulate solutions. The study explores the pedagogical approach of the content used to teach the design module and introduces a low-tech design workshop to aid students in implementing learning. The results of …

Leadership For The Future: Towards The Challenge Of Understanding Leadership In The Aec Sector, Roisin Murphy Dr, Rory Concannon, Oluwasegun Seriki Dr

Conference papers

The Irish Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector faces ongoing challenges relating to low productivity, digital adoption, sustainability, and innovation. Effective leadership is required to transform the sector to address these challenges and meet the future needs of society. However, there remains a lack of empirical evidence relating to leadership requirements, assessment, and development, in the context of the Irish AEC sector. As part of an ongoing study with the aim of developing resources to support leadership development, this research, conducted through a review of literature, examines how leadership is being assessed and explored in the AEC sector. The findings …

A Framework For Confusion Mitigation In Task-Oriented Interactions, Na Li, Robert J. Ross

Conference papers

Confusion is a mental state that can be triggered in task-oriented interactions and which can if left unattended lead to boredom, frustration, or disengagement from the task at hand. Previous work has demonstrated that confusion can be detected in situated human-robot interactions from visual and auditory cues. Therefore, in the next step, we propose appropriate interaction structures in this study, which should be used to mitigate confusion. We motivate and describe this dialogue mechanism through an information state-style dialogue framework and policies, and also outline the approach we are taking to integrate such a meta-conversational goal alongside core task-oriented considerations …

Skills Matter – Up-Skilling Across Construction Stakeholders For Emerging Roles, Avril Behan, Paul Mccormack, Barry Mcauley

Conference Papers

The EU’s Climate Target Plan To 2030 (European Union 2020b) of achieving at least 55% reduction in Green House Gas emissions from 1990 levels, delivering towards a climate-neutral economy by 2050, requires systems-level change in the way we design, construct, and operate our built assets. Funding initiatives, such as co-ordinated by BUILD UP Skills, aim to deliver upskilling to the market but targets set by the European Skills Agenda may not be reached at current achievement levels. This paper presents the results of one completed and the progress of one ongoing Horizon 2020 funded project, BIMcert and ARISE, respectively. Learning …

An Analysis Of The Impact And Efficacy Of An Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention As A Support For First-Year University Students, Wyndham Chalmers, Aiden Carthy, Maria Kenneally, Niamh Bruce, Colm Mcguinness, Philip Owende

Articles

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many university courses transitioned to online delivery, therefore, educators and students faced new challenges associated with the delivery of modules and the provision of necessary student supports. Given the scale of this transition, it is likely that many universities will continue to teach remotely far beyond the reach of any pandemic specific restrictions. This study sought to explore the impact and efficacy of a five-week online mindfulness course to a cohort of first year university students (n = 25) at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Ireland. Results demonstrated that participation in the course …

The First Annual Teaching And Research Showcase Poster Tu Dublin – The Proof Is In The Pudding – Using Perceived Stress To Measure Short-Term Impact In Initiatives To Enhance Gender Balance In Computing Education, Alina Berry, Sarah Jane Delany

Other resources

The problem of gender imbalance in computing higher education has forced academics and professionals to implement a wide range of initiatives. Many initiatives use recruitment or retention numbers as their most obvious evidence of impact. This type of evidence of impact is, however, more resource heavy to obtain, as well as often requires a longitudinal approach. There are many shorter term initiatives that use other ways to measure their success.

First, this poster presents with a review of existing evaluation measures in interventions to recruit and retain women in computing education across the board. Three main groups of evaluation come …

Definition And Characteristic Features Of A ‘Cultural Flashpoint’: A Case Study Of Exploring Masculinities, A Controversial Gender And Education Programme In Ireland, Joan Hanafin, Paul Conway, Cormac O Beaglaoich, Jack Hanafin

Articles

The concept ‘cultural flashpoint’ (CF) has not been fully defined or described. The authors test this concept through the prism of a controversial gender-focused Irish school programme, Exploring Masculinities (EM). Adopting an instrumental case study methodology, they use media content analysis to develop a temporal trajectory of the CF, describe its shape, explicit and implied contentious themes, and its process. They identify characteristic features of a cultural flashpoint: (i) a focal issue, event and/or object; (ii) conflict; (iii) bounded time period; (iv) the involvement of exo- and multi-sectoral individuals and groups; (v) randomness, opaqueness and conflation among its expressions; and …

School Of Culinary Arts & Food Technology, Tu Dublin Newsletter - Spring Edition 2023, James Murphy

Other resources

The School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology, TU Dublin, Spring Newsletter captured the many events, research, awards, significant contributions and special civic and community activities which the students and staff members of the school across our (3) three campuses have successfully completed up to the Spring period of 2023. The successful completion of these activities would not be possible without the active and on-going support of the 'INSPIRED' friends of Culinary Arts (school supporters), our school's industry association supporters and our school's fantastic academic, laboratory assistants, technical support and administrations teams across our (3) three TU Dublin campuses in …

Dexesesc: Development And Expansion Of Existing Services Associated With The European Student Card, Eut+ Sofia Week, 18-10 January, 2023, Lubomir Dimitrov (Ed), Rossen Radonov (Ed), Janina Fengel (Ed), Antonio Javier Martinez Vallo (Ed), Serban Meza (Ed), Denitza Zgureva (Tech. Ed.), Kalin Filipov (Tech.Ed)

Conference Proceedings

THE EUROPEAN STUDENT CARD INITIATIVE An initiative to help students and higher education institutions on Erasmus+ exchanges by simplifying administrative processes and enhancing digitalisation. It is also crucial to promoting student participation in educational and cultural activities in line with the vision to create a European Education Area by 2025.

Technological University Dublin's Pathway To Embedding Sustainability In Food Degrees, Nemos And Beyond, Julie Dunne, Catherine Barry-Ryan, Cormac Mcmahon

Presentations

The School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Technological University Dublin, commenced a journey to embed Sustainability in its modules and programmes in 2020 with a nationally funded project ‘Sustainable Food Curriculum Co-Create’. The project’s goal was to build capacity for integrating sustainability learning outcomes across Food programmes through educator professional development and co-creation with students. The CPD curriculum design involved several stakeholders in Education for Sustainable Development from across the Food System including enterprise and state organisations who advised on sector-specific sustainability issues, food experts from across several Schools, and sustainability experts from across the University and beyond. It …

Responsiveness Of Higher Education Programs To Policy And Recommendations In The Biopharmaceutical Sector, Maeve Scott

Other resources

This essay will review the business and government policies relevant to the biopharmaceutical sector which influence higher education programs. The mechanisms which enable higher education to adapt to policy will be summarised and the pace of the response estimated.

Higher education (HE) programs need to respond in a timely manner to dynamic industries to maximise opportunities for graduates and support the Irish economy. The author manages internships and teaches on pharmaceutical science programs and aims to ensure the program is current to maximise student success. This review intends to identify the most relevant policy sources that can inform the Pharmaceutical …

What Is The Entrepreneurship Process For Communication Design Enterprises?, Con Kennedy

Doctoral

The literature indicated that entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in economic development and that understanding what entrepreneurship is has changed with the development of society and entrepreneurship theory (Murphy et al., 2006). However, there is an identified skills deficit in understanding entrepreneurship in the communication design sector (Design Enterprise Skillnet, 2021; Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, 2016; Intertrade Ireland, 2009; Design Council, 2007; Enterprise Ireland, 1999). Nevertheless, within each of these studies, the deficit has not been addressed, nor is the entrepreneurship process for communication design enterprises established. The literature on entrepreneurship generally ignores entrepreneurship in the design sector, …

The Association Between Time Spent On Screens And Reading With Myopia, Premyopia And Ocular Biometric And Anthropometric Measures In 6- To 7-Year-Old Schoolchildren In Ireland, Síofra Harrington, Veronica O'Dwyer

Articles

Purpose More time spent on near tasks has consistently been associated with the promotion of myopia. The World Health Organization advises limiting daily screentime to less than 2 h for children aged five and over. This study explored the relationship between time spent on screens and reading/writing with refractive status, ocular biometric and anthropometric factors in 6-to 7-year- olds in Ireland.

Methods Participants were 723 schoolchildren (377 boys [51.8%]), mean age 7.08 (0.45) years. The examination included cycloplegic autorefraction (1% cyclopentolate hydrochloride), ocular biometry (Zeiss IOLMaster), height (cm) and weight (kg). Screentime and reading/writing time were reported by parents/legal guardians …

The Creditor Duty Post Sequana: Lessons For Legislative Reform, John Quinn, Philip Gavin

Articles

UK common law recognises that directors owe a fiduciary duty to consider creditors' interests when a company is insolvent or in financial difficulty. However, the scope of this duty remains unclear, particularly the degree of financial difficulty necessary for it to arise. In 2022, in BTI v Sequana, the Supreme Court did little to resolve these uncertainties, retaining a context first approach, where the duty's triggering point is based on the facts and the risk borne by creditors in the specific case. In contrast, Ireland codified its creditor duty in 2022, setting out a series of legislatively defined financial situations …

Internationalization As A Strategy To Enhance Higher Education Quality In Vietnam – Reflections From University Leaders, Nguyen Trong Hoai, Luong Vinh Quoc Duy, Damien Cassells

Articles

Internationalization is viewed as an important strategy in the context of a country in transition from central planning to market orientation. Efforts to internationalize universities are being carried out at both national and institutional levels. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there has been no study to investigate how individual institutions approach internationalization and what they gain from that process. This paper aims to investigate the enhancement of teachers’ and students’ knowledge and skills using internationalization in Vietnam universities as a strategy.

Circular Pedagogy To Advance The Integration Of Learning Technologies: Supporting Technological Universities Cultural Transformation, Nadia Barkoczi, Iulia Stefan, Ivaylo Peev, Todor Todorov, Lia Pop, Claudia Marian, Cristina Campian, Sonia Munteanu, Patrick Flynn, Jon-Hans Coetzer, Lucia Morales

Working Papers

European countries need active and proactive educational systems assisted by models that can drive a cultural transformation that supports sustainable socio-economic and environmental development. In this paper, we reflect on the future of European education. We offer some insights on how the foundations of a new educational model (ANEM) could be cemented and solidly supported by pillars that acknowledge our societies' rich and diverse cultures. Furthermore, the European University of Technology's (EUt+) future educational model is taken as a case study to enable us to reflect and analyse the need for novel pedagogies that drive change for a more sustainable …

Towards An Inclusive And Representative Academic Landscape, Linn Leppert, Katalin Solymosi, Yvonne Galligan

Articles

This article is a summary of a panel discussion entitled ‘Towards an inclusive and representative academic landscape’, held at the Building Bridges Meeting of Academia Europaea and the Young Academy of Europe on 26 October 2022. The panellists were Professor Yvonne Galligan, director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Professor of Comparative Politics at the Technological University Dublin, Dr Katalin Solymosi, plant biologist, assistant professor at Eötvös Loránd University and vice-chair of the Young Academy of Europe, and Professor Stephen Curry, Assistant Provost for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Professor of Structural Biology at Imperial College London. Dr Linn Leppert, …

Numeracy-Meets: An Innovative Professional Development Model For Adult Numeracy Practitioners In Ireland, Mark Prendergast, Annette Forster, Niamh O'Meara, Kathy O'Sullivan, Fiona Faulkner

Articles

Despite the clear and obvious need for adults to be proficient in numeracy, international studies suggest that many continue to struggle in this area. In Ireland, one of the main challenges continues to be the availability of effective adult numeracy education. This is a diverse sector, and little is known about the varied provision of adult numeracy courses and of those who teach on them. Recent research has highlighted an unmet demand for the professional development of adult numeracy practitioners with many looking for opportunities to network and further develop their practice. This study aimed to design, implement and evaluate …