Maynooth University has been awarded over €2.8 million from the Innovation and Transformation Programme 2018 for a number of high-impact innovation projects it is developing to transform student experiences, build competitiveness and deliver value for the education sector and Irish society more broadly. The awards were announced this month by Minister for Education Joe McHugh, TD and Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor, TD.
Response
“At Maynooth University, we have developed a range of new, future-oriented programmes for students at undergraduate and postgraduate level. These awards allow us to take these to a new level. They will fund new and innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and help our students build the skills they need for the workplace of the future. More importantly, many of our ideas can be rolled out nationally for the benefit of students. The benefits for jobs and our economy are significant,” said Maynooth University President, Professor Philip Nolan.
Innovation and Transformation Programme Awarded
- €1,445,440 has been awarded for the development of the “Future Ready” programme, which increases employability through innovations in the curriculum. Since Maynooth introduced its ground-breaking undergraduate curriculum in 2015 students have been able to select subjects across different disciplines and avail of a critical thinking module to increase their future adaptability. This has been highly successful and will now be expanded and developed further.
- €810,950 has been awarded for the development of “Mi-Lab – the Maynooth University Innovation Lab,” which will harness Maynooth’s unique expertise to apply design thinking to current problems and issues in the education sector, including the structure of and access to postgraduate studies to improve pathways and outcomes for students.
- €563,610 has been allocated for the enhancement of supports for students in the areas of computer technology and mathematics post-entry. This builds on Maynooth’s international leadership role in maths and ICT while also making these skills more accessible to students across the University.
- Maynooth is also a partner in the “Enabling Change” project led by the Irish Universities Association, which has been almost €3 million for enhancing the digital capacity in teaching and learning at Irish universities.
Achievements to date
“We have at Maynooth some of the most innovative and creative academic minds in the country. These awards signify our ability to deliver innovation and value for society, while at the same time enriching the student learning experience here at Maynooth,” added Professor Philip Nolan.
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