Provost’s Teaching Award Recipients Commended for Teaching Excellence within College

May 30, 2012

The Trinity College Dublin Provost’s Teaching Awards 2012 were presented by Dr Patrick Prendergast to six members of staff in recognition of their enthusiasm and commitment to ensuring students receive quality teaching and learning.  The Awards are the College’s principal means of celebrating those academic staff that have made an outstanding contribution in the pursuit of teaching excellence in College and who promote teaching as a scholarly activity. 

The recipients included Dr Daniel Faas, School of Social Sciences & Philosophy who received an Early Career Award, Professor James Wickham, School of Social Sciences & Philosophy and Dr John Rochford, School of Natural Sciences both of whom received a Lifetime Achievement Award, John Kubiak, School of Social Work & Social Policy, Professor Orla Sheils, School of Medicine and Dr Paul Delaney, School of English.

Recipients of the 2012 Provost’s Teaching Awards Dr John Rochford, John Kubiak, Prof Orla Sheils, Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast, Prof James Wickham, Dr Daniel Faas and Dr Paul Delaney

Speaking at the awards ceremony Provost of TCD Dr Patrick Prendergast said: “I would like to commend each of the nominated staff members for this achievement, specifically as their enthusiasm and dedication to teaching and learning excellence have been acknowledged and appreciated by both their students and colleagues.”

This year a total of 144 academic staff members were nominated by 226 students, representing the highest number of nominations ever received for this award. Eleven candidates were shortlisted this year and were presented with a certificate of commendation by the Provost at the awards ceremony. They were Emer Barrett, Dr Neil Docherty, Dr Roja Fazaeli, Caroline Jagoe, Dr Nicholas Johnson, Dr Vincent Kelly, Michelle Leech, Dr Carol Newman and Dr Irene Walsh. 

The candidates were selected through a rigorous process involving their nomination by their students or their peers in College.  The candidates were then assessed by the Provost’s Teaching Award Review Panel, comprising representatives of academic staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students, and an external reviewer Professor Áine Hyland.  The panel examined each candidate’s teaching philosophy, their practice and scholarship, and assessed supporting evidence provided by the candidates before deciding on the six overall winners of this year’s awards. 

A short video of this year’s winners, produced by Dr Gary Baugh, School of Engineering, may be viewed here.