Presented by Provost Linda Doyle at the Provost’s House on 12 June, these awards recognise his exceptional and sustained contributions to teaching, as well as his dedication to inspiring students and championing innovation in educational practice across the university. 
 
A recent student nomination neatly captured his commitment to both education and mentorship: 

"François is characterised by a deep personal investment in the success of his students; he celebrates their victories and views any setback as a reflection of his own teaching, driving him to constantly improve." 

 

Prof Pitié has been pioneering AI modules in Engineering since 2017, when he developed Ireland’s first undergraduate Deep Learning module. He has since expanded this into a comprehensive three-year programmatic arc. His students journey from the fundamentals of machine learning and Convolutional Neural Networks to exploring the inside of large language models. In his brand new Advanced AI module, fifth-year and MSc students dive into the latest multimodal LLMs and world models. 

To support this ambitious curriculum, Prof Pitié developed a bespoke cloud-based lab environment and custom autograder. This innovative platform allows students to safely experiment, fail fast, and master AI engineering at their own pace. In 2016-2020 he also led with Prof Glenn Strong from Computer Science a comprehensive renewal of the second-year Robotics module (2E10), transforming it into the flagship project-based learning experience we know today. 

Prof Pitié is a leading voice in video processing, computer vision, and AI. His research focuses heavily on AI energy efficiency and developing cutting-edge signal processing solutions for the creative industries. His technologies have been utilised by major companies, including Google, Disney, Foundry, and Weta Digital.  

Explore his 4C16/5C16 module here: https://frcs.github.io/4c16/ 

These awards are a testament to the calibre of teaching within the School of Engineering and reflect the values we strive to uphold: curiosity, rigour, and a genuine commitment to student learning. 

 

Head of School, Professor Anil Kokaram, commented: 

I remember well François’ strong advocacy for incorporating Deep Learning in our curriculum right at the start of what has now become an avalanche of progress. I am delighted to see him rewarded by the University for his outstanding contributions to cutting edge Research Led Teaching. It shows just how much the School cares about excellence in teaching from all our staff. 

 

Find out more and read the full list of winners from Centre for Academic Practice, Trinity Teaching & Learning website, by clicking here. 

 

This recognition sits alongside recent successes across the School, including Trinity Teaching Awards for postgraduate educators, reflecting the range of teaching taking place from undergraduate modules through advanced research training. Across Engineering, staff and postgraduate teachers are continuing to refine how material is delivered, develop new formats for project-based learning, and respond to how students engage with increasingly technical subject areas.