dcu president’s awards for engagement 2016 · pdf filewhat the entries to the 2016...

DCU President’s Awards for Engagement 2016 1

DCU President’s Awards for Engagement 2016

Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha CliathDublin City University

2 DCU President’s Awards for Engagement 2016


Foreword DCU President Prof. Brian MacCraith

Engagement is a cornerstone of DCU’s uniqueness. We are the antithesis of the ‘Ivory Tower’ university and, through our actions, reflect a clear commitment to the pursuit of symbiotic relationships with our city, our region and our nation across all of our core activities. Dublin is our city and we aim to be a key contributor in enhancing its position as one of the major cities of the world, especially in the areas of culture, innovation and sustainability. DCU is also rooted proudly in its north Dublin neighbourhood. We are committed to working with community, educational, commercial and social groups in our region, clear in our responsibility and determination to play a positive role in the development of the local social, economic and cultural fabric.

The President’s Award for Engagement, which DCU was the first Irish university to create in 2010, is designed to celebrate the engagement of all staff and students with the life of the wider community and to make awards for the top entries in the staff and student categories. The award consists of two €1000 awards, one for a staff category and one for a student category and a €500 Special Merit Award for both staff and students. This award recognises outstanding contributions by staff and students to the engagement mission of DCU. Engagement is defined widely to embrace civic engagement, public engagement, enterprise engagement, sustainability engagement and student engagement.

At a time when the financial stresses on the Irish university system are reaching a critical point, it is well that we all reflect on the many ways that higher education contributes to society over and above the well-known teaching and research functions. What the entries to the 2016 President’s Awards for Engagement, outlined here, show is the sheer diversity and marvellous creativity of the staff and students at our universities. We see how they contribute to society in so many different ways, often unknown to their colleagues let alone the wider public.

I am very proud to present the entries and winners to the 2016 DCU President’s Awards for Engagement.

Professor Brian MacCraith President Dublin City University


DCU President’s Awards for Engagement 2016 Winners

Winner Student Category: DCU Raising and Giving Society - Local Community Projects

Since its establishment in 2011 the DCU Raising and Giving Society has been known for its innovative, creative and enterprising student-led projects that have addressed a number of local community needs. In the academic year 2015/2016, DCU RAG Society has led five weekly social projects in the DCU neighbourhood, including programmes with St. Joseph’s NS, Trinity Comprehensive, Aisling afterschool Project, Operation Paint Ballymun, Go GAGA for GAA, RAG Rhythms and Ballymunch. All these projects have been fully student-led and voluntary. DCU RAG Society members constantly look out for new opportunities for involvement and two new projects are already lined up for the next academic year. Over the years, DCU RAG Society has been one of the drivers of student volunteering at DCU, demonstrating to third level students that engagement with local community through voluntary activities not only contributes to the betterment of the lives of others, but is also an enjoyable and fun experience through which students can develop transferrable skills and graduate attributes.


Special Mention Student Category: Cody Byrne – Outstanding Individual Contribution: Global Brigades

Cody Byrne has been involved in the work of Global Brigades throughout his time at DCU and since 2013 he has been the Manager for Global Brigades Ireland. His second- to- none dedication to Global Brigades has had immense rippling effect on the DCU student body, but also at a higher level, on the lives of hundreds, if not more, people across the world. Cody has led the most Brigades and the largest ever Irish Brigade, in Ghana and Honduras: the projects led individually by Cody engaged not only over 120 DCU students but also students from other Irish universities and IoTs. In the course of his voluntary work, Cody has also engaged with organisations including Concern Ireland, Irish Red Cross, and the Laura Lynn Foundation, to name but a few, as well as contributed to a number of events held by societies on campus (Cancer Soc, RAG, FotoSoc, Africa Soc). His Intra placement with DCU Sustainability Office is an example of Cody’s commitment to our own university community.


Winner Staff Category: Bernadette Dwyer, Institute of Education, St. Patrick’s College – Chekhov E-book Lit4Life Project

The Chekhov E-book Lit4life is a partnership project between Microsoft, UNESCO, Mediacraft and St. Patrick’s Campus, Dublin City University that harnesses the power of technology to address the problems of literacy in the world. Fourth year B.Ed. literacy specialism students and graduates of the college and university developed 50 levelled e-books for beginner readers including some titles related to Irish legends and myths. The e-books are available to download using a free app that operates on low cost mobile devices. The apps provide a scaffolded digital learning environment, with inbuilt illustrations and narration support, for emerging readers as they build literacy skills. The e-books will be piloted by UNESCO as part of a range of literacy services to underserved communities in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia and Mexico in the coming year.


Special Mention Staff Category: Vincent Hooper and Brian Kelleher, School of Chemical Science, DCU – Teach to Learn and Science Promotion Collaboration with Trinity Comprehensive School, Ballymun

This annual project aims to promote science to second year students from a local DEIS school through a series of workshops delivered by DCU Environmental Science and Technology students and through field study conducted yearly in a seashore location. The project introduces secondary school students to scientific concepts and field work thus promoting environmental science and inspiring younger students to pursue the subject at second and third level. DCU students have an opportunity to act as teachers, hence providing them with a new outlook on the teaching and learning of science. Participating DCU students also serve as role models to inspire local students not only to pursue the study of science, but also to see DCU as an open and accessible space. The judging panel also commented on the significant, non-timetabled voluntary involvement from the nominated lecturers, as well as participating DCU students.


Special Award in Enterprise Engagement: Michael Henry – Special Recognition for Enterprise Engagement – Novel LC-MS-MS-Workflow for Proteomic Profiling of Biological Samples

The purpose of Michael Henry’s project was to set up a practical workflow enabling researchers at DCU and their partners in academia, clinical settings and industry to apply a new set of technologies to biological samples and to assist in the interpretation of the data generated by these technologies. This facility has been built ab initio by Michael Henry to be leading nationally and internationally competitive. During the project Michael Henry has engaged with an extensive range of stakeholders internally at DCU and externally - in industry, enterprise and academia. His work forged research collaborations with industries, including Pfizer, Eli Lilly and All Tech, as well as with colleagues at 3U partner institutions – RCSI and NUIM. Michael’s project secured international partnerships with Harvard Medical School and the University of Buffalo. His work has contributed to the success of numerous grant applications, SFI, Horizon 2020, FP7 and HRB, from DCU colleagues. The diverse collaborations led to the licencing of the technology Michael built from the start up from DCU to All Tech. Michael’s work is held in high esteem by experts in the field, and has greatly con-tributed to the image of DCU as an engaged university nationally and internationally, crossing the boundaries between academia, industry and enterprise.


Student Category – Nominees

Anthony Chinedum MuottoDCU Business School

Voluntary and leadership involvement on and off campus in projects including, among others, Intergenerational Learning Programme, Everyday Heroes talks, DCU Africa Society.

Avril HaydenFaculty of Engineering and Computing

Femgineers – a grassroots, student-led project encouraging participation in third level STEM education among young women

Caroline O’SullivanBSc Marketing, Innovation, Technology

Check Yo Self – enterprise selling drink spike kits to Students’ Unions in Ireland with proceeds from sales donated to ChildLine

David de ArmyOpen Education Unit, MSc in Management of Sustainable Development

Involvement in learning and research projects contributing to sustainable access to clean water in rural Central Africa

DCU Mental Health Society Founding and running of Mental Health Hub and a range of other activities and initiatives supporting positive mental health among DCU student population

DCU Raising and Giving Society

Involvement in establishing and delivering innovative, creative and enterprising student-led projects addressing community needs in North Dublin and promoting volunteerism among DCU students

Dexmont PenaSchool of Computing, PhD Track

Research project focussing on obstacle detection for cars using computer vision, contributing to road safety

Enactus DCU Care After Prison Bootcamp – a project linking prisoners and ex-prisoners with prevention services to stop them from re-offending and returning to prison


Ferdia MooneyBSc Multimedia

Involvement in school visits with Disability and Learning Support and DCU Access to encourage students with disabilities and from disadvantaged areas to consider entering higher education at DCU

Barbara McMahonBA in Humanities

Charity Zip Glide for Celtic Foundation in Glasgow and Ability Counts programme in Ireland

Fergus NearyBSc Accounting and Finance

Involvement in the setting up and running of Clarity – a not-for-profit fundraising organisation, and a range of fundraising events on and off campus

Gillian McInerneyBA Contemporary Culture and Society

Alphabet Soup: the largest online collection of terms and phrases used by and about the LGBTQ+ community. The aim of the project is to increase compassion and understanding of LGBTQ+

Glen KellyBEd Primary Education

Involvement in sports and coaching, particularly gymnastics and trampolining; and the organisation of charity fundraising sports events on SPD Campus

Michelle DohertyInnovation and Entrepreneurship, DCU Ryan Academy

Advisory and mentorship role and support for i-Smile: a non-for-profit organisation set up to reduce isolation and increase participation of migrant women in mainstream Irish society.

Cody ByrneBSc Psychology

Extensive involvement and leadership through Global Brigades on projects in Ghana and Honduras, as well as on DCU campus and nationally, impacting hundreds of Irish students as well as hundreds of lives in communities abroad

Muhammad AliPhD Track Physics

A Leap Towards Big Data: project enabling students to develop skills to pursue careers in big data and data analytics, promoting DCU as a centre of excellence in enterprise and STEM


Peter CarberryBA International Relations

Human rights promotion at DCU – DCU Amnesty International Society; engagement of DCU staff and students in issues such as, among others, Direct Provision, reproductive rights, refugee crisis, and death penalty

Seán Ó’ScinéirBSc Genetics and Cell Biology

Charitable and community involvement through St. John Ambulance (over 400 hours of volunteering over 2 years) and DCU Rock Climbing charity events

St. Patrick’s College Soccer Team, SPD

Involvement in sports alongside academic study

Olayiwola OgunsanyaBSc Marketing, Innovation, Technology

House of AKI-NA – a social enterprise providing meaningful employment and education workshops for women living in Direct Provision


Staff Category – Nominees

Aine Mangaoang, John O’FlynnMusic Department, SPD

“Mapping Popular Music in Dublin” project, funded by Fáilte Ireland, engaging students, the public and enterprise in creating “music maps” for future use by tourism, music and culture industries

Bernadette DwyerInstitute of Education, SPDChekhov Ebook Lit4Life Project

Collaborative partnership between UNESCO, Microsoft, Mediacraft, SPD and DCU, involving B.Ed. students, addressing global literacy issues through development of Ebooks

Carmel ConroyIntergenerational Learning Programme

Pivotal role in DCU’s flagship AFU project - engaging older people and DCU student volunteers in reciprocal learning journeys

Dr Melrona KirraneDCU Business School

Public and enterprise engagement: 30% Club – improving gender balance in business leadership; advocate of diversity and inclusion in the field of gender and leadership and work with companies such as Vodafone, Intel, Dublin Bus, Zurich Insurance, Eir and others

Centre for Family BusinessDCU Business School

Family Business Workshop All Ireland Roadshow 2015 with the mission of sharing research knowledge and best practices, and providing family businesses with advice and support; attended by over 130 family firms

DCU Access ServiceUniTY Programme

Partnership programme between DCU, the corporate world, public sector and third sector with the aim of raising motivation and career aspirations of TY students in communities in North Dublin with a tradition of low progression to higher education

Dr Charlotte HollandSchool of Education Studies

Extensive civic, enterprise, public and sustainability engagement through Regional Centre of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development

John BuckleyMusic Department, SPD

Cultural engagement through musical composition, concert organisations, broadcasting, board membership, international representation and music education over the period of forty years


Michael HenryNational Institute for Cellular BioechnologyScience and Technology Enhancement Platform

Extensive industry, enterprise, intra- and inter-university engagement nationally and internationally on a project applying a new set of technologies to biological samples

Psychotherapy Team: Dr Rita Glover, Dr Evelyn Gordon, Dr Gemma Kiernan, Dr Gerard Moore, Dr Rosaleen McElevaney, Dr Aisling McMahonHealthy Living Centre

Leading the programme of the provision of low cost psychotherapy sessions to local communities, DCU students and staff.

Ray WalsheSchool of Computing

Organisation of a series of events for Startup Europe Week and International Workshops on Big Data Standards enhancing DCU’s image as a University of Enterprise, promoting best practice in industry and stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship


Shikha SharmaBiomedical Diagnostics Institute

Raising awareness of STEM areas through professional and voluntary involvement in local and international communities, e.g. homework clubs, “I’m a Scientist, Get Me Out of Here”, Smart Futures, Physics Busking, Remote Rural Education

Girls Hack Ireland Team (Ruth Blayney, Aoibhéann Bird, Suzanne Little)Insight Centre for Data Analytics

Girl Hack Ireland – a programme addressing the challenge of cultivating awareness of STEM areas as inclusive of and rewarding for girls through interactive learning events and family hackathons

Vincent Hooper and Brian KelleherSchool of Chemical Science

Teach to Learn – annual project promoting science to second year students at Ballymun Comprehensive School; DCU student involvement in teaching on the programme

Uaneen Support TeamUniversity-wide

Voluntary mentorship, support and advice for students pursuing Uaneen module


Natalja MateaseOffice of Civic EngagementD203, The Bea Orpen BuildingDublin City UniversityDublin 9Ireland

E: [email protected]: 353 (1) 700 6858

W: www.dcu.ie/community

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