These prestigious awards celebrate the achievements of UCD colleagues who make exceptional contributions in the pursuit of teaching excellence and the enhancement of student learning. Nominations for awards are submitted online by UCD students and staff.

There are two award schemes, both tiered with awards at college and university level:

• Teaching Excellence Awards recognise individual academic staff for sustained commitment to teaching excellence and student learning.
• Awards for Exceptional Contribution to Learning recognise individual UCD employees, who are engaged directly in teaching and or facilitating student learning. 

» Find out more about the UCD Teaching and Learning Awards

Teaching and Learning Awards 2023-24

Between November 2023 and the end of August 2024, over three thousand nominations were received from students, faculty and staff. The content and volume of their nominations are a testament to the huge achievement of UCD colleagues in creating such a positive impact on so many lives.   

Nominees were invited to apply initially at the college level. Following a competitive process there were 74 awardees at college level. Congratulations to all college awardees on their remarkable achievements.  

Each of the college adjudication panels then made recommendations from their pool of college awardees to put forward for consideration for a university-level award. Following a competitive process, awardees were selected to receive prestigious University Teaching and Learning awards. 

Awardees

Teaching Excellence Awards recognise individual faculty and staff in teaching roles for sustained commitment to teaching excellence and student learning, and have been awarded to:

• Professor Oonagh Breen, UCD School of Law
• Dr Sarah Comyn, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
• Professor Eileen Gibney, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science
• Associate Professor Mary Higgins, UCD School of Medicine
• Professor Colm McLaughlin, UCD School of Business
• Mrs Kathleen O’Reilly, UCD School of Business
• Dr Adamaria Perrotta, UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics
• Dr Nicolas Pillai, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
• Associate Professor Susan Rackard, UCD School of Veterinary Medicine
• Associate Professor Paul Ryan, UCD School of Business

Awards for Exceptional Contribution to Learning recognise individual UCD employees who are engaged directly in teaching or in facilitating student learning, and have been awarded to:

• Dr Cian Davis, UCD School of Medicine
• Dr Aoife Claire MacCormac, UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems
• Mr Alan Morgan, UCD Innovation Academy
• Dr Matthew O'Brien, UCD College of Science
• Ms Emer O'Daly, UCD School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy

A celebratory event will be held in February at which these colleagues will be presented with their awards.