Annual Report
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ANNUAL REPORT www.mic.ul.ie f l X CONTENTS Introduction from President 2 Introduction from the Chairman 3 Governance 4 External Landscape 6 Campus Development 8 Highlights 9 • Programmes 9 • Projects & Activities 10 • Awards & Achievements 13 • International Work 15 • Conferences 16 • Community Engagement & Culture 17 • Sports 20 • Conferring Ceremonies 21 Graduation Numbers 23 Student Numbers 24 Energy Usage 25 Organisational Chart 26 Accounts 27 MIC ANNUAL REPORT 14-15 Introduction Foreword Professor Michael A Hayes Bishop Brendan Leahy President Chairman of An Bord Rialaithe Welcome to the Annual Report 2014-2015 for Mary Immaculate College. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the MIC Annual Report 2014-2015. Once again 2014-2015 has proved a remarkably productive and successful year for Mary Immaculate College as we continue to The high level of achievements recorded in this report reflect MIC’s level of commitment to academic distinction and the high successfully reach the targets as outlined in our Strategic Plan 2012-2016. quality whole-student experience that is our most prominent hallmark. Students who ranked amongst the top 4% of CAO point earners this year chose MIC as their number one college of choice. Our I would like to express my sincere thanks to all members of the College community for continuing to distinguish this College four undergraduate programmes witnessed a 13% increase in applications, coupled with a 16% increase in students who chose as a place where individual passions fuel collective purpose. While it is true that we place the students at the centre of all that MIC as their first-preferred higher level destination. Our Liberal Arts Degree alone witnessed a remarkable 52% increase in first we do, it is our staff, both academic and professional services, that is our treasured resource. It is because of this commitment preferences resulting in the decision to increase the number of places available on the programme to 325. As a result, the to collaboration, creativity and innovation, that 2014-15 has been filled with many noteworthy achievements. academic year 2014/2015 saw our highest intake of new entrants to first year as we welcomed over 850 first year students in September during Orientation Week. We also welcomed the first cohort of students on the Professional Masters in Education I am confident that the next year will continue in this vein, as we continue to strengthen MIC’s culture of high-quality teaching (Primary Teaching) – or PME – programme, with a total of 100 students embarking on this two-year course. September also and learning and excellence in the workplace through a spirit of partnership, unity of resolve and open dialogue. saw the launch of our new part-time blended learning Level 7 BA in Early Childhood Practice, to be jointly delivered over four semesters by the Faculty of Education here at MIC and the Department of Social Sciences at the Institute of Technology, Tralee. It is my privilege, as Chairman of An Bord Rialaithe, to commend this Annual Report. MIC remains committed to making a positive difference in our community and to that end we were delighted to open up our beautiful campus to our families, neighbours and friends when we hosted our first Family Open Day in October. We also continued to strengthen our connections with the wider community through MIC’s weighty contribution to the Limerick City of Culture 2014 programme. Many events such as ‘A Year with Saint John’s Bible’ brought thousands of visitors to the College attending art and calligraphy workshops, public lectures and meditations on the illuminations in the Bible. The Lime Tree Theatre (LTT) housed in MIC, also played a pivotal role in the success of Limerick’s 2014 National City of Culture programme _______________________________________ hosting a number of high profile events, resulting in the in the LTT deservedly being announced as the 2014 Limerick Chamber Regional Business Award Winner in the Sport, Art & Culture Category. † Brendan Leahy Chairman of An Bord Rialaithe This year also saw the continuation of the very positive spirit of partnership within the Shannon Consortium as substantial progress was made on the development of the National Institute for Studies in Education (NISE), the creation of a Federated Graduate School, regional academic planning and the development of a ‘Limerick BA’ programme in the Humanities. A number of high profile fora, symposia and conferences took place in the College this year, each contributing to MIC’s vision of being an institution that offers higher level learning opportunities and research of outstanding quality. These events furthered our objective to be recognised and appreciated for making an essential contribution to the continuum of academic provision in effective and productive collaboration with its partners in the higher education sector. More information on all of the above may be found further on in this report. I hope you find the information contained within interesting and informative as we work towards meeting the goals and targets of our Strategic Plan 2012-2016. __________________________________ Professor Michael A Hayes President PAGE 2 PAGE 3PAGE 3 MIC ANNUAL REPORT 14-15 GOVERNANCE TRUSTEES 2012-2016) • Dr Patrick Connolly, Assistant Registrar Academic council (An Bord Acadúil - BA) met on the The Trustees for this period were as follows: 17 December 2014 • Professor Jim Deegan, Head of Graduate School following dates: • Bishop Brendan Leahy 18 March 2015 • Dr Eugene O Brien – HoD, English Language & Liter - 24 September 2014 • Archbishop Dermot Clifford (retired January 2015) 10 June 2015 ature 26 November 2014 • Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly (commenced February • Dr Löic Guyon – HoD, French 21 January 2015 2015) EXECUTIVE TEAM • Ms Maire Ní Neachtain – Ceann Roinn na Gaeilge 25 March 2015 • Bishop Raymond Browne The Executive Team acts as an advisory group to the • Professor Des McCafferty – HoD, Geography 12 June 2015 • Very Rev. Fr Tony Mullins President for the day-to-day management of the College. • Dr Christiane Schönfeld - HoD of German Studies • Sr Thomasina Finn The Executive Team includes members of the senior • Dr Liam Chambers – HoD, History STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISORY GROUP • Ms Margaret O’Brien College management group, appointed directly by the • Mr Diarmuid O’Driscoll – HoD, Mathematics and On a quarterly basis, the President convenes a Strategic • Mr John Hayden (RIP June 2015) President. Computer Studies Planning Advisory Group with wider membership, • Ms Maedhbh Uí Chiagáin • Dr Rosemary Day – HoD, Media & Communication including senior managers representing a range of func - Membership Studies tional responsibilities within the College. The purpose of The Trustees met on the following dates: • Professor Michael A Hayes, President • Dr Gareth Cox – HoD, Music this group is to advise the President on the status of 11 November 2014 • Professor Eugene Wall, Vice-President Academic • Dr Kerry Greer, Acting HoD, Psychology implementation of the current Strategic Plan (2012-16) 20 January 2015 Affairs • Dr Niall Keane – HoD, Philosophy through the Annual Operational Plans (AOPs), as well as 28 April 2015 • Mr John Coady, Vice-President Administration & • Professor Eamonn Conway – HoD, Theology & to support the President in the shaping of a new strategic 30 June 2015 Finance Religious Studies vision for the post-2016 period. 10 August 2015 • Professor Teresa O’Doherty, Dean of Education • Dr Angela Canny, Assistant Dean of Education • Professor Michael Breen, Dean of Arts • Dr Deirdre Ní Chróomin - Acting HoD, Arts Education Membership AN BORD RIALAITHE / GOVERNING BODY • Professor Michael Healy, Associate Vice-President and Physical Education • Professor Michael A Hayes, President The membership of An Bord Rialaithe for this period was Research • Uas Sean De Brun - HoD, Language, Literacy, and • Professor Eugene Wall, Vice-President Academic as follows: • Professor Gary O’Brien, Associate Vice-President Mathematics Affairs • Bishop Brendan Leahy (Chair) Administration • Dr Carol O’Sullivan - HoD, Learning, Society, and • Mr John Coady, Vice-President Administration & • Professor Michael A Hayes Religious Education Finance • Professor Eugene Wall The Executive Team met on the following dates during this • Dr Emer Ring – HoD, Reflective Pedagogy and Early • Professor Teresa O’Doherty, Dean of Education • Mr John Coady period: Childhood Studies • Professor Michael Healy, Associate Vice-President • Ms Caitríona Breathnach 11 September 2014 • Dr Patricia Daly – HoD, Special Education Research • Ms Mairéad Horan 29 September 2014 • Dr Cathal de Paor - Director of Continuing & Profes - • Professor Gary O’Brien, Associate Vice-President • Ms Catherine Kelly 22 October 2014 sional Development Administration • Ms Áine Lawlor 14 November 2014 • Mr Neil Ó Conaill - Director of School Placement • Dr Patrick Connolly, Assistant Registrar • Mr Declan Madden 3 December 2014 • Mr Rory McGann, Acting Director, Curriculum Devel - • Professor Jim Deegan, Head of Graduate School • Rev. Tony Mullins 23 January 2015 opment Unit • Dr Anne O’Keeffe, Director of Teaching and Learning • Mr Conn Murray 12 February 2015 • Dr Anne O’Keeffe – Director of Teaching and Learning • Mr Frank White, Director of Human Resources • Mr Seán McMahon 6 March 2015 • Ms Marie Ryan - Course Coordinator, B Ed in • Mr Michael Keane, Director of Finance • Ms Margaret O’Brien 26 March 2015 Education and Psychology • Mr Kieran Pearse, Director of ICT Services •