"Since 2019 the TLU have launched and supported over 40 learning communities across MTU. During this session we heard from Learning Community members about who they are, what inspired them to start/join a Learning Community, what they have achieved and how others might initiate or join an existing learning community. Professor Jim O’ Mahony also spoke about how funding can be awarded and used effectively to transform teaching and learning both within and across disciplines."

As part of MTU’s commitment to excel in teaching, research and development work, for the benefit of staff, students, industry and the wider community, MTU is offering staff the opportunity for professional recognition of their teaching practice and leadership.

As part of MTU’s commitment to excel in teaching, research and development work, for the benefit of staff, students, industry and the wider community, MTU is offering staff the opportunity for professional recognition of their teaching practice and leadership.

"Learning communities provide a space and a structure for people to align around a shared goal. Effective communities are both aspirational and practical. They connect people, organisations, and systems that are eager to learn and work across boundaries, all the while holding members accountable to a common agenda, metrics, and outcomes. These communities enable participants to share results and learn from each other, thereby improving their ability to achieve rapid yet significant progress. Over the last three years, the TLU have initiated and supported over 30 learning communities across MTU. This seminar provided a short update from each of our learning communities which highlighted their successes and challenges. The session was also useful to those wishing to learn more about the benefits of initiating or joining learning communities in MTU."

CIT’s Teaching & Learning Unit (TLU) launched an inaugural call in 2018 to develop and support a number of Learning Communities (LCs) across the institute and is currently working with 13 emerging LCs from across the institute as a direct result of this call. LCs facilitate the exchange of good teaching and learning ideas amongst its members and provide a platform for professional discussions and sharing of practices. This workshop enabled these emerging LCs to: Showcase their vision and ideas for both their short- and long-term ambitions Show how their activities are influencing teaching and learning in their respective disciplines. An open invitation was extended to all CIT staff to attend what turned out to be a lively and thought-provoking session where they heard more about our LCs and found out how to: Develop a new LC or Create partnerships with existing ones

"The seminar consisted of two components – presentations and a collaborative workshop. Presentations focused on some key theoretical perspectives and were delivered by Professor Sally Brown and drew on her rich experience in this area as well as ideas from the text she has recently co-authored with Kay Sambell and Linda Graham – Professionalism in Practice. The presentation considered aspects such as drivers for change in higher education and outlined the impact that the professional development framework has had in the UK and the increasingly professionalised nature of higher education in the UK. Change management and the role that Heads of Department and Heads of Schools have in leading change within their disciplines were explored as well as the processes that are available to encourage all staff to engage in professional development – especially in the context of educational development as opposed to developing disciplinary-specific knowledge and skills. In the workshop, participants explored the Irish National Professional Development Framework and identified the likely opportunities that would arise from staff engaging with this Framework as well as the challenges and barriers they are likely to face. The workshop concluded by exploring ways in which the opportunities can be maximised and barriers minimised. The aim of this seminar and the accompanying workshop, was to ensure participants: Understand the drivers for change in higher education, the professionalisation of the higher education sector, and in the context of the UK experience, the benefits arising from engaging with a national professional development framework Have an appreciation of the opportunities afforded by the Professional Development Framework to both themselves and the staff within their departments as well as the barriers to engaging with it. Understand the role of Heads of Departments and Heads of School in leading change within their disciplines Learn about ways of engaging staff in their own professional development"

"Third level institutions, like businesses all over the world, are in competition with each other to deliver the best programmes in the country to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. They are on the lookout for that unique element to make them stand out from their competitors. One of the most unique elements that all institutions have are their staff and students. Each and every person in that institution has a unique story and it is these stories that will set an institution apart. Today’s sharing culture allows us all to be in a prime position to share these stories through the use of social media. For staff, personal branding is a way to showcase their own research and that of their institution. The knowledge and experience staff bring to any discipline is a valuable asset that needs to be promoted. The use of social media tools like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are ways to connect with peers, researchers and students alike to share opinions, achievements, events etc. In addition, it will enable future potential students to gain a valuable insight into programmes, modules and research activity on offer by an institution across multiple disciplines. Students need to be aware of the impact that their social media presence can have on their reputation, both personally and professionally. They need to understand how personal branding with social media can be used to showcase their academic achievements and to enhance their employability. However, just using social media is not enough. Personal branding techniques gained from this workshop demonstrated how a strategically planned social media format between staff and students can truly showcase the importance of programmes delivered by that institution. The aims of this workshop were to: Explain what is meant by personal branding and how a strategically planned social media format between staff and students can truly showcase the importance of programmes delivered by that institution. Demonstrate the utilisation of branding and social media tools to create a personal brand. Demonstrate how to manage a personal brand."