DkIT Annual Reports
2010-2011
1
MISSION STATEMENT
Dundalk Institute of Technology’s mission is to provide the community with quality third –level
education and services, relevant to the economic, social and cultural development of the region
in the national and international context.
The Institute aims to promote personal responsibility among all its students and enhance the
professionalism of all its members in a supportive, inclusive and productive environment.
VISION STATEMENT
“Dundalk Institute of Technology has established a major strategic focus in the area of
Sustainable Living. This focus is based on our strengths, abilities and track record, in an area of
regional, national and global importance and provides us with a strong unique brand and
identity. It will underpin our teaching and learning, our research and development, our services
to students, staff and stakeholders and the manner in which we conduct our affairs and in how
we plan, deliver and operate our facilities and infrastructure”.
2
HISTORY
Ariel View of Dundalk Institute of Technology
Dundalk Institute of Technology was one of the original networks of Regional Technical Colleges set up
in the 1970s under the Regional Technical Colleges Act with an emphasis on business, engineering and
science. Over this past decade and a half, the Institute has expanded its range of programmes to
include hospitality, humanities, music, creative arts and nursing. Apprenticeship courses have long
been a feature of the Institute and there has been continual expansion in the apprenticeship
provisioning in the electrical and plumbing fields.
Dundalk Institute of Technology has undergone some major changes over the years. The size of the
campus has grown over the last five years with the acquisition of the PJ Carroll’s Building, which is now
home to the School of Informatics and Creative Media. A new campus restaurant was also constructed
along with the Mac Anna Theatre which seats 500 people. In 2005 DkIT became one of the first urban
locations to have an industrial standard wind turbine (850kW). It is one of the first large wind turbines
in the world to be constructed on the campus of a third level campus
DkIT’s mission is to provide the community with quality third level education for students of the
community and surrounding areas. Our range of academic and other learning opportunities not only
includes dozens of courses which have proved their popularity over the years, but also introduces
some new ones to reflecting our requirement to adapt to the changing educational and training needs
of a dynamic society.
3
The Mac Anna Theatre, the Campus Restaurant and the Wind Turbine
The Four Schools in the Institute are as Follows:
School of Business and Humanities

Department of Business Studies



Department of Management and Financial Studies
Department of Humanities
Section of Hospitality Studies
School of Engineering




Department of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department of Construction and Surveying
Department of Engineering Trades
School of Informatics, Music and Creative Media


Department of Computing and Mathematics
Department of Music and Creative Media
4
School of Health and Science



Department of Applied Science
Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Studies
Section of Midwifery
The Institute has also grown in its research capabilities with programmes at honours degree and
postgraduate degree level now available in the following research centres:





Entrepreneurship
Software Technology
Smooth Muscle
Renewable Energy
Freshwater Studies
5
CHAIRPERSON’S STATEMENT
As Chairperson of the Governing Body of DkIT I am pleased to report that the Institute continues to
comply with all its legal and regularity responsibilities and through its extensive range of academic,
economic and social activates fulfils its overall mission.
The completion of the re-development of the Carroll building has created a wonderful environment for
the students of the School of Informatics and Creative Arts and I wish to congratulate the Design Team
(Scott Tallon Walker) and staff of the Estates Office at DkIT for their work on this project.
The Institute continues to encourage inclusivity through its access initiatives and as a result we have a
very high proportion of students who are from the first generation within their family to come in to
higher education.
Joanna Gardiner
Chairperson
Governing Body
6
PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT
The Main Challenge in 2010/2011 for both the Governing Body and Executive was managing a
reduction in overall budget and reductions in staffing due to the Employment Control Framework being
implemented in all public bodies. The Institute stayed within its budget and staffing levels during this
period.
Full time student enrolment was 4544 (of which 1401 were first years) and part time enrolment was
330. The following new programmes were introduced: MSc in Ageing and Health; Certificate in Supply
Chain Management; and BSc Engineering Entrepreneurship. In addition a number of programmes
designed for labour market activation were introduced in Science, Computing, Business and Engineering.
In the case of Engineering a number of minor awards were introduced in areas such as Wind Energy,
Ocean Energy, Bio Energy and Solar Energy.
A highlight of the year was the official opening of the Carroll Building by An Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen,
on 11th of February 2011. The building will accommodate the School of Informatics and Creative Arts
and represents an overall investment €40million.
Denis Cummins
President
7
Section 1
Governance
1.1 Membership of Governing Body
1.2 Governing Body Meetings
1.3 Institute Executive Board
1.4 Institute Senior Staff
8
1.1 Membership of Governing Body
Title
Representing
Ms Joanna Gardiner
Mr Denis Cummins
Cllr. Madeleine Argue
Cllr. Marianne Butler
Cllr. Jim D’Arcy
Mr Patrick Doherty
Mr Brian Harten
Mr Eddie Kavanagh
Mr Clifford Kelly
Dr Padraig Kirk
Ms Sabrina Mackin
Cllr. Tracey McElhiney
Mr James Clarke
Ms Siobhan Ni Eanaigh
Mr Frank O’Brien
Mr Martin O’Brien
Mr Jim O Donohue
Ms Antoinette Rourke
DKIT
DKIT
Co. Cavan VEC
Co. Louth VEC
Co. Louth VEC
IDA Ireland
Arts Office Louth County Council
Non-Academic Staff Member
Pobal
Co. Louth VEC
Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland
Co. Meath VEC
Student Representative
The Arts Council
ICTU
Co. Monaghan VEC
Academic Staff Member
Academic Staff Member
1.2 Governing Body Meetings
Meeting No.
171
172
173
Date
Wednesday 1st Sept 2010
Wednesday 6th October 2010
Wednesday 3rd November 2010
174
175
176
177
178
Tuesday 7th December 2010
Tuesday 8th February 2011
Wednesday 27th April 2011
Wednesday 15th June 2011
Wednesday 20th July 2011
9
1.3 Institute Executive Board/Senior Management
Mr Denis Cummins
Dr Edel Healy
Mr Peter McGrath
Dr Gerard McKiernan
Mr Stephen McManus
Mr Eugene Roe
Mr Cathal Kearney
President
Head of School of Health and Science
Secretary/Financial Controller
Head of School of Informatics & Creative Art
Registrar
Head of School of Engineering
Head of School of Business & Humanities
1.4 Heads of School/Heads of Function/Heads of Section
Senior Management
Mr Denis Cummins
Mr Gerry Carroll
Mr Peter McGrath
Mr Stephen McManus
Mr Cathal Kearney
Mr Eugene Roe
Dr Edel Healy
Dr Gerard McKiernan
President
Head of Development
Secretary/Financial Controller
Registrar
Head of School of Business & Humanities
Head of School of Engineering
Head of School of Health & Science
Head of School of Informatics & Creative Arts
Head of Departments
Mr Shane Hill
Dr. Colette Henry
Dr. David Getty
Dr. Eibhlis Farrell
Ms Caroline O Sullivan
Mr Eugene Roe
Dr. Daniel O Brien
Mr Patrick McCormack
Mr Gerry McTaggart
Mr Myles Hackett
HOD Financial, Management & Prof Studies
HOD Business Studies (on career break)
HOD Humanities
HOD Music & Creative Media Programmes
Acting HOD Music & Creative Media Programme
HOD Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering
HOD Electronics & Mechanical Engineering
HOD Civil & Environmental Engineering
HOD Nursing & Health Studies
HOD Midwifery & Health Studies
Heads of Function
Ms Marie Madigan
Mr Gerald O’ Driscoll
Mr Conor Lait
Mr James McCahill
Ms Ann Cleary
Ms Linda Murphy
Finance Manager
Human Resource Manager
Estates Manager
IT Manager
Librarian & Head of Strategy
Academic & Student Affairs Manager
10
Section 2
Academic & Student Affairs
2.1 Academic Council Members
2.2 Academic Council Meetings
2.3 Academic Developments
2.4 Enrolment Statistics
2.5 Graduation 2010
2.6 Erasmus Statistics
2.7 Library News
2.8 Access Office
2.9 School Reports
2.10 Student Services
2.11 Lifelong Learning Centre
2.12 School Reports
2.13 CELT Report
11
2.1 Academic Council Membership
Mr Seamus Bellew
Dr Breda Brennan
Ms Anita Byrne
Ms Ann Campbell
Ms Noreen Carney
Mr John Carolan
Ms Ann Cleary
Ms Adele Commins
Mr Denis Cummins
Mr John Dallet
Ms Brianain Erraught
Dr Eibhlis Farrell
Dr Fiona Fearon
Mr Gerry Gallagher
Dr David Getty
Mr Myles Hackett
Ms Angela Hamouda
Dr Edel Healy
Mr Shane Hill
Dr Christian Horn
Dr Eleanor Jennings
Mr Cathal Kearney
Ms Olly Keegan
Dr Sinead Kelly
Ms Briege King
Mr Padraig Kirk
Dr Suzanne Linnane
Dr Moria Maguire
Ms Irene McCausland
Dr Tim McCormac
Mr Pat McCormack
Mr Frank Maguire
Mr Noel Mc Kenna
Dr Gerard McKiernan
Mr Stephen Mc Manus
Dr Daniel O Brien
Mr Jim Donohoe
Mr Michael O Murchu
Ms Caroline O Sullivan
Mr Eugene Roe
Ms Antoinette Rourke
Dr Brendan Ryder
Mr Kenneth Sloane
Dr Arjan Van Rossum
Mr James Clarke – President of Student Union
Mr David Brannigan – V. President of S. Union
2.2 Academic Council Meetings
Academic Year
2010 / 2011
Meeting Number
114
115
116
Special Academic Council Meeting 117
118
119
Date
Friday 1st October 2010
Friday 10th December 2010
Friday 4th March 2011
Friday 6th May 2011
Friday 13th May 2011
Monday 20th June 2011
The minutes of Academic Council Meetings which took place in 2010/2011 are accessible at:
http://www.dkit.ie
12
2.3 Academic Development
The following are a list of New Programmes introduced in 2010/2011
Health & Science


MSc in Ageing and Health
Certificate in Food Supply Chain Management
Engineering









BSc (Hons) in Engineering Entrepreneurship
Certificate in Wind Energy
Certificate in Ocean Energy
Certificate in Bio Energy
Certificate in Home Energy Consultancy
Certificate in Solar Energy
Certificate in Craft Skills
Certificate in Sustainable Plumbing & Heating Installation
Certificate in Technology Entrepreneurship
2.4 Enrolment Statistics
2.4.1 Student Enrolment by Level & Year - Full time
Enrolment Statistic
Full Time
2010-2011
Level
6
7
8
Year 1
99
858
444
Year 2
78
731
407
Year 3
Year 4
790
401
639
9
Total
1401
1216
Year 5
Year 6
7
Total
177
2379
1891
56
33
89
1191
639
56
40
4544
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
12
7
1
Total
76
43
67
144
12
8
330
2.4.2 Student Enrolment by Level & Year - Part time
Enrolment Statistic
Part time
2010-2011
Total
Level
7
8
9
10
Year 1
75
35
19
38
Year 2
1
1
29
54
Year 3
27
24
167
85
27
31
7
13
2.5 Graduation November 2010
A Total of 1369 Student Graduated in November2010
2.5.1 Graduation Prize Winners November 2010
Prize
Prize Winner
Course
Failte Ireland Prize
HETAC Student of the Year
Greg Eakins
Alma Moffet
Higher Certificate in Culinary Arts
Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing
President Prize for Academic
Excellence
Si Zhe Li
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Accounting &
Finance
President Prize for Academic
Excellence
John Killen
Bachelor of Business in Hospitality
Management
Mark O Connor
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies
in Social Care
Brian Flood
Bachelor of Science (Hons)
Biopharmaceuticals Science
President Prize for Academic
Excellence
President Prize for Academic
Excellence
President Prize for Academic
Excellence
President Prize for Academic
Excellence
President Prize for Academic
Excellence
President Prize for Excellence in
Craft Studies
President Prize for Academic
Excellence
President Prize for Academic
Excellence
Avril Byrne
Martin O Brien
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Midwifery
Bachelor of Engineering in Civil
Engineering
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Building
Surveying
Bjoern M. Ludwig
Craft Studies
Christopher McGreal
Higher Diploma in Science in Computing
Damien Rennick
Master of Science in Music Technology
Richard Walsh
2.5.2 Conferring of Awards Statistics
School of Engineering
No of Students
Bachelor of Engineering in Sustainable Design
Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Building Surveying
Bachelor of Science in Building Surveying
Master of Science in Renewable Energy Systems
Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic & Electrical Systems
19
55
20
42
14
10
24
Total
184
14
School of Health & Science
No of Students
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biopharmaceutical Science
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Food Innovation
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in General Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion & Physical Activity
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Intellectual Disability Nursing
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Midwifery
Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Agriculture
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
Bachelor of Science in Applied Bioscience
Bachelor of Science in Food Science & Health
Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Science
Bachelor of Science in Professional Management of Aggression & Violence
Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing
Higher Certificate in Science & Agriculture
Higher Diploma in Science in Midwifery
Certificate in General Learning
30
9
9
40
24
27
14
26
14
21
11
18
17
15
10
47
1
14
Total
347
School of Informatics
No of Students
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Applied Music
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Communications (Creative Multimedia)
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Communications in Creative Media
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Video & Film Production
Bachelor of Arts in Communications in Creative Multimedia
Bachelor of Arts in Video & Film Production
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Commercial Computing
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computing in Games Development
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computing in Information Technology
Management
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computing in Applications & Support
Bachelor of Science in Computing in Applications & Support
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computing in Internet Technologies
Bachelor of Science in Computing in Applications & Support
Bachelor of Science in Computing in Software Development
Bachelor of Science in Networking & Support
Doctor of Philosophy
22
1
20
7
32
21
15
11
Higher Diploma in Science in Computing
20
9
6
5
6
5
18
24
1
15
Masters of Arts in Research
Masters of Arts in Music Technology
Master of Science in Research
Master of Science in Music Technology
Total
School of Business & Humanities
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Accounting & Finance
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Community & Sports Leadership
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Cultural Studies
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Public Relations
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social Care
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Cultural Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Community Sports Leadership
Bachelor of Business (Hons) in International Management
Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Marketing
Bachelor of Business in Event Management
Bachelor of Business in Hospitality Management
Bachelor of Business in International Business
Bachelor of Business in International Business (Abroad)
Bachelor of Business in Management & Administration
Bachelor of Business Studies (Hons)
Bachelor of Business Studies in Event, Hospitality and Tourism
Bachelor of Business in Business & Information Systems
Higher Certificate in Culinary Arts
Higher Certificate in Hospitality Studies
Higher Diploma in Business Enterprise Support
Master of Arts in Accounting
Master of Business Administration
Master of Business in Entrepreneurship and Marketing
Total
2
4
1
4
223
No of Students
66
23
10
22
30
14
31
1
8
9
28
25
21
6
120
62
35
17
15
1
9
14
1
14
615
16
2.6 Erasmus Statistics
2.6.1 Outbound DkIT
Erasmus
Destination
Finland
France
Germany
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
The Netherlands
Norway
Totals
Business
Creative Media
and Video &
Film
Engineering
3
8
7
4
6
1
1
Music
Total
3
9
8
4
11
1
1
1
38
1
1
5
30
2
1
1
5
2.6.2 Erasmus EU Teaching Mobility
Destination
France
Estonia
Spain
Austria
Finland
Denmark
Totals
Non-Teaching
Staff
Spain
Finland
Business
Computing
Hospitality
International
Office
Library
Totals
2
1
1
1
5
1
2
1
3
1
2
2
11
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
17
18
2.6.3 Incoming Erasmus Students at DkIT
BUSINESS
PR
HUMANITIES
HOSPITALITY
COMPUTING
CREATIVE
MEDIA
& FILM
ENGINEERING
TOTAL
Bulgaria
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Estonia
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Finland
2
0
0
1
0
1
0
4
France
33
0
4
1
10
0
2
50
Germany
37
6
0
5
6
4
6
64
Italy
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Portugal
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
3
Spain
7
4
0
0
5
2
0
18
Sweden
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
The Netherlands
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
USA
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
Singapore
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
95 10
5
8
22
9
8
157
TOTALS
19
2.6.4 International College Partners
Country
College
Bulgaria
University of National & World Economy
France
IPAC Annecy
IUT du Havre
IUT de Montpellier Beziers Sete
Universite Caholique de Lyon
Business School of France
IUT Tarbes
Universite de Caen
Universite d’Avignon
Universite de Nantes
Universite de Toulouse
Universite de La Rochelle
Universite d’Angers
Universite de Bourgogne
Universite d’Artois
Universite de Limoges
Universite de Savoie
Universite de Lille
ECAM Rennes
IUT Valence
Germany
Hochschule Nurtingen – Geislingen
FH Wedel
Westfalische Hochschule Mittelhessen
Technische Hochschule
Hochschule Heibronn
FJ Triere Birkenfeild
Hochschule Harz
Universitat Hilesheim
Hochschule Emden Leer
Fh Merseburg
Hochschule Niederrhein
Hochschule Fur Technik & Wirtschaft Berlin
Univesitat Luneburg
Italy
Universita ‘degli Studi Di Catania
Lithuania
ISM University of Management & Economics
20
Country
College
Netherlands
Avans Hogeschool – ‘sHertogenbosh
Portugal
Instituto Politecnica de Setubal
Instituto Superior de Maia
Instituto Superior Plitecinico Gaya
Poland
University of Lodz
Singapore
Nan Yang Politechnic
Spain
Universidad de Extermadura
Universidad de Leon
Universidad Politecnica de Valencia
Universidad Cardenal Herrara CEU
Universidad de San Pablo
Universidad Europea de Madrid
Escuela Superior de Relaciones Publicas Internacioanl Barcelona
Sweden
Umea University
USA
Lock Haven University Pennsylvania
Molloy Baker University Kansas
21
2.7 Library Highlights
The Library plays a central role in the academic life of the Institute. DkIT Library provides 400
study places, over 50,000 book and journals, access to online information resources along with a
range of other services. The Library supports the learning culture and practices of the Institute
and endeavours to provide a high quality learning and study environment to students. The
Library offers training courses throughout the year to help students make the most effective use
of our resources and services. The highlights of the Library during the academic year 2010-2011
are as follows:
Space
In November 2010 three rooms previously in use by non-library functions reverted to library use.
Two of these rooms were reconfigured as student group study spaces with networked PC access.
These rooms were heavily used from the moment they were opened. The third room was
reconfigured as a dedicated information skills training room equipped with a presenters PC, a
projection facility and nine PCs for students with hands-on research skills training.
Information Skills
We work hard to ensure that the students of DkIT are aware of the resources that are available
to them through the library. We actively participate in the orientation process for incoming
students in order to introduce them to the library facilities, services and the appropriate use of
library space.
Our Information Skills Programme continued to develop strongly throughout the year. Work on
the Information Skills Training Room was completed giving the library its own dedicated training
space for the first time. The equipment installed included a Presenter PC, multiple PCs and a
large Short-Throw Projection Screen funded by a national Digital Learning Repository (NDLR)
grant. This equipment facilitates hands on search experience for students as part of their
Information Skills Training.
Our capacity to handle large groups as a result of the Information Skills Room means that a
higher number of sessions could be run simultaneously across the campus at key demand times.
Embedded sessions were developed further and delivered in the various schools with concurrent
sessions happening in the library training space. There was an increase in the number of library
staff hours dedicated to research, development, preparation and delivery of Information
Sessions. Over two hundred hours of face to face sessions were recorded during the academic
year catering for over three thousand students.
22
Engagements
Throughout the year we continued to engage with our reader community by highlighting items
of interest via our “Book of the Week” and “Website of the Week”.
Our Public Events included:



“Irelands Bioenergy Options: From Much to Money” – A talk by Dr. Paul McArtain
“Climate Change and Ireland’s Heritage: Impacts and Potential Adaptation” – A
Presentation by Beatrice Kelly of the Heritage Council.
Poetry readings on the Library Roof Garden.
The library organised an exhibition of materials from the DkIT Archive as part of the Institutes
40th Anniversary celebrations in June 2011.
The Library provides rooms for the use of a local reading group, a creative writing group and the
Dundalk Eco Awareness Group. We also offer a range of membership options to members of the
local community.
We offer local secondary schools the opportunity to avail of training on evaluation web
resources for the students engaged in Leaving Certificate projects in History.
We have installed a new high definition display screen near the entrance so that visitors can
keep up to date with Library events and activities.
Collections
This academic year saw a significant increase in student numbers to 5000 FTE. The overall spend
on materials per FTE in the academic year 2010-2011 was €48.23. The Library’s subscriptions to
e-book collections and individual e-book titles highlight the trend towards providing our users
with electronic access to information sources rather that the more traditional print versions.
Resources
Books
A total of 1244 book orders were received over the academic year 2010-2011. The book spend
accounted for 17% of the overall spend on materials. There continues to be a high demand for
print material and demand for individual titles can exceed available copies.
23
Databases
The databases spend accounted for 70% of the overall spend on materials. Three new databases
were added to the Library’s online databases this year to support the new BA Humanities in
Cultural Studies and Irish History and 19th Century House of Commons Parliamentary Papers.
Periodicals
The Periodicals spend accounted for 13% of the overall spend on materials.
Research
A new open access institutional research repository, managed by the Library, went live in early
2011. The repository is intended to raise the visibility of DkIT research output and make it more
easily accessible. In line with the Institute’s sustainability agenda, the open source software
package, e-prints installed on DkIT server, is used to manage the repository.
Research and academic staff attended training workshops given by Library staff which provided
an overview of the new service and showed how to deposit research material.
24
2.8 Access Office
The Access Office in DkIT provides significant support for mature students. The Access Office offers a
supplementary induction programme for incoming mature students which include a mature student
orientation day, academic writing support service and return to education workshop. The workshops
facilitate group discussion that addresses, in a supportive context, queries and anxieties participants may
have surrounding the question of entering higher education.
2.9 Student Services
The aim of DkIT Student Services is to increase student retention, widen participation, develop the first
year student experience and provide support services to all the DkIT students. 2010/2011 saw a record
number of students registered in the Institute with 4,582 registered on full- time programmes on 628 on
Apprentice Programmes. Student Services deals explicitly with non-academic support for these students
and comprises the following:
 Access
 Administration
 Careers
 Chaplaincy
 Counselling
 Disability and Student Quality
 Health
 Sports & Societies
Highlights 2010/2011
The Applications for Mature Student places for 2011 show an increase on figures from 2010. The national
trend points to a decrease so we are continuing to attract mature applicants.
The Access Office was successful in their application for funding of almost €10,000 from State Street to
support students with bursaries.
Francis McGivern was appointed to the counselling service as a part-time student counsellor in addition
to our full-time counsellor. There was a slight increase in the numbers accessing the counselling service;
this is in line with national figures. The DkIT Counselling Service launched their on-line counselling service
‘My Mind Matters’ – among the first HEA’s in the country. The provision of on-line counselling means that
counselling is accessible to student on placement, on Erasmus programmes or for those who find it
difficult to access the services currently.
25
A number of information sessions and workshops were provided by the counselling service throughout
the year.




An information session with canteen staff
Dealing with difficult and challenging behaviours as well as dealing with student in crisis. This was
provided to the Music Department.
Advisory sessions provided to the International Office on the development of a protocol to
support students with mental health issues.
Advisory sessions on development of protocol for at risk students.
There will be a planned move by the Counselling Service adjacent to the Health Unit with a dedicated
waiting area. This will provide a much needed reconfiguration of the Counselling and Health spaces.
It is hoped to provide a dedicated administrator for the Health/Counselling Services where
appointments can be made and enquiries dealt with discretely.
The Careers Service facilitated group seminars and workshops throughout the academic year covering
the following topics:








UCAS Applications
Final Year Class Presentation on the graduate Careers Fair
CV Preparation and Interview Techniques
Routes into Teaching as a Career
Postgraduate Study Options
Workshops for final years on ‘Taking Control of Your Future and your Career’
Career Planning Day – ‘Where are the job opportunities for all Final Year Students’
2 day Careers Skills Programme for Graduates with Disabilities and Specific Learning Difficulties in
association with AHEAD.
In response to a perceived need, the Disability Office offered a Supplementary Access Route for people
with disability. This scheme targets school leavers who have the capacity and ability to succeed at third
level but may fall short on points because of their disability.
The Disability Office piloted Profiler Software on three 1st year nursing groups and provided useful
information for the Department. Its capacity to highlight the learning profile of the individual whilst also
providing a group profile will help in the early identification of students with learning difficulties and also
render empirical data on which to base the course material delivery method.
This year saw the introduction of the DkIT Sports Scholarship programme with 16 students being awarded
scholarships. The programme allows students to attain Sports Science support, financial support, access
to sports facilities equipment and printing services.
The ‘Fit for Life’ Healthy Lifestyle Programme had another successful year achieving national status by
being recognised by the Irish Bishops Drug Initiative Programme and by the College and University Sports
Association of Ireland (CUSAI) who were interested in the format and layout of the programme and how
it could be incorporated into various colleges and universities around the country by increasing both staff
and student participation rates.
26
Funding
The funding for the provision of support services for student comes mainly from the Student Capitation
Charge, which is paid by each student (or their local authority) at registration. This charge is used to fund
student facilities and amenities and a portion of the charge is used to fund general recurrent expenditure
of the Institute. A new student contribution of €2,000 will be introduced in higher education with effect
from 2011/12 academic year. This contribution will replace the existing Student Services Charge and is
intended to secure a more significant contribution the costs of higher education from student who qualify
for the HE Free Fee Scheme.
The Counselling Service continues to develop the Mental Health Portal funded by Strategic Innovation
Funds and the access Office continues to comply with the reporting requirements for the Dormant
Accounts Funding. The Student Learning and Development Centre partly funded by Dormant Accounts
and Capitation continue to provide a comprehensive range of supports at pre-entry and post-entry IT
skills and mathematics support were made available to mature students pre-entry.
Expansion of Services
The service continues to deal with students who are vulnerable for various reasons and who may be likely
to leave college prematurely. As the campus expands the Student Service Providers recognise the need to
expand the services which they provide.
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
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Service providers identified a need for a better understanding of the cultural differences they
experience in delivering their service to a multi -cultural student body. All service providers
participated in a staff development day at the end of May where presentations were made by
Catherine Butterly, ‘Working with International Students’ and Kahlil Thompson Coyle from Sea
Change which is the national coalition of organisations working to change minds about mental
health problems in Ireland. All participants found the day to be particularly useful for the
development of their services.
It is intended to broaden the roll out of the Profiler Screening Software to a greater number of
first year groups to highlight the learning profile of the incoming groups. Reports will be provided
to Academic Departments with a view to providing a group profile which will help in the early
identification of students with learning difficulties and also inform on course material delivery
methods.
The counselling service plans to re-launch ‘My Mind Matters’ with expansion of services to
include synchronous counselling. Priority will be given to the Mental Health Guidelines Group.
The counselling service plans to develop further relevant workshops for staff groups.
Service providers will continue to provide representation on both internal and external
committees, representing student interests.
27
2.10 Lifelong Learning Centre
Life Long Learning Personnel
Position
Anton Barrett
Karen English
Eileen Quinn
Manager
Administrator
Administrator
No. Of Courses Offered
No. Of Students
73
628
Dundalk Institute of Technology supports all lifelong learners in the North East region. Through
its Lifelong Learning Centre, the Institute is committed to developing high quality and relevant
lifelong learning and continuing education opportunities. We provide an ever-widening range of
part time courses to help build progression routes for learners who wise to access higher
qualifications and to extending modes of learning, especially through distance provision and elearning.
The following part-time courses were offered by the Lifelong Learning Centre during 20102011.
Business Studies and Humanities
Head of School of Business Studies & Humanities: Mr Cathal Kearney
Head of Department of Management & Professional Studies: Dr. Shane Hill
Cert / Diploma / BBS Degree in Business Studies
Cert / Diploma / BA Degree in Public Management
Executive Masters in Business Administration
Master’s in Business Studies (Entrepreneurship and Marketing)
Masters / PhD in Business by Research
Higher Diploma in Business in Small Enterprise Support
Accounting Technician
Professional Certificate in Investment Funds
Higher Certificate in Business in Procurement
Bachelor in Procurement & Supply Chain Management
Certificate in Personnel Practice
Introduction to Human Research Management
28
Operations management via e-learning mode
Certificated Payroll Technician
Certified VAT Technician
New Certificate in Financial Accounting
New Certificate in Industrial / Employee Relations
New Certificate in Conflict Management in the Workplace
New Certificate in Human Resource Management
New Certificate in Training & Development
New Certificate in Employment Law
New Certificate in Business Law
New Certificate in Corporate Governance and Company Law
New Certificate in Public Relations Planning
New Certificate Media Relations
Humanities, Languages and Sport
Head of Department of Humanities: Dr. David Getty
Higher Certificate in Community Studies
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Community Development
Global Development: Issues and Challenges that face our World
French - Beginners and Improvers
Spanish – Beginners and Improvers
Chinese for Beginners
English for Speakers of Other Languages
Cambridge University English Language Exam Preparation
Digital Photography
Interior Design for Beginners
Interior Design for Improvers
Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration
Active IQ Level 2 – Certificate in Fitness Instructing (Gym)
New Certificate in Study and Learning Skills
New Certificate in Social Care and Disability
New Certificate in Issues in Social Care
New Certificate in the Modern State
New Certificate in Politics in Ireland
New Certificate in Borders and Borderlands
New Certificate in Gender and Politics
New Active IQ Level 2 – Certificate in Fitness Instructing (Exercise to Music)
New Active IQ Level 3 – Certificate in Personal Training
29
Engineering, Renewable Energy, Health and Safety
Head of School of Engineering: Mr Eugene Roe
Head of Department of Engineering Trades: Mr John Carolan
Head of Department of Electronics & Mechanical Engineering: Dr. Dan O’Brien
Head of Department of Building & Surveying: Mr Noel McKenna
Programmable Logic Controllers – Level One
Programmable Logic Controllers – Level Two
Building and Facilities Management
Welding for Beginners
Computer Aided Design – Level One
Computer Aided Design – Level Two
Postgraduate Diploma / MSc in Renewable Energy Systems
Certificate in Safety and Health at Work (with UCD)
New Biomass Heating Systems
New Heat Pump Systems
New Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems
New Certificate in Safety and Health at Work (with NSO)
Computing
Head of School of Informatics & Creative Arts: Dr. Bob McKiernan
Head of Department of Computing & Mathematics: Dr. Christian Horn
Cisco Certified Network Associate
Computers for Beginners
Computers for Silver Surfers (with Age Action Ireland)
European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
ECDL Advanced Word Processing
ECDL Advanced Spread sheets
Adobe Photoshop
PC Maintenance
Web Page Design
Project Management with Microsoft Project
30
Health and Science
Head of School of Health & Science: Dr. Edel Healy
Head of Department of Applied Science: Dr. Breda Brennan
Head of Department of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Studies: Mr Myles Hackett
New Certificate in Health Studies (Aging)
New Postgraduate Diploma in Health Studies (Aging)
New Masters in Health Studies (Aging)
New Certificate in Bioprocess Engineering (Minor Award)
New Certificate in Bioenergy and the Agri-environment (Minor Award)
VALIDATING AUTHORITIES
The Life Long Learning Centre is engaged with a number of validating authorities.
HETAC
Institute of Public Administration
Accounting Technicians of Ireland
Institute of Bankers
Certified Institute of Personal Development
Irish marketing Institute
Irish Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management
UCD
National Irish Safety Organisation
CISCO
31
32
2.11 School Reports
2.11.1 School of Business & Humanities
Student Numbers by Department
Department
Humanities
Hospitality
Management & Financial
Studies
Business Studies
Total
Numbers
431
200
717
702
2050
Highlights of the Year
Three students from the School of Business & Humanities Department received the President’s
Award for Academic Excellence. Si Zhe Li was the winner in the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in
Accounting & Finance, John Killeen won in the Bachelor of Business in Hospitality Management
category and Mark O Connor received his award for Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Science.
Maire Connolly who was lecturer in the Hospitality Department retired in December of this year.
Marie had been with the college for over thirteen years and will be sadly missed by staff and
students alike. We wish Maire good luck and happiness in her retirement.
33
School of Business & Humanities celebrates the
Awarding of their first doctorate
Pictured at the gathering from left to right: Dr David Getty, Dr John Digney, Angela Short, Larry Murphy,
Dr Kevin Howard, Dr Brian Boyd, Dr Martin Maguire and Anne Maire Mc Hugh.
Staff of the School of Business and Humanities gathered recently to celebrate the achievement of Dr John
Digney, the first student in the School to be awarded a Doctorate. John, a deputy director with the Health
Services Executive completed his thesis part time. The title of which was ‘the use of humour in Child and
Health Care: A Phenomenological Inquiry’. John’s lead supervisor was Dr David Getty, Head of the
department of Humanities and Dr Thom Garfatt was his external supervisor. Dr Lucia Carragher, Research
Fellow, Netwell Centre, DkIT was the Internal Examiner and Dr Grant Charles, Associate professor, School
of Social Work, University of British Columbia, Vancouver was the External Examiner. Dr Charles is
internationally renowned for his work in Child and Youth care with particular expertise in the use of
humour. Dr Charles, in his report commented that the thesis represented an original contribution to
knowledge and makes a significant contribution to this aspect of our understanding of interventions with
young people.
34
2.11.2 School of Engineering
Student Numbers by Department
Department
Dept. of Civil & Environmental
Engineering
Dept. of Construction & Surveying
Dept. of Electronic & Mechanical
Engineering
Dept. of Electrical Trades
Numbers
Total
138
239
302
630
1309
Highlights of the Year
Development work began on a new Honours Degree in Civil Engineering. The BSc (Hons) in Civil
Engineering was validated later in the academic year for delivery in September 2011. This programme
was designed to replace the London South Bank University programme that had been running in the
school since 2007 – 2008. It had filled a strategic requirement and a demand from DkIT level-7 Civil
Engineering graduates for progression opportunities at home.
The BSc (Hons) in Engineering Entrepreneurship also had its first intake of students. Although only a small
number of students opted for this new programme, its strategic importance was recognised by the
president and the Executive and it was launched in January 2011.
After providing administrative support to the school and in particular to the Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering for eight years, Sandra O’Reilly moved on from the School Administration
Office to other duties in the Institute.
The School was notably successful in its application to the HEA’s “Springboard” programme toward the
end of the academic year. “Springboard” was a call for innovative programmes to provide higher
education opportunities to people on the unemployment register. Of the ten programmes approved for
DKIT, The School of Engineering was granted six, with a total approved funding of almost €338,000.
Once again a considerable number of retirements and departures occurred during or at the end of this
academic year with a further ten colleagues leaving the school. They were:
John Gilmore (Civil Engineering)
John Hanratty (Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering)
Peter Hartigan (Electrical Trades)
Donal Kelly (Carpentry – Joinery Trade)
Dr Donnacha Lowney (Electronic Engineering)
35
Terry McNamee (Electronic Engineering)
Noel Stapleton (Carpentry – Joinery Trades)
Larry Staudt (Electronic Engineering)
Michael Woods (Electric Trades)
Dr Michael Wright (Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering)
New Staff joining the School in this academic year were:
Paul Durcan (Assistant Lecturer – Mechanical Engineering)
Seamus Faul (Assistant Lecturer – Electronic Engineering)
Dr Allan Kelly (Assistant Lecturer – Electronic Engineering)
Dr William Lyons (Assistant Lecturer – Electronic Engineering)
Dr Niall McMahon (Assistant Lecturer – Renewable Energy)
Fergal O’Rourke (Assistant Lecturer – Mechanical Engineering)
36
2.11.3 School of Informatics & Creative Arts
Department
Dept. of Computing &
Mathematics
Section of Creative Media
Section of Music
School of Research
Total
Numbers
412
249
145
21
827
Highlights of the Year
Student films shown at the Clones Film Festival
Three 4th Year students on the BA in Video & Film Production course had their films shown as part of this
year’s Clones Film Festival which was held in October in Clones Co. Monaghan. The films were ‘The
Stonepicker’ directed by Francis Gorman, ‘The Walk Home’ directed by Marc Larmer and ‘Forgiven’
directed by John Hoey.
A Short documentary made by lecturer Sarah McCann was also show at the festival. This is the second
screening of ‘Mollie’ which was short listed in the Top Five short documentaries at the Fastnet Film
Festival in Cork in May. Congratulations to all involved in the production of these films.
37
Pictured are some of the Students who graduated from the School of Computing & Mathematics.
38
The Annual Celebration of Culture and Diversity was held at DkIT in March. Primary schools and secondary schools along with
community organisations participated in a programme of dance exhibitions, music sessions, food tasting and other activities.
Screenings of films on diversity and ethnicity highlighted the rich cultural diversity of the region. The celebration was well
attended and enjoyed by all.
39
2.11.4 School of Health & Science
Department
Department of Applied Science
Department of Nursing & Midwifery
Numbers
215
132
Total
347
Highlights of the Year
Two Students from the Department of Health & Science were in receipt of the President’s Award for
Excellence. Brian Flood achieved a B.Sc. in Biopharmaceutical Science and Avril Byrne was conferred with
a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery.
Throughout the year the school has continued its programme of staff development along with teaching
and learning innovations. We have continued to boost our European and International Partnerships with
other colleges and universities.
The following new courses were added to our syllabus this year:


MSc in Ageing and Health
Certificate in Food Supply Chain Management
40
2.11 CELT
The Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) is located in the South Building, Rooms S201
to S205. It provides a range of services to both staff and students, and is led by Dr. John Dallat. The
following are examples of some of the activities and outputs organised by the Centre during 2010-2011:
Master Classes and Professional Development Events
The Centre offers a range of Professional Development workshops and seminars to all staff each
semester. These cover a wide range of contemporary issues pertaining to third-level learning and
teaching. “Best practice” approaches and strategies drawn from both national and international
contexts and research are especially emphasised. Master classes are given by leading educationalists
and during the academic session, 2010-11, the Centre welcomed Professor Sally Brown, Pro-ViceChancellor for Teaching and Learning at Leeds Metropolitan University, to conduct a Master Class on
effective first year assessment practices and one on publishing in academic journals. The following
training events were also provided by the Centre during the year:
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Developing Reusable Learning Resources with ‘Articulate’
Assessment and First Year
Communication and Collaboration Tools for Online/Synchronous Teaching
Writing Your Doctoral Proposal
Teaching with Style: models and strategies
Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences: lessons for the educator
Organising and Designing an Online Module
Teaching for Understanding
Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL)
The First Year Experience and Retention
Training Entrepreneurship Educators
Getting Published in Academic Journals
CELT also contributed to the Institute’s Academic Staff Induction Programme, September 2010, and was
instrumental in producing the following policies and resources during the 2010-2011 academic year:
Policies and resources produced by CELT, 2010/2011

An Online Staff Resource on Effective Learning, Teaching and Assessment

Assessment and Learning: a Policy for DkIT

Working in Groups: A Policy for DkIT

An Online Academic Skills Resource for Students

Research Ethics Handbook for Undergraduates

Research Ethics Handbook for Postgraduates

A Professional Standards Framework for Learning and Teaching

A Guide to Moodle for Staff

A Guide to Moodle for Students

CELT Newsletter September 2010

CELT Newsletter March 2011

CELT Newsletter April 2011
41
Research Projects, 2010-2011: the following research projects were facilitated by CELT
through the National Digital Learning Repository (NDLR) Initiative:
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A Review of the Impact of the Transformation Programme in the HSE Dublin North East on the
DkIT Undergraduate Nursing Clinical Learning Environments: Ailish McArdle, Myles Hackett
Leadership in Higher Education: What’s it really about? Ann Cleary
Academic Writing: Understanding the Student Perspective: Brid Delahunt, Ann Reynolds, Moira
Maguire
Reusable Learning Objects for Android Development: Dermot Logue
Introduction to Semi-conductor Physics: Donnacha Lowney
Online Illustrator and Video Editing Tutorials: Fiachra O’Cuinneagh
Introduction to Network Device Configuration: Frances Byrne
Introductory Video Tutorials for Visual Basic: Gerry Gallagher
Arduino PCB Configuration: Kenneth Sloane
Social Marketing and Community-Based Social Marketing: Maeve McArdle
Creative Media Teaching and Learning Resource: Sarah McCann
Incorporating Audio Recordings in Teaching and Assessment: Tommy Gartlan
Student Learning and Development Centre (SLDC)
The Student Learning and Development Centre is an important aspect of the many activities conducted
by the Centre for Learning and Teaching on behalf of staff and students. The SLDC’s overall aim is to help
students study and learn more effectively. The type of support provided by the Centre depends,
primarily, on individual or group needs. Essentially, this support consists of individual consultations with
a learning skills tutor or small group consultations where student needs are common. Workshops are
offered to all students, undergraduate and postgraduate alike, on a range of academic and study-related
skills (see below). The Centre operates a booking system for 1:1 and/or group tutorials. Whatever the
nature of the request or need, providing that each falls within the categories of learning referred to
above, staff of the SLDC respond as appropriate. In addition, the SLDC organises initiatives in
orientation, induction, mentoring and learning needs analysis.
Training Events for Students organised by the Student Learning and Development Centre
 Student Induction Week
 Academic Writing
 Referencing and Plagiarism
 Literature Review
 Research Techniques/Methods
 Study Skills
 Exam Techniques
 IT Tuition, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Moodle, File Management
 Presentation Skills
 Maths Induction
 Study Skills Induction for Access Students
A total of 425 students used the Student Learning and Development Centre in 2010/11.
42
e-Learning Development and Support Unit, S204
This Unit is central to the dissemination of best practice approaches in e-Learning and is responsible for
organising and supporting technology-enhanced learning activities within the Institute. It provides
support to staff in their continuing professional development in learning and teaching, both in groups
and on an individual basis. The activities of the Unit include:
 Workshops on a range of learning technologies
 Support for learning technology project pilots
 Support for Programme Boards to enable blended learning programme design and development
 The formation of internal communities of practice to share learning and teaching experiences
and resources
 Promotion of educational research as an output of technology-enhanced learning initiatives
 Monitoring and tracking blended/flexible learning implementation
To these ends, the Unit organised and delivered the following training events for staff in 2010/2011.
Training Events for Staff provided by the Unit:

Introduction to Moodle

Communication and Collaboration Tools 1 (Asynchronous)

e-Portfolios with Mahara

Technology Enhanced Research

Classroom Response Systems (CRS)
Master of Arts in Learning and Teaching
This Master's award has been developed by the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching primarily
to promote student-centred, technology-enhanced learning throughout the Institute. Its overall aim is to
provide staff with a range of opportunities for their continuing professional development in pursuit of
the Institute’s student-centred agenda, which is a prominent feature of its Strategic Plan (2012-2016).
Thirty-four (34) academic staff members enrolled on the MA in Learning and Teaching in 2010/11.
The Programme Design is set out in the following diagram:
43
44
Section 3
Research & Development
3.1 Campus Development
3.2 Enterprise and Innovation
3.3 Research
45
3.1 Campus Development
The Opening of the Carrolls Building
The official opening of the iconic Carroll’s Building by An Taoiseach Brain Cowen took place in February.
The €38million investment at the DkIT will now be home to the School of Informatics & Creative Arts.
Mr Cowen said the investment represents a vote of confidence in the Institute’s future and will help to
further strengthen its capacity to drive economic regeneration in the Northeast.
An Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Dermot Ahern, Gerard (Bob) McKiernan, Joanne Gardiner, Ronnie Tallon, Denis Cummins, Padraig
Kirk and Clifford Kelly pictured at the Official opening of the Carroll’s Building.
“Over four decades, access to higher education in the northeast has been expanded very dramatically by
Dundalk Institute of Technology and this latest round of investment in the building environment on the
46
campus will provide a suitable study and research environment for this and future generations of student
and staff “said Mr Cowen.
The President of DkIT, Denis Cummins said the Carroll’s Building now accommodates over 1200 of DkIT’s
students. “The School of Informatics & Creative Arts offers a diverse range of programmes in its
Department of Computing & Mathematics and Music & Creative Media. The School’s students and staff
now have access to first class facilities and consideration of the end users contributed a great deal to the
design and delivery of the project.”
The Department of Computing & Mathematics will offer students honours degree programmes in
Computing, Games Development, Commercial Computing and IT Management, Software Development,
Applications Support and Network Support. The Department of Music & Creative Media has honours
programmes in both Creative Multimedia and Video & Film. There is also an honours degree in Applied
Music as well as a Master’s Programme in Music Technology.
Dr. Gerard ( Bob) McKiernan, Head of School of Informatics & Creative Arts, Dr Christian Horn Head of Math
Department and Mr Denis Cummins, President of DkIT.
47
Our New Campus Garden
Our new beds are inspected by visitors from Rehab Care and the Simon Community Dundalk.
DkIT’s new on campus vegetable garden started to produce its first crops over the summer much to the
delight of the volunteer group who worked hard to keep it watered, fed and in tip top condition. The
garden is a welcome site on campus filling the green area off the corridor link with green plants, fruits and
vegetables.
48
3.2 Enterprise and Innovation Research Group
Dundalk Institute of Technology is one of the leading researches intensive Institutes whose research is
founded upon the excellence with an emphasis upon research which possesses real societal and
economic impact whilst addressing current global challenges. The institute’s strategic focus is in three key
areas – ICT, Health & Ageing, Energy & Environment and Creative Arts with themes supported by
interdisciplinary research clusters.
The Enterprise and Innovation Research Group (EIRG) is focused on developing the research agenda of
the Regional Development Centre in the area of enterprise, economic entrepreneurship and innovation.
The Centre is the commercially oriented interface between DkIT and the Industrial, commercial and
business life of the region, and makes available the expertise, facilities and resources of the Institute for
the wider benefit of the regional economy.
The Centre achieves this through the following range of programmes and activities:
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Research & Development Technology Transfer
Entrepreneurial Development Programmes
Incubation Facilities for Knowledge and Technology Based Enterprises
Applied Research
Sectorial & Regional Development Initiatives
Spearheading and Supporting EU and Cross Border Development Initiatives
Networking with Agencies and Organisations at Regional, National and International Level
The research endeavours of EIRG will utilise the wealth of primary data and knowledge on business startup support and development accumulated by the RDC and will strive to inform new programme
development and new company support initiatives.
The Enterprise and Innovation Research Group has two key focuses:

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to research and disseminate findings from its on-going work with both start-up and existing
companies in the knowledge based sector into the academic community through a range of
methodologies to include publications, papers, conference and case studies etc.
to research, pilot and subsequently model regional economic development initiatives and policy
recommendations for the support of these industry and business sectors to state agencies, policy
makers and funders.
49
Members of the Regional Development Centre (RDC)


Irene McCausland – External Services Manager and Research Group Director
Dr Douglas Nanka Bruce – Post Doctoral Researcher
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Neil Mc Loughlin – Technical Officer
Garrett Duffy - Enterprise Development Manager
Kieran Fegan – VITAL Programme Manager
Aidan Browne – Incubation Centre Manager
Bridget Kerrigan – Ace Programme Manager
Highlights from the Academic Year 2010 - 2011
The work of the RDC in the area of enterprise and innovation, during this academic year is summarised
below:
(a) Across its Enterprise Support Programmes the RDC supported circa 62 graduates/entrepreneurs:
NEEP 2010/2011 – 12 (High-tech Knowledge based Business Starts)
NEEP 2011/2012 – 13 (High-tech Knowledge based Business Starts)
Discovery Zone - 16 (Unemployed Professionals)
Bright Ideas - 17 (Student Enterprise)
Student Projects - 30
(b) A Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Strategy (KT&IS) was prepared which outlines in detail the
measures to be taken by the Institute to support the economic, social and cultural development of
the region. The KT&IS was prepared by the Development Office and embraces the work of the RDC
and Research Centres and includes a set of metrics and targets for the next 5-year period. This is
reported on annually.
(c) There were 13 companies residing in the Incubation Centre at the RDC and Millmount Development
Centre, Drogheda.
(d) The Centre commenced its 10th and 11th Enterprise Platform Programme with 25 participants.
(e) The Institute was involved in 19 research vouchers schemes, 2 Innovation Partnerships and 6
additional FUSION Projects with industry in 2010/11.
(f) The Success Through Succession (STS) Programme is a three-year programme with total project
funding of €1.74m and is a collaborative partnership between Dundalk Institute of Technology,
Glasgow Caledonian University, being led by the University of Ulster and aims to strategically assist
family owned SMEs across Northern Ireland, the Six Border Counties of Ireland and the West of
Scotland to manage the challenges of succession using a series of interventions. Through the period
September 2010 to August 2011 the programme navigated Cohort I (ten companies) through the
myriad of challenges associated with intergenerational business transfer and embarked on a
recruitment drive for its Cohort II companies.
Cohort I
50
Support intervention carried out with Cohort I companies included tax & legal, finance, general
business and business psychology mentoring on a one-to-one basis. Participant companies were
also given the opportunity to participate on three interactive workshops.
As of August 2011 the ten Cohort I companies had completed their mentoring sessions and had
drafted their Family Business Constitutions/Succession plans for final sign off at the final STS
facilitated meeting that would take place in September/October 2011.
Cohort II
Cohort II commenced with a robust recruitment drive that included a launch event in the Four
Seasons Hotel in Co. Monaghan on 6th April 2011. The event was attended by 11 companies with
20 delegates. As of August 2011 ten companies were successful in their application onto the
programme for Cohort II.
(g) Innovation for Competitive Enterprises (ICE) – Promoting regional economic growth and
development through the establishment of a Tri-Regional Innovation Network aimed at building the
innovation capacity and capability of existing SMEs in the Northern Ireland, the six southern Border
Region of Ireland and Western Scotland. The project is a joint collaboration of University of Ulster,
University of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian University and led by Dundalk Institute of Technology.
As at September 2011 the programme is nearing the end of the work with its Cohort I participants
and will be reporting on a broad range of tangible outputs in terms of new products, services,
process innovation, new business models and technology transfers.
Ten ICE innovation information recruitment workshops were held up to September 2011 with 115
senior company representatives in attendance from across the regions. There was considerable
interest following the workshops with 44 applications for programme places received. The project
evaluated and recruited 31 new companies from the applications received for year 2 participation
with 11 from across the southern border region. The programme has also run a series of technology
transfer awareness sessions and is working with the companies to further deliver on the
programmes technology transfer targets.
51
(h) The SIF ACE Initiative Accelerating Campus Entrepreneurship (ACE) Initiative is a joint
collaboration of Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB), Cork Institute of Technology (CIT),
Institute of Technology Sligo (ITS) and National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) and is led by
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). Through a collaborative approach, the ACE Initiative seeks
to create entrepreneurial graduates. Key outputs are:
Target
40 staff on a cross-institutional
basis involved
100 Science and Technology
students engaged in specific
entrepreneurship accredited
training during the implementation
phase
When Achieved
Target exceeded across five Partner Institutes.
At DkIT: 25 course team
Target exceeded across five Partner Institutes.
At DkIT the BSc in Engineering Entrepreneurship recruited
for a January 2011 intake, there were 3 highly dedicated
programme participants who are in the process of
establishing their own start-up – to date 2 have succeeded
in their start-up activity. DkIT and ITB made a joint
submission for the Springboard call associated with the
add-on level 8 programme and this proposal was
successful.
25 students, from diverse disciplines across the ACE partner
institutions are undertaking podcast programmes in
entrepreneurship offered in two cohorts as developed by
52
500 additional students involved in
a range of related activities
5 Student Internships in place
20 Student business projects
exploring commercialisation
opportunities through the
incubation centers of which 15%
will be cross-institutional
DKIT.
Target exceeded across five Partner Institutes through the
ongoing Student Enterprise Intern Activity; and promotion
through academic enterprise champions and ACE
representatives and through enterprise competitions,
challenges and events. Monitoring of numbers through
engagement in activities and attendance at events. Figures
of students attending Student Enterprise Intern events at
DkIT are as follows: 6847 to June 2011.
Target exceeded with 11 Student Enterprise (1-2year)
Internships taking place to date as follows for DkIT:
September 2008, 1 intern recruited at DkIT
September 2010, 1 interns recruited at DkIT
June 2009/10, 1 graduate from DkIT
June 2010/11, 1 graduated from DkIT
Target exceeded with applied projects also leading to new
venture starts. As part of the Undergraduate (BSc Add-on
Level 8) Programme in (Subject Specialism)
Entrepreneurship offered at ITB and DkIT a number of
students have undertaken business projects – ITB 15
students and DkIT has 3 students. At DkIT 2 of the 3 have
launched start-ups, with 1 still in the process. At ITB, 2-3
students are in the process of starting their venture.
On a cross-institutional basis, students have been engaged
in commercialisation opportunities as follows:
- there have been 35 applicants for the Student
Innovation Fund at DkIT since project start date, 21
have been approved (70% approval rate)
- 20 students undertook the Summer 2010 Bright
Ideas Programme at DkIT
- 16 students undertook the Summer 2011 Bright
Ideas Programme at DkIT (first cross-institutional
programme)
10 New ventures or Technology
Transfers established
5 Conference Papers presented
Target exceeded for new starts being established as
follows:- 21 at DkIT
Target exceeded with high quality conference papers
presented at various national and international fora. To
date 12 papers have been presented.
The Accelerating Campus Entrepreneurship (ACE) Initiative launched a new publication for
entrepreneurship education in the third level sector. The book entitled: “Irish Case Studies in
Entrepreneurship” was launched on Friday 8th April 2011 at the Regional Development Centre at
Dundalk Institute of Technology. The book launch event was attended by over 100 delegates,
mostly policy makers and enterprise educators on the island but also included esteemed
entrepreneurship academics from Europe.
53
Michael Walsh (Case writer, Cork IT) Dr Thomas Cooney (Dublin Institute of Technology) Dr Cecilia
Hegarty (ACE Initiative/Book Editor), Paul Kerley (Norkom Technologies), Denis Cummins (President
of Dundalk IT), Brian O’Kane (Oak Tree Press), Aisling Conway (Case writer, Cork IT) and Irene
McCausland (External Services Manager, Dundalk IT).
(i)
Funding Application
In addition, to securing funding through Innovation Voucher and Fusion projects, the RDC
submitted funding applications for the following applications and is awaiting decisions.
EPP Programme: €145K from Enterprise Ireland in conjunction with DCU
VITAL project: EU INTERREG IVA: €3.1 m in partnership with QUB/DCU
Creative Futures project: EU INTERREG IVA: €5m in partnership with UU.
54
3.3 Research
The academic year 2010/2011 saw further growth in research activity across the Institute. During this
period one new research group “Regulated Software Research Group” and one new research centre
“Centre for Community and Social Innovation” were established. This brings the total number of research
centres to 7 with 4 research groups now being embedded within the academic schools. The Institute’s
two Applied Research Enhancement Centres, CASALA and ICBC, successfully went through their mid-term
reviews by Enterprise Ireland.
Research income for the calendar year 2011 was €5.36million, a slight decrease on 2010, with Science
Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland representing the Institute’s largest funders in terms of its
research activities. During 2010/2011 over 50 staff, 20 postgraduate research students and 20
undergraduate students were directly supported through targeted research funding initiatives. By the
end of 2011 the Institute had 727 total citations with 184 and 244 in the years 2010 and 2011. During
2011 there were 14 articles, 16 conference papers, 4 book chapters and 1 editorial published by
researchers from across the Institute.
The following details the individual research highlights by some of the Institute’s research centres and
groups.
55
Research Awards and Income
During the academic year the Institute secured €1,431,683 in research awards from both national and
international sources, with €1,099,990 (77% Irish Public Sources) €20,443 (1.4% International Sources),
€32,150 (2.25% European Sources), €97,800 (6.84%Cross Boarder Sources) and €179,000 (12.52%
Interrreg Funding Sources). The breakdown of funding awards received through Irish public sources is
shown below with 45% of all funding being secured through Science Foundation Ireland. The research
income received for the calendar year 2011 amounted to €5,364,463.
56
Summary of Research Initiatives Awards
During the academic year the Research Office ran a series of targeted support research initiative which
are detailed below.
Seed Fund for Emerging Researchers: This was designed to enable emerging researchers from across the
Institute to leverage internal support for small scale projects. IT was run once in 2011 with 4 awards being
given with a total investment of €16,758.
57
Summer Undergraduate Research Programme (2011)
The ability of reach to impact on teaching within Higher Education Institutes, at both 3rd and 4th level is
internationally recognised. To facilitate this both the Institutes Research Centres and Groups can avail of
recurrent funding that support the establishment of SURP’s within their respective teams. Through this
they can embed undergraduate students, primarily third year students for periods of up to 8 weeks
during the summer months into their research environments. Through this the students research interest
is fostered and translated back into the teaching remits of the relevant schools and departments. IN 2011
a total investment of €25,720 was made which supported 20 undergraduate students.
58
Research Travel Fund 2010
This scheme has facilitated international travel for researchers working to develop collaborative projects
and broaden the parameters of their experience by attending conference and meetings. Total investment
was €27,415 which supported 25 staff and 9 postgraduate researchers.
59
PhD Transfer Fund
The Institute is committed to increasing the number of PhD graduates and through the PhD Transfer Fund
supervisors could apply for internal financial support to allow the transfer for individual masters and
research students to the PhD register. Total investment in 2010 was €110,000 supporting 22 Research
Supervisors and 11 Postgraduate Students
Staff Developments Training Initiatives
As part of the on-going development of staff development and the further training of both postgraduate
research student s and career stage researchers during the academic year, the Research Office in
consultation with Professor Tony Fell from the University of Bradford ran a series of targeted research
orientated training workshops. In addition the roll out of the Epigeum suite of generic skills training
modules for postgraduate researchers took place through the Research Office in a drive to develop
structured PhD provision across the campus.
60
Research Centres and Groups
The following summarises some of the key developments and outputs from some of the individual
centres and groups throughout the academic year.
Centre for Freshwater Studies (CFS)
The centre currently has twenty three members, six principal investigators, one technician, one project
manager, thirteen post-graduate researchers and two FAS interns. Eight postgraduate researchers have
commenced since the centres first designation process in February 2009. During the academic year
2010/2011 the primary highlights were:




The Water Is Life: Amazzi Bulamu project represented by Dr Suzanne Linnane, Dr Edel Healy and
Arellen Folan hosted its first official workshop in Makerere University, Uganda on 3rd November
2011 and participants included project stakeholders, academics from all Irish partner HEIs and
Makerere University, NGOs and Ministry officials. The workshop was officially opened by the Irish
Ambassador to Uganda, His Excellency Ambassador Kelly who spoke of the long history of
cooperation between Ireland and Uganda. The Delegates were welcomed to the event by
Professor Eli Katunguka, Director of Academic Affairs at Makerere University. Professor
Katunguka emphasised the need for research in this context that responds to the needs of
society. A key feature of the event was the presence of high level ministry officials form the
Ugandan government. The workshop was chaired by Dr Edel Healy and was closed by Professor
Samuel Kyamanywa, Dean of Agriculture Makerere University. Extensive media coverage in
Uganda was given to the event.
As part of the Water is Life Amazzi Bulamu project, the lunch time seminar series continued on a
monthly basis. During this time period , noted speakers including Dr Kevin McGuigan,
Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (18th Feb 2010)
Professor Martin Downes, Department of Biology, Institute of Bioengineering and Agro ecology,
NUIM (29th April 2010) Dr Edel Heal, Head of School of Health & Science, DkIT (17th May 2010), Ilham Peterson, Department of Sociology, TCD (17th June 2010), Dr Maura O’Donohue, MMM (23rd
September 2010), Niall Roche, WASH (21st October 2010), SANPAD (9th December 2010) and Dr
Paul MacArtain, CREDIT, DkIT (27th January 2011). The seminar series is multi-disciplinary and
includes presentations from physicists, geographers, biologists’ engineers and anthropologists
along with NGOs.
CFS monthly postgraduate lunchtime seminar series continued throughout this time period
allowing CFS postgraduate students the opportunity to present their research to the centre, to
take on recommendations from other researchers and also to raise any other research related
issues.
The Water is Life project team members were interviewed by the largest Ugandan news UBC
during their 1st project workshop in Makerere University, Kampala. This interview appeared on
the 18.00 and 21.00 news (3rd November 2010) and on breakfast TV the following morning (4th
November 2010)(podcast available on www.waterislife.ie). Quarterly newsletters continue to be
published as part of the water is Life project. The RESCALE project final report was launched by
Mr Brendan Smyth, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, 2nd October 2010 at Marine
Institute, Newport. Research work in Lough Feeagh, Co May, was highlighted in an article on Dr
Eleanor Jennings the DkIT’s Link magazine.
61
Smooth Muscle Research Centre
The Smooth Muscle Research Centre (SMRC) represents the largest group of researchers investigating the
control of smooth muscle function in Ireland and UK. Our research focuses on the cellular mechanisms
underlying physiological function and how this is modified in a range of prevalent disease states including
urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, lymphedema, arthritis and ureteric obstruction. The SMRC
currently comprises four Principal Investigators, two visiting Professors, five Post-Doctoral Fellows, seven
PhD students and two technicians/research assistants.
During the 2010/2011 period the primary highlights were:





Development of a patenting and licensing strategy regarding the intellectual property originating
from the ICBC centre
Attended a number of prestigious international scientific meetings and have given invited
lectures on their research.
Staff and students have presented communications to learned societies (RAMI, Dublin; Bio
photonics Platform; Irish Epithelial Society)
Published a number of papers in high quality peer reviewed journals in the last year.
Some of the centres students presented the results of their research to Research Day in DkIT.
Software Technology Research Centre (STORC)
The centre is led by Dr Gerry Coleman and contains 4 other faculty members, Dr Fergal McCaffrey, Dr
Kevin McDaid, Dr Frank Keenan and Dr Ronan MacRuairi. The primary research focus on the Centre is in
Medical Device SPI Research: This research is focused upon the development of an international
software process improvement (SPI) framework for the medical device industry as a key enabler of best
practice for the sector.
End User Computing: End User Computing is the use of programming tools in domains other than
software development. At DkIT we have built the largest European research group in Spreadsheet
Engineering, the most popular form of end-user computing.
Ambient Assisted Living: The Centre for Affective Software for Ambient Living Awareness (CASALA), of
which SToRC is a partner, is a new applied research centre within DkIT run through the Institute’s
NETWELL research centre.
During the 2010/2011 period, the primary highlights were:
 Published 1 Book, 4 Book Chapters, 10 Journal papers and 21 Refereed Conference Papers
 Achieved the first DkIT Computing PhD – Derek Flood – Graduation November 2011
 Co-hosted the SPICE 2011 conference
 Received EI Commercialisation Funding – project RESPSENSE-PI on project
 Become full members of Lero the SFI funded CSET-Received funding and leading a project
 Been invited to lead the Development of the MediSPICE ISO standard
 Contributing to bouth IEC 62304 and IEC 82304 Standards
 Received industry funding to deliver Advanced Medical Technology Courses
 Chaired a Conference Session
62






Run an industry tutorial
Presented at a number of International Conferences
Presented a number of invited talks both nationally and Internationally
Received funding through IMDA Skillnet
Been awarded Enterprise Ireland Patent Support Funding
Reviewed a number of papers for a host of International Conferences and Journals
Centre for Community and Social Innovation (CeSCI)
This centre was recently established with it originating from the Centre for Entrepreneurship embedded
within the School of Business and Humanities. The original CER had built a strong reputation in the field of
gender and entrepreneurship, this interest in gender has been maintained but, in addition to research
exploring gender in entrepreneurship, the centre explores the concept and practice of gender across
various domains such as Higher Education, within Transitional Justice mechanisms in Northern Ireland.
The Centre has seed funded research projects with visiting scholars from other institutions e.g. University
of Ulster, University of London, Leeds Metropolitan University etc. In this way, external academics and
research scholars will be able to work with existing staff within the School on topics pertaining to their
areas of research interest, in order to develop research capacity and outputs e.g. Dr Sally Jones from
Leeds Metropolitan University will be working with Dr Bernie Brereton on gender in Higher Education. A
conference paper and journal article will result from this research project. Moreover, subsequent funding
applications can be made on foot of research activity already undertaken e.g. Nuffield funding for piloting
approaches to promote gender equality in higher education based on on-going research.
The other seed funded project will subsequently inform a funding application to ESRC and/or PEACE
funding. The Centre has used the past year to evolve into a considered Centre with a clear development
strategy and a research focus on those social science issues (equality, justice, poverty, peace and conflict
resolution, community development) that affect society as a whole on the island of Ireland and beyond,
and that affect the DkIT community as educators and social actors in particular. In the way, the Centres
strategy, vision and activities align with DkIT’s mission statement and strategic vision.
Creative Media Research Group
During the 2010/2011 period, the primary highlights were:



The Research group has expanded from the eleven members who originally applied for research
group designation to fifteen members
In the past year the Creative Media Research Group (CRMG) has organised and hosted a number
of events. They hosted their inaugural conference entitled ‘Picteilín’, the first conference planned
in a series of annual conferences. ‘Picteilín’ is Gaelic for pixels. The conference was well attended,
attracting European as well as Irish delegates. We anticipate publishing selected articles from the
event within conference proceedings.
The 6th Annual Creative Media Research Colloquium was held during the past year with a number
of research group members presenting papers at the event. Additionally, a yearly event organised
63


by a research group member is a Reel Africa Film Festival – A celebration of Africa on Film
(http://reelafrica.dkit.ie). David Pearson a renowned producer of the Oscar nominated
documentary ‘Mugabe & the White African’, was the guest speaker at the 2011 event.
The CRMG group continue to run a series of seminar and master classes on a fortnightly basis
during both semesters. These are delivered by creative media experts from both academic and
industry sectors.
A number of research group members completed or furthered postgraduate research studies
during the past year. The diverse output from the group illustrates the multi-disciplinary nature of
its member’s research interests. E. Crudden graduated with his PhD. His thesis was entitled ‘Mob
Films: Auto documentary and the Anti-Globalization Movement’. A new research group member,
M.Green, recently graduated with his PhD entitled ‘In and out of context: Soundscape
Composition, Sound Installation and the Mobile Sound Walk’. Two members (C. O’Sullivan and Y.
Igoe) successfully presented the initial PhD work transferring to the PhD registers at Trinity
College and Dublin City University respectively. One member (R. Lynch) was successful in his
application for PhD transfer funding in the area of Alternate Reality Games. He is currently in the
process of applying for transferal to DkIT PhD registrar. A. Stafford began a Masters in Fine Art in
Media at the National College of Art and Design with the aim to progress to a PhD (Thesis topic:
‘Digital Eco Systems Reflecting Biological Eco Systems’). G. Doyle is currently preparing a PhD
proposal entitled ‘The Death of Shooting Children’ for Dublin City University. Finally, F.
ÓCuinneagáin, D Beecher and K. Nolan are currently undertaking Masters Studies in the area of
creative media education and learning and teaching at DIT, Bourmouth University and DkIT. They
continue to progress in their work conducting practice based research that integrates their
studies and teaching.
64
Research Output – Scopus Analysis
For the calendar year ending 2011 the figure below shows the disciplines the Institute disseminated
its peer reviewed publications. By the end of 2011 the Institute had 727 total citations with 184 and
244 in the years 2010 and 2011. During 2011 there were 14 articles, 16 conference papers, 4 book
chapters and 1 editorial.
65
Selection of Event Presentations
Software Engineering - STORC
Title
International Conference on Lean
Enterprise Software and Systems
European Systems and Software
Process Improvement and Innovation
Conference EuroSPI 2011
European Systems and Software
Process Improvement and Innovation
Conference Euro SPI 2011
European Systems and Software
Process Improvement and Innovation
Conference, Euro SPI 2011
European Systems and Software
Process Improvement and Innovation
Conference, Euro SPI 2011
International SPICE Conference on
Process Improvement and Capability
Determination 2011
International SPICE Conference on
Process Improvement and Capability
Determination 2011
International SPICE Conference on
Process Improvement and Capability
Determination 2011
International SPICE Conference on
Process Improvement and Capability
Determination 2011
International SPICE Conference on
Process Improvement and Capability
Determination 2011
International SPICE Conference on
Process Improvement and Capability
Determination 2011
12th International Conference Product
Focused Software Development and
Process Improvement
12th International Conference Product
Focused Software Development and
Process Improvement
SEPG Europe
Presentation
Paper – Lean/Agile Software
Development Methodologies in
Regulated Environments
Invited Speaker – How can
Software SMEs Become Medical
Device Software SMEs
Paper – Improving Verification
& Validation in the Medical
Device Domain
Paper – Med-Trace: Traceability
Assessment Method for Medical
Device Software Development
Paper – How amendments to
Medical Device Directive affect
the Development of Medical
Device Software
Paper – Verification and
Validation in Medi SPICE
Venue
Helsinki, Finland
Dates
October 18th 2010
Roskilde, Denmark
June 27th 2011
Roskilde, Denmark
June 28th 2011
Roskilde, Denmark
June 28th 2011
Roskilde, Denmark
June 28th 2011
Dublin, Ireland
May 31st 2011
Conference Chairs – so
Presented an Opening Talk for
the Conference
Overview of SPI in Ireland
Paper – Med-Trace
Dublin, Ireland
June 1st 2011
Dublin, Ireland
June 1st 2011
Paper – Standalone Software as
an Active Medical Device
Dublin, Ireland
May 31st 2011
Paper – Medical Device
Software Development – A
Perspective from a Lean
Manufacturing Plant
Paper – Challenges for
Requirements Development: An
Industry Perspective
Paper – Building a Maturity &
Capability Model Repository
Dublin, Ireland
May 31st 2011
Dublin, Ireland
May 31st 2011
Torre Canne – Bari
Italy
June 21st 2011
Paper – Proposing an ISO/IEC
15504 Complaint Method for
Process Capability/Maturity
Models Customization
Poster – Using Software Process
Improvement to increase
patient safety
Torre Canne – Bari
Italy
June 21st 2011
Dublin, Ireland
7-9th June 2011
66
Title
IEC SC62A JWG3
Standard Workshop
IEC SC 62A JWEG
Standard Workshop
Health Information
Conference
Medical Device
Software Processes
Workshop, Enterprise
Ireland
Engineers Ireland
Medical Device Event
COCIR International
Regulatory Medical
Device Event
ETCI Meeting Dublin
HISC Meeting Dublin
ETCI Meeting Dublin
Presentation
Plenary Talk: Medi SPICE Medical
Device Software Processes For IEC
62304 revision
Plenary Talk: Medi SPICE Medical
Device Software Processes For IEC
62304 revision
Invited Speaker: Medical Device
Software Validation
Invited Workshop Organisers and
Presenters: Medical Device
Software Processes- Regulation
Changes
Invited Speaker
Invited Speaker
Invited Presentation IEC 62304
update
Invited Presentation IEC 62304
update
Invited Presentation IEC 62304
EI Senior Management
Invited Presentation
Medical Device Software –
Changes for MDD
Charing Partner Meeting Attended meeting Presented
Research Delivers Medical Device
Charter EU Commission
Project Review
Charter Partner Meeting
Provided inputs for evaluation plan
and requirements tracing data
model deliverables. Updated
Commission on status of
recruitment of new Post Doc by
DkIT and revised deliverable dates.
Attended use case workshop &
Meeting Presented Research
Deliverables Medical Device
SPRT-MDRC
Lero Project
Presentations
Interpreting Presence
Paper
Sensor Data and Looking
for Similarities Between
Homes Using Cluster
Analysis
Venue
Best, Eindhoven, The
Netherlands
Dates
16 March 2011
Brussels
12th – 13th
October 2011
Dublin, Ireland
Applied Optics
Group, NUIG Ireland
17th November
2010
19th October
2010
Clayton Hotel,
Galway
EU COCIR Premises –
Brussels
20th September
2011
12th October
2011
Oak Road, Red Cow,
Dublin
Santry Dublin Ireland
8th February
2011
11th April 2011
Oak Road Red Cow
Dublin
Twente University
Enshede, The
Netherlands
Twente University
Enschede The
Netherlands
ARTEMIS office
Brussels, Belgium
10th May 2011
Chalmers Technical
University
Gothenburg, Sweden
Athlone
7th – 9th Sept
2011
AAL Conference in
UCD
25th May 2011
th
12th – 13th March
2011
12th – 13th March
2011
9th -10th June
2011
4th Oct 2011
67
Creative Media – Creative Media Research Group
Title
Sociological Association
of Ireland Post Graduate
Conference
GradCam, Network
Cultures
The Reel Africa Film
Festival
ECREA Digital Culture
and Communication
Workshop
CM DkIT Colloquium
DkiT Creative Media
Research Colloquium
Future Reality of
Gaming
Picteilín 2011
Picteilín 2011
Picteilín 2011
Picteilín 2011
Presentation
“We don’t play Guitars,
The impact of Female
Involvement in the
Dublin Music Scene” C.
O’Sullivan
“Using Grounded Theory
to examine Networks
and Flows”
“The Reel Africa Film
Festival: A Celebration
of Africa on Film” S. Mc
Cann
“Augmenting Teaching
and Learning through
reuse and reappropriation of open
and closed source digital
media” K. Nolan
“Hacking future
interfaces, cyber fiction
meets interaction
Design” K. Nolan
“Towards Criteria for
Evaluating Alternate
Reality Games” R. Lynch
“Alternate Gaming
Interfaces” K. Nolan
“A Narrative Model for
Evaluating Simulations”
B. Mallon
“I See Dead Pixels: CPU
to MTV, lo-fi, computing
audio – visuals as a
mainstream aesthetic”
K. Nolan
“The factors that lead to
“Alternate Reality Game
failures and guidelines
to help avoid such
implosions” R. Lynch
“Shooting the
Messenger? Whistleblowing & the case of
‘Fairy-tale of
Kathmandu’” S. Mc
Cann
Venue
NUIG
Dates
2011
NCAD
2011
DkIT
May 2010
Barcelona
2011
DkIT
2011
DkIT
2011
Vienna, Austria
2010
DkIT
2011
DkIT
2011
DkIT
2011
DkIT
2011
68
Picteilín 2011
“Towards Digital
Ecosystems as reflecting
Biological & Natural
Ecosystems” A. Stafford
DkIT
2011
Humanities and Social Sciences – Centre for Community and Social Innovation
Title
DIANA International
Research Symposium
Sociology of Education
Social Entrepreneurship
and Social Innovation
Conference
Irish Archaeological
Institute
Institute of Small
Business and
Entrepreneurship
Association of Young
Irish Archaeologists
Conference
Gender & Enterprise
Network
Presentation
Peer Reviewed
Academic Paper
Peer Reviewed
Academic Paper
Peer Review Academic
Paper
Venue
Banff, Canada
Date
August 2010
Athens, Greece
September 2010
Oxford University,
United Kingdom
September 2010
Dublin, Ireland
October 2010
London, England
November 2010
Invited Speaker
Dublin, Ireland
February 2011
Invited Speaker
Manchester, England
March 2011
Peer Review Academic
Paper
Peer Review Academic
Paper
69
Section 4
Human Resource Department
4.1 New Staff
4.2 Leavers
4.3 Retirements
70
4.1 New Staff
Position
Administration
Okosi Obiajulu
Victoria Cagney
Conor Duffy
Pauline McGlade
Ciara O’Malley
Clerical Officer – Grade III
Clerical Officer – Grade III
Administration Technician
Community Arts Development Officer
Clerical Officer – Grade III
Registrar’s Office
Clement MacManus
Ciara Patterson
Owen Zamboglou
Francis McGiven
Catherine Jacque
Ciara Rice
Chaplin
Clubs & Societies Officer
Accounts Technician
Student Counsellor
Placement Development Officer
Research Assistant
Library
Sorcha Brophy
Suzanne Mulholland
Administrator
Administrator
Estates
Edward Lynch
Thomas Mc Gahon
Moireen Taggart
Caretaker
Caretaker
Housekeeper
School of Engineering
Aidan Sherlock
Raymond Finnegan
Paul McGee
Bernard O’Hare
Patrick Rudden
Brian Harmon
Assistant Lecturer in Construction & Survey
Assistant Lecturer in Engineering Trades
Assistant Lecturer in Engineering Trades
Assistant Lecturer in Engineering Trades
Assistant Lecturer in Engineering Trades
Assistant Lecturer in Civil & Environment Engineering
71
New Staff
Position
School of Nursing, Health Studies & Applied Science
Doireen Dowling
Subhi Alwan
Alison Campbell
Brian Dunlevy
Mary Logue
Marthi Reena
Marese Mc Cabe
Joe McKeever
Aoife Watters
Nicola Dyson
John Reid
Assistant Lecturer in Nursing
Assistant Lecturer in Applied Science
Technician in Applied Science
Lecturer in Applied Science
Lecturer in Applied Science
Technician in Applied Science
Part Time Lecturer in Applied Science
Pro Rata Assistant Lecturer in Applied Science
Part Time Lecturer in Applied Science
Pro Rata Assistant Lecturer in Applied Science
Part Time Lecturer in Health Studies
School of Business & Humanities
Ciara O’Connor
Eimear Hardiman
Noelle Kearney
Yanan Li
Conor McKevitt
Miriam Vaquero
Delma McKenna
Maurice Murphy
Kevin F Starr
Daniel Watters
Katerina Nugent
John O’Brien
Zivile Pratkelyte
Johdi Quinn
Marisa Ronan
Lecturer in Business Studies
Assistant Lecturer in Business Studies
Part Time Lecturer in Business Studies
Part Time Lecturer in Business Studies
Part Time Lecturer in Business Studies#
Assistant Lecturer in Business Studies
Part Time Lecturer in Business Studies
Assistant Lecturer in Business Studies
Part Time Lecturer in Business Studies
Part Time Lecturer in Business Studies
Assistant Lecturer in Business Studies
Part Time Lecturer in Business Studies
Part Time Lecturer in Business Studies
Part Time Lecturer in Business Studies
Part Time Lecturer in Business Studies
Institutional Research & Development
Allison Murdock McDonnell
Dara Mary Larkin
Ann Loftus
Peter Donnelly
Shane Hayes
Mary Higgins
Technician
Clerical Officer
Administrator
Business Project Manager
Commercial Manager
Administrator
72
New Staff
Position
Lifelong Learning Centre
Derek Kerr
Michelle Mc Mahon
Patrick McArdle
Eoin Morrow
Part Time Lecturer
Part Time Lecturer
Part Time Lecturer
Part Time Lecturer
Informatics & Creative Arts
Ciaran Crawley
David Connolly
Jia Lin
Mark Morrissey
Caroline Sheedy
Bernadette Balfe
Irene Barr
Robert Block
Aileen Cahill
Niall Coghlan
Matthew Green
Anne Hyland
Daithi Kearney
Sean McElwain
John McIntyre
Deirdre McKay
Roisin Nic Athlaoich
Anthony Norton
Liam O’Connor
Jennifer O’Connor
Bernard O Hanlon
Michael O’Raghallaigh
Marian Quinn
Damien Rennick
Voureen Ryan
Assistant Lecturer in Math & Computing
Tutor in Math & Computing
Part Time Lecturer in Math & Computing
Tutor in Math & Computing
Assistant Lecturer in Math & Computing
Tutor in Music & Creative Media
Tutor in Music & Creative Media
Part Time Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Assistant Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Assistant Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Assistant Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Assistant Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Assistant Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Assistant Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Tutor in Music & Creative Media
Part Time Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Part Time Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Part Time Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Part Time Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Part Time Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Part Time Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Part Time Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Part Time Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Part Time Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Part Time Lecturer in Music & Creative Media
Peace and Reconciliation
Eva Beirne
Catherine Murphy
Administrator
Administrator
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4.2 Leavers
Name
Caroline McCoy
Emma Moroney
Renna Marthi
Judith Thomspon
OLayera Oladele
Mantas Patriubavicius
Ciara O Malley
John A Hanratty
Donal Kelly
Gary Cronin
Christine Mullaney
Deborah Armstrong
Mary McCague
Catherine Murphy
Department
Department of Business & Humanities
Department of Business & Humanities
Department of Health & Science
IT Department
IT Department
IT Department
Development
Department of Engineering
Department of Engineering
International Office
International Office
School of Informatics & Creative Arts
School of Informatics & Creative Arts
Peace & Reconciliation
4.3 Retirements
Margaret Dillon
Brendan Johnston
John B Gilmore
Donnacha Lowney
Terence J McNamee
Michael Wright
Lawrence Staudt
Thomas N Stapleton
Peter Hartigan
Fintin Vallely
Iain Hovelt
Jim Black
Department of Business & Humanities
Department of Business & Humanities
Department of Engineering
Department of Engineering
Department of Engineering
Department of Engineering
Department of Engineering
Department of Engineering
Department of Engineering
School of Informatics & Creative Media
School of Health & Science
Premises
74
Section 5
Audited Accounts
5.1 Comptroller and Auditor General Report
5.2 Consolidated Income & Expenditure
5.3 Consolidated Balance Sheet
75
5.1 Comptroller and Auditor General
Report for Presentation to the House of the Oireachtas
Dundalk Institute of Technology
I have audited the financial statements of Dundalk Institute of Technology for the year ended 31 August
2011 under the Institute of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. The financial statements, which have been
prepared under the accounting policies set out therein, comprise the statement of accounting policies,
the consolidated income and expenditure account, the consolidated balance sheet, the consolidated cash
flow statement and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their
preparation is applicable law and generally accepted accounting practice in Ireland.
Responsibilities of the Institute
The Institute is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements, for ensuring that they give a
true and fair view of the state of the Group’s affairs and of the Group’s income and expenditure and for
ensuring the regularity of transactions.
Responsibilities of the Comptroller and Auditor General
My responsibility is to audit the financial statements and report on them in accordance with applicable
law.
My audit is conducted by reference to the special considerations which attach to bodies in receipt of
substantial funding from the State in relation to their management and operation.
My audit is carried out in accordance with the International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and in
compliance with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.
Scope of audit of the financial statements
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements,
sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement,
whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of
 Whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Institute’s circumstances and have been
consistently applied and adequately disclosed.
 the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made in the preparation of the financial
statements
 the overall presentation of the financial statements
I also seek to obtain evidence about the regularity of financial transactions in the course of the audit.
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Opinion on the financial statements
In my opinion, the financial statements, which have been properly prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting practice in Ireland, give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s affairs at 31st
August 2011 and of the Group’s income and expenditure for the year the ended.
In my opinion proper books of account have been kept by the Institute. The financial statements are in
agreement with the books of account.
Matters on which I report by exception
I report by exception if




I have not received all the information and explanations I required for my audit, or
My audit noted any material instance where money have not been applied for the purposes
intended or where the transactions did not conform to the authorities governing them or,
The Statement on Internal Control does not reflect the Institute’s compliance with the Code of
Governance of Irish Institutes of Technology, or
I find there are other material matters relating to the manner in which public business has been
conducted.
I find I have nothing to report in regard to those matters.
Seamus McCarthy
Comptroller and Auditor General
20 December 2012
77
Dundalk Institute of Technology
Consolidated Income and Expenditure Account for Year Ending 31 August 2011
INCOME
Student Grant
Tuition Fees
Student Registration Fees
Amortised Deferred Capital Grants
Research Grants & Contracts
Student Support Funding Income recognised
Other Income
Interest Income
NOTE
1
2
3
17
4
5
6
2011
€000s
2010
€000s
19,052
10,640
6,822
4,462
5,788
158
3,680
167
20,566
10,883
6,385
3,795
5,182
211
3,402
83
50,769
50,507
25,310
1,726
3,107
4,363
320
1,764
5,944
158
506
4,463
25,659
1,415
3,005
5,082
252
2,059
5,400
211
553
3,795
47,934
47,431
2,835
3,076
(1,998)
(400)
-
(2,467)
(400)
(1,915)
EXPENDITURE
Academic Departments
Academic Services
Facilities Costs
Central Administration & Services
General Educational Expenses
Student Registration Charge
Research Grants & Contracts
Student Support Funding Income
Subsidiary Undertakings
Depreciation
7
8
9
10
11
3
4
5
21
14
OPERATING SURPLUS / (DEFICIT)
Transfer to Capital Development Reserve
Transfer to Deferred Capital Account: AIB Franchise Income
State Recurrent Write –Off
ACCUMULATED (DEFICIT) AT 1 SEPTEMBER
20
17
15
437
(268)
(1,706)
1,438
169
(268)
ACCUMULATED SURPLUSS (DEFICIT) AT 31 AUGUST
The Institute had no gains or losses in the financial year or the preceding financial year other thank those dealt with in the Income and
Expenditure Account. The results of the year relate to continuing operations.
The Statements of Accounting policies, Cash Flow Statements and Notes 1 to 26, form part of the financial statements
Signed on behalf of the Governing Body:
Denis Cummins
Andrew Griffith
78
Dundalk Institute of Technology
Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31- August-2011
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible Assets
NOTE
14
2011
€000’s
2010
€000’s
105,502
107,633
105,502
107,633
CURRENT ASSETS
Stock
Debtors and Prepayments
Cash at Bank and In Hand
15
21
2,903
10,998
18
5,489
7,218
13,922
12,725
(9,752)
(9,971)
4,170
2,754
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors and Accrued Expenses – Amounts due within one year
16
NET CURRENT ASSESTS
NET ASSETS
109,672
110,387
105,503
169
4,000
107,632
95
(268)
2,928
109,672
110,387
Represented by:
Deferred Capital Grants
Developed Account
Income & Expenditure Account
Capital Development Reserve
17
20
The Statement of Accounting Policies, Cash Flow Statements and Notes 1-19 form part of the financial statements
Signed on behalf of the Governing Body:
Andrew Griffith
Denis Cummins
79