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Distinguished Teaching Fellowship (Team Award) Dr Aine McKillop, Dr Jacqueline O'Connor

15 December 2010

Dr Jacqueline O'Connor and Dr Aine McKillop, pictured with Head of School Professor Neville McClenaghan  at the Millennium Forum graduation ceremony

DR AINE McKillop and Dr Jacqueline O’Connor from the School of Biomedical Sciences in the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences have a long and successful record of leadership in teaching and learning at Ulster. Today they received a Distinguished Teaching Fellowship in recognition of their work

Their combined focus on lifelong learning, professionalism, employability and skills development has cultivated a student-centred approach to teaching that motivates and challenges students to achieve their potential and become independent learners. 

Over the years Dr McKillop and Dr O’Connor have devoted considerable effort to initiatives that have had both an immediate and a long-term impact on student-centred learning, graduate knowledge and associated skills at Ulster. The partnership evolved following the establishment of eLearning in the School of Biomedical Sciences, where they collaborated, formulated ideas, and established a shared future vision of the now highly-topical area of professional development and lifelong skills acquisition.  

As educators, the team considered new innovative teaching approaches to develop the full range of skills and abilities that all bioscience graduates need, providing a forum where learning is a partnership. The team have successfully helped students undertake meaningful learning in a professional ‘real-life’ context, in both on-campus and online environments, and have taught students to take a practice-based approach to their study and work, integrating knowledge from diverse disciplines – valuable skills that readily translate to the workplace.  

The team continues to highlight and share their success, ideas and expertise. Their activities meet a number of key elements of the University Corporate Plan and Teaching and Learning Strategy, including enhancement of the quality of the student experience; supporting a diverse range of students; promoting and fostering creativity; and promoting the student’s employability skills base. 

Team Members:Dr Aine McKillop, Faculty of Life and Health SciencesDr Jacqueline O’Connor, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences


A gallery of images from the 2010 Winter Graduation ceremonies can be viewed at:
http://www.ulster.ac.uk/graduation/wintergraduation2010/photogallery.html