The Centre's work in Northern Ireland

The Centre supports teaching in higher education to improve student learning throughout the UK. While the majority of the Centre's activities are on a UK-wide basis, the increasing divergence of the 4 home countries means, where appropriate, the Centre adopts a country-specific approach in addition to the general activities. To help us recognise, influence and respond to local priorities we have a country consultant for Northern Ireland: currently Aine McKillop, University of Ulster.

This page provides links to Northern Ireland-specific activities and resources, as well as pointers to Centre materials that are particularly relevant to those teaching within the Northern Ireland’s political framework.

Centre Events in Northern Ireland

Centre-funded Projects in Northern Ireland

Evaluation of problem based learning to deliver bioinformatics education to life science undergraduates
University of Ulster - Dr Catherine Hack

Emotional consequences of cadaver dissection - correlates and mediating factors
Queen's University Belfast - Dr Martin Dempster

Other project work

The Centres of Excellence in Teaching and Learning Initiative - Northern Ireland introduced additional funding to the sector. These are listed on our CETLs(NI) page. The Centre for Excellence in Active and Interactive Learning (NI)- CEAIL (NI) is the one with the most immediate relevance to bioscience.

The Fund for the Development of Teaching and Learning (FDTL) was available in Northern Ireland and the Centre has worked closely with the STAR project (Student Transition and Retention project).

Academy – Northern Ireland

Academy - Northern Ireland works in support of Northern Ireland higher education institutions through its Subject Centres and through the work of the Senior Advisor for Northern Ireland. The Academy has a dedicated web page Northern Ireland HEA web page providing information on the sector in Northern Ireland and our work to support them.

Bioscience National Teaching Fellows at Northern Ireland HE Institutions

• Professor Tony Cook - University of Ulster - 2009
• Dr Tara Moore - University of Ulster - 2005
• Dr Vicki Tariq - Queen’s University of Belfast (now at University of Central Lancashire) - 2003

Other Organisations and Additional Information

Northern Ireland Higher Education Council

The Northern Ireland Higher Education Council (NIHEC) is a non-statutory advisory body. The Council's primary role is to advise the Department for Employment and Learning on the planning and funding of Higher Education in Northern Ireland.

QAA Northern Ireland

QAA works with the Department for Employment and Learning and the higher education institutions themselves to maintain the quality and academic standards of the higher education sector in Northern Ireland.

As there is a small higher education presence, QAA has adopted the same institutional audit method as for England. However, QAA was jointly involved in the review of Foundation Degrees with the Education and Training Inspectorate, and continues to be involved in all areas of higher education in Northern Ireland.