In the Republic of Ireland, Advance HE continues to work closely with universities, technological universities, institutes of technology, and colleges as well as national educational stakeholders.
We have a dedicated Republic of Ireland-based team, which includes our Head of Membership for the Republic of Ireland, Tonya Watts, Head of Athena SWAN Ireland, Sarah Fink, and Athena Swan Ireland National Advisor, Irene Byrne. Joni Alexander is our Assistant Director with responsibility for the Republic of Ireland. Our delivery teams, including associates across Ireland and internationally, are higher education experts who are committed to contextualising our training and consultancy offers to the relevant institutional and sector context.
Advance HE’s membership offer is informed by institutional and sectoral priorities and is structured under our four strands of expertise – teaching and learning; leadership and management; equality, diversity and inclusion; and governance. Irish member institutions will have access to our international member benefits. These benefits include participation in themed projects, the opportunity for small grant funding in the Collaborative Development Fund, access to our portfolio of resources (including reports, analysis, webinars and blogs), and access to our online networking platform, Advance HE Connect. Your membership for 22/23 has been shaped through consultative conversations with our members and our strategic advisory groups.
Contact your Head of Membership
If you would like to speak with your dedicated Head of Membership for the Republic of Ireland, Tonya Watts, please click the link below.
Republic of Ireland Exclusive member benefits
In addition to the international member benefits, member institutions in the Republic of Ireland also have access to a suite of tailored member benefits themed around contemporary challenges facing the sector. Consultation is ongoing to continually improve and develop Ireland-specific member benefits.
Some members have access to Athena Swan Ireland, full information on the Charter is available on the Athena Swan Ireland page.
22/23 Member Focus
- Tertiary Sector Evolution
- National and international practice sharing and convening
- Linked events and resources for ongoing national developments
- Relationship development and membership understanding
22/23 Member Events and workshops
- Head of Membership visits and seminars, As Requested
- Strategic and Sustainable: Embedding SDGs in HE, 31 Jan 2023
- EDI Roundtable: Best Practice Sharing and Emerging Challenges,
- Governance Roundtable: HEA Changes and Emerging Challenges
- Leadership Roundtable: Strategic Approaches and Emerging Challenges
- Teaching and Learning Roundtable: CPD and Emerging Challenges
- The Evolution of Tertiary Education: Global Perspectives, TBC
- Flexible Pedagogies Webinar, 13 June 2023
Events
If you would like to know more about the events, contact the Head of Membership for Republic of Ireland, Tonya Watts.
Strategic and Sustainable: Embedding SDGs in HE
31 January 2023
Advance HE will host strategic leaders from member institutions to consider how they shape their strategies to drive change in sustainability. Institutions across the island of Ireland have been early and successful participants in the Times Higher Impact Rankings, recognising the value of sustainability to their students and other stakeholders. However, as the number of institutions submitting to the rankings increases, there is a greater need for institutions to ensure all their strategies are aligned to continue to be successful in both the rankings and in driving change.
This collaborative event will support strategic leaders in promoting and utilising the SDGs to drive institutional change by applying a strategic enhancement framework to their institutional practices across research, curricula, and their impact on the community. In the morning session, Siobhán Sleeman, DFHERIS, will set the scene on Education for Sustainable Development, Dr Ishan Cader, senior consultant from Times Higher, will deliver a talk on the Impact Rankings and their work on TNE and sustainability, followed by key speakers from TCD and UCC on case studies for strategic SDG engagement. After lunch, Advance HE Lead Consultant on Education, Dr Catherine Hack, will lead all participants in a collaborative workshop session.
This in-person member benefit event is invite-only to our members in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and will draw participation from executive leadership teams and sustainability committees.
Registration is now closed.
Advance HE will host strategic leaders from member institutions to consider how they shape their strategies to drive change in sustainability. Institutions across the island of Ireland have been early and successful participants in the Times Higher Impact Rankings, recognising the value of sustainability to their students and other stakeholders. However, as the number of institutions submitting to the rankings increases, there is a greater need for institutions to ensure all their strategies are aligned to continue to be successful in both the rankings and in driving change.
This collaborative event will support strategic leaders in promoting and utilising the SDGs to drive institutional change by applying a strategic enhancement framework to their institutional practices across research, curricula, and their impact on the community. In the morning session, Siobhán Sleeman, DFHERIS, will set the scene on Education for Sustainable Development, Dr Ishan Cader, senior consultant from Times Higher, will deliver a talk on the Impact Rankings and their work on TNE and sustainability, followed by key speakers from TCD and UCC on case studies for strategic SDG engagement. After lunch, Advance HE Lead Consultant on Education, Dr Catherine Hack, will lead all participants in a collaborative workshop session.
This in-person member benefit event is invite-only to our members in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and will draw participation from executive leadership teams and sustainability committees.
Registration is now closed.
Membership Roundtables
Dates to be confirmed - EDI Roundtable
23 May 2023 - Governance Roundtable
Dates to be confirmed - Leadership Roundtable
Dates to be confirmed - Teaching and Learning Roundtable
Advance HE membership provides institutions with access to our global membership community, through Advance HE Connect as well as our annual conferences and events. We also seek to enhance the convening power of the sector in sharing and coordinating on development needs and priorities.
As we continue to develop our resources and supports for the Irish sector, a key priority for Advance HE is to provide global practice sharing and hear from our members on their emerging challenges.
In 22/23 we will convene Roundtables on our four strands of expertise: teaching and learning; leadership and management; equality, diversity and inclusion; and governance. Member contacts in these areas will invited to join the roundtables to hear from our keynote speakers/panels, to network with colleagues, and to begin sharing current challenges and opportunities. Each Roundtable will end with future planning for member benefits and resources, including possible Ireland networks and collaborations.
These online member benefit events will be invite-only to our members in Ireland, and will draw participation from colleagues working both strategically and operationally in the relevant areas.
Contact your Head of Membership for Registration Information.
23 May 2023 - Governance Roundtable
Dates to be confirmed - Leadership Roundtable
Dates to be confirmed - Teaching and Learning Roundtable
Advance HE membership provides institutions with access to our global membership community, through Advance HE Connect as well as our annual conferences and events. We also seek to enhance the convening power of the sector in sharing and coordinating on development needs and priorities.
As we continue to develop our resources and supports for the Irish sector, a key priority for Advance HE is to provide global practice sharing and hear from our members on their emerging challenges.
In 22/23 we will convene Roundtables on our four strands of expertise: teaching and learning; leadership and management; equality, diversity and inclusion; and governance. Member contacts in these areas will invited to join the roundtables to hear from our keynote speakers/panels, to network with colleagues, and to begin sharing current challenges and opportunities. Each Roundtable will end with future planning for member benefits and resources, including possible Ireland networks and collaborations.
These online member benefit events will be invite-only to our members in Ireland, and will draw participation from colleagues working both strategically and operationally in the relevant areas.
Contact your Head of Membership for Registration Information.
Flexible Pedagogies Webinar
Designing a flexible learning experience - 13 June 2023
Building on the experiences of the last two years, where institutions were forced to think about delivering online, colleagues from across the global HE sector are now thinking about how we can use what worked well, to provide a quality, accessible and inclusive higher education experience.
This interactive workshop is designed to support academic developers and lecturers think about the design of a flexible learning experience: how can we leverage pedagogy and technology to provide an effective combination of online and in-person learning and develop and sustain engaged and vibrant learning communities.
Building on the experiences of the last two years, where institutions were forced to think about delivering online, colleagues from across the global HE sector are now thinking about how we can use what worked well, to provide a quality, accessible and inclusive higher education experience.
This interactive workshop is designed to support academic developers and lecturers think about the design of a flexible learning experience: how can we leverage pedagogy and technology to provide an effective combination of online and in-person learning and develop and sustain engaged and vibrant learning communities.
The Evolution of Tertiary Education
In many parts of the world much like in the Republic of Ireland, post-compulsory education is experiencing national system-level changes. Collaboration is at the core of shaping these emergent and developing tertiary sectors globally. Leaders in institutions big and small are forging new networks, navigating new systems and building flexible and inclusive learning and teaching models. Tertiary, in all its moving parts, is centred on the learner and their journey – often nonlinear and lifelong.
Advance HE appreciates that tertiary education is undergoing significant change and development within the Republic of Ireland, with the formation a new National Tertiary Office within the HEA, emerging Technological Universities, and developments in micro-credentials and apprenticeships, among other changes.
In 22/23, Advance HE will bring leaders and practitioners together from across national and international contexts to share experiences and navigate the big questions and challenges facing Irish tertiary education. Further information on this member event will be available soon.
Head of Membership (Republic of Ireland) - Tonya Watts
Tonya is Head of Membership for Ireland at Advance HE, working directly with institutions in Ireland to support them in their development and enhancement goals. She brings experience in the Irish sector having worked for over 7 years in Irish higher education. Prior to this role, she was an EDI Project Manager developing and embedding EDI initiatives including gender equality action plans, employee resource groups, and bespoke training.
