Award winning teaching

En route to Cork for the first national awards for Teaching Excellence, organised under the auspices of NAIRTL (http://www.nairtl.ie). Whilst nominations this time around were largely restricted to the partner organisations (three universities and two institutes of technology), next year's will be open to all Irish HE institutions.  This year, however, we can bask in the glory of having 2 out of the 5 awards going to NUI Galway staff! Although, congratulations to all winners. It is nice to see such recognition and a high profile for teaching. Of course the award winners are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the scale of good work being undertaken across the sector by dedicated and passionate staff. Something that is little remarked upon, particularly by those in the media and politics who peddle crass stereotypes of academic staff and universities.