Presented at the CONUL Conference, July 2015, Athlone, Ireland by Sarah Moore, University of Limerick. Biography Sarah Moore is the Chair of the National Forum for Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and Associate Vice President Academic at the University of Limerick. Sarah has researched and published in the areas of organisational behaviour, pedagogical innovation, academic professional development and on a range of topics central to promoting and enhancing teaching and learning in higher education. She has a strong commitment to developing creative and engaging learning dynamics between teachers and students. She has explored the process of academic development and uses what she has found to help academics, teachers, researchers and students to develop productive patterns of learning, innovation and professional development. Sarah holds an award for excellence in teaching, and has worked to develop a culture that supports and celebrates outstanding teaching and learning across all disciplines in higher education settings. Sarah has published several books and many journal papers on academic and educational development.

1. TEACHING AND LEARNING
ENHANCEMENT IN IRISH HIGHER
EDUCATION
SOME INSIGHTS ABOUT THE ROLE
OF LIBRARIES FROM THE WORK OF
THE NATIONAL FORUM
Sarah Moore
Chair
Ireland’s National Forum for the Enhancement of
Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

2. Key questions for teaching and
learning in higher education
• What role do librarians play in the
enhancement of teaching and learning?
• What role could librarians play in the
enhancement of teaching and learning
• What are the biggest challenges to libraries’
realising their potential?

3. National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 and
the High Level European Modernisation report
– The centrality of Teaching and Learning to the mission of
Irish higher education – preparation, training, support,
awards, recognition
– Tangible parity of esteem between teaching and research
as core higher education functions
– Greater innovation in the design of higher education
– Greater flexibility in provision
– Integration of teaching and research
– Continuing professional development through collegiate
networks
– Sustainability; Interdisciplinarity; Employability;
Internationality; Modernity; Digitality

4. Strategic investments over time
€-
€1,000,000
€2,000,000
€3,000,000
€4,000,000
€5,000,000
€6,000,000
€7,000,000
€8,000,000
€9,000,000
€10,000,000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007* 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Investment in Teaching and Learning initiatives
Targeted/Strategic Initiatives AISHE NDLR SIF 1 SIF 2 National Forum

6. Purpose of the National Forum

7. What we have learned
• Strong walls and divisions within and between
• Parity of esteem
• Implicit, tacit value
• Centre and disciplines
• Who teaches?
• Institution size as a key differentiator
• Students as partners
• Professional identity in crisis
• Student experiences: different lenses
• Time as a crucial and often under-discussed concept

8. Students’ definitions of excellent
teaching
• CARE
• COURAGE
• COMMUNICATION
• CREATIVITY

9. Institutions’ definitions of excellent
teaching
• Quality and enhancement markers: including
Engagement ; Retention; Graduate output;
Funding; award classifications on departure;
learning outcomes;
• Subject knowledge and reputation
• Qualifications in discipline and pedagogy
• Effectiveness, efficiency, innovation

10. THE INTEGRATIVE ROLE OF
LIBRARIES IN AN EDUCATIONAL
WORLD THAT IS INCREASINGLY
COMPLEX AND DIGITAL