Take a look back at our highlights for 2023
No images? Click here
2023 in Review
NUI Newsletter Issue 1: January 2024
Welcome to the inaugural NUI newsletter. 2023 was a great year - productive, inspiring and exciting. As a result, this first issue of the newsletter is full to the brim with everything that defined the year for us. We want to keep you informed on our news, and that is why we are going to be producing one of these every quarter.
Some statistics: we produced degree parchments for more than 40,000 graduates; we processed over 3,900 exemptions to support students in their CAO applications; we provided over 7,000 callers with help and advice for exemptions, document services and more; and we awarded more than €600,000 in grants, scholarships and prizes to 150 undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, postdoctoral, early career and established scholars at our annual #NUIAwards ceremony in November.
Follow us on LinkedIn, X, BlueSky and Facebook to keep in touch! We also have a new Vimeo page where we will be posting our videos, some old and some new.
Deep roots, new horizons: the NUI Strategic Plan 2023-27
NUI staff at the launch of the 2023-27 Strategic Plan "Deep roots, new horizons"
On May 4th, at 1pm in 49 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, the National University of Ireland launched our new strategic plan for 2023-27, as well as the new Denis Donoghue award. NUI Strategic Plan 2023-27: Deep roots, new horizons signals a step change in how NUI operates, engages, and positions itself in the sector.
The quality and prestige of NUI qualifications nationally and internationally remain a hallmark of the plan, but we also commit to presenting our universities as research intensive institutions that deliver significant social capital and have a tangible positive impact locally, nationally and globally. Other key objectives of the strategic plan are:
- to support students to reach their potential at all levels;
- to develop our capacity to support and promote the Irish language and culture;
- to embed the UN Sustainable Development Goals into our operations.
The plan is centred around four key pillars:
- Education & Research
- People & Culture
- Engagement & Partnership
- Sustainability
NUI will also use its unique position in the sector to take a long-term, objective view to plan beyond the normal horizons for higher education institutions. This long-term vision and engagement across the sector will be beneficial to the sector and NUI’s stakeholders.
NUI's Millionth Graduate
Dr Patrick O'Leary (L) and Dr Maurice Manning (R) RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences conferring on 20th Nov 2023.
On November 20, 2023, 113 years after its first major conferring of degrees, the National University of Ireland bestowed its millionth degree to a graduate of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences conferring in the Convention Centre Dublin.
The first major conferring of NUI degrees took place on 29 October 1910 in Earlsfort Terrace. 149 students graduated at the ceremony, having completed their studies at the constituent and recognised colleges of the university. Among the 1910 graduates were Thomas McDonagh, who graduated with a BA in Modern Literature, and Éamon (then known as Edward) de Valera, who qualified for a Diploma in Teaching.
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, founded in 1784, became a recognised college of NUI in 1977 and had its first NUI conferring ceremony on 9 June 1978. Since then, NUI has awarded 32,195 qualifications at RCSI conferrings. On November 20, NUI celebrated the academic achievements of over 700 nurses and midwives, as well as the achievements of the million graduates in the NUI federation who preceded them.
(L-R) Dr Sorcha Uí Chonnachtaigh, Caoilfhionn Duggan, Dr Kieran McGovern, Dr Maurice Manning and Prof Orla Feely, posing with the #NUIAwards prop at the Denis Donoghue Award launch.
The NUI Denis Donoghue Award, launched in May 2023, is an annual award established in memory of Denis Donoghue and funded by a donation from his daughter, the novelist Emma Donoghue.
The purpose of the award is simple: to foster success and facilitate excellence, by providing monetary support to students from under-represented groups in higher education in Ireland. The NUI Denis Donoghue Award lends itself towards this aim by directly supporting some of those NUI students who need it most.
Emma Donoghue, who provided a short video for the launch, described her “brilliant and hard-working father” who passed away two years ago, and how his journey in higher education was impacted by economic factors. This award helps students on their road to academic excellence.
Learn more about the award from Emma Donoghue below:
Honorary Conferrings
(L-R) Mari Cahalane, Mohamed Al-Rubeai, Clair Wills and Michael Lillis on the front steps of RCPI in their conferring robes and caps.
In 2023, NUI held three honorary degree conferring ceremonies for nine distinguished recipients.
On 8 March, NUI conferred Michael Lillis, Clair Wills, Mohamed Al-Rubeai and Mari Cahalane with honorary degrees.
On 19 October, NUI conferred Seóirse Bodley with a Doctor of Literature for his contribution to Irish culture. Sadly, on 17 November 2023, Professor Bodley passed away. Professor Bodley left an immense and impactful legacy on Ireland, particularly in education, broadcasting and composing.
The citation from his honorary conferring which provides a full overview of his career can be found here, and a write-up of the ceremony can be found here.
(L-R) Dr Maurice Manning, Prof Lorraine Byrne Bodley, Seóirse Bodley and Dr Patrick O'Leary, in robes at Seóirse Bodley's conferring in NUI.
(L-R) Orla Tinsley, Conor Brady, Mary Crilly and Claire McGettrick, born Lorraine Hughes, on the front steps of RCPI in their conferring robes, holding their caps in the air.
On 9 November, NUI conferred Conor Brady, Mary Crilly, Claire McGettrick born Lorraine Hughes and Orla Tinsley with honorary degrees.
Notable NUI graduates of 2023
Prof Fran O'Rourke and Prof Orla Feely at the UCD conferring.
NUI and its constituent universities and recognised colleges relish their conferring days. It is an opportunity to celebrate and honour the culmination of hard work and academic discipline that every degree recipient has attained, with friends and family as well as faculty and campus staff.
On 26 April at University College Cork, Dr Katalin Karikó received an Honorary Doctorate for her trailblazing mRNA research, which was instrumental in creating the BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. She has since been awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine alongside Drew Weissman.
Dr Katalin Karikó, on the day of her honorary conferring at UCC.
Higher Doctorate Degrees on Published Work
NUI higher doctorate degrees are the highest qualifications awarded by the University. They are awarded to scholars who have, over a sustained period, published a substantial body of ground-breaking and influential work in a field of specialisation and who have achieved outstanding distinction internationally in that field.
At University College Dublin on 16 June, Prof Seamus Fanning received an NUI Higher Doctorate in Science. He is the director of the Centre for Food Safety at UCD, and his area of research is the microbiological safety of foods.
At University of Galway on 17 August, Prof Maria Byrne received an NUI Higher Doctorate in Science. A graduate of University of Galway, she has been in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at University of Sydney for 35 years.
Prof Maria Byrne, at her conferring at University of Galway.
On 8 September, Prof Fran O'Rourke was conferred with a DLitt at University College Dublin, where he is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy. His study encompasses important themes in the philosophical, theological, and literary traditions.
Find out more about our Higher Doctorate programme
On December 1, Dr John Dooley was conferred with a Doctorate in Governance at the Institute of Public Administration's conferring ceremony at Dublin Castle. Dr John Dooley is the first graduate of the Doctorate in Governance since the programme came under the aegis of the IPA. Congratulations to Dr Dooley and the staff of the IPA.
John Dooley, centre, receiving his degree at the IPA Conferring Ceremony in December 2023. (L-R) Dr Denis O'Brien, Dr Michael Mulreany, Dr John Dooley, Dr Maurice Manning and Dr Patrick O'Leary.
Lifelong learning at NUI
There was joy for Phil Devitt on 7 September as she received her BA in Community Studies from Maynooth University. At 86 years old, she is one of the oldest ever graduates in Ireland. “If there’s a little message to anyone it’s that every day you can learn something, and age is only a number,” Phil remarked in Maynooth's news article about her conferring.
Phil Devitt with her degree from Maynooth University at her conferring ceremony.
(L-R) Dr Brian Murphy, Prof Pól Ó Dochartaigh, Prof Liam Mac Mathúna, Dr Patrick O'Leary
Douglas Hyde: Irish Ideology and International Impact
On 8 June 2023, ÉIGSE: Ancillary Volume 3: Douglas Hyde: Irish Ideology and International Impact, edited by Professor Liam Mac Mathúna and Dr Máire Nic an Bhaird, was officially launched in NUI by Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, Deputy President and Registrar of University of Galway.
Drawing on the latest research on diaries, personal correspondence, memoir reflections, newspaper reports and State archives, this collection of seven essays by leading scholars on Douglas Hyde and the Irish language revival traces developments in the formulation and explication of Irish revival ideology. It also interrogates pivotal aspects of the revival movement’s impact and influence as well as its interaction with the Irish diaspora and Celtic scholars in North America and Continental Europe.
Sales and distribution: Four Courts Press
(L-R) Dr Brian Murphy, Dr Emer Purcell and Prof Liam Mac Mathúna holding the new Éigse publication.
NUI Awards Ceremony
All the recipients pose for a group photo with Registrar of NUI Dr Patrick O'Leary (far-left, front row), Chancellor Dr Maurice Manning (front, centre, in black, green and gold robes) and His Excellency Vincent Guérend French Ambassador to Ireland (on Maurice's left)
In November we held our 2023 Awards Ceremony at Croke Park. NUI awarded grants, scholarships and prizes to 150 undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, postdoctoral, early career and established scholars. In total, more than €600,000 was distributed to recipients across the NUI federation.
In introducing the awards, NUI Chancellor, Dr Maurice Manning noted:
The National University of Ireland has been supporting students, recognising scholarly achievement, and rewarding academic distinction in higher education since before the foundation of the State. NUI has evolved a great deal since its establishment in 1908 but has always valued learning both in itself and as a driver for good in our society. We are immensely proud of you, the students and scholars of NUI, who continue NUI’s tradition of excellence in this regard.
His Excellency Vincent Guérend, French Ambassador to Ireland, attended the ceremony to show his support to the recipients of the French Government Medals, NUI Prizes for Proficiency in French and Dr H.H. Stewart Medals in French.
Recipient of the Publication Prize for Irish History, Dr Bronagh Ann McShane, with Dr Maurice Manning
Three recipients pose with the #NUIAwards prop and a replica of the NUI front door
Dr Catherine Day receives inaugural NUI Whitaker Medal
We were pleased to award the inaugural NUI Whitaker Medal to Dr Catherine Day in a ceremony at University College Cork on 11 December 2023.
Ciorcal Comhrá
In 2023, NUI began holding monthly Ciorcail Comhrá, aka Pop-up Gaeltachts. On the last Wednesday of every month, join us at NUI for an hour of Gaeilge and braonín beag caife.
University College Cork hosts evening to honour NUI Awards Recipients and the Irish Historical Research Prize Lecture
On Wednesday, 17 May 2023, the UCC community gathered to celebrate their National University of Ireland Awards 2022 recipients.
Six NUI researchers receive European Research Council Starting Grants
The National University of Ireland extends its heartfelt congratulations to the six researchers from its constituent universities who were announced as recipients of European Research Council Starting Grants in 2023.
NUI room bookings
If you work in one of our constituent universities and you need somewhere for a meeting in Dublin city centre, book one of our rooms for free. Available during normal building opening hours.
NUI exemptions go digital!
Since November 2023, students who need an Irish and/or Third Language exemption for their CAO application to an NUI institution have been able to apply using a streamlined online form.
