NUI Newsletter

Issue 10: July 2026

2026 has been a busy year so far for NUI. We would love to share our latest news with you and have a look back at our highlights from the first quarter of 2026. 

If you would like to keep up with us in real time, follow us on LinkedIn, BlueSky, Facebook, and Vimeo. We have lots of events coming up, and we would love to see you there, so stay tuned to our social media.

Events

NUI Higher Education, Today and Tomorrow Seminars

Tuesday, 29 September 2026:

EU Values and the Civic Responsibilities of Irish Universities in a Changing Europe – a panel discussion in partnership with European Movement Ireland. Lunchtime seminar in NUI, 49 Merrion Square – further details from events@nui.ie.

Thursday, 22 October 2026:

Reflections on European University Alliances with Professor Manuel Tunon de Lara (former president, University of Bordeaux), Professor Becky Whay (Deputy President and Registrar, University of Galway) and other guests. Lunchtime seminar in NUI, 49 Merrion Square – further details from events@nui.ie.

NUI and the Dublin Festival of History

Tuesday, 6 October 2026: 

The Art and Life of Casimir Markievicz Public Lecture – in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Dublin, hosted at NUI. Further details and booking information available from Eventbrite.

Friday, 9 October 2026:

Dublin Festival of History: Viking Ireland the wider world
10 am – 12 pm, Friday 9 October
Wood Quay Venue, Dublin City Council Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8

For the ninth year running, the National University of Ireland, Dublin City Council Archaeology Section, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ireland, and Dublinia, are pleased to collaborate and contribute a Viking-studies seminar to the Dublin Festival of History Programme.

Booking is essential. Further details will be available on www.nui.ie and/or www.dublinfestivalofhistory.ie when registration opens in September.

News

L-R: Emilie Klander, Professor Jean-Michel Verdier, Professor Paul Indelicato and Dr Patrick O'Leary

NUI hosts Symposium on Rare Disciplines: Exploring the potential for an Irish project

NUI hosted a symposium on rare disciplines at 49 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, recently, on 11 June 2026.  

The keynote, ‘Lessons from the German-French Mapping Project’, was delivered by Professor Jean-Michel Verdier (Rare Disciplines Project Manager, Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space, France).

The event involved two workshops: one on identifying criteria for defining ‘rare discipline’ in the Irish context, and a second on identifying the resources needed to map rare disciplines in Ireland. Participants representing 11 institutions and organisations and a diverse range of disciplines across the Irish higher education sector engaged in the workshops.

Participants identified next steps, including a survey of potential rare disciplines, consultation with academics (in teaching and research) in universities and technological universities and further engagement with sectoral organisations.

L-R: Professor Mary Higgins (DMed) and UCD President Orla Feely

Higher Doctorate Degrees on Published Work

NUI recently had the privilege of conferring three Higher Doctorates on Published Work on Dr Gerard Donovan, Professor David Brayden and Professor Mary Higgins. 

Dr Gerard Donovan was awarded a Doctor of Literature (DLitt) for his body of published work in the area of creative writing, in a conferring ceremony held on 21 May at 49 Merrion Square. Dr Donovan obtained his B.A. in German and Philosophy and an M.A. in German Language and Literature from University College Galway. He also earned an MA at Johns Hopkins University and an MFA at The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. He is an author, with notable works including Schopenhauer’s Telescope (nominated for the Man Booker Prize and won the Kerry Group Prize at Listowel), Doctor Salt and, most recently, Julius Winsome, which won international acclaim, appearing in fifteen languages, most recently in China in 2025, and is under development for a feature film. 

Professor David Brayden was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) in recognition of his outstanding body of published work and distinguished contributions to the field of pharmacology at University College Dublin (UCD) on 23 June. Professor Brayden is Professor of Advanced Drug Delivery in the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine and a Fellow of the UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research. Over the course of his career, Professor Brayden has established an international reputation as a leader in drug delivery research. He has authored or co-authored more than 300 research publications and patents and has played a pivotal role in advancing pharmaceutical science.

Professor Mary Higgins was awarded a Doctor of Medicine (DMed) for her body of published work in the areas of obstetrics, gynaecology, maternal foetal medicine and medical education on Thursday, June 4, at a graduation ceremony in University College Dublin. Professor Higgins is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in the National Maternity Hospital and a Senior Lecturer in the UCD School of Medicine. Prof Higgins has research interests in diabetes, education, labour and birth, and pre-eclampsia. Having completed her first published paper in 2003, Prof Higgins has gone on to produce and contribute to an immensely impressive body of work of more than 100 publications and supervises PhD, MD, MSc and undergraduate students.

Higher Doctorates are the highest academic qualifications awarded by NUI. They recognise scholars who have produced a substantial, sustained and influential body of published work that has achieved international distinction in their field.

If you would like to learn more about Higher Doctorates on Published Work, click on the button below.

Dr Gerard Donovan (DLitt) 

Professor David Brayden (DSc)

The online application portal has now opened for the 2027 Register of Electors for the Seanad Éireann Higher Education constituency.

The deadline for applications for the 2027 Register is 26 February 2027. This Register of Electors will be published on 1 June 2027.

Please note: If you have successfully applied for the 2025 or 2026 register, you do not need to register again.

To register, please choose one of the following options:

Online Registration:

• Visit the website: www.SeanadVoter.ie
• Complete the online form with:
  1. Your full name
  2. Your address
  3. Details of your degree(s)
  4. Your PPS Number or a completed Witness Form
  5. Proof of citizenship (either a photo of your passport or Certificate of Naturalisation

Paper Application:

• Download a paper application form. Paper application forms are available for download here on SeanadVoter.ie.

NUI Awards

2026 NUI Awards – closed calls for applications

NUI recently closed calls for applications for three of its competitive awards: the Travelling Doctoral Studentships, the Grant Scheme for Early Career Academics, and the Spring Grant toward Scholarly Publications. All three calls for applications received a large number of candidates, with a record number of applications for the Travelling Doctoral Studentships (about 70 applications). Results of the NUI Awards will be published after the NUI Senate in November. The annual NUI Awards Ceremony in honour of all 2026 awardees will follow shortly after.

Find more information on our 2026 Awards on offer by clicking the button below.

H.E. Céline Place, Ambassador of France to Ireland, and Dr Patrick O’Leary with NUI Awards Alumni at the French Résidence

100 years of cooperation between NUI and the French Embassy in Ireland celebrated

On Thursday, 28 May 2026, H.E. Céline Place, Ambassador of France to Ireland, and Dr Patrick O’Leary, Registrar of NUI, welcomed NUI Awards Alumni to the French Résidence on Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4, to celebrate 100 years of cooperation between the two institutions. As part of the France Alumni Days, a reception was hosted for around 65 students, including graduates and academics from NUI institutions who received NUI Awards, such as the long-standing French Government Medals and NUI Prizes for Proficiency in French, and the NUI-France Excellence Research Residency Grants. Two NUI Awards alumni, Dr Lorna Lopez from Maynooth University and Rebecca Duffy from UCD, spoke to the guests about their experience in France and showcased the best of this fruitful partnership.   

L-R: Dr Patrick O’Leary and Wolfram von Heynitz of the German Embassy in Dublin

NUI signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the German Embassy of Ireland for the creation of a new award

On 20 May 2026, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Ireland, Wolfram von Heynitz and the Registrar of NUI, Dr Patrick O’Leary, co-signed a memorandum of understanding between the two organisations. This MoU establishes a new partnership between NUI and the German Embassy with the creation of a new collaborative prize for undergraduate students: starting in 2026, the German Embassy Awards and NUI Proficiency Prize in German will be offered every year to top students studying German as part of their undergraduate degree across the NUI federation.

Conferrings and Graduate Services

NUI is currently preparing for the Autumn/Winter conferring schedule, during which up to 30,000 degrees, diplomas and certificates will be produced for NUI member institutions in Ireland and overseas.

Between April and June, 4,438 degrees, diplomas and certificates were issued, primarily in the fields of Medical and Health Sciences, to graduates in Dublin, Galway, Cork, Bahrain and Malaysia. During this period, two NUI Higher Doctorates on Published Work (DMed and DSc) were conferred at UCD. Collaborative degree programmes were also supported between the University of Galway and Pablo de Olavide University, Spain, and between Maynooth University and Fuzhou University, China. In addition, 798 graduate applications were processed, and academic documents were dispatched to recipients in 45 countries, ranging from Bulgaria to Uganda.

News from our Member Institutions

MU welcomes European higher education leaders as part of Irish EU Presidency

Maynooth University hosted the 4th European Universities Initiative (EUI) Forum on 9–10 July as part of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Jointly hosted with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the European Commission, the Forum brought together representatives from 55 university alliances, representing more than 500 universities, to discuss the future of the European Universities Initiative.

The event was opened by Minister James Lawless TD, with contributions from MU President Prof Eeva Leinonen, senior Department officials and European Commission representatives, including keynote speaker Susanne Conze.

University College Cork welcomes European Commission

As Ireland began its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, University College Cork welcomed the College of Commissioners for a two-day visit.

The programme included visits to UCC's Tyndall National Institute and Sustainability Institute, highlighting the University's leadership in research and innovation. An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also toured the campus, including the Glucksman Gallery and Honan Chapel.

UCC President Prof John O'Halloran welcomed the visit, while students had the opportunity to meet President von der Leyen and the Taoiseach during the historic occasion.

UCD researchers secure prestigious ERC Advanced Grants

Congratulations to Associate Professor Rory Johnson, UCD School of Medicine; Professor Porscha Fermanis, UCD School of English, Drama and Film; and Professor Anthony O'Mullane, Queensland University of Technology, working with UCD School of Chemistry, who have been awarded prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grants. Together, they have secured more than €8.6 million in funding for their UCD-led projects REVOLVER, PanAsia and ALMERS. 

Two University of Galway projects awarded European Research Council funding

NUI would like to congratulate Professor Ines Thiele and Research Fellow Dr Cyrille Thinnes from the School of Medicine, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences and the Digital Metabolic Twin Centre at the University of Galway and Dr Meadhbh Brennan and technical lead Dr Hannah Aris from the School of Engineering at University of Galway on their ERC funding. 

iChatRD, led by Prof Thiele, has been awarded a grant of €150,000, and will develop a user-centred clinical decision support system for the diagnosis of rare and inherited metabolic diseases.

GeIEV, led by Dr Brennan, has been awarded a grant of €150,000 and will develop a new hydrogel technology that could significantly improve the delivery of next-generation regenerative medicine for tissue injury.

New IPA Statement of Strategy, ‘Learning for Tomorrow’, Launched 

The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) has launched its 2026–2030 Statement of Strategy, Learning for Tomorrow – Empowering Ireland's Future-Ready Public Service, outlining its vision to strengthen Public Service capability through learning, leadership development and organisational support.

Launched by Minister Jack Chambers, the strategy positions learning as a key driver of innovation, adaptability and improved public service delivery. It is built around four priorities: empowering public servants, expanding digital learning, strengthening leadership and collaboration, and improving organisational impact.

Professor Michael Kerin elected as new President of RCSI

NUI would like to congratulate and send best wishes to Professor Michael Kerin, who has been elected as RCSI's new President following the College's biennial Council elections, and consultant orthopaedic surgeon David Moore, who was elected Vice-President.

A consultant general surgeon and Professor of Surgery at the University of Galway, Prof Kerin is a leading clinician-scientist specialising in breast and endocrine cancer. He said his presidency will focus on strengthening collaboration between academic research and clinical practice, supporting surgeons and trainees, and advancing surgical research and infrastructure.

Mr Moore, a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at Children's Health Ireland, Tallaght University Hospital and Blackrock Health, brings extensive experience in surgical leadership and clinical governance to the role of Vice-President.