The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Top academic title goes to Fenit born UCC professor
A TRALEE professor has this week been named as the recipient of one of the country’s most prestigious and sought after academic awards.
UCC lecturer Professor Chris Lynch, who is originally from Fenit, has been awarded Ireland’s most prestigious national individual teaching and learning award in higher education.
Professor Lynch, a graduate of CBS The Green in Tralee, is a professor and consultant in Restorative Dentistry at UCC and he has just been named as one of five recipients of Ireland’s inaugural Teaching and Learning Research Fellowships.
The fellowships, which were introduced by the National Forum in partnership with the Irish Research Council were presented to a total of five recipients from Irish universities.
Congratulating the new Fellows, Dr Terry Maguire, Director of the National Forum, gave an insight into the exciting work that lies ahead for Professor Lynch and his fellow award winners over the next 18 months.
“The fellows will work together and with the National Forum on projects of sectoral importance, bringing a new dimension to the research-led teaching and learning culture in Irish higher education, and contributing to a robust evidence base for future teaching and learning enhancement decision-making across the sector,” he said.
Professor Frank Coton (University of Glasgow), the Chair of the international review panel, and international advisor to the National Forum said the award winners have made a major contribution to Irish education .
“those who have been awarded Fellowships are truly outstanding individuals with the potential to make significant positive impact on higher education in Ireland,” said Professor Coton.
Professor Lynch, is also Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and is Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Dentistry.
He received a Senior Doctorate from Cardiff University in 2019. He also achieved Principal Fellow recognition from the Higher Education Academy in 2019 - the fifth Irish-based individual to do so, and the first from UCC.