2026 Winners

Overall Excellence Award

WINNER:

Ulster University

Outstanding Contribution Award

RECIPIENT:

Professor Michael Peter Kennedy

Apprenticeship Programme Award

WINNER:

Errigal Group

FINALISTS:

• BioMarin
• Errigal Group
• ESB Networks: Network Technicians - Electrical Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship Programme Award – Education Provider

WINNER:

University College Cork - Social Work Apprenticeship

FINALISTS:

• National College of Ireland - International Financial Services Associate Apprenticeship
• University College Cork - Social Work Apprenticeship

Best Graduate Training Programme

WINNER:

Iarnród Éireann Graduate Development Programme

FINALISTS:

• Depaul Graduate Programme
• Iarnród Éireann Graduate Development Programme
• Pharmalliance Consulting - Lifescience Graduate Preparation Programme

Best Internship Programme Award

WINNER:

BMS Cruiserath - BMS Ireland Internship Programme

FINALISTS:

• BMS Cruiserath - BMS Ireland Internship Programme
• Motorola Solutions Internship Programme 2025
• QT Technologies Ireland

Diversity, Inclusivity, Equality Award

WINNER:

South East Technological University

FINALISTS:

• Blossom4life
• South East Technological University
• University College Cork

Career Impact Strategy – Employability, Access & Skills Development

WINNER:

MTU Access Service - Ready Steady Work

FINALISTS:

• Maynooth University - Careers and Employability Service
• MTU Access Service - Ready Steady Work
• National College of Ireland
• Póstaeir san Oireachtas (PsO) - Atlantic Technological University and The Sure Network
• RCSI School of Nursing and Midwifery
• The Leadership for INClusion in the Early Years (LINC) Consortium
• WILL Network

Career Impact Strategy – Industry Engagement, Placements & Work-Based Learning

WINNER:

University of Limerick - UL@Work

FINALISTS:

• CyberSkills
• Munster Technological University - Industry Placement at the Core of Career Readiness
• TUS - Business Internship Programme at the Department of Business and Management
• TUS - Student Internship at the Department of Business and Management
• University of Limerick - UL@Work

Innovative Access to Third-Level Education

WINNER:

University College Cork - id+futures initiative

FINALISTS:

• Drogheda Institute of Further Education (DIFE) - ASPIRE Programme
• Innopharma Education - Academic Skills for Success
• Leading Healthcare Providers Skillnet - Diploma in Gerontological Nursing Initiative (DiGNI)
• National College of Ireland - The P-TECH Programme
• Phlow Academy - A Mastery-Based Pathway for Third-Level Readiness
• South East Technological University - Certificate in Applied Skills Development and Certificate in Personal Development Programmes
• South Eastern Regional College
• TU Dublin - Certificate in Independent Living Skills
• TUS Access to Apprenticeship Mid-West
• University College Cork - id+futures initiative

International Engagement Award

WINNER:

International Office, Mary Immaculate College

FINALISTS:

• Edhoc International
• International Office, Mary Immaculate College
• Maynooth University - International Engagement with the Arqus European University Alliance
• TUS Global - Global Student Experience Team
• University of Galway - Just 3 & TFP
• University of Limerick - UL Global International Student Engagement
• University of Limerick School of Medicine - First Nations Global Engagement Experience

Most Innovative Digital Transformation

WINNER:

StudentVolunteer.ie - Platform+

FINALISTS:

• ATU - MyCareerPath
• Maynooth University - My Maynooth on Moodle
• National College of Ireland - LibMaps
• National Learning Network - A Strategic, People-Centred Approach to Embedding Responsible Generative AI
• Phlow Academy - Transforming Secondary Learning Through Pedagogy-Driven Digital Mastery Systems
• StudentVolunteer.ie - Platform+
• Technological University of the Shannon - TUS Digital Collabs
• University of Limerick - AV upgrade, Department of Biological Sciences
• University of Limerick - Scaling High Quality Video Lecture Production in the Kemmy Business School Digital HUB
• University of Limerick - UL ePortfolio Enterprise Adoption for Assessment Reform

Student Engagement & Communications Award

WINNER:

University of Limerick - Academic Registry

FINALISTS:

• Limerick City and County Council - Limerick Student City
• Maynooth University
• Munster Technological University - Rethinking Engineering Education in Ireland (REEdI)
• Munster Technological University -MTU Ready
• Phlow Academy
• University of Limerick - Academic Registry

Excellence in Education by a Professional Body

WINNER:

Chartered Accountants Ireland Skillnet - Professional Scepticism Virtual Reality (VR) Training Programme

FINALISTS:

• Chartered Accountants Ireland
• Chartered Accountants Ireland Skillnet - Professional Scepticism Virtual Reality (VR) Training Programme
• CyberSkills
• European College of Aesthetic Medicine & Surgery
• South East Technological University - Certificate in Applied Skills Development and Certificate in Personal Development Programmes

Excellence in Sustainability

WINNER:

National Learning Network - Delivering Sustainability with Social Impact

FINALISTS:

• Munster Technological University - Circular Bioeconomy Cluster
• National Learning Network - Delivering Sustainability with Social Impact
• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Developing World-Class Learning Infrastructure
• South Eastern Regional College - SERC Sustainability
• Technological University of the Shannon - Compendium of Embedding Education for Sustainable Development in Teaching, Learning and Assessment
• University of Limerick - Lab sustainability, Department of Biological Sciences

Best Workforce Upskilling Initiative

WINNER:

Iarnród Éireann - Career Development

FINALISTS:

• Alison - Free LMS: Democratising Global Workforce Development
• Cork College of FET-Bishopstown Campus
• Fluirse Education Solutions - Team Training Programme
• Iarnród Éireann - Career Development
• Innopharma Education - AI Upskilling
• Leading Healthcare Providers Skillnet - Diploma in Gerontological Nursing Initiative (DiGNI)
• LOETB and Midlands Park Hotel
• Medtronic - Operations Engineering Scholarship
• Slieve Russell Hotel with CMETB
• Smart Docklands

Best Education Outreach Award – Learner, Schools & Academic Engagement

WINNER:

Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, Ireland - CRAFT Maker Space at MIC

FINALISTS:

• Academy of the Near Future - The Connective Detective
• Bilingual Learning Consultancy
• Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, Ireland - CRAFT Maker Space at MIC
• Phlow Academy
• Ulster University - Guidance Counsellor Discovery Event
• Univeristy of Galway - Professional Engagement Module (PEM)
• University of Limerick - Science Outreach to Promote Physics (SOPHia)
• University of Limerick, Department of Biological Sciences - ROOT (Reaching Out to Our Trees)

Best Education Outreach Award - Community & Public Engagement

WINNER:

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland - Creating a Dementia Inclusive Generation

FINALISTS:

• ADAPT, Dublin City University - #DiscussAI: A National Conversation on Artificial Intelligence
• Calmast, STEM Engagement Centre @ South East Technological University
• CyberSkills
• Law Society of Ireland - Street Law and Public Legal Education Outreach
• Lead the Way
• Munster Technological University - Kerry Science Festival
• National College of Ireland - STEM Family Learning in the Community
• O’ Connor’s Music School - Ceoil Cliste Music Programme
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland - Creating a Dementia Inclusive Generation

Best Collaboration Award - International

WINNER:

Mary Immaculate College & CAPES - Professional Development Programme for Brazilian Primary and Secondary Education Teachers in Ireland

FINALISTS:

• Alison & Brownie Points - Scaling Social Employment in South Africa via Mobile-First Learning
• Griffith College & Meiji Gakuin University
• Mary Immaculate College & CAPES - Professional Development Programme for Brazilian Primary and Secondary Education Teachers in Ireland
• Maynooth University and the Arqus European University Alliance
• University of Galway - PEP Project

Best Collaboration Award – Domestic (Economic, Digital & Workforce Development)

WINNER:

Gaelchultúr & MSLETB - Advancing Careers le Gaeilge

FINALISTS:

• CyberSkills
• Drogheda Institute of Further Education (DIFE) & Amazon (AWS)
• Gaelchultúr & MSLETB - Advancing Careers le Gaeilge
• Immersive Software Engineering
• Innopharma Education & BWG Foods - From Classroom to Shop Shelves
• InVera Medical - BioVAS
• NetApp / MTU - A collaboration model for Regional Impact, Innovation and Co-creation
• RCSI Health Professions Education Centre and the iPain Centre, Beaumont Hospital
• Technological University of the Shannon - TUS Digital Collabs
• UCC, MTU, CETB, and KETB -The New Horizons, Southern Strategic Alliance Tertiary Partnership

Best Collaboration Award – Domestic (Public Good, Culture & Social Impact)

WINNER:

University of Galway - Building the Empathy Studio Through Co-Creation and Collaboration

FINALISTS:

• Alison & Irish Credit Unions - Empowering National Financial Resilience
• Atlantic Technological University & Scoil Cholmcille Letterkenny - HealthCraft: Building Healthy Habits in Primary Aged Children Through Minecraft
• KCETB & The Heritage Council - From Roofs to Roots
• Mary Immaculate College - Transforming Gender Equality in Higher Education in Ireland
• Middletown Centre for Autism (MCA) & Mary Immaculate College (MIC) - The Graduate Suite in Autism Studies (GCAS, GDAS, MAAS)
• SETU & WLCSP - Consent Matters Project
• South East Technological University and Buíon Phort Láirge
• The Autism Acceptance Festival
• Treoraigh do Thodhchaí - Academy of the Near Future & Gael Linn’s Gaelbhratach
• University of Galway - Building the Empathy Studio Through Co-Creation and Collaboration

Best Erasmus Programme

WINNER:

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

FINALISTS:

• Dublin College Clondalkin Deansrath’s Erasmus
• Mary Immaculate College
• Mayo College of Further Education - Erasmus+ Mobility Programme
• RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
• University of Galway
• University of Limerick

Best Further Education Provider

WINNER:

Mayo College of Further Education and Training

FINALISTS:

• Carlow Institute of Further Education and Training - KCETB
• Drogheda Institute of Further Education (DIFE)
• European College of Aesthetic Medicine & Surgery
• Law Society of Ireland - Diploma Centre
• Mayo College of Further Education and Training
• National Learning Network - Rehab Group
• South Eastern Regional College

Best Language School

WINNER:

Gaelchultúr

FINALISTS:

• Bilingual Learning Consultancy
• Englishour
• Gaelchultúr
• Irish College of English

Best Library Team

WINNER:

Bord Bia’s Library, Knowledge & Market Intelligence Team

FINALISTS:

• Bord Bia’s Library, Knowledge & Market Intelligence Team
• Innopharma - Collaborative Digital Library and Academic Team
• National College of Ireland - Academic Support Centre

Best Marketing / Communications Team

WINNER:

Ulster University - Market Engagement Team

FINALISTS:

• Edhoc International - Inicio 2026
• National Learning Network - The Rehab Group
• Technological University of the Shannon - Athlone Campus
• The Leadership for INClusion in the Early Years (LINC) Consortium
• Ulster University - Market Engagement Team
• University of Limerick – Marketing & Communications Team

Best Masters Programme

WINNER:

University College Cork - MSc Information Systems for Business Performance

FINALISTS:

• Law Society of Ireland - LLM Advanced Legal Practice
• PCI College - MSc Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy
• PCI College - MSc Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• University College Cork - MSc Information Systems for Business Performance
• University College Cork - MSc Sustainable Development, Agri-Food and Co-operatives
• University of Limerick - MSc Functional Foods & Product Development
• University of Limerick, CSIS Department - MSc in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

Best Online Learning Experience

WINNER:

Flúirse - Online Teacher Summer Courses Programme

FINALISTS:

• Alison
• Bilingual Learning Consultancy
• Chartered Accountants Ireland- Project Athena
• CMIT eLearning - Tutor-Supported Online Learning Experience
• CyberSkills
• Flúirse - Online Teacher Summer Courses Programme
• Forus Training - The Forus Digital Learning Experience
• Law Society of Ireland - Diploma Centre
• Phlow Academy
• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Best Research Project

WINNER:

Maynooth University - NeoSepsis: Research producing a life-changing neonatal test kit in Uganda

FINALISTS:

• European Centre For The Study Of Hate University Of Limerick - Criminalising Hate
• Maynooth University - NeoSepsis: Research producing a life-changing neonatal test kit in Uganda
• Munster Technological University - Active Ease
• National College of Ireland - Availability of Cognitive Rehabilitation for People with Dementia in Ireland (CR-Ireland)
• Phlow Academy - Learn AR: Ethical Augmented Reality for Handwritten Learning and Assessment
• Phlow Academy - Reimagining Secondary Education Through Mastery-Based Digital Learning Research
• Technological University of the Shannon - REAL-T: Re-Engaging Active Learning through Teamwork
• University College Cork - ENGAGE Reverse Mentoring Project

Best Student Experience Award

WINNER:

Certified Irish Angus

FINALISTS:

• Certified Irish Angus
• College of Further Education & Training, Mulgrave St. Campus, Limerick
• Dunboyne College of Further Education - The Teacher in Me
• Griffith College - Faculty of Law
• National Learning Network - Building Agency & Amplifying the Student Voice
• Phlow Academy
• SERC Food Poverty Project
• Technological University of the Shannon - TUS Athlone Digital Marketing
• Technological University of the Shannon - TUS Global Student Experience Team