National University of Ireland

The National University of Ireland recently hosted a symposium on Rare Disciplines, bringing together representatives from 11 institutions and organisations across the Irish higher education sector to explore how Ireland can identify, support and sustain disciplines with small student or academic populations 📝

We were delighted to welcome Professor Jean-Michel Verdier from the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space, who shared insights from France's national Rare Disciplines Mapping Project and highlighted the importance of preserving intellectual, cultural and heritage diversity while supporting emerging fields of study.

The symposium explored what a definition of 'rare disciplines' might look like in an Irish context and identified key next steps, including sector-wide consultation and a survey of potential rare disciplines.

As higher education evolves, these discussions underscore the value of protecting expertise, promoting innovation, and ensuring important areas of knowledge continue to thrive.

NUI is committed to celebrating and promoting the Irish language, culture, society, education, and civil discourse. This event is part of the Higher Education, Today and Tomorrow series, which is stewarded by NUI’s Education and Society Committee.

👩‍🎓📜 Warmest congratulations to UCD School of Medicine Professor Mary Higgins, who has been awarded the National University of Ireland degree of Doctor of Medicine (DMed) in recognition of her distinguished published work in obstetrics, gynaecology and medical education.

Both a graduate and a member of the UCD School of Medicine faculty, Prof Higgins is one of only three women to have received this prestigious degree. Higher Doctorates are the highest academic qualifications awarded by NUI and recognise a substantial and internationally distinguished body of scholarly work.

As a Principal Investigator at the UCD Perinatal Research Centre, she has published more than 100 research papers and supervises PhD, MD, MSc and undergraduate students.

NUI was delighted to award a Higher Doctorate degree on Published Work in medicine (DMed) to Professor Mary Higgins at a conferring ceremony in University College Dublin recently.

Prof Higgins has an immense body of published work, nationally and internationally, in obstetrics, gynaecology, maternal-fetal medicine, and medical education. She is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in the National Maternity Hospital and a Senior Lecturer in the UCD School of Medicine.

Originally from Kildare, Prof Higgins graduated from medicine at UCD in 2000 and went on to complete her obstetrics and gynaecology training in Ireland. She completed a master's degree in Evidence-Based Healthcare at the University of Oxford and a master's degree in Clinical Education at the University of Galway. Mary graduated with an MD by research in Diabetes in Pregnancy from UCD and then completed a master's in Patient Safety and Human Factors from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), followed by a Diploma in Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety from the University of Galway. Prof Higgins also completed a fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine in Toronto (Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of Toronto), Canada. On top of that, Professor Higgins is an associate editor of the Irish Journal of Medical Science, a reviewer for multiple journals, and a guest editor of a special edition on Maternal Medicine for the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Having completed her first published paper in 2003, Mary has gone on to produce and contribute to an immensely impressive body of work that can comfortably confirm her as an expert in her field. She has more than 100 publications and supervises PhD, MD, MSc and undergraduate students.

National University of Ireland’s Higher Doctorates on Published Work are the highest qualifications awarded by the university. They are awarded to scholars who have 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.

Huge congratulations to Professor Higgins 👏

100 Years of Partnership Worth Celebrating 🎊

On 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 in Dublin to mark 100 years of cooperation between the two institutions.

Held as part of France Alumni Days, the reception brought together around 65 graduates, researchers and academics who have benefited from joint NUI–France awards, including the French Government Medals, NUI Prizes for Proficiency in French, and the NUI-France Excellence Research Residency Grants.

First awarded in 1926 by the French Consul-General for Ireland, Alfred Blanche, the French Government Medals and NUI Prizes for Proficiency in French remain among NUI’s longest-running awards. Today, they are presented annually to final-year French students at Maynooth University, University College Cork, University College Dublin and University of Galway.

Guests heard from Rebecca Duffy, a 2023 award recipient and UCD graduate now working at Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels, and Dr Lorna Lopez, Professor of Human Genetics at Maynooth University and recipient of a 2025 NUI-France Excellence Research Residency Grant. Both reflected on how their experiences in France enriched their academic and professional journeys.

The event also highlighted the 2026 NUI–French Embassy Travelling Doctoral Studentship, which will support a doctoral student undertaking research in France or in French studies.

Speaking at the event, Dr O'Leary noted the importance of international collaboration, language learning and cultural exchange, and thanked the French Embassy for its continued support of the partnership.

Find out more about NUI Awards: https://www.nui.ie/what-we-do/nui-awards/

Ambassade de France en Irlande Campus France Ireland

Last week, NUI was delighted to welcome Wolfram von Heynitz, Deputy Head of Mission, and Andreas Strauchmann, from the Cultural, Press and Economic Section at the Deutsche Botschaft Dublin / German Embassy Dublin, for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between our two institutions.

This establishes a new partnership between the NUI and the German Embassy, with the creation of a new collaborative prize for undergraduate students studying German in NUI constituent universities: the German Embassy Awards and NUI Prize for Proficiency in German.

This will consist of a monetary prize from NUI and a gift from the German Embassy, which will be presented to top students in German during the NUI Awards ceremony at the end of the year.

Dr Patrick O'Leary, NUI Registrar, said about this signing:
‘We have a long tradition of supporting languages, including German, through the NUI Awards portfolio. We know that the impact of language learning is much more than academic. At a time when the world feels increasingly divided and connection can be more difficult to achieve, learning from each other and speaking to each other has never been more important. I am delighted to formalise this partnership with the German Embassy in Ireland to further support excellence in the study of German across the NUI federation. I am grateful to the Ambassador, H.E. David Gill, the Deputy Head of Mission, Wolfram von Heynitz and the team in the Embassy. We look forward to many years of partnership.’

Mr von Heynitz, German Embassy Deputy Head of Mission, said, ‘The German Embassy is delighted to partner with the National University of Ireland on this exciting initiative, strengthening ties between Germany and Ireland through education and cultural exchange. We believe that fostering a strong understanding of languages is crucial for building bridges between nations and promoting intercultural understanding. This prize recognises the dedication of students across the NUI federation, and we are proud to support their linguistic journey, hoping it inspires continued study and exploration of language proficiency in German. We are deeply grateful to Chancellor Prof. Murphy, Registrar Dr O’Leary and the NUI team for their commitment to this collaboration, and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.’

Read more here: https://www.nui.ie/what-we-do/news-events/nui-and-the-german-embassy-in-ireland-formally-launch-collaborative-prize-focus-on-european-languages-ahead-of-the-irish-presidency-of-the-european-union/

You can have a look at our other collaborative awards here: https://www.nui.ie/what-we-do/nui-awards/awards-partnerships/

Just two short weeks until our Symposium on Rare Disciplines, so mark your calendars! 📅

It will comprise a keynote lecture, delivered by Jean-Michel Verdier of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space, France (Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l’Espace) and chaired by Émilie Klander, as well as a number of participant workshops.

These workshops will focus on the criteria for a definition of ‘rare discipline’ in the Irish context and identifying the resources needed to map rare disciplines in Ireland.

✍ It's free to attend, and we hope you join us! If you are, please ensure you register here: https://forms.office.com/e/s2sQ6WEitQ

🥪 We will provide a light lunch.

ℹ️ Find more information, and the full programme, here: https://www.nui.ie/what-we-do/news-events/symposium-on-rare-disciplines-exploring-the-potential-for-an-irish-project/

Event Notice: Symposium on Rare Disciplines: Exploring the potential for an Irish project - National University of Ireland Event Details Date: Thursday, 11 June 2026 Time: 10am-4pm Location: NUI, 49 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, D02 V583 The National University of Ireland (NUI) is delighted to announce an upcoming event in the Higher Education, Today and Tomorrow series, which will take place in NUI from 10-4pm on Thursday,...

Yesterday, NUI had the joy of conferring a higher doctorate degree on published work in Literature (DLitt) to Gerard Donovan.

Born in Wexford and grew up in Galway, where he attended primary and secondary school at Coláiste Iognáid S.J. (The Jes), Dr Donovan obtained his B.A. in German and Philosophy and an M.A. in German Language and Literature from University College Galway (University of Galway). He also earned an MA at The Johns Hopkins University and an MFA from 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 Writers' Week), Doctor Salt and, most recently, Julius Winsome, which won international acclaim, appearing in fifteen languages and is under development for a feature film. He is also a poet and a classical guitarist, having won the Dublin Feis Ceoil and performed a Bach prelude at the National Concert Hall for the finals of the Young Musician of the Future.

National University of Ireland’s Higher Doctorates on Published Work are the highest qualifications awarded by the university. They are awarded to scholars who have 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. NUI was glad to honour Dr Donovan's great contribution to literature in this way.

Read more here: https://www.nui.ie/what-we-do/news-events/nui-confers-doctor-of-literature-dlitt-on-dr-gerard-donovan/

Want to know more about ‘rare disciplines’? Join our 30-minute webinar at 1pm on Wed, 27 May ahead of our symposium (11 June). Dr Katharina Bahlmann and Dr Marie-Theres Moritz from the Arbeitstelle Kleine Fächer will share information about the German project.

Register for the pre-briefing webinar here:

Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

Eagarthóirí Nua ar Éigse: A Journal of Irish Studies 📚

Tá áthas ar Sheansailéir Ollscoil na hÉireann, an tOllamh Michael Murphy, a fhógairt go bhfuil an tOllamh Regina Uí Chollatáin, an Príomhoifigeach/Déanach ar Choláiste na nEalaíon agus na nDaonnachtaí, agus an tOllamh Sinsearach le Nua-Ghaeilge, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath, agus an tOllamh Caoimhín Ó Muirigh, Roinn na Sean-Ghaeilge agus na Meán-Ghaeilge, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh, ceaptha ina gcomheagarthóirí ar Éigse: A Journal of Irish Studies.

Tuilleadh eolais: https://www.nui.ie/ga/what-we-do/news-events/eagarthoiri-nua-ar-eigse-a-journal-of-irish-studies/

The Chancellor of the National University of Ireland, Professor Michael Murphy, is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Regina Uí Chollatáin, College Principal and Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, and Chair of Modern Irish, University College Dublin, and Professor Kevin Murray, Department of Early and Medieval Irish, University College Cork, as the new co-editors of Éigse: A Journal of Irish Studies.

Read more: https://www.nui.ie/what-we-do/news-events/new-editors-of-eigse-a-journal-of-irish-studies/

NUI's second newsletter of 2026 is now live 📰

View here ➡️ https://createsend.com/t/y-88E525D39E1D0E182540EF23F30FEDED

Sign up here to receive quarterly updates on all things NUI: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/y/539B3FC275C0D8BD

NUI Newsletter Issue 9: April 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.