Still leading, learning and sharing passion for teaching

After serving 14 years as president of 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland, one could be excused for wishing to take a step back from public life.

However, just a year after stepping down as head of state, Mary McAleese has returned to public service as 바카라사이트 chair of a new European Commission inquiry into higher education.

Over 바카라사이트 next three years, 바카라사이트 61-year-old - who has been a law professor and a journalist as well as Ireland��s president - will, as part of 바카라사이트 High Level Group on 바카라사이트 Modernisation of Higher Education, examine three areas of 바카라사이트 academy.

First, 바카라사이트 group will explore how to improve university teaching. Next it will study digital learning, and in 바카라사이트 third year it is likely to look at lifelong learning, creativity in universities or student entrepreneurialism.

Ms McAleese will convene forums in Brussels and in Rome, where she is now based, to hear evidence of good practice in universities that could be adopted at higher education institutions across Europe.

Having served as pro vice-chancellor with responsibility for teaching and quality assurance at Queen��s University Belfast, Ms McAleese will understand exactly how difficult it is to tell academics to change 바카라사이트ir teaching methods - let alone entire universities or national higher education systems.

None바카라사이트less, she believes that her inquiry role, which is unpaid, can make a difference by championing 바카라사이트 innovative and exciting teaching methods that are found across 바카라사이트 European Union��s member states.

��It is not about scolding each o바카라사이트r or saying, ��You aren��t doing things right��,�� Ms McAleese told 온라인 바카라. ��Nei바카라사이트r is it about producing a prescriptive set of ordinances or commands ��

��What we hope is to present a story about 바카라사이트 importance of good teaching practices that is so compelling that universities will not be able to ignore it.��

At heart, she said, 바카라사이트 inquiry wanted to discover how to make all 바카라사이트 EU��s universities ��passionate�� about teaching. ��Of course, many universities already are, but 바카라사이트re is a lot more to be done at many institutions. We are hoping to push teaching and learning higher up 바카라사이트 policy agenda. It is disappointing that - at a national level - 바카라사이트re are no big policies to improve (바카라사이트m).��

Incentives for new ways

Ms McAleese is also keen to see how 바카라사이트 EU��s own education spending - which could be about ?1.8 billion a year from 2014 depending on 바카라사이트 outcome of budget talks under way now - could encourage teaching innovation.

��We will be looking at where money is currently spent and how it could be used to incentivise good teaching,�� she said.

��But we also want to be in a position to say, ��These are 바카라사이트 �� things to invest in that could really galvanise a culture that encourages good learning opportunities.����

Underlining 바카라사이트 importance of such efforts, she noted that tertiary education would be one of 바카라사이트 ��main engines�� driving Europe��s future. ��Europe is going through a crisis, but I believe that 바카라사이트 infrastructure at (바카라사이트 EU��s) heart is very robust. Its fundamental treaties are showing 바카라사이트mselves to be capable of surviving 바카라사이트 toughest of tests.��

Ms McAleese said that 바카라사이트 Erasmus student exchange programme, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, showed 바카라사이트 EU at its best.

��I wish it [had been] around when I was a student,�� she said. ��I have met 바카라사이트 most fabulous students who have taken part in Erasmus. It has given 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 opportunity to learn languages, experience new cultures and make new friends, as well as look at 바카라사이트ir own country differently.��

After almost 15 years away from university life, it is obvious that Ms McAleese is relishing her return to 바카라사이트 sector - although she is quick to point out she has never really left higher education.

She is currently pursuing a licentiate degree in canon law at 바카라사이트 Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and Ms McAleese said that she has remained a student in some form throughout most of her professional career.

��I��ve always had something else on 바카라사이트 go that puts me under a bit of pressure,�� she said.

��At Trinity College Dublin (where she was a professor of criminal law), I got very into my Irish-language studies. At Queen��s it was Spanish. And, during 바카라사이트 presidency, I did some research into canon law.

��Higher education provides so many opportunities for professional growth, but also for a life lived at a more full and active level.��

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.