Dr Maura Clancy from Esker, Castleblakeney, has been appointed as Limerick Institute of Technology’s new Dean in the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology.
An advocate of lifelong learning, Dr Clancy is a business owner with qualifications from GMIT and NUI Galway.
In 2000, she returned to full-time education, studying mathematics and English at NUI Galway before completing a PhD in Mathematics in 2009.
Dr Clancy was awarded an Irish Research Council scholarship to carry out research in Mathematics and has worked in the area of engineering mathematics and statistics for the past 12 years.
Speaking about her role as Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology and Director of Progression Pathways, Dr Clancy said that science and technology are the requisites for a successful economy, particularly a knowledge-based economy.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to help shape developments over the next number of years,” she said.
“Fostering an interest in these subjects is incumbent on us all; addressing future skills needs is intrinsic to growing the number of learners attracted to science and technology.
“For example, the average annual number of ICT vacancies is 8,000 with an average of 3,000 graduates. Average performance in these areas is simply not enough if we are to achieve our national enterprise strategy.”
Dr Clancy added that we must continue to tackle the issue of gender imbalance, ensuring equality, diversity, and access for all.
“Our programmes must be responsive, agile, and innovative. There is an excellent team here at LIT and I look forward to working with them to fulfil the needs of all our stakeholders,” she said.
Dr Clancy served as Director of the Maths Support Centre at NUI Galway from 2009 to 2011, and developed maths and statistics support modules for the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Applied Mathematics.
She also served as a mathematics consultant for a project with Anne Shannon & Associates LLC, Oakland, California, in conjunction with the University of Nottingham and UC Berkeley, which aimed to improve the standard of mathematics and statistics teaching in American Schools.
Dr Clancy began teaching mathematics and statistics in the Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, LIT, in 2012 and was appointed Head of Department in 2019, before being named Dean for the Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology and Director of Progression Pathways in 2021.
“LIT has always fostered relationships with the Further Education and Training sector, as Director of Progression Pathways my job is to deepen collaboration and ensure a closer working relationship for the benefit of the learner,” she added.
“There is a need to expand access provision and clarify progression routes to enable learners to transition from Levels 4 and 5 to Levels 6, 7, 8 and beyond. This is a role very close to my heart, the opportunities are immense and rewarding.”
