Faculty Research Interest

Michael is the Dean of the Faculty of Continuing, Professional, Online, and Distance Learning at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), where he oversees the design and delivery of academic programmes, research initiatives, and the development of online and virtual learning methodologies. He has held several leadership roles in higher education, including Head of the Department of Lifelong Learning and Head of the School of Business and Humanities. Beyond academia, he has served as Global Training Manager for a financial software start-up and Consultancy Services Manager for a banking software company. He has also been a visiting lecturer at Manchester Business School, a Senior Lecturer at Dublin Business School in Ireland and Malaysia, and an Assistant Lecturer/Researcher at NUI Galway. With extensive international experience, he has worked in the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore, Colombia, Mexico, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, China, and the United States. He holds an MA in Economics from NUI Galway and an EdD in Education from the University of Sheffield, where his doctoral research focused on foresight and strategy in the Irish higher education system. His doctoral work, Future Scenarios for Institutes of Technology in the Irish Higher Education System: A Strategic Foresight Study, examined the future landscape of Irish higher education. His research interests include economic efficiency in higher education, strategic management, professional development, leadership, system structures, lifelong learning, and adult learner engagement. His expertise spans academic strategy and policy, teaching and learning development, online programme design and assessment, programme development and accreditation, academic and service quality enhancement, external quality assessment, higher education management at the executive level, and lifelong learning, access, and engagement.

Declan is the Head of Department at the Faculty of Continuing, Professional, Online and Distance Learning at the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest. Declan graduated from Athlone Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Business Degree and from the University of Limerick with an MSc in Human Resource Management. Declan is currently a PhD candidate in Lancaster University on the HEREE PhD programme, the PhD in Higher Education: Research, Evaluation and Enhancement. As part of the team in the Faculty of Continuing, Professional, Online and Distance Learning at TUS Midlands Campus, continuing to work closely with industry to ensure that we deliver relevant learning opportunities meeting both learner and industry skill demands is our passion. Declan has published in the areas of industry academia collaboration, evaluations on Communities of Practice and the implementation of multi modality in supporting teaching and learning environments. Declan has been involved in the establishment of TUS Learning Gates nationwide where adult learners can build connectivity with TUS regionally as they pursue their academic journey.

Kevin is a Lecturer in Quality Management and Validation with the Department of Lifelong Learning at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). With over 25 years of industrial engineering experience across various regulated industries, he has been teaching at TUS since September 2013 and also serves as an Associate Lecturer in Quality Management at the TUS Midlands Campus.Kevin holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Trinity College Dublin (1992), an MSc from the University of Limerick, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Learning, Teaching, and Assessment from TUS (2021). He is currently in his second year of the Doctorate in Higher and Adult Education at Maynooth University, where his research explores student learning in Data Analytics through the framework of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). His academic interests include Universal Design for Learning, Online Teaching, and Data Analytics for Quality and Process Improvement. Kevin’s teaching philosophy is rooted in active learning, fostering a democratic and inclusive learning environment where students are valued, respected, and encouraged to contribute to the collective knowledge within the classroom. He sees his role as a facilitator, supporting students in developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Committed to inclusivity, he employs a variety of teaching and assessment strategies underpinned by Universal Design for Learning to accommodate diverse learning styles, backgrounds, and experiences. In addition to his academic career, Kevin specialises in Quality Management and Validation, Project Management, Lean Management, and Six Sigma techniques. His contributions extend beyond the classroom, having been awarded a Long Service Medal for his volunteer work in underwater search and recovery by Minister Dermot Ahern in 2010.

Jim is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Lifelong Learning, Faculty of Continuing Professional, Online, and Distance Learning at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). With extensive experience teaching both face-to-face and online, he delivers modules in business, management, and research methods, including the MBA programme. He is also a Master’s research supervisor, coordinating the Dissertation module across all programmes, and plays a key role in new programme development within the department. Jim holds a BA in Culinary Arts, a Higher Diploma in Horticulture, an MSc in Product Development and Innovation, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Pedagogic and Academic Practice. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Portsmouth, focusing on psychosocial, institutional, and engagement factors in higher education, with a particular interest in key transition points, virtual communities, and retention strategies. He has published and presented research both nationally and internationally, contributing to N-TUTORR’s GenAI eBook, the Compendium of Embedding Education for Sustainable Development in Teaching and Assessment, and the development of a European Degree in Business for Professional English in collaboration with the University of Burgos, Spain. He is also actively involved in creating a digital badge for online teaching essentials. His teaching philosophy is rooted in relational constructivism, emphasising active, personalised learning. A strong advocate for digital literacy, he supports colleagues in enhancing their online teaching and assessment methodologies. He has played a pivotal role in developing and delivering courses through the TUS Learning Gates initiative, enabling adult learners to achieve their academic aspirations within their communities. Beyond his academic commitments, Jim delivers professional development training for industry partners and represents the faculty on multiple TUS sub-committees, including the TUS Research Ethics Committee. He is also a member of the European Network for Academic Integrity.

Shona is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Lifelong Learning at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). She has been teaching at TUS for three years, bringing a wealth of experience from her previous career in financial services, where she worked for over six years in client-facing roles, including as an Investment Associate at Davy Wealth Management. Shona holds a Bachelor of Science, a Higher Diploma in Business, and an MSc from NUI Galway and AIT. She has a strong academic and research focus on sustainable business, social enterprise, and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems, with a particular interest in strategic management, strategic marketing management, business ethics, and sustainable corporate citizenship. She has also undertaken studies at Imperial College London in Sustainable Entrepreneurial Ecosystems. Her professional and academic expertise allows her to contribute to lifelong learning and professional development in the areas of strategic management, business ethics, and sustainability. She is also a member of the Institute of Bankers, reflecting her continued connection to the financial sector.

Paul’s research explores the intersection of regional development, financial systems, and housing in Ireland. His key interests include Balanced Regional Development, with a focus on equitable economic growth across Ireland’s urban and rural areas. He also investigates access to financing for the SME sector, examining structural barriers and policy solutions to stimulate entrepreneurship and regional employment. Additionally, Paul studies housing construction financing, particularly the impact of investment models and financial regulation on supply. His work aims to inform policy and practice that fosters sustainable, inclusive economic development nationwide.