UCC SONM 25 Year Book

UCC / School of Nursing and Midwifery

JOSEPHINE HEGARTY (2018-2021)

The year since I took over as Head of School has seen many developments.

School of Nursing andMidwifery staff continue to help students gain a career-relevant education, which unlocks new opportunities for students and ultimately helps to serve the healthcare needs of the wider community. Although new graduates are always the most important and exciting development for any university, there have been many other noteworthy changes. From teaching & learning, to research, to clinical partnerships, to staff recruitment, to wider societal contributions - the sense of momentum at the School is undeniable. The School has continued to explore opportunities to enhance and support the students experience, diversify the range of research projects, international collaborations and partnerships. Particular focus for me, as Head of School, are developing the international and public profile of the school, creating research centres to formalise and publicise the ongoing research in the school, ensure that programmes respond to emergent health and social care needs, supporting staff and students to achieve their maximum potential whilst supporting their wellbeing. The school is in the process of submitting an Athena Swan bronze application. I am delighted to report that the school has maintained its top 100 global QS subject ranking for nursing for four consecutive years. The ranking is calculated based upon: academic reputation, employer reputation, h-index citations and citations per paper. Looking forward, the School of Nursing and Midwifery continues to evolve with the changing face of health care, and from this, creates opportunities for student and faculty growth and achievement. We are also confident that those who read this book will have a clear picture of a School of Nursing and Midwifery whose staff are dedicated to continuous improvement and are constantly striving toward being recognised as the best provider of quality higher education for nurses and midwives in this region and beyond.

To paraphrase Mr. Bob Marley “in this bright future, we can’t forget the past”.

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