Personal profile
Biography
Roisín is Professor of Curriculum Design and Pedagogy and Head of the Centre for Curriculum Enhancement and Approval within the Learning Enhancement Directorate at Ulster University. Roisín started her teaching career in Further Education in 1997 having previously worked in the financial services industry in London for nine years.
Since 2004 she has worked as a staff and educational developer at Ulster University, was Interim Head of CHERP (2020-23), and in June 2023 took up her current position as Head of the Centre for Curriculum Enhancement and Approval. Roisín led a cross-disciplinary project team at Ulster as part of a national 'What works? Student Retention and Success Change Programme (2013-16)' involving 13 institutions across the UK.
This collaborative action research has further extended our knowledge of what works in relation to improving student retention and success. She has a particular interest in student engagement and has published papers on the impact of a 'students as partners' approach on staff-student engagement.
In 2018, Roisín co-developed Ulster’s Integrated Curriculum Design Framework (ICDF) that scaffolds the student journey and encompasses the three dimensions of curriculum design of Knowing, Doing and Being (Barnett and Coate, 2005). Roisin is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, A Framework for Student Staff Partnership in Higher Education, University of Westminster
20 Sept 2012 → 15 Dec 2016
Award Date: 20 Mar 2017
External positions
External Examiner, Technological University Dublin
1 Sept 2021 → 1 Sept 2025
Vice-Chair SEDA Professional Development Framework Committee, Staff and Educational Dev Assoc (SEDA)
1 Feb 2021 → 1 Jun 2024
External Examiner, Robert Gordon University
1 Oct 2019 → 30 Sept 2024
Co-Chair SEDA Professional Development Framework Committee, Staff and Educational Dev Assoc (SEDA)
1 Feb 2018 → 1 Feb 2021
External Examiner, Birmingham City University
1 Jan 2016 → 30 Jun 2019
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 4 Quality Education
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SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Entangled in context: addressing academic development and choice architecture
Roxå, T., Novák, J., Hlavatá, L., Pleschová, G., Curran, R. & Davies, V., 14 May 2025, (Published online) In: International Journal for Academic Development. p. 1-15 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Keynote - What works?: building capacity for staff and students to co-design the curriculum: ‘Students as Co-creators’, 2nd Annual Symposium, January 31st 2024
Curran, R., 31 Jan 2024.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
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Moving ahead with competence-based education: - examples of institutional practice published
Murphy, C., McKenna, H. & Curran, R., 24 Oct 2023Research output: Other contribution › peer-review
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Keynote - Wider Conceptions of Student Engagement: the power and potential of staff student partnerships to influence and promote engagement
Curran, R., 10 May 2022, (Published online)Research output: Non-textual form › Symposium
Open Access -
Student Engagement - From Teacher-centred to Student-centred Practice
Curran, R., 1 Jun 2022, Rozvoj pedagogických kompetencií vysokoškolských učiteľov. Novák, J. (ed.). Bratislava, p. 23-33 11 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Prizes
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Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence 2017 Finalist
Curran, R. (Recipient), Black, M. (Recipient), Bruce, H. (Recipient), Dooher, G. (Recipient), Gault, A. (Recipient), Honan, A. (Recipient), Keenan, M. (Recipient), Montgomery, I. (Recipient), McCann, C. (Recipient), McKillop, A. (Recipient), Quigley, T. (Recipient) & Zacharopoulou, A. (Recipient), 31 Aug 2017
Prize
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Distinguished Learning Support Fellowship (Team Award)
Floyd, S. (Recipient), Curran, R. (Recipient), Mc Givern, D. (Recipient), Turner, C. (Recipient), Kelly, G. (Recipient), Millar, R. (Recipient) & Nicholl, P. (Recipient), 2006
Prize
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Keynote - Wider Conceptions of Student Engagement: the power and potential of staff student partnerships to influence and promote engagement
Curran, R. (Speaker)
10 May 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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The Integrated Curriculum Design Framework (ICDF): What is it and what is the role of students?
Curran, R. (Speaker)
19 Feb 2020Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Sharing reflections from “What Works Student Retention & Success” project - lessons learnt at Ulster
Curran, R. (Speaker)
25 Jan 2019Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Student Retention & Success: Sharing reflections from What Works?
Curran, R. (Speaker)
10 Apr 2019Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Student-faculty partnerships
Curran, R. (Speaker)
17 Apr 2018Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk