Dr Mary Fenton, PFHEA, PhD, MBS, MA, BSc (Hons) Mgmt

I am a high-impact, dynamic academic leader committed to influencing impactful change within Irish Higher Education (HE).   In recognition of my achievements in championing adult learners in HE, providing continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities for educators, developing strategic partnerships with key education stakeholders and promoting entrepreneurship in HE. student learning, I was awarded a Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) Advance Higher Education, UK. 

As Head of Department of Education, I lead my team in the development and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for education professionals working across the spectrum of education.  My Department offers innovative CPD and postgraduate research opportunities for educators to enhance their learning, research and career opportunities.  

From 2013-2017, I took a career break to work with 3U Partnership, a strategic partnership between DCU, Maynooth University and RCSI, to develop an educational start up 3U Pathway Programmes to prepare international students for study at the partner universities.  3U Pathway Programmes were acquired by EduCo International Group in 2017.  

Previously, I worked as External Services Manager at MTU (IT, Tralee 1998-2004) and in the community development/social enterprise sector in the South East.  This work sparked my passion for entrepreneurship and my research interests in enterprise development, entrepreneurship in HE and social enterprise.