Dr. Zeta Dooly is a Lecturer, Researcher and Supervisor in the Faculty of Education and Lifelong learning at South East Technological University SETU. Zeta holds a doctorate in Structural Embeddedness of Research Networks and Collaborations, and has lectured, researched and led research projects on Digital transformation, Education, Cybersecurity,  Privacy, Digital Literacy and the Recognition of Prior Learning.

Prior to joining academia Zeta had an international career in Senior Software Engineer roles and as QA Software Manager with Sun Life Financial, NuaPublish, WestPac and Ericsson travelling to Mexico, Canada, US, Australia and Europe where she has grown her professional network.

Zeta is passionate about research, specifically the links between people, technology and education.  Zeta led the SETU CITO Erasmus + Basic Skills Checker, HEA funded Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and contributes to the Hecat project (H2020) Disruptive Technologies Supporting Labour Market Decision Making project.

Additionally, Zeta has recently been awarded funding to build the First Education Lab at SETU for mixed reality (XR) for Adult learners (neurodiverse and neurotypical). Zeta is currently supervising 5 PhD candidates investigating public employment systems, immersive learning environments, women in education and leadership, Digital Education in A&E settings for Autistic citizens and Digital Education and Gardeners stories on soil quaity at Mount Congreve. Zeta has successfully supervised many Masters in Education students. Founder of the Digital Education Conference DEC23, DEC24, DEC25 and associated Doctoral Colloquia and Industry fora.

Zeta is a reviewer for Journal of Irish Educational Studies, IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy, Journal of Information Technology and the OER (Open Educational Resources) Conference and was co-chair of Education, teaching and learning stream (with MTU) at Irish Academy of Management (IAM) Conference.

Zeta has served on many conference committees including, Programme Committee member for HELLIN, Ireland, CSP Forum, Brussels, Belgium, Future Internet Symposium, Vienna, Austria, Future Internet Assembly, Madrid, Spain, European Conference of Knowledge Management, Southampton, UK, Workshop on Service Web Engineering (SWEng) and ServiceWave (virtual).

Zeta is Programme Lead for the PG Certificate in Technology Enhanced Learning (Minor Award 30 credit Level 9), Zeta lectures on the Master’s in Education (Level 9), Digital Education, Digital Creativity in the Classroom and Level 10 Research Planning and Project Management modules. Previously Zeta has lectured on Digital Marketing and Cloud Computing in SETU.

Zeta is also an invited lecturer in UCC in 2021 and 2022 for L7 Recognition of Prior Learning Module and an external validator for programmes in MTU and TUS.

Zeta is a prior member (3.5 year appointment) to SETU’s Academic Council and the SETU Academic Development, Learning and Teaching Committee and has contributed significantly to COVID Emergency Remote Teaching Guidelines, Online learning and Assessment Guidelines and SETU Micro credential Policy and currently appointed to the SETU Governing Body 2025-2028, member of the Quality Committee. Zeta also sits on the Faculty of Education & Lifelong Learning PG Research Board.

Zeta is appointed by Government of Ireland, Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.to the Sustainable Development Goals National Stakeholder Forum Committee for 2024.

Zeta is appointed to the Health Service Executive (HSE) Research Ethics Committee (REC) for Corporate and Midlands Ireland (2022-).

Zeta is invited as Expert evaluator, Observer and Rapporteur with the European Commission in Horizon Europe, H2020 and FP7 programs in ICT, Research and Education.

Appointed by National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) to the Technical Advisory Committee 2024.

Zeta has led Contract research with HSE, Connectors Marketplace and Avarieto.

Zeta was an invited speaker with Dept. of Taoiseach and Enterprise Ireland at the Data Summit, 2017, Irish Cyber Security Summit, Trinity, Dublin, 2016 and Government of Ireland, National Campaign ‘Creating our Future; A National Conversation on Research in Ireland’ Roadshow, 2022.

Zeta is a member of the Government of Ireland, Department of Education Working Group (Education Research and Futures) member with Department of Education in collaboration with the Irish Universities Association (IUA) 2025, Evidence for Policy Unit, HEI Research Advocates and Civil Service Research Network (CSRN) 2024-

Zeta is a member of the National Immersive Education Working Group, established by Eirmersive, initially with the support of Meta, it has the primary aim of advancing the integration and adoption of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies in primary, secondary, and tertiary education. I presented a Recommendations Report to Minister Dara Calleary in 2024.

As a Board member of the Autism Friendly Waterford 3 year Initiative 2023-2026 we achieved accreditation for Waterford as Ireland's 1st Autism Friendly City 2025.