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Biography

I am Head of Department of Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism where I manage education, research and engagement activities for this busy, creative and dynamic department. I also lecture in French language and society and supervise doctoral research in the area of internationalisation in Higher Education funded by scholarships from Research Ireland.

I have worked at SETU since 1989 in a variety of academic and management positions in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and also in the Office for International Relations. I have most recently held the position of Senior Lecturer in French in the Department of Arts.

I graduated from University College, Cork with a BA in French and Spanish with Portuguese, and subsequently with an MA in French. I pursued further postgraduate studies in France, graduating with a Diplôme d’études supérieures spécialisées (DESS) in International Business from the University of Perpignan. I undertook my doctoral research at the University of Bath, analysing and theorising on the values underpinning internationalisation in higher education.

Through my involvement in both academic and administrative management roles, I have extensive experience of collaborative research and project management with university partners in Europe, North Africa, and North and South America. I have also managed a variety of Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus+ and Tempus EU projects, and have established multiple university partnerships for SETU globally. 

In my role as Senior Lecturer, I have worked as an external examiner and have served on programme review and programme validation boards at several higher education institutions throughout Ireland. I have also acted as a reviewer for the Government of Ireland International scholarship programme, European project evaluator for the Higher Education Authority, reviewer for the Economic and Social Research Institute and currently act as an expert assessor for the EU COST Association.

My ongoing research focuses primarily on the theme of internationalisation in Irish higher education. I have a particular interest in the challenges and opportunities related to international student mobility, internationalisation of the curriculum, and 'internationalisation at home'. I am currently working on a collaborative project with the University of La Rochelle, France, to develop a micro-credential for student and staff training in the area of 'internationalisation at home', jointly funded by a Ulysses grant from Research Ireland and the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

I have previously worked in the following teaching and academic coordinator roles:

  • Lecturer in French and Spanish
  • International work placement coordinator
  • International academic placement coordinator
  • Erasmus coordinator
  • Former Programme Leader on the following programmes: BA (Hons) Languages and Marketing, BA (Hons) Applied Languages, National Diploma in Business Studies (Languages and Marketing), BA (Hons) Hospitality Management. 

Management of funded projects related to the enhancement of teaching and learning:

I have previously taught on the following programmes:

  • BA (Hons) Arts
  • BA (Hons) Psychology
  • BA (Hons) Languages and Marketing
  • BA (Hons) Applied Languages
  • BA (Hons) Hospitality Management
  • Higher Diploma in International Hotel Management
  • BA (Hons) Culinary Arts
  • BA (Hons) Tourism Marketing
  • Bachelor of Business Studies (Hons)
  • BA (Hons) International Business
  • BA (Hons) Design Communications
  • BA (Hons) Visual Art
  • BEng (Hons) Construction Management
  • MSc European Construction Management

Current doctoral supervision

2024-2026: Research Ireland, PhD Scholarship

2022 – 2026: SETU PhD President’s Scholarship 

Project title: ‘Reimagining internationalisation: connecting international and inclusive education in the changing context of Higher Education in Ireland’.

Student: Denise McAllister-Wylie

Co-supervisors: Dr Suzanne Denieffe, Head of Faculty of Arts and Humanities, SETU and Dr Helen Murphy, Head of Faculty of Lifelong Learning and Education, SETU.

2024-2028: SETU PhD President’s Scholarship

Project title: 'An evaluation of the role of Internationalisation in Higher Education and its contribution to Global Social Responsibility'.

Student: Christian Gordillo

Project PI, Dr Veronica Kelly, co-supervisors Dr Sharon Byrne Harris and Dr Don O'Neill. 

2022-2025: Research Ireland, PhD Scholarship  

2021-2022: SETU PhD President's Scholarship

Project title: ‘Embedding a culture of internationalisation into the curriculum through “internationalisation at home”. Preparing for the changing context of Higher Education in Ireland'.

Student: Nidhi Piplani-Kapur

Co-supervisors: Dr Suzanne Denieffe, Head of Faculty of Arts and Humanities, SETU and Dr Helen Murphy, Head of Faculty of Lifelong Learning and Education, SETU.

Recent externally funded research projects

2023: Research Ireland/French Ministry for Foreign Affairs and French Embassy in Ireland Ulysses award

Project: ‘Internationalisation at home’: to what extent can collaborative design work between teachers and researchers from two European universities support the development of intercultural competence in students not going abroad? in association with La Rochelle Université, France 

2019-2021: Higher Education Authority and the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement Funding in Higher Education

Project: 'Language Learning: Understanding Student and Employer Needs’ in collaboration with WIT Languages’ colleagues, Dr Carmel Coyne, Erin McNamara Cullen and Noeleen Dooley.

Book Chapter

Lucey, S., O'Neill, D., O’Sullivan, G., Ryan, M., (2021) ‘Ciência Sem Fronteiras: a experiencia irlandesa’, Chapter 18, pp. 291-310, Programa Ciência Sem Fronteiras: idealização, desenvolvimento e resultados, Cultura Academica, São Paulo, Brazil.

Thesis

‘Cooperation or competition: an exploration of values relating to internationalisation in higher education in Ireland’, O'Neill, D., University of Bath, (2019).

Published conference proceedings

Thomas, K., O’Neill, D., Cardoso, F., Toledo, E., (2015), ‘Engineering Accreditation and Professional Competence in Ireland and Brazil: Similarities, Differences and Convergence in a Global Context’, World Engineering Education Forum, Sept 2015, Florence

Furlong, A., Molloy, R., Cisneros, A., Fraioli, P., Cummins, U., O'Neill, D. (2008):  'Challenging assumptions in language learning and teaching:  a CLIL experience at WIT’. NAIRTL 2nd annual conference, WIT

O'Neill, D. (2005) ‘The integration of planning and presentation skills into a French language module, with a focus on reflection and self-assessment’, Case studies from Transferable skills in third level modern languages curricula project, TCD, DCU and WIT, NAIRTL

O'Neill, D. (1997) 'La problématique du français langue de spécialité', L'avenir des études françaises dans l'enseignement supérieur en Irlande, Actes du Colloque, University of Limerick.

Peer-reviewed presentations at international conferences

O'Neill, D,. (2024), Developing students intercultural competence through 'internationalisation at home' a Franco-Irish collaborative research study, l'Association des études françaises et francophones d'Irlande (ADEFFI), Spring forum, Dublin, 8th March, 2024.

O’Neill, D., Berthaud, S., Brogan, K., et al., (2023), ‘Assessing Language Needs at the Technological Universities: Surveying Students and Regional Employers’, Languages Connect Summit, 14 October 2023, Convention Centre Dublin.

O’Neill, D., Coyne, C., Dooley, N., McNamara Cullen, E., Owens, N., (2022), 'Building bridges between the classroom and employers: Understanding student and employer needs in language learning', Irish Association for Applied Linguistics (IRAAL) Conference, 30 September 2022, Munster Technological University, Cork

O’Neill, D., Bulnes, C., Piplani-Kapur, N., (2022), ‘Exclusive to inclusive: Internationalisation at Home in full bloom?’, European Association of International Education, annual conference, Barcelona, 13-16 September 2022

O’Neill, D., (2019), ‘Charting a sustainable future for internationalisation through partnership – an Irish higher education perspective’, Conference of the Americas on International Education, October 23rd – 25th, 2019, Bogotá, Colombia

O’Neill, D., (2019) ‘Shaping a sustainable future for internationalisation in higher education through knowledge diplomacy’, SSFIHE Conference, University of Toronto, June 2019

O’Neill, D., Freire Junior, J., Grochocki, L., Marchi, P., (2014), ‘Science without Borders – a global perspective’, European Association of International Education (EAIE), Annual conference, Sept 2014, Prague

O’Neill, D., (2014) ‘Study abroad – An Irish perspective on the ‘Science without Borders’ Programme’, FAUBAI International Education Conference, April 13-15, 2014, Joinville, Brazil

O’Neill, D., (2013) invited by HEA to present at annual conference on International Education, ‘Improving participation of Irish students in Erasmus: Barriers and benefits, potential and policy’, December 10th 2013, Dublin Castle

O’Neill, D., Johnson, J., Lee, T., Price, C., Rock,T., (2013) ‘Using social media in disrupted markets’, National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP), annual conference, 24th -27th April 2013, Orlando, USA [by proxy]

O'Neill, D., Murray, J., Ryan, M., Sheridan, I. (2012) 'Ireland’s answer to rethinking education and reshaping the economy', European Association for International Education annual conference, 11th - 14th September 2012, Dublin 

O'Neill, D. (2012) 'Getting beyond the Great Firewall: implementing a social media strategy for the promotion of international education in China', European Association for International Education annual conference, 11th - 14th September 2012, Dublin

O'Neill, D. (2012) 'The student voice in social media strategy. Perspectives from Irish Higher Education', European Universities of Life Sciences annual conference, 20th – 22nd June 2012, University of Bolzano, Italy – Invited guest speaker

O'Neill, D., (2012) ‘Implementing social media in a marketing strategy. A study of International offices in Irish Higher Education', Enterprise Ireland Social Media seminar, 16th January 2012, Dublin - Invited guest speaker

O’Neill, D., Johnson, J., Lee, T., Price, C. (2011) ‘Social media 3.0: implementing social media in your marketing strategy and making it work’, European Association for International Education, (EAIE), Annual conference, 15th – 18th September 2011, Copenhagen

O’Neill, D. Choudaha, R., Johnson, J., Lee, T., Price, C. (2010) ‘Social Media Marketing in China and India’, National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP), annual conference, 6th -9th April 2011, Washington DC, USA

O’Neill, D. Choudaha, R., Johnson, J., Lee, T., Price, C. (2010) ‘Social Media Marketing in China and India’, European Association for International Education, (EAIE), Annual conference, 15th – 18th September 2010, Nantes

O’Neill, D., Johnson, J., Lee, T., Price, C. (2010) ‘Social Media and student recruitment – A European perspective’, National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP), annual conference, 21st -24th April 2010, San Francisco, USA [by proxy]

O’Neill, D. (2009) ‘Targeting “Generation Y”. Does social media really work? A case study from an Irish Institute of Technology’. European Association for International Education, (EAIE), Annual conference, 16th – 19th September 2009, Madrid

Contributions at conferences in SETU

Furlong, A., Molloy, R., Cisneros, A., Fraioli, P., Cummins, U., O’Neill, D. (2008): Evaluating CLIL lesson plans and resources. WIT seminar for primary and secondary school teachers in the South East of Ireland

Furlong, A., Molloy, R., Cisneros, A., Fraioli, P., Cummins, U., O’Neill, D. (2007): A CLIL overview. Examples of CLIL best practice. WIT seminar for primary and secondary school teachers in the South East of Ireland.

Conferences organised at SETU

Internationalisation in Higher Education in Ireland; Conversations on the power of inclusion, SETU Waterford, 3rd March 2023

Association of Lecturers of French at the Institutes of Technology, Annual Conference, April,1999.  

Recent External Examiner Roles

  • Technological University Dublin - French language and culture (2024-2028)
  • Atlantic Technological University - French language and culture (2023-2026)
  • Dundalk Institute of Technology - French language and culture (2021-2025)
  • Technological University of the Shannon, Masters by research thesis, June 2024

  • Griffith College (2018-2020)

    Doctoral external examiner

  • Boston College, USA, Doctoral thesis in Internationalisation in Higher Education, March 2024
  • Technology University, Dublin, PhD thesis in Internationalisation in Higher Education, December 2019

Board and Committee Membership

External boards

  • National Centre for Franco-Irish Studies, TU Dublin (2023-date)
  • Higher Education Authority committee - Science without Borders (2013-2016)
  • President of French Lecturers Association at the Institutes of Technology (1999-2000)

SETU Boards

  • Faculty of Arts and Humanities Internationalisation and Engagement Committee (2023-date)
  • Bord na Gaeilge (2022-date)
  • SETU Internationalisation strategy development working group (2021-date)
  • Faculty of Arts and Humanities Ethics Committee (2020-date)
  • Faculty of Arts and Academic Quality Committee (2018-date)
  • Faculty of Arts and Humanities Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee (2018-date) Current chair
  • Faculty of Arts and Humanities Research Committee (2018-date)
  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Committee (2018-2019)
  • Elected member of WIT 6th Academic Council - School of Humanities 
  • Elected member of WIT 5th Academic Council - School of Humanities

International Awards

Member of WIT team awarded European Commission ‘European Language Label Award 2005’ for project on ‘Transferable Skills in Third-Level Modern Languages Curricula’.  Project in collaboration with WIT Languages' colleagues, Dr Carmel Coyne, and Rosanna Molloy, and Head of Careers, Angela Collins, and colleagues from Trinity College Dublin, and Dublin City University.

Selected Press Releases

  • Representing SETU on Presidential, Ministerial, Enterprise Ireland and THEA led higher education missions worldwide
  • Promotion of SETU as a destination for undergraduate and postgraduate study at international education fairs in Europe, North, Central and South America and Asia
  • Coordination of visits to SETU by the Ambassadors of Argentina, Brazil, France, Mexico and Spain
  • Management of EU Erasmus Mundus and Tempus projects in association with EU and North African university partners  
  • Development of SETU's Study Abroad programme for Schools of Business, Engineering, Health Science, Humanities and Science (2016)
  • Management of 'Science without Borders', Brazilian government exchange and research programme (2012-2016). Formulation of partnership agreements with leading Brazilian universities, undergraduate and post-graduate student recruitment, liaison with HEA and THEA on project development
  • Development of a portfolio of international employers for student placement 
  • Development and maintenance of partnerships with the following international universities: 

Argentina

  • Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires

Belgium

  • Vives University of Applied Sciences, Bruges

Brazil

  • INATEL – Instituto Nacional de Telecomunicações, Santa Rita do Sapucaí
  • Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia, São Paulo
  • SENAC, São Paulo
  • UNESP, São Paulo
  • UNICAMP, Campinas
  • Unichristus, Fortaleza
  • Universidade de Brasília (UnB)
  • Universidade Federal de Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
  • Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo

Canada

  • George Brown College, Toronto
  • Humber College, Toronto

Croatia

  • Rochester Institute of Technology, Dubrovnik Campus

France

  • Institut d'Administration des Entreprises, Montpellier
  • Institut d'Administration des Entreprises, Perpignan
  • Institut Paul Bocuse, Lyon
  • La Rochelle Université
  • Université d’Aix en Provence
  • Université de Lille 3
  • Université de Montpellier 2
  • Université de Montpellier 3
  • Université de Perpignan

Mexico

  • ITESO, Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara
  • Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey

Netherlands

  • Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Venlo
  • Utrecht University of Applied Sciences

Northern Ireland

  • Ulster University, Coleraine

Spain

  • University of Barcelona (School of Tourism, Hospitality and Gastronomy)

Tunisia

  • Université de Sousse

USA

  • University of Wisconsin - Stout
  • Johnson and Wales University, Miami

 

International Project Management:

  • European Commission,Tempus, COMPERE, capacity building project coordinator in association with the Université de Montpellier, France (2013-2017)
  • Erasmus Mundus, Averroès 4, student and staff mobility project coordinator in association with the Université de Montpellier, France (2012-2016)
  • Ciência sem Fronteiras (Science without Borders) Brazilian government research and mobility programme coordinator in association with the HEA and THEA (2012-2016)
  • Government of Ireland International Student Scholarship Project Coordinator, administered by the Higher Education Authority (2013-2016).

Promotional videos produced and edited:

WIT - Portuguese:  Estudantes 'Ciência sem Fronteiras' no WIT - Irlanda https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDn2jIIpLo8

WIT - Portuguese: Estudar na Irlanda no WIT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r5feQWDeP4&t=1s 

WIT - Spanish: Estudiar en WIT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8GO9YMHSXQ

WIT Erasmus outward - Why study abroad? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ6ObBB7ZAg

SETU student international study/work placement blog:

http://bacainternational.blogspot.com/