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Biography

Fiona is a lecturer in the School of Business, Department of Accountancy and Economics, lecturing in Economics.

She has a Bachelor of Business Studies (Economics and Finance) FIrst Class Honours Degree and a Masters in Business Studies (Internationalisation) First Class Honours Degree.

Fiona is the Course Leader for the Bachelor of Business, level 7, Degree.

Lecturing Career began in December 2000.

Subjects lectured to date include:

Introduction to Microeconomics (level 6/7)

Introduction to Macroeconomics (level 6/7)

Principles of Microeconomics (level 8)

Principles of Macroeconomics (level 8)

Agricultural Economics (level 8)

Business & Financial Maths (level 6/7/8)

Business Statistics (level 6/7/8)

Course Leader on the Bachelor of Business programme, which currently has 200 students on this three year programme. The role involves meeting with students when they initially arrive at WIT for Induction Day. In a study by Krause, 2007, entitled "New Perspectives on engaging First Year students in Learning", it was found that "targeted assistance in the form of course advice from academics" was crucial in offsetting the tendancy for many students to seriously consider dropping out in their first year.

"Failure to engage early in the student experience may also be a more serious concern in the second and subsequent years", (Krause, 2007, P.4). Academic staff have the opportunity to play a major role in contributing to students engagement with their study.

Duties (as lecturer and course leader) include:

- being available for students each week to answer queries, provide advice and guidance where necessary.

- organising course board meetings between HOD, academic staff and student representatives to discuss student progress.

- involvement in the organisation necessary for Exam Board meetings between HOS, HOD and academic staff to make ready student results for both semester 1 and 2.

- updating and making the necessary changes to course content in light of the Business and Economic environment.

- providing a comprehensive course and subject structure.

- opening up discussions with students on relevant economic issues.

- knowing students individually, their names, their interests and their career ambitions.

- informing students of the Institute's expectations of them.

- regularly providing feedback to students on their performance.

- partaking in a pilot First Year Engagement programme, which involves varying the delivery and assessment of Economics to all First Year School of Business students. The success of the pilot programme will be gauged by examining a number of factors, such as

* retention rates among first years

* results

* pass/fail rates

* progression rates into year 2

and comparing these results to previous years prior to the pilot programme.

- being aware of various aspects of Economics and Maths that may cause difficulties for students in terms of the Learning Experience and addressing those concerns in a collaborative and engaging manner.

- using online resources as a tool of engagement and also as an assessment method.

Fiona Eade, (2003) "Technology skills supply in Ireland: implications for industry and policy makers", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 27 Iss:7 pp.372-379

(Eade is Fiona's maiden name)

Attending various workshops as part of Professional Development within the Institute.

Attending Economics seminars and various events being run by the Institute.

Team Leader in the development of a Course Schedule for Economics on the BA (Honours) Arts programme, which involves collaboration between the School of Humanities, the School of Science and the School of Business.