PMSS Staff Excellence Awards

The SETU PMSS Staff Excellence Awards reflects SETU’s commitment to excellence and recognise staff who; 

• demonstrate inclusivity, impact, innovation and excellence in their work at SETU. ​
• illustrate contributions and commitment to the university, its goals and core values. ​
• foster collaboration, communication, and cooperation among colleagues, university constituents and external partners. ​

This scheme aligns to four of our six SETU core values: Promotes Excellence (1), rewards working collaboratively (2), embraces inclusivity (3), rewards those who treat others with respect and behave with integrity (4).​

The selection criteria are aligned with the institutional priorities as articulated in our Strategic plan SETU Strategic Plan, Connecting for Impact 2023-2028​ Specifically Strategic Objective no. 10​, Action 10.7

Eligibility Criteria: 

• The award scheme is open to all professional, managerial and support staff (PMSS)  employed by SETU across the campus community. ​
• Nominees (SETU staff) must be working and have completed their period of probation. ​
• Self-nomination is not permitted. ​
• Nominee consent is required. ​
• Individual and Team based nominations are welcome.​
• Individual and Team Nominees must be supported by two members of staff (current staff).
• Nominees must  not have been awarded the PMSS Staff Excellence Award in the last three academic/award years  (see below  for past awardees).

If you are unsure if the person(s) you wish to nominate are eligible please email [email protected] 

The nominee should provide essential services to the university while demonstrating excellence in performance, personal interaction, initiative and creativity, innovation, inclusivity, and outstanding achievement.  Nominees (individual/team-based) for the PMSS Staff Excellence Award must demonstrate qualities with reference to the criteria below. Nominations are marked out of an overall score of 100. ​
 

1. ​Consistently make a positive impact through excellent contribution and commitment to the University's core purpose and values; ​
2. Have showcased/demonstrated some level of inclusivity within their area of work/s (individually or as part of a team) where applicable.
3. Have a significant and demonstrable impact on the university through outstanding service to the university, and/or ingenuity/innovation in their area/unit or field of work; ​
4. Have demonstrated an exceptional ability to foster collaboration, communication, and cooperation among colleagues, university constituents and/or external partners where relevant.​

​Each nomination must provide evidence of outcomes and impacts. Please review our Guidance Document below in advance. 

Steps in completing an online nomination; 

1. Two SETU staff nominee proposers are required for each PMSS staff nomination.
2. Nominations are initiated by an SETU employee/s completing an online nomination form before the deadline.
3. You must select one type of nominee award (i.e. individual/team).
4. The nominee (s) must agree to be nominated.
5. Incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted.

Proposers may like to use the word template provided to draft their initial response before entering the details online. 

Note Staff members nominating can be at any level.

The completed nomination form should be submitted online before 5pm on Friday, 17 April 2026.
 

Key Documents: 
 

1. Guidance Document  here
2. Online Nomination Form  here

All queries relating to this scheme can be sent to [email protected]

Timeline of the 2026 call. 

All queries relating to this scheme can be sent to [email protected]

Nominees for the 2024 Award 

Individual Nominees 

• Aisling Fitzgerald 
• Hannah Butler
• Lisa Reid
• Olive O’ Connor
• Róisín Shanahan
• Yvonne Scully
• Noelle Reilly
• Jessica O'Hara
• Kim Harte
• John Power
• Claire Fitzpatrick
• Angela Collins
• Laura Hartrey
• Tess Ames
• Madie Doyle
• Mary Boylan
• Angela Rossiter

Team Nominees 

• Web Development Team
• Centre for Technology and Enhanced Learning (CTEL)
• PMSS Technician Team _Applied Science 

2024 Awardees

SETU’s inaugural PMSS (Professional, Managerial, and Support Staff) Excellence Awards took place on 27 September, at the SETU Arena in Waterford.

The first-annual awards ceremony is part of a new staff recognition initiative launched by the President of SETU, Professor Veronica Campbell, in March 2024. The initiative gives staff across SETU’s varied PMSS teams the opportunity to nominate colleagues for PMSS Staff Excellence Awards in recognition of their contribution and commitment to the University. 

SETU was delighted to announce this year’s staff award recipients, including four individuals and one team. Each recipient was presented with an award by Prof. Veronica Campbell.

1. Mary Boylan, Peer Support Officer.
2. Angela Collins, Head of Careers at SETU’s Careers Development Centre
3. Kim Harte, Librarian
4. Róisín Shanahan, Sexual Violence & Harassment Prevention & Response Manager
5. Centre for Technology-Enhanced Learning (CTEL) Team

For the full news story and individual profiles please visit  https://www.setu.ie/news/setus-celebrates-staff-excellence-awards-2024

Nominees for the 2025 PMSS Staff Excellence Awards

Individual Nominees

• Anne Connors
• Anne Phelan
• Anne-Marie Frampton
• Capri Payrsek
• Éadaoin Butler
• Elaina O’Flaherty
• Gráinne McDonald
• Jess Lawton
• Joan Mangan
• John Power
• Judy Robinson
• Ken McCarthy
• Kieran Cronin
• Larry Condon
• Lorraine Johnson
• Luke Power
• Maria O’Toole
• Matt Givens
• Nan O’Brien
• Niamh Doyle
• Nicola McEntree
• Sandra Haberlin
• Tess Ames

Team Nominees

• Calmast Team
• Carlow Campus IT Services Team
• EDI – The Sanctuary Team
• EU-CONEXUS Team
• Humanities Waterford Administration Team
• Human Resources Team
• SETU Web Team

2025 Awardees

SETU’s second annual PMSS (Professional, Managerial, and Support Staff) Excellence Awards took place today, 10 October, at SETU’s Kilkenny Road campus in Carlow.

The PMSS Excellence Awards are one of three staff initiatives to promote excellence amongst the SETU community, alongside initiatives that recognise excellence in research and teaching. The staff recognition initiative was launched by the President of SETU, Professor Veronica Campbell, in 2024. It gives staff across SETU’s varied PMSS teams the opportunity to nominate colleagues for Excellence Awards in recognition of their contribution and commitment to the University. 

SETU was delighted to announce this year’s staff award recipients, including five individuals and one team. Each recipient was presented with an award by Prof. Veronica Campbell.

1. Ken McCarthy, Head of Centre for Academic Practice
2. Tess Ames, Research Group Manager and EU Projects Manager for the Ocular Therapeutics Research Group. PMBRC
3. Éadaoin Butler, National Research Programme Officer, Research Innovation & Impact
4. Sandra Haberlin, School Administrator, Faculty of Business
5. Matt Givens, Audio Visual Technical Officer, Computer Services
6. EDI – The Sanctuary Team

For the full news story and individual profiles please visit  

https://www.setu.ie/news/setu-celebrates-staff-excellence-awards-2025