Academic Integrity Lead Dr Mary-Claire Kennedy has been appointed to a key position by Quality and Qualifications Ireland.
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency responsible for qualifications in Ireland, said it was “pleased” to announce that Dr Kennedy had been appointed as the new Chairperson of the National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN).
Dr Kennedy’s appointment was confirmed at the recent NAIN plenary meeting on 5 June, held at UL.
Dr Kennedy succeeds Billy Kelly, formerly Deputy Registrar, Dean of Teaching and Learning, Dublin City University, who QQI said had provided “exceptional leadership” since NAIN’s establishment.
NAIN, a peer-driven network established by QQI in November 2019, is focused on actively supporting higher education institutions to effectively engage with the challenges presented by academic misconduct; embed a culture of academic integrity among providers; and develop national resources and tools for providers to address the challenges presented by academic misconduct.
Dr Kennedy said of her appointment as chair of NAIN: “I look forward to collaborating with colleagues throughout the further and higher education sector to maintain and develop our shared commitment to academic excellence and integrity. Together, we can ensure that our educational institutions continue to foster honest and ethical scholarship.”
As the Academic Integrity Lead at UL, Dr Kennedy has experience in supporting students and academics in upholding academic integrity and managing academic misconduct cases.
Dr Kennedy has worked in clinical, academic and professional regulatory roles in the UK and Ireland. She holds a BSc (Pharm) from Trinity College Dublin (TCD), an MPharm from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and was awarded a PhD by the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, TCD in 2015. She holds an M(Clinical) Education from the University of Leeds and is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE.