Critical Skills has won a prestigious award at the Arqus Alliance Teaching Excellence Award, which took place at the start of July at their Annual Conference hosted by the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal. The event celebrated the winners of the 4th edition of the Arqus Teaching Excellence Awards, the 1st edition of the Arqus Green Mobility Days Award, and the 2023 Arqus International Innovators Award.
Among the honorees were Dr. Brian McKenzie and the Critical Skills Team for Data Literacy for Arts Students from Maynooth University, for their seminar “Universal Critical Skills/Data Literacy for Arts Students”.
This is a prestigious award—Critical Skills competed with over 70 applicants from all the Arqus European Alliance institutions.
Critical Skills, a First Year Seminar at Maynooth University, prioritises data literacy for the 23-34 academic year, addressing a gap identified in national surveys of Irish higher education. The seminar, delivered by a team of ten dedicated individuals, provides a supportive environment for students transitioning to higher education, with a focus on student engagement and success. The subject of the Arqus Teaching Excellence Award was Critical Skills’ data literacy unit, which empowers students to critically understand the use and abuse of statistics and data visualizations. The unit is designed to be student-centred, with assessments that are deeply personal and reflective, encouraging students to take ownership of their learning. The data literacy unit aligns with DigComp 2.2: The Digital Competence Framework for Citizens, ensuring its transferability and recognisability across the curriculum.
Under the remit of the Dean of Teaching and Learning Office, Critical Skills is a unique offering to Maynooth University first-year students. It is compatible with most programmes of study. Critical Skills aids the transition to third level while at the same time complementing and supporting interdisciplinary learning. It is designed to help first year students to learn, experience, practice and develop essential skills that will support their University career. Small class sizes, active learning, and a focus on transferable skills set Critical Skills apart from traditional subject choices.
Further information about the full MU Critical Skills programme can be obtained here.