civil engineering award winners
Professor James O'Donnell, Associate Professor Michael Qulligan, Associate Professor Declan Philips and Dr Ross Higgins pictured at the Engineering Excellence Awards in Dublin.
Friday, 24 October 2025

The Civil Engineering team at UL returned victorious from the Engineering Excellence Awards last week, securing the Excellence in Education award. The Team’s Integrated Design Project (IDP) competed against two impressive initiatives:

The EEECS Project from Queen’s University Belfast—an industry-embedded, high-impact educational competition combining inclusive pedagogy, global benchmarking, and interdisciplinary teamwork.

Phlow Academy, an Irish edtech initiative reimagining maths and engineering education through a level-based, feedback-rich learning model.

In UL’s Civil Engineering programme, problem-based learning (PBL) is the cornerstone of teaching and learning. In Year 3, students take part in an additional innovative experience: the Integrated Design Project. Throughout the autumn semester, students work in teams on a single comprehensive project spanning five modules, reinforcing PBL principles. This keystone project is pivotal in shaping their development as engineers and equips them with the confidence and skills needed for their subsequent eight-month work placement.

Commenting on the IDP, the judges said:
“The submission presents a constructivist learning experience. Students work collaboratively in teams to design a multistorey building in an urban setting. Engagement is motivated by real-world, open-ended problems. By incorporating deliberative spaces for reflective learning, the project provides an authentic design experience with all its uncertainties, complexities, and challenges.”

The Engineering Excellence Awards took place on October 23, 2025, at the Royal Marine Hotel, Dún Laoghaire.
Congratulations to all involved!