Darina M. Slattery

Darina M. Slattery is an Associate Professor in the School of English, Irish & Communication at the University of Limerick (UL), where she contributes significantly to digital education, instructional design, and technical communication. She has held leadership roles in major institutional digital transformation projects, including serving as Academic Change and Engagement Lead for the adoption of Brightspace as UL’s Virtual Learning Environment.

• PhD in Computer Science, University of Limerick
• M.Sc. in Software Localisation, University of Limerick
• B.Business Studies with French, University of Limerick
• Certificate in Leadership & Innovation, MIT Professional Education
• Alumna of IELOL (Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning)
• Professional certification in GenAI for Teaching and Learning (2025) and Universal Design for Learning (2021)

Darina's research centers on digital education, with a strong focus on technology-enhanced learning, AI and GenAI in education, learning analytics, and collaborative online international learning (COIL). She investigates how virtual teams function in global educational contexts and designs frameworks for effective online teaching. Her work supports faculty development and promotes equitable, accessible online learning environments.

Her recent publications reflect a consistent trend in digital pedagogy, virtual collaboration, and institutional change. She explores the design of inclusive online learning, the impact of LMS adoption, and the use of virtual environments like OpenSimulator for international student collaboration. Her work bridges technical communication, educational theory, and practical implementation.

Notable scientific awards include:

• Emily K. Schlesinger Award for Outstanding Service to the IEEE Professional Communication Society (2023)
• Frank R. Smith Outstanding Journal Article Award (2019)
• UL Award for Excellence in the Provision of Pedagogic Support (2019)

Darina has supervised over 100 MA students and co-supervised two PhD theses. She has led and contributed to multiple funded projects, including the EUCERMAT Erasmus+ project and the UL VLE Implementation Project. She is actively involved in grant-funded research on teacher professional development, GenAI in education, and learning analytics. She serves on university, faculty, and school committees and has held leadership roles in the IEEE Professional Communication Society, including President (2021–2022) and Program Co-Chair (2024).

She leads initiatives such as the Developing UL Online (DUO) programme and has collaborated internationally with institutions in Norway, Germany, France, the USA, and the Netherlands. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education and reduced inequalities.