A Killarney third-level student is members of a team awarded project funding under the new ‘N-TUTORR—Transforming Learning’ initiative for Ireland’s Technological Universities sector.

Esel Acun from Killarney is part of a team of students and staff from Munster Technological University (MTU) to be awarded funding for a project titled ‘The Hurling Cú | An Cú Iomána (a universally designed performance of the skills of hurling set to Celtic music'.)

The project will see the team develop digital assets to celebrate the “Intangible Cultural Heritage” status awarded by UNESCO to hurling in 2018. According to the team, the project is based on a request made by the GAA to the UNESCO Chair at MTU to collaborate on inclusive hurling through movement and digital technology.

Featuring nods to both Cú Chulainn and warrior-queen Medbh the project aligns with an equality, diversity and inclusion theme.

The solution combines team assessment software and team development theories to improve team collaboration and increase motivation, ultimately leading to better team performance.

The N-TUTORR ‘Students as Partners in Innovation and Change’ funding grants have been awarded to 131 projects across the seven institutions that make up Ireland’s Technological Universities sector, including MTU.

A total of more than €650,000 is being awarded under the programme, with each project receiving up to €5,000 in funding.

The announcement of the funded projects took place at an event in the Spencer Hotel, Dublin, on May 23.