On February 1st, Hibernia College Dublin beat off stiff competition to win the title of “e-Learning Company of the Year” at the Digital Media Awards ceremony held at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin. The awards have been recognising excellence in the field of digital media since 2003.

Hibernia, a HETAC (Higher Education and Training Awards Council)-accredited third-level online college, was founded in 2000 and has formed partnerships with Pfizer, NUI Maynooth and Canterbury Christ Church University to develop online courses in Pharmaceutical Medicine, Hospitality Management and secondary school teacher training respectively.

It is, however, probably best known for its primary teacher training programme, which has now grown to the point where the College is the largest provider of primary school teachers in Ireland.

All of Hibernia’s courses blend the latest online learning technology with face-to-face tutorials and, in the case of the Higher Diploma in Primary Teaching, classroom teaching experience and time spent in the Gaeltacht.

Accepting the award, Hibernia College’s Executive Chairman, Dr. Seán Rowland commented:

“This award is recognition of the hard work done by Hibernia College in combining online technology with the best practice in teaching methods, to open up third-level education to a much wider audience in Ireland and worldwide.

Those previously unable to avail of further education due to time or geographical constraints can now partake in a fully interactive and highly rewarding learning experience.”

Hibernia College has offices in Dublin and Westport and offers courses to students in 25 different countries.