Ireland’s first national professional development framework (PD Framework) for all who teach in
Irish higher education was launched in 2016, following a period of extensive consultation across
the sector. An initial implementation (pilot study) was conducted during the academic year 2016-
2017, involving 230 staff from universities, institutes of technology and private colleges across 22
groups. This report presents findings from this initial implementation stage of the PD Framework.
Through the inclusion of insightful provenances and case histories, students are taken on a journey back in time to learn not only from the original donors, but also from the physicians and anatomists who treated and prepared the specimen, offering fascinating insights into the healthcare systems and the education values of the time. Careful consideration was given to which specimens were to be showcased. Specifically, those over a hundred years old, without identifying features or sensitive features such as developmental anomalies.
